English Grammar Practice Sheet: Error Spotting with Shortcut tricks Set 09
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This page offers 28 more error-spotting questions with the sentence split into four marked parts. They test verb forms after has and had, neither nor, adjectives versus adverbs, double comparatives, prepositions such as in and with, and parallel structure. Answers and explanations are given for each question, so you can use it for revision for bank and SSC English sections.
Common Errors: Questions 141 to 168
Directions (Questions 141 to 145): Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. If there is no error, the answer is (e) No error. (Ignore errors of punctuation.)
(b) that it is retailers who are
(c) responsible for upsetting
(d) the city's household budget.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Part (a)
Explanation:
1. 'Has' must be followed by a past participle; 'conclusive' is an adjective, not a verb form.
2. Correct form: 'has concluded that'.
3. Parts (b), (c) and (d) are correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. Has/have + past participle forms the present perfect.
2. Conclusive (adjective), conclude (verb).
(b) remained on paper, as
(c) neither the Centre or the state initiated steps
(d) for the development of the backward region.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) Part (c)
Explanation:
1. 'Neither' is always paired with 'nor', not with 'or'.
2. Correct form: 'neither the Centre nor the state'.
3. The other parts are correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. Neither ... nor; either ... or.
2. Correlatives must be matched pairs.
(b) may be the primary reason for
(c) the change in conditions,
(d) but a lot more remains to be understand.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) Part (d)
Explanation:
1. After 'to be' the past participle is needed to form the passive infinitive.
2. Correct form: 'remains to be understood'.
3. The other parts are correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. To be + past participle = passive infinitive.
2. Do not use the base form after 'to be'.
(b) to explore pros and cons by
(c) a common fee structure, and will
(d) take a final decision on it within a week.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) Part (b)
Explanation:
1. The pros and cons 'of' something are explored; 'by' is the wrong preposition.
2. Correct form: 'to explore pros and cons of a common fee structure'.
3. The other parts are correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. Pros and cons of; advantages of.
2. Choose the preposition by the relation between the nouns.
(b) gums to bleed and teeth to fall out
(c) results from the build-up of
(d) a particular bacteria that is common to most mouths.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) Part (d)
Explanation:
1. 'Bacteria' is the plural of 'bacterium', so it cannot take 'a' or a singular verb.
2. Correct form: 'a particular bacterium that is common' (or 'particular bacteria that are common').
3. 'Results from' in (c) is correct for a cause.
Teacher's Note:
1. Singular: bacterium, datum, medium; plural: bacteria, data, media.
2. Latin plurals cannot take 'a'.
Directions (Questions 146 to 168): Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence (a), (b), (c) or (d). If there is no error, the answer is (e) No error. (Ignore errors of punctuation.)
(b) moved to a flat
(c) because it was
(d) expensive to maintain.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Part (a)
Explanation:
1. 'Sell' is joined by 'and' to the past tense 'moved', so it must also be in the past.
2. Correct form: 'Jason sold his house'.
3. The other parts are correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. Verbs joined by and should be in the same tense.
2. Sell, sold, sold.
(b) because there was
(c) nothing more better
(d) coming his way.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) Part (c)
Explanation:
1. 'Better' is already a comparative, so 'more' is redundant (double comparative).
2. Correct form: 'nothing better' (or 'nothing much better').
3. The other parts are correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. Never add more/most to an adjective that is already comparative or superlative.
2. Better, worse, further are comparatives in themselves.
(b) from the rest of
(c) the country
(d) owing heavy floods.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) Part (d)
Explanation:
1. 'Owing' is followed by 'to' to make the preposition phrase 'owing to'.
2. Correct form: 'owing to heavy floods'.
3. The other parts are correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. Owing to, due to, thanks to.
2. Compound prepositions are fixed.
(b) his work thorough
(c) so that no one
(d) could find fault with it.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) Part (b)
Explanation:
1. The verb 'revised' must be modified by an adverb, not by the adjective 'thorough'.
2. Correct form: 'his work thoroughly'.
3. The other parts are correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. Adverbs describe verbs; adjectives describe nouns.
2. Thorough (adjective), thoroughly (adverb).
(b) the National Anthem when
(c) the President arrives
(d) on the country.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) Part (d)
Explanation:
1. The verb 'arrive' takes 'in' for a country or city and 'at' for a small place; 'on' is wrong.
2. Correct form: 'arrives in the country'.
3. The other parts are correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. Arrive in a country/city; arrive at a station/small place.
2. Never use arrive to.
(b) caught stealing
(c) in the super market,
(d) you will be fined.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (e) No error
Explanation:
1. The first conditional has the present tense in the 'if' clause and 'will' in the main clause.
2. 'Caught stealing' is a correct passive with a participle.
3. So there is no error.
Teacher's Note:
1. First conditional: if + present, will + verb.
2. A sentence may be fully correct.
(b) for the station
(c) for fear that they might
(d) be held up on traffic.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) Part (d)
Explanation:
1. One is held up 'in' traffic, because traffic is a surrounding condition.
2. Correct form: 'be held up in traffic'.
3. 'For fear that they might' is correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. In traffic, in a jam.
2. Use 'in' for a situation that surrounds you.
(b) fire engine arrived
(c) at the scene,
(d) the building had already collapsing.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) Part (d)
Explanation:
1. The past perfect is formed with 'had' + past participle, not the -ing form.
2. Correct form: 'had already collapsed'.
3. The other parts are correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. Had + V3 = past perfect.
2. 'By the time' + simple past needs past perfect in the main clause.
(b) are always in
(c) a state of disagreement
(d) for one another.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) Part (d)
Explanation:
1. Disagreement between people is expressed with 'with'.
2. Correct form: 'a state of disagreement with one another'.
3. The other parts are correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. Disagree with, agree with.
2. 'For one another' is wrong here.
(b) hid it in his home
(c) until he could safely
(d) get it out of town.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Part (a)
Explanation:
1. 'Which' refers to things; for a person we use 'who' or 'that'.
2. Correct form: 'The man who stole the camera'.
3. The other parts are correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. Who for persons, which for things.
2. That can refer to both.
(b) reached the shops,
(c) we find that
(d) they were all closed.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) Part (c)
Explanation:
1. The sentence is in the past tense (reached, were), so 'find' must also be in the past.
2. Correct form: 'we found that'.
3. The other parts are correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. Do not shift tense without reason.
2. Find, found, found.
(b) has no money
(c) therefore they cannot afford
(d) proper medical facilities.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) Part (b)
Explanation:
1. 'People' is a plural noun, so the verb must be 'have'.
2. Correct form: 'Poor people have no money'.
3. The other parts are correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. 'The poor' and 'people' are plural.
2. Subject-verb agreement.
(b) anyone who is interested
(c) in learning
(d) about computers.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (e) No error
Explanation:
1. 'Anyone who is interested in learning about computers' is fully correct.
2. 'Interested in' and 'learn about' both use correct prepositions.
3. So there is no error.
Teacher's Note:
1. Interested in; learn about.
2. Mark no error when every part follows a rule.
(b) that she participated
(c) at the performance
(d) held at NCPA
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) Part (c)
Explanation:
1. The verb 'participate' takes the preposition 'in', not 'at'.
2. Correct form: 'participated in the performance'.
3. The other parts are correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. Participate in; take part in.
2. At is for places, not for taking part.
(b) I getting my
(c) first salary
(d) I spent all my money.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) Part (b)
Explanation:
1. The clause 'As soon as' needs a finite verb in the past tense; 'getting' is only a participle.
2. Correct form: 'I got my first salary'.
3. The main verb 'spent' is in the past tense.
Teacher's Note:
1. Every clause needs a finite verb.
2. As soon as + simple past, simple past.
(b) introducing me
(c) to some of her
(d) teaching staff.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) Part (b)
Explanation:
1. The sentence has no finite verb; 'introducing' cannot be the main verb.
2. Correct form: 'The principal introduced me'.
3. The other parts are correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. A sentence needs a finite verb.
2. -ing form alone cannot be the predicate.
(b) he was making good progress
(c) and would not
(d) need an operation.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (e) No error
Explanation:
1. After the past reporting verb 'said', the verbs 'was making' and 'would not need' are correctly backshifted.
2. The sentence is complete and correct.
3. No part needs correction.
Teacher's Note:
1. Reported speech: backshift tenses after a past reporting verb.
2. Would is the past of will.
(b) to buy books,
(c) I borrow them
(d) from the library.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) Part (b)
Explanation:
1. 'Instead of' is a preposition and must be followed by a gerund.
2. Correct form: 'Instead of buying books'.
3. The other parts are correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. Preposition + -ing.
2. Instead of, without, after, before take gerunds.
(b) we reached the classroom,
(c) the lecture had
(d) already begun.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Part (a)
Explanation:
1. The phrase is the fixed expression 'by the time'; 'times' is wrong.
2. Correct form: 'By the time we reached the classroom'.
3. The past perfect 'had begun' agrees with 'by the time'.
Teacher's Note:
1. By the time + simple past, past perfect.
2. 'Time' remains singular in this conjunction.
(b) should make sure that
(c) men and women are
(d) given equal opportunities.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (e) No error
Explanation:
1. 'Should make sure that' followed by a present passive clause is correct.
2. The noun 'government' is used correctly with a singular meaning, and the passive 'are given' agrees with 'men and women'.
3. So there is no error.
Teacher's Note:
1. Make sure that + clause.
2. Check every part before choosing an error.
(b) was hired
(c) by
(d) the ladies for its picnic
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) Part (d)
Explanation:
1. The possessive pronoun must agree with the plural noun 'ladies'; 'its' is singular.
2. Correct form: 'for their picnic'.
3. The passive 'was hired by' is correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. A pronoun agrees with its antecedent in number.
2. Its is for singular things; their for plural.
(b) cotton plants was
(c) a slowest job until
(d) Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) Part (c)
Explanation:
1. The superlative 'slowest' cannot take the article 'a'; here the positive 'slow' is intended.
2. Correct form: 'a slow job' (or 'the slowest job').
3. The other parts are correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. A + superlative is wrong; the + superlative is right.
2. Choose the degree that fits the meaning.
(b) great political leaders
(c) who ruled the country effectively
(d) and also by protecting its national interest.
(a) Part (a)
(b) Part (b)
(c) Part (c)
(d) Part (d)
(e) No error
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) Part (d)
Explanation:
1. The two verbs joined by 'and' must be in the same form: 'ruled ... and protected'.
2. Correct form: 'and also protected its national interest'.
3. The other parts are correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. Parallel structure: verb + and + verb.
2. A 'by' phrase cannot be joined to a verb phrase.
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