General English For Competitive Exams Like SSC | Railways | Banking | NDA | CLAT | CDS | GATE | Insurance | UPSC | B.ED | Etc.,
Part 1
Spotting Error Questions & Answers
These questions are asked on various competitive exams. They are considered a great style of questions to test one’s grammar skills. We are given sentences from which we have to pick out the one which is grammatically incorrect (or correct, depending on the directions). These questions are basically aimed at testing your grammar usage and not to see if you know the complicated and/or some uncommon grammar rules. Spotting errors questions would not pose great problems to you if your grammar knowledge is sound.
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Spotting Error |
(a)They appointed him
(b)as a manager
(c)as he
(d)is efficient
2.
(a)Owing to illness
(b)he was unable
(c)to go
(d)for his holiday
3.
(a)Pickpocketers are
(b)sometimes spotted
(c)by policemen
(d)at bus stops
4.
(a)His both hands
(b)have been injured
(c)so he
(d)cannot work
5.
(a)Several guests noticed Mr. Peter
(b)fall back
(c)in his chair
(d)and gasping for breath
6.
(a)The short story
(b)should not exceed
(c)more than
(d)two hundred words
7.
(a)If one reads the newspaper regularly
(b)you will be surprised at the improvement
(c)in your overall reading skills
(d)day by day
8.
(a)Preetam asked her sister
(b)why had she not gone to the school
(c)the previous day
(d)or applied for leave
9.
(a)In tropical climate, it is necessary
(b)that a person drink
(c)several cups of water daily
(d)if he wishes to remain healthy
10.
(a)Pollution effects more people
(b)today than it ever did in the past
(c)because more people live near industrial units
(d)and inhale noxious gases from the atmosphere
11.
(a)Sita claimed that she had
(b)not only gone to Delhi
(c)but also to Agra
(d)and had seen the Taj Mahal
12.
(a)The advertisement for the new detergent
(b)claimed that it was as effective
(c)if not more than
(d)washing soap in removing dirt from clothes
13.
(a)If you would have come earlier
(b)there would have been enough time
(c)for us to go to the movie
(d)which has been running to full-houses
14.
(a)Nalini found it difficult
(b)to manage single-handedly the three children
(c)who were always quarrelling
(d)between themselves
15.
(a)Did he say he will
(b)bring the book tomorrow?
(c)He has been promising so
(d)for the past seven days
16.
(a)The cost of food grains have increased
(b)so rapidly during the last two years
(c)that salaried classes find it difficult
(d)to save any part of their income
17.
(a)The train is unusually late today
(b)for it has been announced just now
(c)that it will arrive in a hour
(d)on platform number three
18.
(a)Fluosol is a transparency liquid
(b)that very much resembles water
(c)but in fact is twice
(d)as dense as water
19.
(a)Along the northern border of India
(b)is seen the Himalayas
(c)tall, mighty and majestic
(d)in their unique splendour
20.
(a)The next generation of commercial airplanes
(b)are expected to be faster
(c)less fuel-thirsty and
(d)more fully computerized than the present one
21.
(a)Each of the speakers whom I invited
(b)to participate in the debate
(c)has indicated their unwillingness
(d)because of the short notice
22.
(a)The creature on Mars, if any
(b)are bound to be very different from us
(c)not only in shape but also in size
(d)because of different gravitational conditions
23.
(a)In order to identify a bird
(b)you must note it’s peculiar marking
(c)and then refer to a guide book
(d)and match them with those of different birds
24.
(a)My friend who returned from Florida
(b)after a stay of many years there said
(c)that the climate of Florida is
(d)very much like Madras in summer
25.
(a)The set of enactments passed by the assembly
(b)have been sent to the Council
(c)for consideration by its members
(d)before being notified in the gazette
26.
(a)Much of the students in the class
(b)are weak in Mathematics and therefore
(c)the Headmaster has arranged for special tuition
(d)in the evening after class-hours
27.
(a)The speaker gave a lucid exposition of
(b)the butterfly, its evolution
(c)its growth, its varieties
(d)and how it is used to eat
28.
(a)He is so versatile
(b)that he is capable of beating
(c)all his other classmates
(d)both in studies, public speaking and sports
29.
(a)It was the drug and not the disease
(b)that killed him
(c)he would have been alive today
(d)if he did not take the drug
30.
(a) Neither the warning of his father
(b)nor the punishment by his teacher
(c)have had any effect on Ramu, who
(d)continues to be absent from classes frequently
31.
(a)Which of the three puppies
(b)do you like better
(c)the white, the black
(d)or the brown one?
32.
(a)We have given up trying to reform him
(b)since we found that the more we advised him
(c)the least he was inclined
(d)even to listen to us
33.
(a)India was the country whom
(b)everyone thought would win the hockey cup
(c)but, to the surprise of all,
(d)it was eliminated in the first round
34.
(a)Since neither my wife nor me
(b)was willing to go to the movie with her
(c)my daughter had to sit at home
(d)and just watch the TV
35.
(a)The Prime Minister declared emphatically
(b)in Parliament last week that
(c)his Government will not tolerate indiscipline
(d)in any public sector undertaking
36.
(a)The old movie shown today on the TV
(b)was better than any movie
(c)that had been shown
(d)during the last eight months
37.
(a)Is it true, I would like to know
(b)that less persons die of snake-bites
(c)than of traffic accidents
(d)in this country at present
38.
(a)The student, who the friends have nicknamed
(b)Jolly John, bunks classes often
(c)and goes to movies even after
(d)repeated warnings by the teacher
39.
(a)Whenever I see a movie that
(b)has a tragic ending,
(c)I feel badly for at least two more days
(d)and so I avoid them
40.
(a)Though I take coffee or tea,
(b)whichever is offered,
(c)I consider coffee more preferable
(d)if I am given a choice
41.
(a)After the option to study French was abolished,
(b)the college attracted less students
(c)and the strength of our class
(d)is just thirty now
42.
(a)I do not think that
(b)neither of the two proposals of yours
(c)will be acceptable to him, and so
(d)the stalemate is likely to continue
43.
(a)Since banks usually give gifts
(b)to customers who deposited large amounts,
(c)it is worthwhile that you bargain with them
(d)before you choose a particular bank
44.
(a)Everyone who saw the movie ‘Star Wars’
(b)is unanimous in their view
(c)that it is the best science fiction movie
(d)ever produced
45.
(a)We consider him the best candidate for the post
(b)because he understands the subject,
(c)gets along well with his colleagues
(d)and hard working
46.
(a)The Minister said that he could not
(b)inaugurate the conference but promised
(c)that he would come a bit lately
(d)and address the delegates
47.
(a)Though his choice was neither economics or politics
(b)he had to study one of them,
(c)because the science class had already been filled
(d)and there was no other hope for him
48.
(a)He hanged his head in shame
(b)when he came
(c)to know of his
(d)son’s failure.
49.
(a)I shall always be
(b)thinking of you
(c)wherever
(d)I will go.
50.
(a)Excessive eating
(b)is injurious
(c)for health.
(d)No error
51.
(a)John as well as
(b)his brother
(c)were
(d)present.
52.
(a)Both the brothers
(b)are extremely
(c)fond of
(d)one another.
53.
(a)Of the two schemes
(b)put forward by the Government
(c)I think this is the one
(d)most likely to succeed.
54.
(a)The teacher asked
(b)the students
(c)that why many of them
(d)had come without book.
55.
(a)My choice
(b)is quite
(c)different from
(d)yours.
56.
(a)Boys study in order
(b)that they could
(c)earn their
(d)livelihood.
57.
(a)The man
(b)who was
(c)killed he was
(d)my cousin.
58.
(a)I was promoted
(b)to the post of principal though
(c)I was junior than
(d)all the other members of the staff.
59.
(a)The manager of the bank
(b)together with his
(c)staff have
(d)resigned.
60.
(a)He was reading
(b)very hard for
(c)the last six months
(d)still he failed.
61.
(a)Every one of those
(b)who came here are
(c)foolish and
(d)cannot he relied.
62.
(a)We are not
(b)to abuse
(c)our hardly won
(d)liberty.
63.
(a)My boss is
(b)much angry
(c)with me
(d)these days.
64.
(a)I want a
(b)better and
(c)efficient
(d)servant
65.
(a)He walks
(b)as though
(c)he was drink.
(d)No error.
66.
(a)Transport has been arranged
(b)to facilitate
(c)the students
(d)in visting the exhibition.
67.
(a)I have seen
(b)my friend outside
(c)the cinema house
(d)last night.
68.
(a)Unless
(b)you have no objection
(c)I will come
(d)tomorrow.
69.
(a)No less than
(b)four thousand People
(c)lost their lives
(d)in the recent earthquakes.
70.
(a)It is amazing
(b)that how people
(c)are aware of the value
(d)of solitude and contemplation.
DIRECTIONS(Qs. 71–82): Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical mistake / error in it. The error if any, will be any part of the sentence. Make the number of that part with error as your answer. If there is 'No error' , mark (d).
72.A major contribution of Mathura sculptors (a) / of that period were the creation and popularization (b) / of the Buddha’s image in human form. (c) / No error (d).
73.The two books are the same (a) / except for the fact that his (b) / has an answer in the back. (c) / No error (d).
74.The Prime Minister’s good looks won him (a) / the election but he has still to prove (b) / that he’s not a just pretty face. (c) / No error (d).
75.There is a beautiful moon out tonight (a) / and Neeta and I are going for a stroll (b) / would you like to come along with she and I ? (c) / No error (d).
76.Some women admit that (a) / their principle goal in life (b) / is to marry a wealthy man. (c) / No error (d).
77.Take two spoonsful (a) / of this medicine (b) / every three hours. (c) / No error (d).
78.Credit cards have (a) / brought about a revolutions (b) / in people’s spending habits. (c) / No error. (d)
79.I informed the principal (a)/ that I was running temperature (b)/ and therefore could not attend the meeting. (c) / No error (d).
80.The farmer is irrigating (a)/ his fields (b)/ since morning. (c)/ No error (d).
81.I am learning English (a)/ for ten years (b)/ without much effect (c)/ No error (d).
82.Inflation and shortages (a)/ have made it very difficult for him (b)/ to make his both ends meet (c)/ No error (d).
DIRECTIONS(Qs. 83-87) : 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. The number of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (e) i.e. ‘No Error”, (Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any).[IBPS Clerk 2012]
83.If tomorrow is (a)/ declared a holiday, (b)/ we shall go (c)/to a picnic. (d)/ No Error (e)
84.My grandfather used (a)/ to go (b)/ for a walk (c)/ every morning. (d)/ No Error (e)
85.The brust from (a)/ the explosion (b)/ knocked the factory worker (c)/ to unconsciousness. (d)/ No Error (e)
86.Raju found it difficult (a)/ to explain (b)/ his final exam marks (c)/ to his parents. (d)/ No Error (e)
87.My friend become (a)/terribly upset (b)/ after losing her purse (c)/ at the supermarket. (d)/ No Error (e)
DIRECTIONS(Qs. 88-92): Read this sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical mistake/error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. Mark that part with the error as your answer. If the sentence is correct as it is, mark ‘No error’ as your answer. (Ignore the errors of punctuation if any.) [IBPS Clerk 2013]
88.A red and sore tongue/is an indicator from/lack of iron Vitamin-B 12/in the body.
(a)a red and sore tongue
(b)is an indicator from
(c)lack of iron and Vitamin-B12
(d)in the body
(e)No error
89.In the high-strung life/of over- crowded metros/there a constantly tug of war/over space and resources.
(a)in the high-strung life
(b)of over-crowded metros
(c)there a constantly tug of war
(d)over space and resources
(e)No error
90.The foremost criterion of selection we adopted/were the number of years of training/a singer had received/under a particular guru.
(a)The foremost criterion of selection we adopted
(b)were the number of years of training
(c)a singer had received
(d)under a particular guru
(e)No error
91.Excess weight is the result of/unhealthy eating habits/which are inherent risk factors/responsible for many diseases.
(a)excess weight is the result of
(b)unhealthy eating habits
(c)which are inherent risk factors
(d)responsible for many diseases
(e)No error
92.The therapeutic benefits/at helping others/have long been/recognised by people.
(a)the therapeutic benefits
(b)at helping others
(c)have long been
(d)recognised by people
(e)No error
Hints and Solutions
1.(d); There is a verb tense error here.
2.(a); There is an incorrect use of ‘owing to’.
3.(a); ‘Pickpocketers’ is not the correct word. The correct one is ‘Pickpockets’ and hence option (a) is right.
4.(a); Option (a) is our answer, because ‘his’ is a possessive pronoun and it should come next to the noun it is referring to, i.e. his would come just before hands.
5.(b); As the given sentence is describing a continuous action in the past, ‘fall’ should be replaced with ‘falling’ back. Hence, option (b) is correct.
6.(c); Option (c) is correct, because it is redundant and there is no use of it. The word ‘exceed’ is enough to convey that the short story should not have more than 200 words.
7.(a)If you read …..
The indefinite pronoun ‘one’ or the personal pronoun ‘you’ should he used throughout the sentence.
8.(b)why she had not gone...
As per the rules of syntax the subject comes before the verb and not after.
9.(a)In a tropical climate....
The article ‘a’ is used as “tropical climate” here is being used generically. One should either say “a tropical climate” or “tropical climates”.
10.(a)Pollution affects
The verb affects is to be used here which means “to produce an effect on’
11.(b)gone not only to Delhi
‘Not only – but also are correlative conjunctions and when used, should be followed by the same part
of speech.
12.(b)as effective as
13.(a)If you had come earlier...
The past tense is to be used here.
14.(d)among themselves.
The preposition ‘between’ is used when two things are considered whereas ‘among’ is used to qualify more than two things or people.
15.(a)Did he say he would...
‘Would’ is used as the past equivalent of ‘will’ when reporting in Indirect Speech.
16.(a)has increased....
Often, by what is called the “Error of Proximity”, the verb is made to agree in number with a noun near it instead of with its proper subject. This should be avoided.
17.(c)an hour.
‘An’ is used before a word beginning with a vowel sound.
18.(a)....is a transparent liquid.
The adjective ‘transparent’ is to be used here and not the noun ‘transparency’.
19.(d)in its unique splendour.
The Himalayas is referred to as a singular noun.
20.(b)is expected to be faster
21.(c)has indicated his unwillingness
In referring to anybody, everybody, everyone, anyone, each etc., the pronoun of the masculine or the feminine gender is used according to the context but when the sex is not determined, we use the pronoun of the masculine gender, as there is no singular pronoun of the third person to represent both male and female, as, Each must do his best.
22.(a)The creatures on Mars, if any,
The plural of ‘creatures’ is used to agree with the verb ‘are’.
23.(b).... Note its peculiar
The third person, neuter gender, possessive case is ‘its’. There is no need for the apostrophe unless one says “the bird’s markings”.
24.(c)....of Florida was
The sentence is in Indirect Speech (as the reporting verb “said” indicates) and hence a past tense in the principal clause is followed by a past tense in the subordinate clause.
25.(b)has been sent..
Some nouns which are plural in form, but singular in meaning, take a Singular verb; as, The news is true.
26.(a)Many of the
‘Many’ and ‘much’ both are comparative adjectives but the adjective ‘many’ is generally used for number and the adjective ‘much’ for quantity.
27.(d)how it eats
The simple present is used to express habitual actions.
28.(d)in studies, public speaking and sports.
The word ‘both’ is used to refer to two things.
29.(d)if he had not taken the drug
The action of taking the drug occurred before he died.
30.(c)has had any …….
The singular form ‘has’ is to be used as both his father and his teacher refer to the singular (third person) Two or more singular subjects connected by or, nor, neither – nor, either— or, take a verb in the singular.
31.(b)do you like best
The word ‘better is a Comparative Adjective The Superlative ‘best’ is used when more than two things (or sets of things) are compared.
32.(c)the less he was...
‘More’ is a comparative adjective and should be followed by the comparative form of ‘little’ (i.e. less) and not the superlative.
33.(a)……the country which
The relative pronoun ‘which’ is used for things without life and for animals. It may refer to a singular or plural noun. Here it is introducing the defining adjective clause.
34.(a)……my wife nor I
35.(c)his Government would not……
In indirect Speech ‘will’ is changed into ‘would’.
36.(b)……better than any other movie
When a comparison is instituted by means of a Comparative followed by than the thing compared must be always excluded from the class of things with which it is compared, by using other or some such words.
37.(b)that fewer persons die....
She adjective ‘less’ refers to quantity and the adjective ‘few’ is used to denote number.
38.(a)The student, whom the ……
The relative pronoun ‘whom’ is used with the Accusative and the relative pronoun ‘who’ with the Nominative. When a pronoun or, noun) is used as the Subject al a verb if a raid to be in the Nominative case and when it is used as the Object of a verb it is said to be in the Accusative Case. To find the Nominative, put ‘Who/What’ before the verb and to find the Accusative put ‘Whom/What’ before the verb and its subject.
Whom\What have the friends (subject) nicknamed as Jolly John (object)?
It is the relative pronoun who which has different forms for Accusative (i.e. whom) and Genitive (i.e. whose).
The case of a relative pronoun depends upon the use oi the pronoun in the clause which it Genitive (i.e. whose) introduces —not upon the case of its antecedent. Compare the following two sentences in which the antecedent (i.e. the noun to which the pronoun refers or relates) is in the Nominative case but the pronouns are in the nominative and accusative cases, respectively, because of their use in their own clauses.
This he who came yesterday. (nominative—subject of the verb came)
This is he whom you saw. (accusative — object of saw)
The student who is selected must be reliable. (subject of the verb is selected)
The student whom you select must be reliable. (object of the verb select)
Whom do you want? (object of the verb do want)
Who do you think will be there? (subject of the verb will be)
39.(c)I feel bad for at ……
Some adverbs have two forms, the form ending in - ly and the form which is the same as the adjective.
For e.g. He sings very loud.
He sings very loudly.
The word ‘bad’ is appropriate in the sentence given.
40.(c)I consider coffee preferable to tea
The word ‘preferable’ has the force of a Comparative (Hence the Comparative’ more’ is redundant) and is generally followed by the preposition ‘to’.
41.(b)attracted fewer students
42.(b)either of the two....
Either means any one.
43.(b)……customers who deposit....
44.(b)is unanimous in his view
45.(d)and is hard-working/works hard
The clause here needs the verb ‘is’ to complete it.
46.(c)....would come a bit late
Late means after the due / usual / proper time. Lately is an adverb meaning not long ago\recently.
47.(a)neither economics nor politics
Some conjunctions are always used in pairs. They are called Correlative Conjunctions, as;
Either……or; Neither……nor; Both……and; Though……yet; Whether— or; only……but also.
48.(a)It should be ‘hung’; ‘hanged’ means ‘put to death’.
49.(d)It should be ‘wherever I go’
50.(c)It should be ‘injurious to
51.(c)‘As well as ‘is followed by a singular verb so it should be was present
52.(d)In case of ‘both ‘we use ‘each other’ in place of ‘one another’.
53.(a)It should be ‘out of the two schemes’. This is the one more likely.
54.(c)Remove ‘that’ before ‘why’
55.(d)Your’s or that of your.
56.(b)It should be 'in order to'
57.(c)‘he’ is superflous, omit it.
58.(c)It should be ‘junior to’
59.(c)Use ‘has’ in place of ‘have’
60.(a)Misuse of Tense
It should be ‘had been’ in place of was.
61.(b)It should be ‘who come’ here ‘is’.
62.(c)Use adj. form, hard in place of adverbial form ‘hardly’.
63.(b)Instead of ‘much angry’ it should be ‘very angry
64.(c)It should ‘more efficient’ both the adj. should be in comparative degree
65.(c)It should he ‘as though he were drunk’, because he was not drunk in the real sense.
66.(d)It should be ‘for visiting instead of ‘in visiting’ the exhibition.
67.(a)It should be either “I had’ or ‘I saw’
68.(b)‘No’ should not be used, because the word ‘unless’ itself is giving a Negative sense.
69.(a)It should be ‘no fewer’, no less is used for quantity
70.(b)‘that’ to be avoided as double contraction are not used in a singular clause.
71.(a)In the following question the use of article ‘an’ before ‘unit’ is wrong. The letter under this part is (a) ; so (a) is the correct answer. The reason being ‘an’ is used before singular countable nouns which begin with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u). The vowel ‘u’ in unit sound like ‘you’ i.e. this word sounds as if it begins with the consonant ‘y’. So we use ‘a’ before them.
72.(b)The word ‘were’ is wrongly used. The letter under this part is (b), therefore, (b) is the correct answer. The correct form would be ‘ of that period was the creation and popularization’ the reason being the subject of ‘were’ in the sentence is ‘A major contribution’, which is singular. So, ‘was’ should be used to make the sentence grammatically correct.
73.(c)The preposition ‘in’ is wrongly used. The letter under this part is (c), therefore, (c) is the correct answer. The correct form will be – “has an answer at the back”.
74.(c)The error lies in part (c) of the sentence, therefore, (c) is the correct answer. The correct form will be – that he’s not just a pretty face”.
75.(c)In this particular question, the phrase ‘she and I’ it wrongly used. The letter under this part is (c), therefore, (c) is the correct answer. The correct sentence will be. “There is beautiful moon out tonight and Neeta and I are going for a stroll would you like to come along with us?”
76.(b)Here word ‘principle’ in option (b) need to be replaced by ‘principal’ since, this principal indicates main aim which suggests the right meaning of the sentence.
77.(a)Here ‘spoonsful’ word need to be replaced with ‘spoonfuls’. Since there is no word like spoonsful, it does not make any sense in the sentence.
78.(b)revolutions should be replaced with revolution
79.(b)It should be ‘that I was running a temperature’.
80.(a)It should be ‘has been irrigating’ in present perfect continuous tense.
81.(a)Being present perfect continuous tense, replace ‘am’ with have been.
82.(c)In ‘c’, the word ‘his’ is wrong. So, remove this word.
83.(d)Here, for a picnic should be used.
84.(e)
85.(a)Here, The burst from should be used. The words blast and explosion are synonymous.
86.(b)Here, to reveal should be used.
87.(a)The event shows past time. Hence, Simple Past i.e. My friend became ...... should be used.
88.(b)
89.(c)
90.(b)
91.(e)
92.(b)
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