Error Spotting with Shortcut tricks Set A

Error spotting is a crucial section in competitive exams like SSC, Bank, CAT, and other government exams. Mastering error spotting can significantly boost your English language score. However, solving error spotting questions quickly requires a keen eye for grammar and shortcut techniques to save time.
In this detailed guide, we will cover all types of error spotting questions and shortcut tricks to solve them efficiently.

Types of Error Spotting Questions

1. Subject-Verb Agreement Errors
2. Tense Errors
3. Preposition Errors
4. Article Errors
5. Pronoun Errors
6. Adjective and Adverb Errors
7. Conjunction Errors
8. Redundancy and Repetition Errors
9. Spelling and Vocabulary Errors
10. Idiomatic Usage Errors

Shortcut Tricks to Solve Error Spotting Questions

1. Subject-Verb Agreement Errors
- Rule: Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.
- Shortcut: Identify the subject and check if the verb agrees in number.
- Example: The group of students are playing. x (is playing √)

2. Tense Errors
- Rule: The tense must be consistent throughout the sentence.
- Shortcut: Identify time indicators like yesterday, already, since, before to determine the correct tense.
- Example: She will go to school yesterday. x (She went to school yesterday. √)

3. Preposition Errors
- Rule: Certain prepositions always follow specific verbs and adjectives.
- Shortcut: Memorize common preposition-verb and preposition-adjective pairings.
- Example: He is good in English. x (He is good at English. √)

4. Article Errors
- Rule: Use a/an for singular, non-specific nouns and the for specific nouns.
- Shortcut: If a noun is mentioned for the first time, use a/an; if it's mentioned again, use the.
- Example: I saw a elephant. x (I saw an elephant. √)

5. Pronoun Errors
- Rule: Pronouns should match their antecedents in number and gender.
- Shortcut: Check if the pronoun correctly refers to a noun.
- Example: Each of the boys have their books. x (Each of the boys has his book. √)

6. Adjective and Adverb Errors
- Rule: Adjectives describe nouns; adverbs describe verbs.
- Shortcut: Look for incorrect word forms (quick/quickly, bad/badly).
- Example: She sings beautiful. x (She sings beautifully. √)

7. Conjunction Errors
- Rule: Some conjunctions are used in pairs (neither...nor, either...or).
- Shortcut: Ensure parallelism in sentence structure.
- Example: She is neither intelligent or hardworking. x (She is neither intelligent nor hardworking. √)

8. Redundancy and Repetition Errors
- Rule: Avoid unnecessary words that repeat the same idea.
- Shortcut: Identify words that mean the same thing and remove one.
- Example: He returned back yesterday. x (He returned yesterday. √)

9. Spelling and Vocabulary Errors
- Rule: Incorrect spellings change the meaning of the sentence.
- Shortcut: Improve vocabulary by reading regularly.
- Example: He is a great looser. x (He is a great loser. √)

10. Idiomatic Usage Errors
- Rule: Some phrases must be used in a specific way.
- Shortcut: Memorize common idioms and phrases.
- Example: He is in the good books of his teacher. x (He is in the good graces of his teacher. √)

Pro Tips to Ace Error Spotting in Exams

1. Read Carefully: Don’t rush; analyze the sentence structure properly.
2. Look for Key Indicators: Words like since, until, despite, although hint at potential errors.
3. Practice Regularly: Solving previous years’ papers and mock tests enhances accuracy.
4. Memorize Common Rules: Having a strong grasp of grammar rules will help you spot errors quickly.
5. Use the Elimination Method: If confused, eliminate incorrect options to arrive at the correct answer.

Conclusion

Error spotting can be mastered with practice and the right approach. By following these shortcut tricks, you can quickly identify errors and improve your performance in competitive exams. Keep practicing, stay consistent, and soon you’ll be spotting errors like a pro!

Error Spotting Multiple choice questions

1. Subject-Verb Agreement Errors

Question: The committee has submitted their final report to the chairman.
a) has submitted
b) their
c) to the chairman
d) No error
Answer: b

Question: Each of the students have completed their project successfully.
a) have completed
b) their
c) successfully
d) No error
Answer: a

2. Tense Errors

Question: The scientist discovered a new planet and is naming it after his mentor.
a) discovered
b) is naming
c) after his mentor
d) No error
Answer: b

Question: By the time the train will arrive, we will have been waiting for two hours.
a) will arrive
b) will have been waiting
c) for two hours
d) No error
Answer: a

3. Preposition Errors

Question: She is married with a famous lawyer.
a) with
b) a famous lawyer
c) married
d) No error
Answer: a

Question: He is good in Mathematics but weak at Chemistry.
a) in
b) weak at
c) Chemistry
d) No error
Answer: a

4. Pronoun Errors

Question: Neither of the players have brought their kit for the match.
a) have brought
b) their
c) for the match
d) No error
Answer: a

Question: One should always respect his elders.
a) One
b) his
c) elders
d) No error
Answer: b

5. Parallelism Errors

Question: The job requires someone who is hardworking, punctual, and who has leadership qualities.
a) hardworking
b) punctual
c) who has
d) No error
Answer: c

6. Adjective and Adverb Errors

Question: She sings very beautiful in the choir.
a) very
b) beautiful
c) in the choir
d) No error
Answer: b

7. Conditional Sentence Errors

Question: If I was you, I would take that job offer.
a) was
b) you
c) take that job
d) No error
Answer: a

8. Redundancy Errors

Question: The reason why he failed is because he didn’t study.
a) reason why
b) because
c) he didn’t study
d) No error
Answer: b

9. Comparison Errors

Question: She is more smarter than her sister.
a) more smarter
b) than
c) her sister
d) No error
Answer: a

10. Idiom & Phrase Errors

Question: He was caught red-handed while stealing the money.
a) red-handed
b) while
c) stealing
d) No error
Answer: d

11. Article Errors

Question: She bought a orange from the market.
a) a
b) orange
c) from the market
d) No error
Answer: a

Question: He is the honest man I was talking about.
a) the
b) honest
c) man
d) No error
Answer: d

12. Double Negative Errors

Question: She did not say nothing about the issue.
a) did not
b) nothing
c) about the issue
d) No error
Answer: b

Question: I can’t hardly believe what you are saying.
a) can’t
b) hardly
c) believe
d) No error
Answer: b

13. Conjunction Errors

Question: Not only he is talented, but he is also humble.
a) Not only
b) he is
c) but he is also
d) No error
Answer: b

Question: No sooner she arrived at the station when the train left.
a) No sooner
b) she arrived
c) when
d) No error
Answer: c

14. Redundant Words

Question: The doctor suggested that she should take complete rest.
a) should take
b) complete
c) rest
d) No error
Answer: a

Question: The teacher gave us a free gift during the event.
a) free gift
b) during
c) the event
d) No error
Answer: a

15. Misplaced Modifiers

Question: I saw a man walking a dog in a blue suit.
a) man
b) walking a dog
c) in a blue suit
d) No error
Answer: c

Question: The girl served sandwiches to the guests on paper plates.
a) served
b) sandwiches
c) on paper plates
d) No error
Answer: c 

16. Word Choice Errors 

Question: The effects of the medicine was not what the doctor expected.
a) effects
b) was
c) what
d) No error
Answer: b

Question: The police is investigating the case thoroughly.
a) police
b) is
c) investigating
d) No error
Answer: b

17. Wrong Use of Adjective/Adverb

Question: She speaks fluent English.
a) speaks
b) fluent
c) English
d) No error
Answer: b

Question: The girl looked happily at her mother.
a) girl
b) looked
c) happily
d) No error
Answer: c

18. Prepositional Phrase Errors

Question: He insisted to go to the party despite being sick.
a) insisted
b) to go
c) despite
d) No error
Answer: b

Question: I am good in English grammar.
a) am good
b) in
c) English grammar
d) No error
Answer: b

19. Possessive Errors

Question: This is the boy who’s dog went missing.
a) who’s
b) dog
c) went missing
d) No error
Answer: a

Question: The books of John are on he’s table.
a) books
b) he’s
c) table
d) No error
Answer: b

20. Miscellaneous Errors

Question: Everyone should do their best in the exam.
a) Everyone
b) their
c) in the exam
d) No error
Answer: b

Question: My father gave me many advices about life.
a) gave
b) many
c) advices
d) No error
Answer: c

21. Wrong Use of Infinitives/Gerunds

Question: He enjoys to play football in his free time.
a) to play
b) football
c) in his free time
d) No error
Answer: a

Question: She suggested to go for a walk after dinner.
a) to go
b) for a walk
c) after dinner
d) No error
Answer: a

22. Use of Wrong Relative Pronoun

Question: This is the best book which I have ever read.
a) which
b) I have ever read
c) best book
d) No error
Answer: a

Question: He is the only one which understands my problem.
a) which
b) understands
c) my problem
d) No error
Answer: a

23. Sentence Fragment Errors

Question: Although he was tired. He continued working.
a) Although
b) he was tired
c) He continued working
d) No error
Answer: a

Question: Because she was late. She missed the train.
a) Because
b) she was late
c) She missed the train
d) No error
Answer: a

24. Incorrect Use of Modals

Question: You must to complete the assignment before the deadline.
a) must to
b) complete
c) before the deadline
d) No error
Answer: a

Question: He can be able to solve this problem easily.
a) can be able to
b) solve
c) this problem
d) No error
Answer: a

25. Incorrect Comparisons

Question: My car is more faster than yours.
a) more faster
b) than
c) yours
d) No error
Answer: a

Question: She is more prettier than her sister.
a) more prettier
b) than
c) her sister
d) No error
Answer: a

26. Incorrect Use of Articles

Question: He is an honest man.
a) He is
b) an
c) honest man
d) No error
Answer: d

Question: She adopted a orphan child.
a) a
b) orphan child
c) No error
Answer: a

27. Misplaced Modifiers

Question: Running in the park, a dog startled me.
a) Running in the park
b) a dog startled me
c) No error
Answer: b

Question: She almost drove her car for six hours.
a) almost
b) drove her car
c) for six hours
d) No error
Answer: a

28. Subject-Verb Agreement

Question: Either of the solutions are acceptable.
a) Either of the solutions
b) are
c) acceptable
d) No error
Answer: b

Question: Neither of the boys have done their homework.
a) Neither of the boys
b) have
c) done their homework
d) No error
Answer: b

29. Incorrect Use of Tenses

Question: I have seen him yesterday.
a) have seen
b) him
c) yesterday
d) No error
Answer: a

Question: When she arrived, he had left just.
a) When she arrived
b) he
c) had left just
d) No error
Answer: c

30. Incorrect Use of Prepositions

Question: He is married with a doctor.
a) married
b) with
c) a doctor
d) No error
Answer: b

Question: She is good in playing chess.
a) good
b) in
c) playing chess
d) No error
Answer: b

31. Incorrect Use of Modals

Question: You should to take a break.
a) should to
b) take a break
c) No error
d) —
Answer: a

Question: He mustn't to go there.
a) mustn't to
b) go there
c) No error
d) —
Answer: a