SPOTTING

THE
ERRORS
WITH
EXPLANATION
PDF BOOK

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Book/PDF Name : Spotting the Errors with Explanation

Pages : 80

Rate : 100

Edition : 2020

Copyright : Publisher

In the compilation of this book all possible precautions have been taken to ensure that the informations
provided is correct. Yet the publisher / authors will nto be held responsible for any printing errors or damage
resulting from any inadvertent omission or inaccuracies in this book. However suggestions for the
improvement of this book (Including printing errors, ommissions, etc. if any) are welcome and these will be
incorporated in the subsequent editions of this book.

Published by : P. Gokulanathan, Nithra Publications, AV Plaza 3rd & 4th Floor, South Car Street, Tiruchengode - 637211.
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

SPOT THE ERRORS

PART OF SPEECH
Noun Based:
Read the following sentence and any part of the sentence may contain
errors and spot them carefully. Ignore if there are no errors.

1. A farmer was leading oxes (A) / to his field for ploughing (B) / early
in the morning (C) / No error (D)
Solution: A
Replace ‘oxes’ with ‘oxen’.

2. I don’t think it is (A)/ your book.It is (B)/ somebody’s else (C)/ no

error
Solution: B
‘Somebody else’s’ in place of somebody else.

3. The issues are (A)/ very complex and the problem (B)/ is that they
are bound to be obscured (C)/ by these hypocritical politicians. (D)/
No Error (E)
Solution: E
No Error

4. The sceneries (A)/ of Kashmir is more beautiful (B)/ than that of

(C)/ Darjeeling. (D)/ No Error (E)
Solution: A
Replace ‘scenery’ with ‘sceneries’

5. Although she has studied (A)/ English for almost a year, (B)/ she is
yet to learn the alphabets (C)/ No Error(D)
Solution: C
‘Alphabet’ in place of alphabets.

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

6. I hope to visit (A) / my uncle only next year (B) / during summer
vacations (C) / No Error (D)
Solution: C
‘vacation’ in place of ‘vacations’

7. We have been under (A) / a lot of pressure to (B) / to open fifty new
stores (C) / by the ending of the year. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution: D
Replace ‘ending’ with ‘end’.

8. I shall not attend the meeting (A) / since I have many works to
complete (B) / within the allotted time (C) / No Error (D)
Solution: B
‘much work’ in place of ‘many works’

9. It is not my business (A) / to give an advice to those (B) / who are

not sensible enough to deal with their own problems (C) / No error
(D)
Solution: B
Remove ‘an’

10. Many organizations have been offering (A) / attractive incentives to

(B)/ their employees in an attempt (C)/ to boosting employee
retention. (D) / No error (E)
Solution: D
Replacement ‘to boosting’ employee retention by ‘to boost’
employee retention.

11. Some of the world (A) / largest water bodies are (B) / drying up
thus threatening (C) / the livelihood of millions. (D) / No error (E).
Solution: C
Replace ‘interrupting’ with ‘interruption’.

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

12. You cannot (A) / master physics (B) / without learning the (C) /
formula that governs it. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution: C
Replace 'formula' with 'formulae'.

13. The price of (A) / production in the (B) / industrial sector (C) / has
gone up. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution: A
Replace 'price' with 'cost'.

14. Psychologists have been documenting (A) / the emotional and

physical (B) / effect of (C) / negative political advertisements. (D) /
No error (E).
Solution: C
Replace ‘effect’ with ‘effects’.

15. Robert Steven, a forty-years-old graduate (A)/ took credit for the
success, (B)/ claiming he located the child (C)/ clairvoyantly and
informed the authorities. (D)/ No error (E).
Solution: A
The error lies in the first part of the given sentence. It should be ‘the
forty-year-old graduate’ instead of ‘a forty-years-old graduate’

16. The massive amount (A)/ of informations in these (B)/ decoded

genomes can only (C)/ be processed by computers. (D)/ No error
(E).
Solution: B
The word ‘information’ is not a non- countable noun so we do not
use ‘S’ in the plural form of information.
‘informations’ must be replaced with ‘information’

17. A weather remained ominous (A)/ with dark clouds rolling in,
pushed by (B)/ an ever-increasing wind that (C)/ churned the sky in
threatening waves. (D)/ No error (E).
Solution: A

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

Before the uncountable nouns the determiner ‘the’ should be used

instead of ‘a’. So ‘A weather’ must be replaced as ‘The weather’

18. He filled four plastics bowl with water for the chickens and hauled
buckets of water to the horses and buffalo.

Four plastics bowl Four plastic bowl

Four plastic bowls No Error

Nouns can act as pre-modifiers in the noun phrase. A noun which

acts as pre modifiers is singular even when the head is plural.

19. The company has its offices on the third and the fourth floors.

Fourth Floor The Fourth Floors

A Fourth Floors No Error

If two adjectives are joined by ‘and’ and ‘the’, singular nouns should
be used at the end.

20. Many times the news has been published(A)/in the papers that the
end of the world will be certain(B)/if a nuclear war breaks out.
(C)/No Error(D)
Solution : D No Error

VERB BASED

1. During freedom struggle (A) / many a patriot (B) / were filled with
patriotism (C) / No error (D)
Solution : C Replace ‘were’ by ‘was’

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

2. His mastery (A)/ over several sports (B)/ and the social graces (C)/
make him a sought –after coach(D)/ No error(E)
Solution : C ‘make’ must be replaced by ‘makes’

3. One of his many (A) / good traits that come to my mind (B) / was his
modesty (C) / No error (D)
Solution : C Replace ‘was’ by ‘is’

4. One of the main consequences of this is(A)/ that the Front national
do not benefit from any(B) /tactical vote transfer from other parties
- a crucial(C)/ stepping stone to success in a two-round electoral
system(D)/No error.(E)
Solution : A ‘do’ Replace with ‘does’

5. More than one student (A)/ has not come to (B)/ the class (C)/ no
error(E)
Solution : E No error

6. The rest (A) / of the students is (B) / still working (C) / No error (D)
Solution : B Replace ‘is’ by ‘are’

7. To begin with, it will reopen(A) /a historic route that reconnect(B)

/South Asia to Central Asia, in the way it was(C) /before the British
Empire sealed it off(D) /No error.(E)
Solution : B ‘Reconnect’ Replace with ‘reconnects’

8. He wants (A)/ to continuing her studies abroad (B)/ since he will

have various opportunities (C)/ to continue his research in his
interested field. (D)/ No Error (E)
Solution : B ‘Continuing’ Replace with Continue
The Error in the second part of the sentence. The verb ‘Continuing’ is
wrongly used in the sentence. Use the Infinitive form of Verb and it
uses the base verb.

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

9. Her only motive (A)/ was to finding (B)/ the truth and (C)/ follow it.
(D)/ No error (E)
Solution : B ‘To finding’ must be replaced with ‘ to find’.

10. To understand (A)/ French better (B)/ a good dictionary (C)/ is

necessary. (D)/ No Error (E)
Solution : A
‘ To understand French better’ is an action that should be linked to
the doer who should appear as the subject of this clause. The right
way to write this type of sentence is to add the subject at the
beginning. ‘ For you to understand French better a good dictionary is
necessary.

11. The sudden noise (A)/ frightened the baby (B)/ and made it (C)/ to
cry. (D)/ No Error. (E)
Solution : D
Here ‘to’ is wrongly used. So ‘to’ needs to be omitted to make the
sentence grammatically correct.

12. The teacher (A)/ has took (B)/the responsibility of (C)/ the cultural
program.(D)/ No error (E)
Solution : B
The verb ‘has took’ must be replaced with ‘has taken’

13. He musted preserve and protect (A)/ the underworld, even if it

meant stepping (B)/ away from the comfort zone (C)/ he'd existed in
for millennia. (D)/ No error (E)
Solution : A
Musted is replaced with ‘had to’

14. A great many people (A)/ has joined the (B)/ protest to voice their
concerns (C)/ over increased taxes. (D)/ No error (E)
Solution : B
It is because ‘a great many people’ should be followed by the plural
verb and plural noun. So ‘has’ must be replaced with ‘have’

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

15. Achin developed an (A)/ enmity with the Portuguese, and (B)/ more
than one attempt were (C)/ made to drive the strangers from
Malacca. (D)/ No Error(E)
Solution : C
‘Were’ must be replaced with ‘was’

16. I had been (A) / to Delhi last week (B) / to visit my friends (D) / No
error (E)
Solution : A
‘Had been’ must be replaced by ‘went’

17. No one in this world (A) / can be able to do work (B) / continuously
for ten hours (C) / No error (D)
Solution : B
Replace ‘can be’ by ‘is’

18. She disappeared (A) / and found dead (B) / near a well outside the
village (C) / No error (D)
Solution : B
Add ‘was’ after ‘and’

19. The child picked up (A) / a burned paper (B) / from the street (C) /
No error (D)
Solution : B
Replace ‘burned’ with ‘burnt’

20. I would like you (A) / to complete this assignment (B) / before you
will leave for Mumbai (C) / No error (D)
Solution : C
Omit the ‘was’ in this sentence.

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

ADVERBS

1. I cannot ask (A) / my father (B) / for his car without (C) / any
vividly reason. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : C
Replace 'vividly' with 'vivid'. Here, 'vividly' is an adverb, which
cannot qualify a noun i.e. 'reason'. The correct way should be - 'vivid'
as an adjective.

2. She was exceedingly paid (A) / for how skilful she (B) / handled (C)
/ the crowd. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : B
Replace 'skilful' with 'skilfully'.

3. I met him (A)/ about ten years ago (B)/ and have remembered him
(C)/ ever for. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : D
Replace 'for' with 'since'. 'Since' is used with 'ever' as an adverb.

4. He said (A)/ it was (B)/ quite all right (C)/ to reject the offer.(D) / No
Error (E)
Solution : C
'Quite all' cannot be used together. Either 'quite right' or 'all right'
should be used.

5. You have (A) / acted nobler (B) / than all of us (C) / No error (D)
Solution : B
Replace ‘nobler’ by ‘more nobly’.

6. I did not know hardly (A)/ anyone in the city (B) / and so felt lonely
(C) / No error (D)
Solution : A
Replace ‘did not know hardly’ by ‘hardly knew’

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

7. The government (A)/ of any country always should (B)/ make public
sanitation (C)/ an important part of its agenda. (D)/ No error (E)
Solution : B
‘Always’ being an adverb has to come after the modal verb ‘Should’

8. The teacher (A)/ scolded him always (B)/ because he rarely reached
school on time. (C)/ No error(E)
Solution : B
The error is in part (B) of the sentence. It is because of the wrong
placement of the adverb “always”. So, “always” should be used before
the verb “scolded”.

9. It is a common misconception (A)/ that every policeman badly

behaves (B)/ with the citizens. (C)/ No error(E)
Solution : B
The adverb “badly” should be used after the verb “behaves”. The
adverbs of manner are used after the main verb.

10. He yesterday came (A)/ to meet you but you (B)/ were not present.
(C)/ No error(E)
Solution : A
The adverbs of time like yesterday, today etc are used at the end of
any sentence. So, the word “yesterday” should be used in part (B) of
the above sentence.

11. Manisha danced (A)/ in the college function (B)/ elegantly yesterday.
(C)/ No error (E)
Solution : C
It is because the adverb “elegantly” should be used after the verb
“danced”.
Tips: Adverb of manner, Adverb of place and Adverb of time are given
together in a sentence, then it should be used in the order Adverb of
manner, Adverb of place, Adverb of time. *

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

12. The majority of thee (A)/ reviews are positive and the (B)/
customers seem much pleased (C)/ with the performance of their
units. (D)/ No Error(E)
Solution : C
Use very before the present participle and much before the past
particle

13. One should face (A)/ the challenges posed by (B)/ life manly (C)/ No
error(E)
Solution : C
Add the Adverb ‘Manfully’ instead of ‘Manly’

14. She is considered as (A)/ the best (B)/ singer in the city (C)/ No error
(E)
Solution : A
Omit ‘as’

15. The principal rejected my (A)/ application outrightly as (B)/ it was

against the rules of the school (C)/ No error (E)
Solution : B
Add ‘outright’ in the place of ‘Outrightly’

16. The highlight of this area is the (A)/ chance to see the unusual (B)/
and shy platypus (C)/ swimming effortless in the clear creeks. (D)/
No Error(E)
Solution : D
‘Effortless’ must be replaced with ‘Effortlessly’

17. The rainfall in the (A)/ south-west portion of (B)/ the island is
considerable greater (C)/ than in other districts. (D)/ No Error(E)
Solution : C
‘Considerable’ must be replaced with ‘Considerably’

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

18. He took (A) / tea and (B) / said that (C) / it tasted sweetly. (D) /
No Error (E)
Solution : C
Replace 'sweetly' with 'sweet'.

19. My mother works (A) / very quicker than (B) / I at embroidery (C)
/ No error (D)
Solution : B
Replace ‘very quicker’ by ‘more quickly’.

20. It is better to be frugal (A) / but don’t be miser (B) / in giving alms
(C) / No error (D)
Solution : B
Replace ‘miser’ by ‘miserly’

ADJECTIVES

1. Even the most perfect person (A) / in the world is said to have erred
(B) / when there was time to perform (C) / No error (D)
Solution : A
Delete ‘most’

2. I am much glad(A)/ that you(B)/ have won(C)/ the prize(D)/ No

error(E)
Solution : A
Use “very” instead of “much”

3. The driver tried his best(A)/ to avert the accident by(B)/ bringing
the car(D)/ to a suddenly stop.(D)/ No error(E)
Solution : D
‘Sudden’ must be replaced instead of ‘suddenly’

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

4. My observation is that(A)/ between Vivek and Shashi,(B)/ Vivek is

(C)/the most intelligent. (D)/ No error(E)
Solution : D
‘More’ must be replaced in the place of ‘Most’

5. Reena wanted to (A)/ become a surgeon(B) / and working very

hardly(C)/ to achieve this.(D)/ No error(E)
Solution : C
Replace ‘hard’ with ‘hardly’

6. The flood situation this year(A)/ is worst than(B)/ that

prevailed(C)/ in the last year.(D)/ No error (E)
Solution : E
No Error

7. The railways have made (A)/crossing the tracks (B)/a punished

offence. (C)/ No Error.(E)
Solution : C
‘Punished’ must be replaced by ‘Punishable’

8. Most of the teenagers consider(A)/looks superior than(B) /moral

values.(C)/No Error.(D)
Solution : B
The adjectives that end with -ior take preposition ‘to’ with them.

9. My all friends (A) /are going to Manali for river rafting (B) /this
weekend (C)/ No Error. (D)
Solution : A
Possessive adjectives come after ‘all’.
‘My all friends” should be replaced with ‘All my friends’

10. The lad was (A)/ so many interested (B)/ in his work that he (C)/
did not see the stranger. (D)
Solution : B

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

‘Much’ must be used instead of ‘Many’.

11. The modern town in the immediately neighbourhood, (A)/ still

known as Fokia, was founded (B)/ by the Genoese in 1421 on
account of (C)/ the discovery of rich alum mines in the
neighbourhood. (D)
Solution : A
‘Immediately’ must be replaced with ‘Immediate’

12. The stones of monuments, walls or buildings (A)/ which are

exposed (B)/ to air break up more sooner (C)/ under the influence
of the weather. (D)
Solution : C
‘More’ should be eliminated to make the sentence grammatically
correct.

13. The beginnings of his (A)/ doctrine of cellular (B)/ pathology date
from an earliest (C)/ period in his career. (D)
Solution : C
When you use an article with a superlative adjective (“earliest”, in
this case), it is always the definite article (“the”) rather than “a” or
“an”.

14. The information was (A)/ surprisingly shocking, and (B)/ on a level
that farther altered (C)/ Rama’s perception about Devi. (D)
Solution : C
‘Farther’ refers to a greater physical distance, a distance that has
been measured. On the other hand, ‘further’ describes something
that is beyond or additional.

15. Farmers are eligible (A)/ for government support (B)/ if they let
certain amount (C)/ of land lie fallow. (D)
Solution : C
‘a’ must be added before ‘certain’ to form a grammatically correct
sentence.

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

16. Current demographic trends (A)/ suggest that there will be (B)/
less school dropouts coming (C)/ into the workforce in ten years'
time. (D)
Solution : C
‘less’ must be replaced with ‘fewer’

17. There remains a considerate (A)/ doubt over the (B)/ existence of
life (C)/ on other planets. (D)
Solution : A
‘Considerate’ should be replaced with ‘considerable’

18. He suggested that increasing the (A)/ counselling skills of general

practitioners (B)/ may be preferable than widening (C)/ the
primary health care team. (D)
Solution : C
‘Than’ must be replaced with ‘To’

19. The security of (A)/ the all operation (B)/ has been jeopardized (C)/
by one careless person. (D)
Solution : B
‘All’ must be replaced with ‘whole’

20. Chennai is (A) / further from (B) / Pune than (C) / Nagpur. (D) /
No Error (E)
Solution : C
Replace 'further' with 'farther'.

PRONOUN BASED

1. Those sort of people (A) / usually do not (B) / earn fame in society
(C) / No error (D)
Solution : A Replace ‘sort’ by ‘sorts’

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

2. Myself and Gopalan (A) / will take care of (B) / the function on Sunday
(C) / No error (D)
Solution : A Replace ‘myself’ by ‘I’

3. Unless two or more members(A) / object to him joining the group, we

shall have to (B)/ accept his application for membership(C) /No
error(D).
Solution : B Change ‘him’ into ‘his’

4. She made (A)/ your mention at (B) / the farewell party (C) / no
error(D)
Solution : B ‘mention of you ‘ in place of ‘your mention’

5. Being a very (A) / hot day I (B) / remained indoors (C) / No error (D)
Solution : A Add ‘it’ before ‘being’

6. One of them (A) / forgot to take their bag (B) / from the school (C) /
No error (D).
Solution : B Replace ‘their ‘ by ‘his’

7. Mr Sharma, our representative (A) / he will attend the meeting (B) /

on our behalf (C) / No error (D)
Solution : B Remove ‘he’

8. It was in 2014 (A) / that we first(A) /flew to the USA(A) / No error(A)

Solution : A Change ‘that’ into ‘when’ as ‘2006 ‘ is a point of time

9. You and I (A) / are expected to do your duty (B) / in the interest of
the students (C) / No error (D)
Solution : B Replace ‘your’ by ‘our’

10. There is(A) / no country but(B) / is corrupt. (C) / No error(D)

Solution : D No error

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

PREPOSITION BASED

Read the following sentence and any part of the sentence may contain
errors and spot them carefully. Ignore if there are no errors.

1. The loss of his (A)/ patrimony did not prevent (B)/ Propertius to
receive (C)/ a top-notch education. (D)/ No Error(E)
Solution: C
The Verb Prevent cannot be followed by ‘to’ it should be followed by
‘from’
So ‘to receive’ must be replaced with ‘from receiving’

2. The mother brought the cookies (A) / and distributed them (B) /
between her (C) / nine children. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution: C
The preposition Among must be used for more than two persons
or things. Between is used only for two.

3. Tinku and Tina walked (A) / besides each other (B) / in complete
(C) / silence. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution: B
Replace ‘besides’ with ‘beside’
‘Beside’ means by the side of. ‘Besides’ means ‘in addition to.’

4. Her mentor, (A) / Rana singh was (B) / blind within (C) / one eye.
(D) / No Error (E)
Solution: C
The Correct formation is ‘within’ must be replaced by ‘in’

5. The Monument had already (A)/ been partially rebuilt by Zedekiah

and his companions (B)/ but on a scale far inferior than (C)/ the
magnificent building of King Solomon. (D)/ No Error (E)
Solution: C

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

The comparative adjective ‘than’ must be replaced by ‘to’

6. The lifting of restrictions on inter but intra-State (A)/ movement of

persons and goods (C)/ revived both vehicular movement and, (C)/
consequently, demand for auto fuels. (D)/No Error (E)
Solution: A
The conjunction ‘but’ must be replaced by ‘and’

7. Commentators are already talking(A) / about a paradigm shift in

(B)/ the structure and functioning of societies (C)/ once the
pandemic subsides. (D)/ No Error (E)
Solution: E
No Error

8. It is not possible (A) / to exchange the goods (B) / once the sale has
(C) / been completed. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution: C
Replace ‘once’ with ‘after’
‘After’ means at the end of the period of time in the past.

9. According to the Thelpusan story, Demeter, (A)/ during her

wanderings in search (B)/ for Persephone, changed herself (C)/ into
a mare to avoid the persecution of Poseidon. (D)/ No Error(E)
Solution: C
The preposition ‘for’ is incorrect. The Preposition ‘of’ must be used
as a phrase ‘ in search of’ means ‘looking for something’

10. A woman who always(A)/ convinces on the(B)/ faults of children

(C)/is their worst enemy. (D)/No Error. (E)
Solution: B
Replace ‘on’ with ‘at’
The verb ‘connives’ takes the preposition ‘at’ after it.

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

11. The top-ranking candidates (A) / will be appointed in (B) / senior

jobs (C) / in Banks. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution: B
Replace ‘in’ with ‘to’
The correct expression should be ‘appointed to’

12. In a State that resisted multiple attempts(A)/ to impose Hindi since

1937, (B) / political parties are understandably wary of any
mandate(C)/ to impart an additional language at schools. (B)/ No
Error.(E)
Solution: D
The preposition ‘at’ should be replaced with ‘in’

13. The border stand-off in the(A) / icy Himalayas was bound to

have(B) / its economic repercussions in an(C) / atmosphere rippling
with nationalistic fervor. (D)/No Error.(E)
Solution: C
The Preposition ‘in’ must be replaced with ‘on’

14. Every time a big fish is caught, (A) /it spreads awareness on the
perils (B) / of taking illegal drugs and goes (C) / a small way in
cleaning up the sport. (D)/No Error. (E)
Solution: B
‘On’ must be replaced with ‘about’

15. In India’s case, many of them (A)/is an outcome of (B)/ its

unpleasant encounter (C)/ by British colonialism. (D)/No Error. (E)
Solution: D
The preposition ‘by’ in the last part of the sentence must be
replaced with ‘with’

16. By the announcement (A)/ by the Australian government, (B)/

there seems to be a possibility of (C)/ conducting a World T20 in
October. (D)/No Error. (E)
Solution: A

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

Replace the preposition ‘by’ with ‘After’

17. India’s complacency (A)/ and misjudgment in 1962 (B)/ were not
for want in (C)/ warning signs from China. (D)/No Error. (E)
Solution: C
The preposition ‘in’ must be replaced with ‘of’

18. A single transferable vote (A)/ means electors can vote by (B)/ any
number of candidates in (C)/ order of their preference. (D)/No
Error. (E)
Solution: B
Here in the second part of the sentence the preposition ‘for’ must be
replaced instead of ‘by’

19. Still, the summit (A)/ was an opportunity to (B)/ open a new (C)/
direction of relations. (D)/No Error. (E)
Solution: D
The preposition ‘of’ takes place in the last part of the sentence must
be replaced with ‘in’

20. The pandemic has (A)/ reinforced the desire for (B)/ greater global
cooperation /(C) among most states. (D)/No Error. (E)
Solution: D
The preposition ‘among’ takes place in the last part of the sentence
must be replaced as ‘amongst’

CONJUNCTION BASED

1. Although they listen to me (A)/ but their actions (B) / prove

otherwise (C) / No error (D)
Solution : B Replace ‘but’ by ‘yet’

2. Sonal asked (A) / that who (B) / he was (C) / No error (D)
Solution : B Remove ‘that’

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

3. Neither (A) / you or (B) / he is (C) / a thief.(D)

Solution : B Replace ‘or’ by ‘nor’

4. The man is (A) / not honest and not (B) / truthful (C) / No error (D)
Solution : B Replace ‘not honest and not’ with ‘neither honest nor’

5. He has no chance (A) / than to start (B) / his own business (C) / No
error (D)
Solution : B Replace ‘than’ by ‘but’

6. I will either (A) / go for a walk (B) / else play (C) / football. (D) /
No Error (E)
Solution : C Replace 'else' with 'or'

7. I am (A) / sad and (B) / hopeful (C)/ No Error(D)

Solution : B Replace 'and' with 'but'

8. The patient would (A)/ have died (B)/ when the doctor had not (C)/
come in time (D)/ No error (E)
Solution: C Replace ‘when’ by ‘if’

9. The thief had (A)/ hardly put the cash (B)/ in his pocket (C)/ then the
owner woke up (D)/ No error (E)
Solution : D Replace ‘then’ by ‘when’

10. I am interested (A) / in such books (B) / that are interesting (C) / No
error (D)
Solution : C Replace ‘that’ by ‘as’

11. Mrs Dhaka went to Delhi (A) / because she might (B) / see Mrs Rai
(C) / No error (D)
Solution : B Replace ‘because’ by ‘so that’

20
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

12. Neither did he (A) / accept the punishment (B) / or apologised (C) /
for his mistake. (D) / No error (E)
Solution : C Replace ‘or’ by ‘nor’

13. Hardly had I (A) / reached the station where (B) / I learnt about (C) /
the powerful bomb explosion (D) / No error (E)
Solution : B Replace ‘where’ by ‘when’

14. How do you say (A) / that neither he or Raj has qualified (B) / in the
examination ? (C) / No error (D)
Solution : B Replace ‘or’ by ‘nor’

15. I am but (A) / a humble seeker after truth (B) / and bent upon finding
it. (C) / No error (D)
Solution : C Remove ‘and’

16. Ravi is as (A) / fast as or (B) / perhaps faster (C) / than Raj. (D) / No
error (E)
Solution : B Remove ‘as’

17. Unless you do not listen to his advice (A) / I am not going (B) / to help
you (C) / No error (D)
Solution : A Remove ‘do not’

18. My science text book has been (A) / missing from my room (B) / till
yesterday. (C) / No error (D)
Solution : C Replace ‘till’ by ‘since’

19. The reason for his failure (A) / is because (B) / he did not work hard
(C) / No error (D)
Solution : B Remove ‘because’

20. He is as clever if (A) / not cleverer (B) / than his brother. (C) / No
error (D)
Solution : A Add ‘as’ after ‘clever’

21
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

ARTICLES BASED

1. The road (A) / to famous monument (B) / passes through a forest (C)
/ (D) No error
Solution : B Add ‘the’ before ‘famous’

2. I am not rich, (A) / so I cannot afford (B) / to buy a expensive car. (C)
/ No error (D)
Solution : C Replace ‘a’ by ‘an’

3. The honesty (A) / is the (B) / best policy. (C) / No Error (D)
Solution : A Remove ‘the’ before ‘honest’

4. These display (A) / the (B) / remarkable variety (C) / No error (D)
Solution : B Replace ‘the’ by ‘a’.

5. She can (A) / speak the Hindi, (B) / Sanskrit and (C) / English fluently.
(D) / No Error (E)
Solution : B Remove ‘the’ before ‘Hindi’

6. The famous Dr. Narayana (A) / is only Orthopedist (B) / in our village.
(C) / No error (D)
Solution : B Add ‘the’ before ‘only’

7. My father is (A) / in bad mood. (B) / today (C) / No error (D)

Solution : B Add ‘a’ before ‘bad’

8. Kabir and Rahim (A)/ are great poets (B)/ but the former is (C)/
greater than latter. (D)/ No error
Solution : D Replace ‘than’ by ‘the’

9. Ankit prefers (A) / self-employment (B) / to job (B) / in any office. (C)
/ No Error (D)
Solution : C Add ‘a’ before ‘job’

22
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

10. The hospital is (A) / within hundred meters (B) / from my house. (C)
/ No error (D)
Solution : B Add ‘a’ before ‘hundred’

11. My master advises (A) / me to make use (B) / of this opportunity, (C)
/ since it is an unique one. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : D Replace 'an' with 'a'

12. A untidy kitchen (A) / is a mark of (B) / indecency. (C) / Hence keep
it clean always. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : B Replace 'a' with 'an'

13. Everyone knows (A)/ that leopard is (B)/ faster than (C)/ all other
animals. (D)/ No error(E)
Solution : B Replace ‘that' with 'the'

14. Only very wealthy tourists (A)/can afford (B)/ to stay (C)/ at Imperial
Hotel. (D)/ No error(E)
Solution : D Replace ‘at’ with 'the'

15. The English (A)/ defeated (B)/ French (C)/ in the battle of Waterloo.
(D)/ No error(E)
Solution : C Add ‘the’ before ‘French’

16. He took to (A) / reading times (B) / for better knowledge of the facts
(C) / No error (D)
Solution : B Add ‘the’ before ‘Times’

17. Mr. Palani leads (A) / a very busy(B) / life so he goes (C)/ everywhere
by a scooter(D) / No error (E)
Solution : D Remove ‘a’ before ‘by’

18. The interviewer asked me (A) / if I knew that Kalidas was the greater
(B) / than any other poet (C) / No error (D)
Solution : B Remove ‘the’ before ‘greater’

23
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

19. You have been learning Tamil (A) / for last one year but (B) /you
show no(C) / improvement whatsoever (D) / No error (E)
Solution : B Replace ‘for’ with ‘the’

20. As soon as the teacher entered (A) / everyone fell (B) / in a silence
(C) / No error (D)
Solution : A Remove ‘a’ before ‘silence’

TENSES BASED

1. Having work(A)/ in both public and private sector banks(B)/she is

the most suitable person to take over the post of the chairman.(C)
/No error(D)
Solution : A Replace ‘work’ by ‘worked’

2. My younger brother (A) / has left (B) / for Bhopal last Saturday. (C)
/ No error.(D)
Solution : B Remove ‘has’

3. When you will find out (A) / any solution to this problem (B) / you
will become able to finalize the project, (C) / No error (D)
Solution : A Remove ‘will’

4. I will go (A)/ for the dance classes tomorrow (B)/ if I have

recovered from fever. (C)/No error. (D)
Solution : C If ‘ have recovered’ is to be replaced by ‘if I recover’

5. If you to talk to her on this sensitive matter(A)/ it is probable(B)/ that

she will not listen to you at all.(C)/ No error (D)
Solution : D No Error

6. As you can see(A)/ by my visiting card (B)/that now I am in Mumbai.

(C)/No error (D)
Solution : D No Error

24
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

7. Nine-tenths (A)/of the pillar (B)/have rotted away. (C)/No error. (D)
Solution : C The subject is singular so it will be ‘has rotted away’

8. The ministry was considered several proposals (A)/ for the

development of small and medium enterprises (B)/during Budget
discussions.(C)/No error (D)
Solution : A Use simple past tense. (The ministry considered several
proposals)

9. The police break open (A)/ the trunk (B)/ and found the looted
jewellery, (C) / No error (D)
Solution : A Replace ‘break’ with ‘broke’

10. We have discussing (A)/ all the known mechanisms (B) / of physical
growth, (C)/ No error. (D)
Solution : A Replace 'have' with 'are’

11. The terrorist did not (A)/ confessed his crime even till the very end
(B)/of his trail and said that he was innocent.(C) /No error (D)
Solution : B Replace ‘confessed’ with ‘confess’

12. Most children liked to rest in the afternoon (A)/ after they returned
from school (B)/but my son seems to have an inexhaustible source of
energy. (C)/No error (D)
Solution : C Replace ‘seems’ by ‘seemed’

13. The principal announced (A) / in the school assembly that the school
fees (B)/ will be hiked from the beginning of the next academic
session. (C) / No error (D)
Solution : C Replace ‘will’ with ‘would’

14. Many MultiNational companies are invested (A)/ in India as India is

(B)/one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. (C)/No error(D)
Solution : A Replace ‘invested’ by ‘investing’

25
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

15. Rohan is suffering from severe backache(A)/ since Monday as he has

been working (B)/on the computer for at least eight hours a day.(C)
Solution : A Replace is ‘suffering’ by ‘has been suffering’

16. He asked (A) / why he does not (B) / join the picnic party, (C) / No
error (D)
Solution : C Replace ‘will’ with ‘would’

17. Had I known (A)/ the weather forecast earlier (B)/I would not make
plans to go out. (C)/ No error (D)
Solution : B Replace ‘did not’ by ’does not’

18. Three-fourths of the men (A)/has gone (B)/to war. (C)/No error (D)
Solution : B Use ‘have’ in place of ‘has’

19. Nowadays he teaches physics (A)/ because the teacher of physics (B)
/ has been absenting himself for a month, (C)/ No error (D)
Solution : A Use ‘is teaching’ for ’teaches’

20. My sister has gone (A)/ to England for higher study (B) / only a month
ago. (C) / No error (D)
Solution : A Use ‘went’ in place of ‘has gone’

21. They have recently began (A)/ to purchase furniture for their
new bungalow (B)/ which is being constructed in Delhi.(C)/No error
(D)
Solution : A Replace ‘began’ by ‘begun’.

22. My father (A)/ has left (B) /for Bombay last Saturday. (C) /No
error.(D)
Solution : B Remove ‘has’

23. The judge asked the man (A)/ if the bag he had lost (B)/ contain five
thousand rupees (C)/No error (D)
Solution : C Replace ‘contain’ by ‘contained’

26
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

24. He started a very small business two years ago (A)/ but it grew very
fast (B)/as the country is experiencing a boom at that time.(C)/No
error(D)
Solution : C The sentence is of past tense. So use ‘was’ experiencing.

25. Results find that boys (A)/ played not only more than girls (B)/ but
also performed better in many fields. (C)/No error (D)
Solution : A Replace ‘find’ by ‘found’ as the sentence is of past tense.

26. The High Court on Friday (A)/ ban running of petrol run vehicles
(B)/including small vehicles in the eco-sensitive zone.(C)/No
error(D)
Solution : B Replace ‘ban’ with ‘banned’

27. If you are to talk to her on this sensitive matter(A)/ it is probable(B)/

that she will not listen to you at all.(C)/ No error (D)
Solution : D No error

28. On many occasions (A)/we did helped the poor (B)/ people by way
of giving them food to eat and clothes to put on. (C)/ No error (D)
Solution : B Remove ‘did’

29. She never (A) / minds the children (B) / to play (C) / in the garden.
(D) / No error(E)
Solution : C ' to play' should be changed to 'playing '

30. You had better (A) / to stop (B) / your work for sometime and listen
(C) / to what I say (D) / No error.(E)
Solution : B Remove 'to' before 'stop'

31. It is easy (A) / distinguishing (B) / this house (C) / from that . (D) /
No error.(E)
Solution : B 'distinguishing' should be replaced by ' to distinguish'

32. You (A) / can not (B)/ forbid (C) / him coming.(D) / No error (E)
Solution : D Change 'coming' to 'come'

27
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

33. By adopting (A) / an agitational approach the Association of resident

doctors have (B) / lost the good will be the government (C) / and the
sympathy of the people. (D) / No error.(E)
Solution : B Put 'have' before 'the Association of resident doctors'

34. He never recollected (A) / his grand father to say (B) / that his job
(C) / was odd.(D) / No error.(E)
Solution : B 'his grand father to say ' should be his grand father
saying '

35. Unless you do not take (A) / care of your (B) / health you will
continue (C) / to suffer.(D) / No error. (E)
Solution : A Remove 'do not '

36. Until you begin to make a better use of your time (A) / I shall not stop
(B) / finding fault in you.(C) / No error.(D)
Solution : C Replace 'in' by 'with' after 'fault'

37. We saw (A) / him to walk (B) / in the park (C) / on the way home. (D)
/ No error.(E)
Solution : B 'him to walk' should be 'him walking'

38. He noticed children (A) / to talk together (B) / and caught them (C)
/ climbing the trees.(D) / No error.(E)
Solution : B 'to talk together' should be 'talking together'

39. I missed the last bus which I usually catch (A)/and have to stay back
(B)/at the bus stop last night. (C)/No error (D)
Solution : B Replace ‘have’ by ‘had’

40. My father asked me (A) / where had I (B) / kept my clothes before
(C) / taking a dip / in the river. (D) / No error.(E)
Solution : B Change 'had I ' to ' I had '

28
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

41. Do you mind (A) / me to see (B) / your photos (C) / again. (D) / No
error.(E)
Solution : B 'me to see' should be 'my seeing'

42. If (A) / it snowed tomorrow (B) / we'll (C) / go sking. (D) / No

error.(E)
Solution : C Change ' we'll ' to 'we would'

43. Her goal is to win a gold medal (A)/in the Asian games and (B)/made
her country proud.(C)/No error(D)
Solution : C Replace ‘made’ by ‘make’

44. Much to (A) / our regret the train left (B) / before we reached (C) /
the station last night.(D) / No error.(E)
Solution : B Change 'left' to 'had left'

45. Please excuse (A) / me (B) / coming (C) / late. (D) / No error.(E)
Solution : B Replace 'me' by 'my'

46. We shall wait (A) / until (B) / he writes (C) / his next book. (D) / No
error.(E)
Solution : E No error

47. Economists have predicted that (A)/ the country’s economic growth
(B)/falls low to eight per cent this year.(C)/No error(D)
Solution : C Replace ‘falls’ by ‘will fall’ as the sentence is in future
tense.

48. I will not move (A) / from here (B) / until (C) / you will get back.(D)
/ No error.(E)
Solution : D 'you will get back' should be ' you get back '

49. He insisted (A) / on (B) / to go (C) / there. (D) / No error.(E)

Solution : C Replace 'to go' by ' going '

29
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

50. Let us (A) / go to the cafe (B) / when the movie (C) / will be over .
(D) / No error.(E)
Solution : D Remove 'will' before ' be over'

51. Unless we(A)/ were confident of success,(B/) we would not had even
tried the experiment.(C)/ No Error(E)
Solution : C
‘would not had’ must be replaced with ‘would not have’ to form a
grammatically correct sentence.

52. The students(A)/ of St. Mary School(B)/ had camped in the

backyard(C)/ last night.(D)/ No Error(E)
Solution : C
If you are talking about a past action, and you have a time clause
associated with it, the next verb will always be in the simple past, ‘had
camped’ must be replaced with ‘camped’.

53. They were living(A)/ in New York(B)/ before she got the job(C)/ in
Paris.(D)/ No Error(E).
Solution : A
Subject + Had been + Present participle + Object + Time reference
Therefore, ‘were living’ must be replaced with ‘had been living’ to
form a grammatically correct sentence.

54. He(A/) wouldn't have lost his route(B)/ if he took the map(C)/ with
him.(D)/No Error(E)
Solution : D
Third conditional sentences are used to explain that present
circumstances would be different if something different had
happened in the past. When using the third conditional, we use the
past perfect (i.e., had + past participle) in the if-clause. The modal
auxiliary (would, could, should, etc.) + have + past participle in the
main clause expresses the theoretical situation that could have
happened.

30
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

55. The Moscow State Circus(A)/ had been performing in

Cheltenham(B)/ for the next 3 weeks.(C)/No error(D)
Solution : B
The future progressive tense is used for an on-going action that will
occur in the future. Therefore, ‘had been performing’ must be
replaced with ‘will be performing’ to form a grammatically correct
sentence.

56. The States-General (A)/ captain and admiral-general (B)/ of the

Union were (C)/ appointed in 1588. (D)/ No Error(E)
Solution : C
If two singular nouns refer to the same person, the verb must be
singular in number. The verb ‘were’ must be replaced with ‘was’ to
form a grammatically correct sentence.

57. She'd met enough animals (A)/ and birds to know how unique (B)/
each were, but she'd never (C)/ met a creature like this one. (D)/ No
Error(E)
Solution : C
‘Each’ is a singular subject, therefore, ‘were’ must be replaced with
‘was’ to form a grammatically correct sentence.

58. There was a number of different routes but the Deans (A)/ chose the
two-mile town site loop, a nearly flat path (B)/ that first traversed a
scented pine forest and then (C)/ opened to a spectacular view of the
surrounding mountains. (D)/ No Error(E)
Solution : A
In the given sentence, ‘was’ must be replaced with ‘were’ to form a
grammatically correct sentence.

59. The principal causes is the growth of (A)/ population, and the over-
supply of (B)/ and low rates of remuneration (C)/ for manual labour
in various Italian provinces. (D)/ No Error(E)
Solution : A
Replaced ‘is’ with ‘are’ to form a grammatically correct sentence.

31
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

60. Most sales start right (A)/ at midnight, which is when (B)/ everybody
are online (C)/ trying to get the best deals. (D)/ No Error(E)
Solution : C
The words each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody,
anyone, anybody, nobody, somebody, someone, and no one are
singular in nature and require a singular verb. Hence, ‘are’ must be
replaced with ‘is’ to form a grammatically correct sentence.

61. After Sheetal will return (A)/ from Delhi(B) / I will go to meet her. (C)
/ No error(D)/ No Error(E)
Solution : A omit will

62. My younger brother (A)/ has left (B) /for Bhopal last Saturday. (C)
/No error(D)/ No Error(E)
Solution : B
It is clearly mentioned that the activity of last Saturday uses simple
past in part b. So omit ‘has’.

63. I used to work (A) /till 11 pm and (B) / then I go to bed. (C) /No error
(D)
Solution : C
‘Used to’ is used for past habitual action. In part c change ‘go’ to
‘went’.

64. Air pollution caused by industrial effluents has been studied (A)/ for
years, but only recently has (B)/ the harmful effects of noise pollution
become known.(C)/No error(D)
Solution : B
Use 'have’ instead of ‘has’ as harmful effects of noise pollution is
plural.

65. The judge asked the lady (A)/ if the bag she had lost(B)/ contain ten
thousand rupees (C)/No error (D)
Solution : C
Replace ‘contain’ with ‘contained’ as the sentence is in past tense.

32
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

66. The ministry was considered several proposals (A)/ for the
development of small and medium enterprises (B)/during Budget
discussions.(C)/No error (D)
Solution : A
Use simple past tense. (The ministry considered several proposals)

67. Having work(A)/ in both public and private sector banks(B)/she is

the most suitable person to take over the post of the chairman.(C)/No
error(D)
Solution : A Replace work by worked as the sentence is of past
tense.

68. Rohit started a very small business two years ago (A)/ but it grew
very fast (B)/as the country is experiencing a boom at that
time.(C)/No error(D)
Solution : C
The sentence is of past tense. So use ‘was experiencing’.

69. Keeping in mind the current market conditions (A)/ it has better for
us (B)/ to invest in the infrastructure structure. (C)/No error(D)
Solution : B
Replace ‘it has better for us’ with ‘it is better for us’ . The sentence
is in present tense.

70. Since shivani had lived there for many years(A)/the villagers were
very comfortable(B)/ talked to her about all their problems.(C)/No
error(D)
Solution : C
Use ‘talking’ instead of ‘talked’ as the latter part of the sentence is in
past continuous tense.

71. Our equipment gets (A)/ damage very often in summer (B)/ because
there are too many power cuts. (C)/No error (D)
Solution : B

33
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

Use ‘damaged’ instead of ‘damage’ as the sentence is in passive

voice. Third form of the verb is used in passive voice.

72. Most children liked to rest in the afternoon (A)/ after they returned
from school (B)/but my son seems to have an inexhaustible source of
energy. (C)/No error (D)
Solution : C
Replace ‘seems’ by ‘seemed’ as the sentence is in past tense.

73. The cutting down on costs (A)/was the main reason for the firm to
survive (B)/even during a very difficult period. (C)/No error (D)
Solution : D No Error

74. I will go (A)/ for the dance classes tomorrow (B)/ if I have recovered
from fever. (C)/No error. (D)
Solution : C
‘If I have recovered’ is to be replaced by ‘if I recover’. Sentences of
future beginning with if should be in simple present.

75. The principal announced (A)/ in the school assembly that the school
fees (B)/ will be hiked from the beginning of the next academic
session. (C)/No error(D)
Solution : C
Replace ‘will’ with ‘would’.

76. The terrorist did not (A)/ confessed his crime even till the very end
(B)/of his trail and said that he was innocent.(C) /No error (D)
Solution : B
Replace ‘confessed’ with ‘confess’. (We use the first form of the verb
with did).

77. If the industrial sector continues to grow(A)/ at the same rate for the
next few months(B)/ I think it has a high growth rate this year.(C)/No
error (D)
Solution : C

34
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

Replace ‘I think it has’ with ‘it will have’ as it is of the future tense.

78. Results find that girls (A)/ played not only more than boys(B)/ but
also performed better in many fields.(C)/No error (D)
Solution : A
Replace ‘find’ with ‘found’ as the sentence is of past tense.

79. Celebrating her fifteen long years in the film industry (A)/the actor
announce that he would be doing a new show (B)/on television which
would be done completely free of cost.(C)/No error (D)
Solution : B
Replace ‘announce’ with ‘announced’ as the sentence is of past
tense.

80. Had I known (A)/ the weather forecast earlier (B)/I would not make
plans to go out. (C)/ No error (D)
Solution : C
Replace ‘would not make’ with ‘would not have made’. (for
imaginary sentences of the past tense would have and a third form of
the verb is used).

81. If you to talk to him on this sensitive matter(A)/ it is probable(B)/

that he will not listen to you at all.(C)/ No error (D)
Solution : D No Error

82. On many occasions (A)/we did helped the poor (B)/ people by giving
them food to eat and clothes to put on. (C)/ No error (D)
Solution : B Omit did

83. The farewell party continued (A)/till midnight as more and more(B)/
guests join in the fun and frolic.(C)/ No error (D)
Solution : C
Replace ‘join’ with ‘joined’ as the sentence is of past tense.

35
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

84. The market continues to be positive (A)/ and we expected the trend
(B)/ to continue in the next quarter also. (C)/No error (D)
Solution : B
Replace ‘expected’ with ‘expect’ as the latter part of the sentence is
of future tense.

85. Big zamindars in the villages(A)/ who were till now paid for
electricity(B)/ at subsidized rates will soon have to pay the
government at full rates.(C)/ No error(D)
Solution : B
Replace paid with paying as the sentence is of past continuous tense.

86. The new vaccination will help (A)/ in prevent the disease (B)/to
spread to other parts of the body. (C)/No error (D)
Solution : B
Replace ‘prevent’ with ‘preventing’ (We use the verb + ing after all
prepositions except to)

87. A sharp rise in the prices of petrol(A)/ has lead to an increase (B)/ in
the prices of all the commodities. (C)/No error (D)
Solution : B
Replace ‘lead’ with ‘led’.

88. Dressed in a beautiful red gown (A)/ the young lady eagerly waits for
her husband to return (B)/ so that she could cut the cake.(C)/No error
(D)
Solution : B
Replace ‘waits’ with ‘waited’ as the sentence is in past tense.

89. The High Court on Friday (A)/ ban running of petrol run vehicles
(B)/including small vehicles in the eco-sensitive zone.(C)/No error
(D)
Solution : B
Replace ‘ban’ with ‘banned’ as the sentence is in past tense.

36
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

90. If everything go well(A)/,the examination scheduled for next

month(B)/ will be conducted without any disruptions.(C)/No error
(D)
Solution : A
Replace ‘go’ with ‘goes’. Everything is considered singular so goes
will be used and not go.

91. The pain ease away after the surgery (A)/ and slowly the stitch marks
(B)/ also vanished.(C)/No error (D)
Solution : A
Replace ‘ease’ with ‘eased’ as the sentence is in past tense.

92. They have recently began (A)/ to purchase furniture for their new
bungalow (B)/ which is being constructed in Delhi.(C)/No error (D)
Solution : B
Replace ‘began’ with ‘begun’.

93. Many Multi National companies are invested (A)/ in India as India is
(B)/one of the world’s fastest growing economies. (C)/No error(D)
Solution : A
Replace ‘invested’ by ‘investing’. (The sentence is in present
continuous tense)

94. Rohan is suffering from severe back ache (A)/ since Monday as he has
been working (B)/on the computer for at least eight hours a day.(C)
/ No error (D)
Solution : A
Replace is suffering by has been suffering. (The sentence is in
present perfect continuous tense)

95. Adarsh hopes to become(A)/an officer after he complete(B)/his

higher education(C)/No error(D)
Solution : B
‘Complete’ should be replaced with ‘completes’, because 1 verb is in
future tense

37
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

96. The police have found (A) / who they believe to be (B) / the prime
suspect in a murder case (C) / no error (D).
Solution : B
‘Believe’ should be replaced with ‘believed’.

97. Now-a-days he teaches English (A)/ because the teacher of English.

(B)/ has gone for a month’s leave. (C)/ No Error (D).
Solution : A
Replace ‘he teaches’ by ‘he is teaching’.

98. I will let you know (A)/ as soon as I will get (B)/ any news in this
regard. (C)/ No Error (D)
Solution : B
Replace ‘I will get’ with ‘I get’.

Clauses

1. Had he invited me (A)/ I would have attended (B)/ the function.(C) /

No error (D)
Solution : D No error

2. If he had called me up (A)/ I would inform (B)/ him . (C)/ No error

(D)
Solution : B
Replace ‘I would inform’ with ‘I would have informed’

3. If he will work hard (A)/ he will surely (B)/ get the job of his choice.
(C)/ No error (D)
Solution : A
Replace ‘If he will work hard’ with ‘If he works hard’

38
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

4. Unless I do not (A) / see his ticket, (B)/ I will not let him sit here. (C)/
No error (D)
Solution : A
We don't use not with unless so the correct sentence must be ‘Unless
I see his ticket, I will not let him sit here’.

5. Before the police will come (A)/ You should better (B)/ get the
anticipatory bail.(C) / No error (D)
Solution : A
Remove ‘Will’. And Replace ‘Come’ with ‘Comes’

6. We will come to know the truth (A)/ after (B)/ the investigation
finished.(C) / No error (D)
Solution : C
Replace ‘Investigation finished’ with ‘Investigation has finished’

7. Until the train will not get the signal (A),/it will not (B)/ leave the
platform(C). / No error (D)
Solution : A
Remove Will not.

8. If I had money(A)/ I will have lent (B)/ it to her.(C) / No error (D)

Solution : B
‘Will have lend’ must be replaced with ‘would lend’

9. If I was you (A)/ I would not tolerate him (B)/ for a moment.(C) / No
error (D)
Solution : A
Replace ‘If I was you’ with ‘If I were you’.

10. Suppose she does not agree (A)/ what could (B)/ we do ? (C)/ No
error (D)
Solution : B
‘Could’ will be replaced by ‘Can’

39
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

11. Supposing if you do not reach (A)/ the station in time,(B)/ what will
you do? (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : A
suppose and if cannot be used together, so remove ‘If’

12. (A) If you saw a tiger / (B) what will your / (C) reaction be?/ (D) No
error
Solution : B
change ‘will’ into ‘would’.

13. (A) If I had two houses, / (B) I would have given / (C) one to you./
(D) No error
Solution : A
Replace ‘would have given’ with ‘would give’

14. (A) If we will heat dry ice / (B) it turns / (C) to vapour. / (D) No error
Solution : A
Remove will

15. (A) "Suppose if you are / (B) late, you will be / (C) in trouble." / (D)
No error.
Solution : A
Remove ‘If’

16. (A) Unless he will not understand /(B)the concept he will not be able
/(C)to solve the questions. / (D) No error
Solution : A
Replace ‘Unless he will not understand’ with ‘Unless he
understands’

17. (A) If he tried again,/ (B) he can pass the exam/ (C) with flying
colours. / (D) No error
Solution : A
‘He tried’ must be replaced as ‘he could tried’

40
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

18. (A) I will wait for you / (B) unless / (C) you come. / (D) No error
Solution : B
‘Unless’ must be replaced with ‘Until’

19. (A) If I was you / (B) I would teach/ (C) him a lesson. / (D) No error
Solution : A
‘If I were you’ is right

20. (A) If I were the Prime Minister of India / (B) I will work for the / (C)
welfare of the poor. / (D) No error
Solution : B
Change ‘will’ into ‘Would’

21. (A) If she would have come to me / (B) I would have given her the /
(C) money she needed / (D) No error
Solution : A
Change ‘If she would have come to me’ into ‘If she had come to me’

22. (A) If he drove fast/ (B) he can reach the station / (C) in time / (D)
No error
Solution : B
Change ‘can’ to ‘could’.

23. (A) If I were a millionnaire/ (B) I would support / (C) the millennium
project / (D) No error
Solution : A
Here is a spelling error. ‘Millionaire’

24. (A) If both of you stood / (B) on the table/ (C) it would have broken/
(D) No error
Solution : C
Replace ‘would have broken’ into ‘would break’.

41
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

25. (A) If you had seen me, / (B) you should have stopped your car / (C)
and come to help me. / (D) No error
Solution : D No error

26. (A) If the Government will make strict law/ (B) the law and order
situation / (C) will improve. / (D) No error
Solution : A
Remove will.

27. (A) But for his help / (B) the patient would / (C) have died. / (D) No
error
Solution : D
No error

28. (A) But for his prompt action / (B) many people would/ (C) have lost
their savings. /(D) No error
Solution : A
No error.

29. (A) I will not come / (B) in case / (C) it will rain. / (D) No error
Solution : C
Replace ‘it will rain’ with ‘it rains’

30. (A) Had the river overflown its bank,/ (B) flood would / (C) have
come. / (D) No error
Solution : A
Replace ‘overflown’ with ‘overflowed’

31. (A) Had I known him, / (B) I would allow him / (C) to enter my house.
/ (D) No error
Solution : B
Change ‘would allow’ to ‘would have allowed’.

42
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

32. (A) You will not get well / (B) unless you will not / (C) follow the
doctor's instructions./ (D) No error
Solution : B
‘Unless you will not follow’ as ‘Unless you follow’

33. (A) Supposing if he refuses / (B) to meet you, / (C) what will you do?
/ (D) No error
Solution : A
Remove if

34. (A) I shall take you for a long drive /(B) after you /(C) will return
from the meeting. / (D) No error
Solution : C
‘Will return’ into ‘will have returned’

35. (A) When you complete your service / (B) you will be / (C) retired on
pension / (D) No error
Solution : A
‘When you complete your service’ with ‘when you have
completed your service’

36. (A) Were she I, / (B) she will not allow/ (C) you to go anywhere at
this time of crisis./ (D) No error
Solution : B
‘Will’ must be replaced as ‘would’.

37. (A) I told her when / (B) she came to Delhi,/ (C) I would show her all
historical monuments. / (D) No error
Solution : A
Add ‘That’ after ‘I told her’

38. (A) You can scale this high peak, / (B) provided you/ (C) will wear
the right kind of shoes. / (D) No error
Solution : C

43
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

Remove Will

39. (A) Had you / (B) worked hard/ (C) you will have passed./ (D) No
error
Solution : C
Replace ‘will’ into ‘would’.

40. (A) When I shall see him/ (B) I shall/ (C) tell him/ (D) No error.
Solution : A
when I see him is right.

41. (A) He will tell you/ (B) about it when/ (C) he will come back/ (D) No
error
Solution : A
Remove the verb will and make the sentence as ‘he comes’.

42. (A) When I will get back/ (B) I shall pay back/ (C) the money that I
borrowed/ (D) from you last month.
Solution : A
‘When I get back’ instead of ‘When I will get back’

43. (A) I will/ (B) meet him/ (C) when he will come./ (D) No error
Solution : C
Change ‘when he will come’ into ‘When he comes’.

44. (A) Had I realized/ (B) your house was such a long way off, / (C) I
would take a taxi./ (D) No error.
Solution : C
‘would have taken’ should take place instead of ‘would take’

45. In case you will fail in your exam(A)/, what will you do?(B)/No
Error(C )
Solution : A

44
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

We have to remove will from the 1st part of our sentence because we
can’t use a condition in future.

46. If you came last night(A), you can also enjoy the party.(B)/ No
Error(C)
Solution : B
In this sentence our conditional part is in simple past so we have to
follow this rul: E Could + V1st form
‘Can also enjoy’ as ‘Could also enjoy’

47. If you had seen yesterday’s cricket(A), I am sure you would enjoy(B)/
seeing our team bating.(C)/ No Error(E)
Solution : B
In this sentence we can see that our conditional sentence is in past
perfect so we have to follow this rul: E would have + V3rd form
‘Would enjoy’ replaced as ‘ would have enjoyed’

48. If I have the courage,(A) I would have answered him back.(B)/No

Error(C)
Solution : B
In this sentence there can be a confusion because as we told you if our
conditional is in present, in our result we can use any rule but we can
see that in our result we have would + have + V3rd form so we have
to change our conditional in the past perfect.

49. I will be very happy(A)/ if you will select in the hockey team.(B)/ No
Error(C)
In this sentence we are using will in our conditional part which is
wrong so we have to remove will and use simple present tense.

50. If you had remembered your list,(A) you would have known (B)what
to buy at the store.(C)/ No Error(D)
Solution : D
No error

45
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS

1. Thirdly, firms (A)/ should deal with (B)/ the security problems.(C)/
No error(D)
Solution : C
Plural nouns with no article are usually used to make general
statements.

2. Cyberport will provide(A)/ property and technology (B)/ to meet

the requirement (C)/ of e-commerce companies.(D)/ No Error.
Solution : C
Plural nouns with no article are usually used to make general
statements (e- commerce companies). Requirements will come

3. Now merchants do businesses online(A)/, and sign contracts via the

internet.(B)/ No Error(C)
Solution : B
Uncountable nouns do not usually take a plural form. Business here
refers to a process, and is uncountable. business will come

4. That is why most consumer(A)/ and businessman avoid using e-

commerce systems. (B)/ No Error(C)
Solution : C
'Most' refers to more than one and will always be followed by a
plural noun. ‘Businessmen’ will come

5. If businessmen are not careful(A), their data may be stolen by

their(B) competitors or by hacker.(C)/ No Error(D)
Solution : C
Businessmen' and 'their' are both plural already – so the noun must
be plural as well. ‘hackers’ should be there instead of ‘hacker’

46
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

6. McCaffry and Ferrel (1995) conducted a surveys of nurses'(A)/

knowledge of cancer pain management in Australia, Canada, Japan,
Spain and the United States.(B)/ No Error(C)
Solution : A
The article ‘a’ and the noun ‘survey’ must agree. It will either be a
survey or surveys (with no article). We cannot be sure which is in
fact correct without asking the writer which meaning was intended.
Was there one survey, or were there several?

7. Many progresses(A)/ have been made.(B)/ No Error(C)

Solution : A
Uncountable nouns do not usually take a plural form. Progress is
uncountable, and 'many' can only be used with countable nouns. A
lot of progress will come.

8. The system is essential in kitchens(A)/ of Chinese restaurant(B)/

since a lot of smoke will be generated(C)/ during the cooking
process.(D)/ No Error(E)
Solution : B
Plural nouns with no article are usually used to make general
statements. restaurants will come

9. A grating is an important components(A)/ operated by diffraction

rather than refraction(B)./ No Error(C)
Solution : A
Articles a/an are only used with singular nouns. Component will
come

10. When you have chosen the goods(A)/, you have to pay for it(B)
before leaving the shop.(C)/No Error(D)
Solution : A
Goods is a plural noun. It must be replaced with them.

47
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

11. I as well as my friend (A)/ are enjoying ourselves (B)/ at the college
annual function. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : B
When two nouns or pronouns are joined by “as well as, along with,
together with, with, in addition to, besides etc”, the verb is kept
according to the first noun. So, in the given sentence, the first pronoun
is “I”, so the verb should be “am” and not “are”.

12. Rohit and Suneel (A)/ has played very well (B)/ in the recent cricket
tournament. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : B
When two singular nouns are joined by “and”, the verb should be kept
as plural. So, it should be “have” instead of “has” in part (B) of the
sentence.

13. Each woman and each man have (A)/ equal rights to choose the
(B)/ career of their own choice. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : A
When two singular nouns are joined by “and” but each one is
preceded by “each” or “every”, the verb should be kept singular. So, it
should be “has” instead of “have” in the above sentence.

14. Rice and curry (A)/ are cooked in the mess of our college daily (B)/
although none of the students like to eat it. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : B
If two singular nouns are joined by “and” and represent a single entity
or emotion, the verb should be kept as singular. So, it should be “is”
instead of “are” in part (B) of the sentence.

15. Neither Ravi nor her parents (A)/ was ready to accept (B)/ their
mistake. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : B
If two nouns are joined by “not only…. but also”, “neither…. nor”,
“either…. or”, the verb agrees with its adjacent noun. In the given
sentence, the adjacent subject of the verb is “her parents” which is

48
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

plural, so the verb should also be kept as plural. Hence, “was” should
be replaced by “were”.

16. Not only India but also (A)/ several other countries has agreed (B)/
to reduce the emission of carbon. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : B
The verb should be “have” instead of “has”.

17. Not Vikash but his friends (A)/ was found (B)/ involved in the
conspiracy. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : B
If two subjects are joined by “not” or “not….but”, the verb is kept
according to the subject with which “not” is not used. So, the verb
should be “were” instead of “was” in part (B) of the sentence.

18. A great many students (A)/ has shown their interest (B)/ in the
government exams. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : B
With “many, a great many, a good many”, plural form of verb is used.
So, the verb should be “have” instead of “has”.

19. The boss says that (A)/ there is many difficulties to be faced (B)/
before the project is launched successfully. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : B
If “there” and “it” are used as introductory subjects, then in case of
“there”, the verb agrees with the noun or pronoun used after “there”.
However, in case of “it”, the verb is always kept as singular.

20. The number of accidents are (A)/ increasing day by day (B)/ on the
Delhi metro route. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : A
“The number of” is always followed by a plural noun but a singular
verb. So, “are” should be replaced by “is”.

49
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

21. Two third of the government (A)/ land has been acquired (B)/ by
the land mafias in our city. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : D
No Error Please note that if “half of, one third of, three fourth etc”
are followed by uncountable noun then the verb is kept as singular.
However, if the noun is countable, the verb is kept as plural.

22. More than one students was (A)/ selected for the annual
scholarship (B)/ by the college authority. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : A
“More than one” is always followed by singular subject as well as
singular noun. So, the noun “students” should be written in singular
form, i.e. student.

23. It were the people of India (A)/ who fought bravely (B)/ against the
tyranny of British rulers. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : A
Where the verb “were” is incorrect and should be replaced by “was”.

24. His parents were angry with him (A)/ because two thousand rupees
(B)/ were spent by him on unnecessary items. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : C
If the combination of “numeral adjective + plural noun” gives an
impression of certain value, distance, height or weight etc, the verb
should be in singular form. So, in part (C), the verb should be “was”
instead of “were”.

25. He behaves (A)/ as if he is the owner (B)/ of the company. (C)/ No

error(D)
Solution : B
If “if, as if, wish, if only etc” are followed by ‘to be’, one should use
the auxiliary verb “were” regardless with the subject being of any
number.

50
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

26. He and I has (A)/ made a plan to surprise our (B)/ mother on her
birthday. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : A
When two pronouns are joined by “and”, the verb is kept in plural
form. So, “has” should be replaced by “have” in part (A) of the
sentence.

27. Darts are (A) / played by (B) / men as well (C) / as women. (D) / No
Error (D)
Solution : C
'Darts' is a noun, which 'looks' plural, but is used as 'singular'.(E)

28. Recently I visited (A) / Singapore and found (B) / the sceneries to be
(C) / breathtaking. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : C
Scenery' is an uncountable noun, it cannot be made plural by joining
's/es'

29. The police (A) / is becoming (B) / more and more (C) / inactive.
(D) / No Error (E)
Solution : B
Replace 'is' with 'are'. Although 'police' appears singular, yet it is
used in 'plural' sense.

30. The present datas (A) / show that the (B) / death rate (C) / has
fallen down. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : A
Use of 'datas' is wrong. The word 'data' is used in both, singular and
plural form.

31. She has bought (A) / a dozen of copies (B) / of English Grammar
(C) / books. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : B
The correct expression should be - 'a dozen copies' or 'dozens of
copies'.

51
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

32. Indian force (A) / are known for (B) / their loyalty (C) / and
integrity. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : A
The correct use should be - 'forces'. Some nouns have more than one
meaning in their singular and plural form. 'Force' denotes 'strength',
'forces' denotes 'troops/ army'.

33. He instructed me (A) / to write the (B) / telegram in (C) / capital

letter. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : D
The correct usage is - 'letters'. The intention here is to convey that
the complete telegram is to be written in block(capital) letters.

34. The judge (A) / ordered that the (B) / iron of accused (C) / should
be removed. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : C
Use 'irons' instead of 'iron'. Here, 'irons' denote 'chains'. Some nouns
change their meaning when used in plural form.

35. You cannot (A) / master physics (B) / without learning the (C) /
formula that govern it. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : D
Replace 'formula' by 'formulae'. Some nouns have more than one
plural form with different meanings.

36. The price of (A) / production in the (B) / industrial sector (C) / has
gone up. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : A
Replace 'price' with 'cost'. Nouns like price and cost are often
confused. Price denotes amount paid by the customer, cost denotes
amount paid by the manufacturer/shopkeeper.

37. All his (A) / sister-in-laws are (B) / very beautiful to (C) / look at.
(D) / No Error (E)
Solution : B

52
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

The correct form is: 'sisters-in-law'.

38. Women after women (A) / spoke against (B) / the practice (C) / of
dowry. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : A
“Noun + Preposition + Noun”, noun is always singular.

39. One of the problem (A) / with you is that (B) / you are (C) / not
sincere. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : A
“One of + the + Noun(Plural)”, the noun is always plural.

40. I visited (A) / Ram's and Sita's house (B) / thrice but found (C) /
the couple absent. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : B
Ram and Sita's house. When two nouns are closely related,
apostrophe ('s) is used with a tailing noun.

41. “Everybody's business (A) / is nobody's business” (B) / said the (C)
/ teacher. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : E No error

42. I like (A) / your suggestion (B) / and (C) / nobody's else. (D) / No
Error (E)
Solution : D
Replace 'nobody's else ' with nobody else's. With 'anybody else/
somebody else', apostrophe is used with 'else'

43. He wears(A)/ glass to aid (B)/his short sighted eye.(C)/ No Error

(D)
Solution : B
we use plural ‘glasses’

53
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

44. The same board(A)/ is used chess(B)/ as well as draught.(C)/ No

Error (D)
Solution : C
The game is not draught but draughts.

45. Take care of the foxes (A)/because they are wily creatures.(B)/ No
Error (C)
Solution : C No Error

46. The Indians(A) /are a religious-minded people.(B)/ No Error (C)

Solution : C No Error

47. The practices of the lawyers (A)/vary from those of the doctors.(B)/
No Error(C)
Solution : B
In this sentence, it is talking of persons from different professions-
lawyers and doctors. Thus practice means exercise of a profession.
This meaning does not have a plural. ‘The practice of the lawyers
varies from those of the doctors’.

48. The bright (A)/lamps gave much lights.(B)/ No Error(C)

If one light gives light, do you think two lights give two lights? Light
is not countable so it does not have plural form. ‘The bright lamps
gave much light’.

49. The fleet of ships(A)/move at a uniform speed.(B)/ No Error

Solution : B
The fleet is a collective noun. It should be in the singular. ‘The fleet
of ships moves at a uniform speed’.

50. Who will win if there(A)/ is a contest between the dwarf and the
giants.(B)/ No Error(C)
Solution : B
Plural for dwarf is dwarfs. ‘Who will win if there is a contest
between the dwarfs and the giants?’.

54
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT

1. None but they (A)/ are responsible (B)/ for this act.(C)/ No
error(D)
Solution : D No Error

2. Many a students (A)/ participated (B)/ in the competition. (C) / No

error(D)
Solution : A
‘Many a’ takes a singular subject and a singular verb.

3. Shivangi never (A)/ has and never will allow (B)/ her brother to join
the army. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : B
Add ‘allowed’ after ‘has’

4. So honestly she worked (A)/ that she was (B)/ promoted by her
boss. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : A
‘Did she work’ instead of ‘she worked’

5. Not only will shivangi (A)/ come here but also (B)/ she will stay.
(C)/ No error (D)
Solution : C
‘will she’ instead of ‘she will’

6. My brother like the other members (A)/ of my family were left

shelterless (B)/ as a result of flood in the city. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : B
‘Was’ instead of ‘were’.

7. More than one student (A)/ has not come to (B)/ the class (C)/ No
error(D)
Solution : D

55
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

No error

8. More students than (A)/ one were (B)/ absent yesterday (C)/ No
error(D)
Solution : D
No error

9. Two thirds of (A)/ the books has been sold (B)/ in the very first
year of its launch. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : B
Replace ‘have’ in place of ‘has’

10. It were the students (A)/ who wanted the teacher (B)/ to declare
holiday today. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : A
Replace ‘was’ instead of ‘were’

11. No student (A)/ and no teacher (B)/ was present. (C) /No error(D)
Solution : D No error

12. I made my (A)/ friend wrote (B)/ a letter in blue ink (C)/ No
error(D)
Solution : B
Replace ‘write’ in place of ‘wrote’

13. I would rather (A)/ you help (B) my sister (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : B
‘helped’ in place of ‘help’

14. I had (A)/ rather (B)/ you stayed with me (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : D No Error

56
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

15. We had better (A)/ to leave early if (B)/ we want to reach the
examination hall on time (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : B Omit ‘to’

16. You had better (A)/ study hard if (B)/ you want to pass the
examination. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : D No error

17. I helped (A)/ my friend solve (B)/ this puzzle. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : D No error

18. If you scored the 99.99 percentile (A)/ in the exam, you would
better (B) / the current record (C)/ which was set back in the year
2009.(D) / No error(D)
Solution : D No error

19. I as well as my friend (A)/ are enjoying ourselves (B)/ at the college
annual function. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : B
The first pronoun is “I”, so the verb should be “am” and not “are”.

20. Rohit and Suneel (A)/ has played very well (B)/ in the recent cricket
tournament. (C)/ No error(E)
Solution : B
When two singular nouns are joined by “and”, the verb should be
kept as plural. So, it should be “have” instead of “has”

21. Each woman and each man have (A)/ equal rights to choose the (B)/
career of their own choice. (C)/ No error(E)
Solution : A
When two singular nouns are joined by “and” but each one is
preceded by “each” or “every”, the verb should be kept singular. So,
it should be “has” instead of “have”

57
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

22. Rice and curry (A)/ are cooked in the mess of our college daily (B)/
although none of the students like to eat it. (C)/ No error(E)
Solution : B
If two singular nouns are joined by “and” and represent a single
entity or emotion, the verb should be kept as singular. So, it should
be “is” instead of “are”

23. Neither Ravi nor her parents (A)/ was ready to accept (B)/ their
mistake. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : B
“was” should be replaced by “were”

24. Not only India but also (A)/ several other countries has agreed (B)/
to reduce the emission of carbon. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : B
The verb should be “have” instead of “has”

25. Not Vikash but his friends (A)/ was found (B)/ involved in the
conspiracy. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : B
The verb should be “were” instead of “was”

26. A great many students (A)/ has shown their interest (B)/ in the
government exams. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : B
The verb should be “have” instead of “has”

27. The boss says that (A)/ there is many difficulties to be faced (B)/
before the project is launched successfully. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : B
If “there” and “it” are used as introductory subjects, then in case of
“there”, the verb agrees with the noun or pronoun used after “there”.
However, in case of “it”, the verb is always kept as singular.

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

28. The number of accidents are (A)/ increasing day by day (B)/ on the
Delhi metro route. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : A
“are” should be replaced by “is”.

29. A large number of new species (A)/ is yet to be discovered by

scientist in different part of the world. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : B
“A number of, a large number of, large number of” is always
followed by a plural noun as well as a plural verb. So, in part (B), the
verb should be “are” instead of “is”.

30. Two third of the government (A)/ land has been acquired (B)/ by
the land mafias in our city. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : D No error

31. More than one students was (A)/ selected for the annual scholarship
(B)/ by the college authority. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : A
“More than one” is always followed by a singular subject as well as a
singular noun. So, the noun “students” should be written in singular
form, i.e. student.

32. It were the people of India (A)/ who fought bravely (B)/ against the
tyranny of British rulers. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : A
Where the verb “were” is incorrect and should be replaced by
“was”.

33. His parents were angry with him (A)/ because two thousand rupees
(B)/ were spent by him on unnecessary items. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : C
If the combination of “numeral adjective + plural noun” gives an
impression of certain value, distance, height or weight etc, the verb

59
Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

should be in singular form. So, in part (C), the verb should be “was”
instead of “were”.

34. He behaves (A)/ as if he is the owner (B)/ of the company. (C)/ No

error(D)
Solution : B
If “if, as if, wish, if only etc” are followed by ‘to be’, one should use
the auxiliary verb “were” regardless with the subject being of any
number.

35. He and I has (A)/ made a plan to surprise our (B)/ mother on her
birthday. (C)/ No error(D)
Solution : A
When two pronouns are joined by “and”, the verb is kept in plural
form. So, “has” should be replaced by “have” in part (A) of the
sentence.

36. The Department (A) / assured us that (B) / a series of seminars (C)
/ were to be arranged.(D) / No Error (E)
Solution : D
Replace 'were' with 'was'. The main subject here is 'a series', which
is singular, the verb should be 'singular'.

37. A great many (A) / students has (B) / been declared (C) /
successful. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : B
Replace 'has' with 'have'. 'A great many' should always be followed
by a 'plural noun' and 'plural verb'.

38. The Manager says that (A) / there is (B) / many important details
(C) / to attend before this gets launched. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : B
Replace 'is' with 'are'. When the subject of the sentence is - 'many',
the verb is always plural.

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

39. This news were (A) / broadcast (B) / all over the world (C) / from
ABC Radio. (D) / No Error (5)
Solution : A
Replace 'were' with 'was'. Nouns, that are plural in appearance but
are singular in meaning, take a singular verb. e.g. news, statistics,
politics etc.

40. The United States (A) / of America (B) / are the richest (C) /
country of the world. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : C
Replace 'are' with 'is'. Names of countries, the title of the books,
subjects which look like plural, but actually are singular number, are
always followed by singular verb.

41. More than one (A) / student have (B) / taken the interview (C) /
for this company. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : B
Replace 'have' with 'has'.

42. Everybody (A) / among (B) / your friends (C) / like playing. (D) /
No Error (E)
Solution : D
The correct form of verb should be - 'likes'. When the subject of the
sentence is - 'Everybody', the verb is always singular.

43. Three-fourths of (A) / the land (B) / have been (C) / ploughed. (D)
/ No Error (E)
Solution : C
Replace 'have' with 'has'. Here, the subject 'land' is an uncountable
noun i.e. used in singular sense, so the verb should also be singular.

44. One of the issues (A) / which was (B) / discussed at the meeting
(C) / was raised by him. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : B

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

Replace 'was' by 'were' in part 2. When the subject is a relative

pronoun, the verb agrees in Number and Person, with the
noun/pronoun to which the relative pronoun refers.

45. The Elite class (A) / have no soft corner (B) / for the (C) / poor. (D)
/ No Error (E)
Solution : B
Replace 'have' with 'has'. Collective nouns such as 'the elite class, the
middle class etc' are treated as singular, thus the verb should be
'singular'.

46. Mr. Budhrani, (A) / my friend and professor, (B) / are known for
(C) / his good behaviour. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : C
Replace 'are' with 'is'. When two singular nouns are joined by 'and'
refer to the same person or thing, the verb used for them should be
'singular'

47. The Party Chief (A) / and the Chief Minister (B) / was (C) / absent.
(D) / No Error (E)
Solution : C
Replace 'was' with 'were'. If an article is used with both nouns, the
reference will be to two persons or things, and the verb should be
'plural'.

48. The manager (A) / as well as (B) / the clerks (C) / were fighting.
(D) / No Error (E)
Solution : D
Replace 'were' with 'was'. When two nouns are used with as well as,
the verb must agree with the first subject. In this case, first subject is
'manager', the correct verb to be used should be 'was'.

49. Neither the students (A) / nor the teacher (B) / were in his (C) /
class. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : C

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

Replace 'were' with 'was'. When two different subjects are joined by
'either...or; neither...nor', the verb agrees with the subject near to it
(generally second subject). Here, the verb is near to the second
subject 'the teacher', it should agree with the second subject i.e.
'was' should be used.

50. Not only (A) / the principal (B) / but also the students (C) / was
laughing. (D) / No Error (E)
Solution : D
Replace 'was' with were'. When two subjects are joined by 'not
only...but also', the verb must agree with the second subject.

DEGREES OF COMPARISON

1. Red apples are usually ______ than green apples.

(A) more sweeter (B) most sweet
(C) sweeter (D) sweetest.
Solution : C

2. They have three sons and two daughters. Betty is _______ of their
children.
(A) most young (B) the younger
(C) the youngest (D) younger
Solution : C

3. I can't hear you. Please speak _______ .

(A) louder (B) loudest
(C) more loud (D) the most loud
Solution : A

4. As we didn't have much money, we stayed at _______ hotel that we

could find.
(A) a less expensive (B) a more expensive

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

(C) the least expensive (D) the most expensive

Solution : C

5. They say that it's _______ storm in ten years.

(A) by far worse (B) most worst
(C) the worse (D) the worst
Solution : D

6. That happened in 1990, maybe even ______ .

(A) earlier (B) more early
(C) the earliest (D) the most early
Solution : A

7. I have no ______ questions.

(A) farther (B) further
(C) farthest (D) furthest
Solution : B

8. I need a brown carpet. This carpet is ______ than brown.

(A) more red (B) most red
(C) redder (D) reddest
Solution : A

9. She walked _________ trying to see the house numbers in the dark.
(A) as slow as (B) more slow
(C) more slower (D) more slowly
Solution : D

10. I think that it's ______ but still possible.

(A) as likely as (B) less likely
(C) likelier (D) more likely
Solution : B

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

11. James is as______ his brother.

(A) tall (B) taller
(C) tall than (D) tallest
Solution : A

12. Alexander was one of the _______ kings who ever lived.
(A) great (B) the greatest
(C) the greater (D) greatest
Solution : D

13. Martin is _________ than any other boy in the class.

(A) more industrious (B) the more industrious
(C) most industrious (D) the industrious
Solution : A

14. Chennai is ______ than Mumbai.

(A) hot (B) hotter
(C) hottest (D) the hotter
Solution : B

15. Very few cities in Asia are as _____ as Hong Kong.

(A) big (B) bigger
(C) biggest (D) the big
Solution : A

16. This cathedral is ______ in South India.

(A) the biggest (B) big
(C) bigger (D) biggest
Solution : A

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

17. An airplane flies _______ than birds.

(A) faster (B) fast
(C) fastest (D) the fast
Solution : A

18. Kitchen appliances have made cooking______ .

(A) easier (B) easy
(C) the easier (D) most easy
Solution : A

19. Very few countries are as rich _____ America.

(A) as (B) than
(C) the (D) is
Solution : A

20. Some beans are at least _______ as meat.

(A) as nutritious (B) more nutritious
(C) most nutritious (D) nutritious
Solution : A

21. Naomi is _____ than her sister.

(A) less clever (B) less cleverer
(C) lesser clever (D) clever
Solution : A

22. Clara ______ than Sara.

(A) is cleverer (B) more cleverer
(C) most clever (D) as clever
Solution : A

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

23. Iron is_______ wood.

(A) hard (B) harder than
(C) hard than (D) more hard
Solution : C

24. Anurag is _______ Prayas.

(A) braver than (B) brave
(C) more brave (D) braver
Solution : A

25. Shamli is ________ Sonali.

(A) tall (B) taller than
(C) taller (D) tallest
Solution : B

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE

1. I did not beat her.

(A) She is not beaten by me.
(B) She has not been beaten by me.
(C) She was not beaten by me.
(D) She has not been beaten by me.
Solution : C

2. I will never forget this experience.

(A) This experience is not forgotten by me.
(B) This experience would never be forgotten by me.
(C) This experience will never be forgotten by me.
(D) This experience will be forgotten by me.
Solution : A

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

3. Mother made a cake yesterday.

(A) A cake made by my mother yesterday.
(B) A cake is made by mother yesterday
(C)A cake was made by my mother yesterday.
(D) A cake has made by mother yesterday
Solution : C

4. The boy teased the girl.

(A) The girl was teased by the boy.
(B) The girl had teased by the boy.
(C) The girl is teased by boy
(D) The girl is teased by the boy
Solution : A

5. Did she do her duty?

(A) Was she done her duty?
(B) Was her duty done by her?
(C) Had her duty done by her?
(D) Has her duty done by her?
Solution : A

6. The tiger was chasing the deer.

(A) The deer was chased by the tiger.
(B) The deer was being chased by the tiger.
(C)The deer had been chased by the tiger.
(D) The deer was chased by the tiger.
Solution : A

7. She has written a novel.

(A) A novel has written by her.
(B)A novel has been written by her.

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

(C)A novel had written by her.

(D) A novel is written by her.
Solution : B
.

8. She has learned her lessons.

(A) Her lessons has learned by her.
(B)Her lessons have been learned by her.
(C)Her lessons had been learned by her.
(D) Her lessons was been learned by her.
Solution : A

9. Have you finished the report?

(A) Has the report been finished by you?
(B) Has the report been finished by you?
(C) Had the report been finished by you?
(D) Had this report been finished by you?
Solution : B

10. The police have caught the thief.

(A) The thief has been caught by the police.
(B)The thief was caught by the police.
(C)The thief had been caught by the police.
(D) The thief is been caught by the police.
Solution : A

11. The doctor had examined him.

(A) He was examined by the doctor.
(B) He has been examined by the doctor.
(C) He had been examined by the doctor.
(D) None of these
Solution : C

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

12. She does not like tea.

(A) Tea is not liked by her.
(B) Tea have not liked by her.
(C) Tea was not liked by her.
(D) Tea did not liked by her.
Solution : A

13. Mr Anand teaches us science.

(A) Science was teaching us by Mr Anand.
(B) Science is taught us by Mr Anand.
(C) Science was taught us by Mr Anand.
(D) We are taught science by Mr Anand.
Solution : D

14. I heard Mukesh once.

(A) Mukesh was heard by me once.
(B) Mukesh has heard by me once.
(C) Mukesh is heard by me once.
(D) None of these
Solution : A

15. He hates bad people.

(A) Bad people were hated by him.
(B) Bad people have hated by him.
(C) Bad people is hated by him.
(D) Bad people are hated by him.
Solution : D

16. I am playing cricket.

(A) Cricket had been being played be me.
(B) Cricket is being played by me.

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

(C) Cricket was being played be me.

(D) Cricket has been played be me.
Solution : B

17. He played many games.

(A) Many games was played by him.
(B) Many games were not played by him.
(C) Many games had been played by him.
(D) Many games were played by him.
Solution : D

18. He had already passed the examination.

(A) The examination was already passed by him.
(B) The examination had already been passed by him.
(C) The examination had already passed by him.
(D) The examination has already been passed by him.
Solution : B

19. A child likes toys.

(A) Toys have liked by a child.
(B) Toys liked by a child.
(C) Toys are liked by a child.
(D) Toys is liked by a child.
Solution : C

20. She is eating mangoes.

(A) Mangoes are eating by her
(B) Mangoes is being eaten by her.
(C) Mangoes are being eaten by her.
(D) Mangoes was being eaten by her.
Solution : C

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

21. She has written letters.

(A) Letters were written by her.
(B) Letters written by her.
(C) Letters are written by her.
(D) Letters have been written by her.
Solution : D

22. The doctor had examined him.

(A) He was examined by the doctor.
(B) He had been examined by the doctor.
(C) He has been examined by the doctor.
(D) None of these
Solution : B

23. I saw a snake.

(A) A snake was seen by us.
(B) A snake had seen by me.
(C) A snake was seen by me.
(D) A snake is seen by me.
Solution : C

24. I was making a plan.

(A) A plan has been made by me.
(B) A plan was made by me.
(C) A plan is being made by me.
(D) A plan was being made by me.
Solution : D

25. They help her.

(A) She was helped by them.
(B) She has helped by them.

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

(C) She had helped by them.

(D) She is helped by them.
Solution : D

DIRECT SPEECH AND INDIRECT SPEECH

1. He asked me what _____.

(A) was I doing (B) I was doing
(C) I am doing (D) Doing
Solution : B

2. The stranger enquired where ______.

(A) I live (B) did I live
(C) I lived (D) do I live
Solution : C

3. He asked them _____ they would listen to such a man.

(A) or (B) Whether
(C) Either could be used here (D)None
Solution : B

4. The policeman ordered us ______.

(A) that we go away (B) to go away
(C) go away (D)None
Solution : B

5. She said that she _____ me.

(A) doesn't believe (B) didn't believe
(C) hasn't believed (D)None
Solution : B

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

6. The king asked the philosopher whom he _____ the happiest man
living.
(A) consider (B) considers
(C) considered (D)None
Solution : C

7. I told them _____.

(A) that be quiet (B) that they be quiet
(C)to be quiet (D)None
Solution : C

8. Alladin asked the magician what _____ to deserve such a severe

punishment.
(A) had he done (B) he had done
(C) he has done (D)None
Solution : B

9. They asked who _____ and what _____.

(A) are we; we want (B) we were; did we want
(C) we were; we wanted (D) were we; we wanted
Solution : C

10. He told me to wait until he _____.

(A) came (B) comes
(C) had come (D)None
Solution : A

11. The king was deeply grieved and asked his wife what _____ do for
her.
(A) could he (B) he could
(C) he can (D) can he
Solution : B

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

12. He proposed that _____ wait for the news.

(A) let them (B) let him
(C) they should (D)None
Solution : C

13. Rani asked the girl ______?

(A) what was she doing (B) what she was doing
(C) what she would done (D) what did she
Solution : B

14. They said they were getting married ______ afternoon

(A) that (B) which
(C) where (D) None
Solution : A

15. He said _______ children gave ______ a tie for Father's Day.
(A) him, her (B) her,his
(C) him, him (D) his, him
Solution : D

16. He said he had been standing ______ waiting for the elevator for ages.
(A) that (B) there
(C) where (D) when
Solution : B

17. He said ______ didn't understand.

(A) his (B) her
(C) I (D) None
Solution : C

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

18. She said she had been working on _____ project for two weeks.
(A) her (B) his
(C) the (D) None
Solution : B

19. The boy said that he ____ very busy then.

(A) is (B) has been
(C) was (D)None
Solution : C

20. The mother asked the girl where _____ going?

(A) she was (B) was she
(C) Either could be used here (D)None
Solution : A

21. The teacher asked the students if they _____ their homework.
(A) had done (B) did
(C) had done (D) has done
Solution : A

22. She said that she ____ her job.

(A) finished (B) has finished
(C) had finished (D) has finishes
Solution : C

23. He said that his father _____ working in the garage.

(A) is (B) was
(C) has been (D)None
Solution : B

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

24. I said that I _____ the examination.

(A) have passed (B) had passed
(C) was passed (D) was pass
Solution : B

25. The man said that the horse _____ in the night.
(A) dies (B) has die
(C) had died (D)None
Solution : C

SIMPLE, COMPOUND AND COMPLEX

1. The doctor must come at once _____ the patient will die.
(A) or (B) if (C) and
Solution : A

2. _____ the doctor does not come at once, the patient will die.
(A) Unless (B) If (C) Whether
Solution : B

3. Gandhi believed in non-violence _____ some of his followers were

extremists.
(A) and (B) so (C) but
Solution : C

4. _____ Gandhi believed in non-violence some of his followers were

extremists.
(A) However (B) Though (C) Despite
Solution : B

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

5. Search his pockets _____ you will find the stolen watch.
(A) so (B) and (C) than
Solution : B

6. _____ you search his pockets, you will find the stolen watch.
(A) If (B) Whether (C) Unles
Solution : A

7. You must hurry _____ you will miss the train.

(A) unless (B) if (C) or
Solution : C

8. _____ you do not hurry you will miss the train.

(A) Unless (B) If (C) Whether
Solution : B

9. He wants to be a scholar, _____ he is studying hard.

(A) therefore (B) hence (C) so
Solution : C

10. _____ he wants to be a scholar, he is studying hard.

(A) As (B) So (C) Because
Solution : A

11. You should get that tooth _____.

(A) extracting (B) to extract (C) extracted
Solution : C

12. We found the house ______.

(A) deserting (B) deserted (C) to desert
Solution : B

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

13. She kept the fire _____.

(A) burning (B) to burn (C) burned
Solution : B

14. We saw him _____ the bridge.

(A) cross (B) to cross (C) crossing
Solution : C

15. We heard them ______.

(A) laugh (B) to laugh (C) Either could be used here
Solution : A

16. The teacher made the boy _____ his lesson.

(A) learn (B) to learn (C) Either could be used here
Solution : A

17. We saw him _____ out.

(A) go (B) to go (C) Either could be used here
Solution : A

18. We _____ you would succeed.

(A) hoped (B) hoped that (C) Either could be used here
Solution : C

19. He _____ he had written the letter.

(A) admitted (B) admitted that (C) Either could be used here
Solution : C

20. The boys suggested _____ to the park.

(A) us to go (B) were going (C) that we should go
Solution : C

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Spotting the Errors with Explanation Nithra

21. I consider the plan _____.

(A) unwise (B) to be unwise (C) Either could be used here
Solution : C

22. I ____ he is not at home.

(A) suppose (B) suppose that (C) Either could be used here
Solution : C
23. Terry told us about the incident ______ we had reached the place.
(A) that (B) after (C) when
Solution : B

24. _______ you are very fit, you should not embark on mountaineering.
(A) unless (B) when (C) even
Solution : A

25. We waited at the airport ______ the flight took off.

(A) untill (B) unless (C) till
Solution : C

80