Error Spotting • Grammar-based error identification
Error Spotting: Full-Length Notes
Topic: Grammar-Based Error Identification
1. What is Error Spotting?
Error spotting is the process of identifying and correcting grammatical, structural, or usage errors in a sentence or passage. It is a common exercise in competitive exams (like SSC, Bank, UPSC, etc.) and tests your command of English grammar and language125. Candidates are usually presented with a sentence divided into parts; they must identify which part contains the error.
2. Why is Error Spotting Important?
Tests grammatical accuracy and understanding
Assesses attention to detail
Improves sentence structure and clarity
Vital for scoring in verbal ability sections of exams
3. Structure of Error Spotting Questions
A sentence is divided into 3–5 parts (A/B/C/D or 1/2/3/4).
One part contains a grammatical or usage error.
Sometimes, there may be “No error.”
You must identify the incorrect part or state if the sentence is correct125.
Example:
He don’t / like going to / the gym / in the evening.
Error: ‘He don’t’ – should be ‘He doesn’t’5.
4. Common Grammar Areas Tested
A. Subject-Verb Agreement
Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs.
Incorrect: She don’t like apples.
Correct: She doesn’t like apples.
B. Tense Consistency
Keep the verb tense consistent throughout the sentence.
Incorrect: She was going to the market and buys vegetables.
Correct: She was going to the market and bought vegetables2.
C. Parallelism
Use the same pattern of words for two or more ideas.
Incorrect: She likes to dance, singing, and read.
Correct: She likes to dance, sing, and read2.
D. Modifier Placement
Place modifiers next to the word they modify.
Incorrect: She almost drove her kids to school every day.
Correct: She drove her kids to school almost every day2.
E. Pronoun Usage
Pronouns must agree in number and gender with their antecedents.
Incorrect: Each of the boys have done their work.
Correct: Each of the boys has done his work.
F. Article Usage
Use “a,” “an,” or “the” appropriately.
Incorrect: She is a honest woman.
Correct: She is an honest woman2.
G. Prepositions
Choose the correct preposition for the context.
Incorrect: She is married with a doctor.
Correct: She is married to a doctor.
H. Double Negatives
Avoid using two negatives for a single negation.
Incorrect: I don’t need no help.
Correct: I don’t need any help2.
I. Subject-Verb Inversion
In questions, the subject comes after the auxiliary verb.
Incorrect: Where you are going?
Correct: Where are you going?2
J. Uncountable Nouns
Do not use “a/an” with uncountable nouns.
Incorrect: He gave me an advice.
Correct: He gave me a piece of advice2.
K. Sentence Structure
Watch for fragments, run-ons, and misplaced clauses.
Incorrect: Running in the park children were happily.
Correct: Children were happily running in the park3.
5. Steps for Solving Error Spotting Questions
Read the sentence carefully.
Identify the subject, verb, and object.
Check each part of the sentence for common grammar errors.
Apply grammar rules (see above).
If no error is found, choose “No error.”
6. Tips and Tricks
Know all eight parts of speech: noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, interjection3.
Practice common error types: subject-verb agreement, articles, prepositions, tenses, modifiers, parallelism.
Be cautious with idioms and phrases: Use the correct form.
Don’t rush: Read each part for subtle errors.
Practice regularly: The more you practice, the better you’ll spot errors125.
7. Examples and Explanations
Example 1:
Each of the parents have submitted their Project.
A) Each
B) of the parents
C) have submitted
D) their Project
Answer: C) have submitted
Explanation: “Each” is singular, so use “has submitted”2.
Example 2:
She don’t like playing basketball.
A) She
B) don’t like
C) playing
D) basketball
Answer: B) don’t like
Explanation: “She” takes “doesn’t,” not “don’t”2.
Example 3:
She is a honest woman.
A) She
B) is
C) a honest
D) woman
Answer: C) a honest
Explanation: “Honest” starts with a vowel sound; use “an honest”2.
Example 4:
Running in the park children were happily.
Answer: Incorrect sentence structure; should be “Children were happily running in the park.”3
8. Practice Resources
[Testbook: Error Spotting Rules and Practice]1
[Infinity Learn: Error Spotting Practice]2
[PlacementPreparation.io: Error Spotting Examples]3
[LeverageEdu: Error Spotting Exercises]5
[BYJU’S: Error Spotting Tips]4
9. Summary Table: Common Error Types
| Error Type | Example (Incorrect) | Example (Correct) |
|---|---|---|
| Subject-Verb Agreement | She don’t like apples | She doesn’t like apples |
| Tense Consistency | She was going and buys vegetables | She was going and bought vegetables |
| Parallelism | She likes to dance, singing, and read | She likes to dance, sing, and read |
| Modifier Placement | She almost drove her kids to school | She drove her kids to school almost every day |
| Article Usage | She is a honest woman | She is an honest woman |
| Pronoun Usage | Each of the boys have done their work | Each of the boys has done his work |
| Prepositions | Married with a doctor | Married to a doctor |
| Double Negatives | I don’t need no help | I don’t need any help |
| Sentence Structure | Running in the park children were happily | Children were happily running in the park |
Mastering error spotting requires a strong understanding of grammar, careful reading, and regular practice. Review rules, practice with varied examples, and always check each part of the sentence for subtle mistake.
Error Spotting Practice Questions
(A) He don’t / (B) like to play / (C) football / (D) every evening. / (E) No error
(A) Each of the students / (B) have submitted / (C) their assignments / (D) on time. / (E) No error
(A) The informations / (B) you gave me / (C) were quite useful / (D) for my project. / (E) No error
(A) She is / (B) married with / (C) a doctor / (D) for five years. / (E) No error
(A) He is / (B) senior than / (C) me / (D) in service. / (E) No error
(A) The children / (B) was playing / (C) in the park / (D) yesterday. / (E) No error
(A) Neither the teacher / (B) nor the students / (C) was present / (D) in the class. / (E) No error
(A) She is / (B) more smarter / (C) than her sister / (D) in mathematics. / (E) No error
(A) The committee / (B) have decided / (C) to postpone / (D) the meeting. / (E) No error
(A) I prefer / (B) coffee than / (C) tea / (D) in the morning. / (E) No error
(A) He is / (B) good in / (C) English / (D) grammar. / (E) No error
(A) She is / (B) an honest / (C) and intelligent / (D) girl. / (E) No error
(A) The news / (B) are very / (C) encouraging / (D) these days. / (E) No error
(A) I have / (B) visited / (C) Mumbai last year / (D) with my family. / (E) No error
(A) He told / (B) that he / (C) will come / (D) tomorrow. / (E) No error
(A) The sceneries / (B) of Kashmir / (C) is very / (D) beautiful. / (E) No error
(A) She did not / (B) wrote / (C) the letter / (D) herself. / (E) No error
(A) The police / (B) is looking / (C) for the / (D) lost child. / (E) No error
(A) I am / (B) living here / (C) since ten years / (D) with my parents. / (E) No error
(A) He is / (B) one of the / (C) best player / (D) in the team. / (E) No error
(A) She is / (B) suffering with / (C) fever / (D) since yesterday. / (E) No error
(A) The teacher / (B) as well as the students / (C) are going / (D) to the museum. / (E) No error
(A) I have / (B) finished / (C) my works / (D) before lunch. / (E) No error
(A) The audience / (B) was clapping / (C) their hands / (D) in excitement. / (E) No error
(A) He is / (B) taller of / (C) the two / (D) brothers. / (E) No error
(A) One must / (B) do his duty / (C) sincerely / (D) at all times. / (E) No error
(A) She has / (B) completed / (C) her homeworks / (D) already. / (E) No error
(A) The climate / (B) of Shimla / (C) are pleasant / (D) throughout the year. / (E) No error
(A) My father / (B) is angry / (C) on me / (D) for being late. / (E) No error
(A) He is / (B) used to / (C) get up early / (D) in the morning. / (E) No error
(A) The teacher / (B) explained the / (C) chapter to / (D) the students very clearly. / (E) No error
(A) The number of / (B) students in this class / (C) are increasing / (D) every year. / (E) No error
(A) Neither of the / (B) boys have / (C) done their homework / (D) today. / (E) No error
(A) The train / (B) has left / (C) before / (D) we reached the station. / (E) No error
(A) She is / (B) the most / (C) intelligent than / (D) all the girls. / (E) No error
(A) He is / (B) senior to / (C) me / (D) by five years. / (E) No error
(A) The students / (B) are discussing / (C) about the / (D) new project. / (E) No error
(A) I am / (B) looking forward / (C) to meet you / (D) soon. / (E) No error
(A) The child / (B) was playing / (C) when the / (D) bell rang. / (E) No error
(A) She is / (B) more intelligent / (C) than any girl / (D) in the class. / (E) No error
(A) He is / (B) the eldest / (C) of the two / (D) brothers. / (E) No error
(A) The furniture / (B) in this room / (C) are new / (D) and expensive. / (E) No error
(A) My cousin brother / (B) is coming / (C) to visit us / (D) next week. / (E) No error
(A) She is / (B) more beautiful / (C) than / (D) her sister. / (E) No error
(A) He is / (B) capable to / (C) do this work / (D) efficiently. / (E) No error
(A) The teacher / (B) gave us / (C) many advices / (D) during the class. / (E) No error
(A) The cost of / (B) all the items / (C) have increased / (D) recently. / (E) No error
(A) She is / (B) good at / (C) playing / (D) the piano. / (E) No error
(A) He is / (B) one of the / (C) best students / (D) in the class. / (E) No error
(A) I am / (B) going to / (C) home now / (D) to rest. / (E) No error
Instructions:
Identify the part with the error in each sentence.
If the sentence is correct, mark (E) No error.
If you need answers or explanations for any question, just let me know!
Comments
Post a Comment