Spotting Errors
Error detection involves identifying grammatical, syntactical, or usage mistakes in a sentence.
1. Errors in Subject-Verb Agreement
The verb must agree with its subject in number and person.
Rule: Two singular subjects connected by 'and' require a plural verb.
Ram and Shyam is playing.
Ram and Shyam are playing.
Rule: If two subjects express one idea, the verb is singular.
Bread and butter are my favorite breakfast.
Bread and butter is my favorite breakfast.
Rule: 'Each', 'Every', 'Either', 'Neither' take a singular verb.
Each of the boys were given a prize.
Each of the boys was given a prize.
2. Errors in Nouns
Rule: Some nouns look plural but are singular in meaning (e.g., Mathematics, Politics,
News).
The news are true.
The news is true.
Rule: Some nouns look singular but are plural in meaning (e.g., Cattle, Police, People).
The cattle is grazing.
The cattle are grazing.
3. Errors in Pronouns
Rule: When a pronoun refers to 'One', it should be 'One's', not 'His'.
One should do his duty.
One should do one's duty.
Rule: 'Who' is used for subject, 'Whom' for object.
4. Errors in Adjectives
Rule: 'Superior', 'Inferior', 'Senior', 'Junior' take 'to' instead of
'than'.
He is senior than me.
He is senior to me.
Rule: Double comparatives are avoided.
He is more wiser than you.
He is wiser than you.
5. Errors in Articles
Rule: 'An' is used before vowel sounds (a, e, i, o, u sounds).
He is a MP.
He is an MP. (Sound starts with 'em')
He is an European.
He is a European. (Sound starts with 'yu' - consonant)
6. Errors in Prepositions
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| Discuss about | Discuss (something) |
| Enter into (a room) | Enter (a room) |
| Return back | Return |
| Married with | Married to |
| Prefer than | Prefer to |
Practice Exercise
Identify the part of the sentence that has an error.
1. Neither of them (A) / are going to attend (B) / the party (C) / No Error (D).
Answer: (B)
Correction: 'Neither' takes a singular verb. 'is going to attend'.
2. He is senior (A) / than me (B) / in service (C) / No Error (D).
Answer: (B)
Correction: 'Senior' takes 'to', not 'than'. 'to me'.
3. One should respect (A) / the religion of others (B) / as much as his own (C) /
No Error (D).
Answer: (C)
Correction: The possessive of 'One' is 'One's'. 'as much as one's own'.
4. The cattles (A) / are grazing (B) / in the field (C) / No Error (D).
Answer: (A)
Correction: 'Cattle' is already plural. 'The cattle'.
5. Discussion about (A) / politics is (B) / strictly prohibited (C) / No Error
(D).
Answer: (A)
Correction: 'Discuss' does not take 'about'. 'Discussion on' or just 'Discuss
politics'.
6. I prefer (A) / coffee than (B) / tea (C) / No Error (D).
Answer: (B)
Correction: 'Prefer' takes 'to'. 'coffee to tea'.
7. Each of the students (A) / in the computer class (B) / has to type their own
research paper (C) / No Error (D).
Answer: (C)
Correction: 'Each' is singular, so possessive should be singular. 'his own
research paper'.
8. Ten miles (A) / are (B) / a long distance (C) / No Error (D).
Answer: (B)
Correction: Distances, weights, amounts take singular verbs. 'is'.
9. Although he is rich (A) / but he is (B) / dishonest (C) / No Error (D).
Answer: (B)
Correction: 'Although' is followed by 'yet' or a comma, not 'but'. Remove 'but'
or use 'yet'.
10. Unless you do not work hard (A) / you will not (B) / succeed (C) / No Error
(D).
Answer: (A)
Correction: 'Unless' is negative, so 'do not' is redundant. 'Unless you work
hard'.
11. Scarcely had I arrived (A) / than (B) / the train left (C) / No Error (D).
Answer: (B)
Correction: 'Scarcely' is followed by 'when', not 'than'. 'when the train
left'.
12. No sooner did I reach (A) / the station (B) / then the train started (C) / No
Error (D).
Answer: (C)
Correction: 'No sooner' is followed by 'than', not 'then'. 'than the train
started'.
13. The number of students (A) / are increasing (B) / day by day (C) / No Error
(D).
Answer: (B)
Correction: 'The number of' takes a singular verb. 'is increasing'. (Note: 'A
number of' takes plural).
14. My physics (A) / is (B) / very poor (C) / No Error (D).
Answer: (B)
Correction: When used as a specific skill/possession, it can be plural. 'are
very poor'.
15. He died (A) / from (B) / cancer (C) / No Error (D).
Answer: (B)
Correction: Die 'of' a disease. 'of cancer'.
Grammar Cheat Sheet
Subject-Verb Agreement
- And: Two singular subjects joined by 'and' = Plural Verb.
- Or/Nor: Verb agrees with the nearest subject.
- Each/Every: Always singular verb.
- Units: Distance, Weight, Amount = Singular Verb.
- The number of = Singular Verb.
- A number of = Plural Verb.
Nouns & Pronouns
- Singular form, Plural meaning: Cattle, People, Police, Vermin (take plural verb).
- Plural form, Singular meaning: Mathematics, Physics, News, Politics (take singular verb).
- One: Possessive is One's (not His).
- Who vs Whom: Who (Doer/Subject), Whom (Receiver/Object).
Adjectives & Adverbs
- Latin Adjectives: Senior, Junior, Superior, Inferior, Prior take TO (not than).
- Prefer: Takes TO (Prefer tea to coffee).
- Scarcely/Hardly: Followed by When.
- No Sooner: Followed by Than.
- Lest: Followed by Should.
Prepositions
- Die of: Disease.
- Die from: Cause (hunger, thirst).
- Angry with: Person.
- Angry at: Thing/Situation.
- Blind in: One eye.
- Blind to: Faults.
- Married to: (Not with).
📱 Practice MCQs for this topic inside our App
📱 Practice MCQs for this topic inside our App
📱 Practice MCQs for this topic inside our App
📱 Practice MCQs for this topic inside our App