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: 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.

Even before the villagers could be shifted to a safer place the river has overflown its bank.

  1. the river has overflown its bank

  2. the river had flown over its bank

  3. the river had overflown its bank

  4. the river over flow its bank

  5. the river over flowed its bank
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

“Flown’ is the past participle form of ‘fly’ while ‘flowed’ is the past participle form of ‘flow’. The river does not fly; it flows. And when two past actions are in sequence, past perfect tense (had) should be used for the event that happens earlier.This option rectifies 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.

Germany has more neighbours than all European states.

  1. than all European states

  2. rather than all European states

  3. rather than any other European state

  4. than any other European state

  5. than all the European states
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

When comparative degree is used in its superlative sense it is followed by ‘any other’. This option corrects the error of comparison.

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.

But it hardly can ignore the long term impact of his rebellion and the message it sends to the party workers.

  1. But it hardly can ignore the long term impact of

  2. But it can hardly ignore the long term impact of

  3. But it cannot ignore the long term impact of

  4. But hardly it can ignore long term impact of

  5. But it can ignore hardly the long term impact of
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This option corrects the error of modifier by placing ‘hardly’ before ‘ignore’. The adverb of degree comes before the word it modifies.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the sentence given below, a group of words is italicised. There may be an error in it. The sentence can be made meaningful and correct by replacing the italicised part with one of the given options. The number of that option is the answer. If no correction is required, mark (4) as the answer.

If you would have come earlier, you would have met your friend.

  1. had

  2. would had

  3. have

  4. No improvement

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Error of tense: The sentence makes sense in past perfect tense.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence has been split into three parts - (1), (2) and (3). If there is any grammatical error in any of these parts, that is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (4).

(1) Some of the guests might be important (2) to his future in politics, (3) but he was dressed to impress. (4) No error

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

  4. (4)

  5. -
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

(3) is incorrect as the conjunction ‘but’ is used in a sentence to introduce something that is true in spite of either being or seeming contrary to what has just been said. In this context, this is incorrect as the conjunction ‘and’ should have been used. The conjunction ‘and’ is used to indicate an additional thing, situation or fact. It links words and phrases.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the sentence given below, a group of words is italicised. There may be an error in it. The sentence can be made meaningful and correct by replacing the italicised part with one of the given options. The number of that option is the answer. If no correction is required, mark (4) as the answer.

He is in the good books of his boss.

  1. the good book

  2. the better book

  3. the best book

  4. No improvement

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

It is correct and doesn't need any improvement.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence has been broken into three parts - (1), (2) and (3). If there is any grammatical error in any of these parts, that is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (4).

(1) The actor was happy that he got (2) the part in a movie (3) although the part was a small one. (4) No error

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

  4. (4)

  5. -
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

 (b) is incorrect as there is incorrect article usage in this segment. The article ‘the’ is used to indicate a particular or specific noun. In this context, the ‘part’ in a movie has not been mentioned before. Thus, the correct article will be ‘a’.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the sentence given below, a group of words is italicised. There may be an error in it. The sentence can be made meaningful and correct by replacing the italicised part with one of the given options. The number of that option is the answer. If no correction is required, mark (4) as the answer.

The culprit was given the benefit of doubt.

  1. the benefits of doubt

  2. the benefit of the doubt

  3. the benefit of doubts

  4. No improvement

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Option 2 is the correct option as  "The culprit was given the benefit of the doubt .  " is the meaningful sentense . 

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence has been split into three parts - (1), (2) and (3). If there is any grammatical error in any of these parts, that is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (4).

(1) As you miss a home or car loan installment, (2) not only are you slapped with a penalty, (3) but your credit score also suffers. (4) No error

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

  4. (4)

  5. -
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

(1) is incorrect. The conjunction ‘as’ is used to indicate something that happens in spite of a stated fact. This is incorrect in this context. ‘If’ is the correct word in this context, which indicates a condition or qualification. ‘If’ is the condition of failing to pay the installment.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence has been broken into three parts - (1), (2) and (3). If there is any grammatical error in any of these parts, that is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (4).

(1) He said that he was starting a new party, (2) unless the present party did not reflect (3) the views and aspirations of the cadres. (4) No error

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

  4. (4)

  5. -
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

(b) is incorrect because the conjunction ‘unless’ is used to indicate a condition. In this context, the correct subordinating conjunction should be a word that indicates the cause and effect relationship between the clauses. ‘Because’ or ‘since’ will be correct in this context.