Error Identification

 In several examination, this section usually has 10–12 sentences with grammatical/word-usage/spelling errors, which are expected to be detected and rectified. For attempting such questions familiarity with the basic grammar rules, including spellings and the correct usage of words, is essential. Some sentences may not have any error, in that case ‘No error’ is marked as answer. There are several kinds of errors found in written communication. These may occur due to grammatical mistakes or due to slips in idiomatic usage.

 

Question Format 

Questions for spotting errors may be in various formats, the most common one of which are illustrated below:

In the following sentences certain parts marked A, B, C and D are underlined. One of the underlined parts may contain an error or may not be acceptable in standard written communication. You have to identify the part containing an error. In some sentences there may not be any error, in such cases the answer will be ‘E’ (i.e. ‘No error’):

1. Harshad, along(A)  with his brother( B) Ashwani and six senior bank(C) officials, were(D) arrested. No error (E).

 

2. Planting trees(A) helps (B) prevents(C)  soil erosion(D). No error (E).

 

3. I shall(A) buy one of(B) the radios that is(C) on sale(D). No error(E)

 

4. She wore(A) a dress to the(B) party that was(C) far more attractive than the (D) other girls. No error (E)

 

5. Each of(A) the hotel’s 150 rooms were(B) equipped with(C) AC and colour(D) TV. No error (E)

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Explanations:

1. In this sentence, the error is in part D, which should read was in place of were. This is because the grammatical subject is Harshad Mehta only, which is singular and as such takes the singular verb was.

2. If you carefully read this sentence, you will find that there are not many men making the survey. There is only one man, who is making the survey. Therefore, the antecedent of who must be one, which takes a singular verb who is.

3. In this sentence, that refers to radios (plural subject) and takes the plural verb are. The verb must agree in number with its subject.

4. In this sentence there is an error in part D. The dress that the girl wore was more attractive than the dresses of the other girls—not more attractive than the other girls. Therefore, the sentence should read ‘… than those of the other girls.’

5. In this sentence there is an error in part B because the subject and the verb do not agree in number. The sentence should read ‘Each of the hotel’s 150 rooms was equipped…’. The singular subject (each) requires a singular verb (was equipped; not were equipped).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers:

1. D 2. C 3. C 4. D 5. B