English Language

Spotting Errors

4,734 Questions
All Noun, Article, and Determiner Usage 629 Subject-Verb Agreement 529 Preposition and Phrasal Verb Choice 510 Tense and Time Sequence 429 Pronoun Agreement and Case 415 Adjective and Adverb Form 372 Idiom and Confusable Word Choice 367 Verb Complement and Mood 347 Sentence Structure and Modifier Placement 296 Conjunction and Connector Choice 228 Parallel Structure 220 Redundancy and Negation 148

Spotting Errors Questions

Multiple choice

Directions: Each question in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labeled (a), (b) and (c). Read each sentence to find out whether there is any error in any underlined part and indicate your answer in the answer sheet against the corresponding letter i.e. (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your answer should be indicated as (d). (a) The train should arrive (b) at 7:30 in the morning (c) but it was almost an hour late. (d) No error.

  1. (a)

  2. (b)

  3. (c)

  4. (d)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

‘Should have arrived’ will be the correct use of the verb. We can use 'should have' to talk about past events that did not happen.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below is underlined or has an underlined part. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or syntax. There are five options that seek to correct the error (including an option that simply repeats the sentence). Select the option that best replaces the underlined part.

It is a formal exchange of words often in which speakers argue.

  1. It is a formal exchange of words often in which speakers argue.

  2. It is a formal exchange of words often in which speakers argue about.

  3. It is a formal exchange of words in which speakers often argue.

  4. It is often a formal exchange of words in which speakers argue about.

  5. It is a formal exchange of words on which speakers often argue.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The error of misplaced modifier 'often'. Sentence 3 has the correct placement. Sentence 5 also has correct placement, but the wrong preposition 'on' has been used.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below is underlined or has an underlined part. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or syntax. There are five options that seek to correct the error (including an option that simply repeats the sentence). Select the option that best replaces the underlined part.

There should be lesser rules in school and, only those teachers who the students like should be allowed to take classes.

  1. There should be lesser rules in school and, only those teachers who

  2. There should be fewer rules in school, and only those teachers whom

  3. There should be lesser rules in school and, only those teachers whom

  4. There should be few rules in schools and, only those teachers whom

  5. There should be less rules in school and only those teachers who
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence bears errors of incorrect use of indefinite numeral adjective and relative pronoun. ‘Less’ is used before uncountable noun and ‘fewer’ is used before countable noun. ‘Who’ is used to refer to subjective case but here ‘the teachers’ are objective case to “students like”, so ‘whom’ should be used in place of ‘who’. This option corrects both the errors.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below is underlined or has an underlined part. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or syntax. There are five options that seek to correct the error (including an option that simply repeats the sentence). Select the option that best replaces the underlined part.

It is time Indian parents give their children more freedom.

  1. Indian parents give their children more freedom

  2. Indian parents gives their children more freedom

  3. Indian parents gave their children more freedom

  4. Indian parents give his children more freedom

  5. Indian parents should give their children more freedom
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

There is an error of idiomatic usage. ‘High time’ or ‘about time’ is used with past indefinite tense to emphasize the criticism of an existing practice. We may also use the infinitive “it is about time for the parents to”. The option corrects the error of past subjective mood.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, four words or phrases have been underlined and marked A, B, C and D. Only one underlined part in the sentence is not acceptable in standard English. Pick the underlined part which contains an error and mark it as your answer.

(A) While pursuing the Presidency, (B) many candidates (C) that are affected (D) by serious invasions into their personal life.

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Delete 'that'; unnecessary use of conjunction.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, three words or phrases have been underlined and marked A, B and C. Only one underlined part in the sentence is not acceptable in standard English. Select that word or phrase and mark it as your answer. If the sentence has no error select D as your answer.

(A) No sooner does the teacher (B) enter the class (C) then the students stand up. (D) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Replace 'then' by ‘than’. 'No sooner' has to be followed by a 'than' for it to make sense in this type of construction of a sentence.  

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence four words or phrases have been underlined and marked A, B, C and D. Only one underlined part in the sentence is not acceptable in standard English. Pick the underlined part which contains an error.

We see lightning before we hear the thunder, (A) it causes because (B) sound travels more (C) slowly than (D) light.

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

'It causes' is redundant here. '..... the thunder, because sound travels....'

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence three words or phrases have been underlined and marked A, B and C. Only one underlined part in the sentence is not acceptable in standard English. If the sentence has no error select D as your answer.

(A) This watch is (B) more superior and (C) more expensive than that. (D) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

‘more superior’ should be replaced by ‘superior to’. Double comparative degree cannot be used in one sentence.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, three phrases have been underlined and marked (A), (B) and (C). Only one underlined part in the sentence is not acceptable in standard English and you have to mark that as your answer. If the sentence has no error, select D as your answer.

(A) Of all the friends (B) I have had, he is the most helpful (C) and less arrogant. (D) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

In part C, 'less' should be replaced by ‘the least’. 'Less' is used for comparison. But here, the superlative degree should be used parallel to 'the most helpful'.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence three words or phrases have been underlined and marked A, B and C. Only one underlined part in the sentence is not acceptable in standard English. If the sentence has no error select D as your answer.

(A) Although he is usually (B) rude with everyone , (C) he behaved nice with all of us today. (D) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The adverb form will be used (nicely) which modifies the verb “behaved”.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence three words or phrases have been underlined and marked A, B and C. Only one underlined part in the sentence is not acceptable in standard English. If the sentence has no error select D as your answer.

(A) He told me that he couldn’t buy (B) the paintings which he wants (C) very much because he didn’t have enough money. (D) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Replace 'wants' by ‘wanted’. Past tense is used in the previous part of the clause (couldn’t) so past tense will be used in the later part also.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence three words or phrases have been underlined and marked A, B and C. Only one underlined part in the sentence is not acceptable in standard English. If the sentence has no error select D as your answer.

(A) The lawyer told his client (B) that he would represent him (C) only if the client pays up his fee. (D) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Replace 'pays' by 'paid'. The sentence starts in past tense, so past tense should be used.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below is underlined or has an underlined part. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or syntax. There are five options that seek to correct the error (including an option that simply repeats the sentence). Select the option that best replaces the underlined part.

In politics there is very much talk and not action enough.

  1. very much talk and not action enough

  2. very much talk and not enough action

  3. too much talk and not enough action

  4. very much talk but not enough action

  5. too much talk but not enough action
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

 ‘Very’ implies a positive connotation, whereas the sentence is in a negative connotation. Hence, the correct word to use is ‘too’.