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English grammar error-spotting (gerund vs. noun after ‘‘of’’ in ‘‘no question of …’’): Read the sentence in four parts and identify the erroneous segment; choose ‘‘No error’’ only if there is no error: ‘‘There is no question / of my failing / in the examination. / No error.’’

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: of my failing

Explanation:


Given data

  • B: ‘‘of my failing’’ after the preposition ‘‘of’’.


Concept / Approach
Many exam keys prefer a noun or an objective form after ‘‘of’’ here: ‘‘no question of my failure’’ (formal) or ‘‘no question of me failing’’ (informal). Although ‘‘my’’ + gerund is acceptable in formal English, the standardised-test correction expected is to replace the gerundial phrase with a plain noun for tighter idiom.


Correction
‘‘There is no question of my failure in the examination.’’


Common pitfalls

  • Assuming every ‘‘possessive + gerund’’ after ‘‘of’’ is the preferred form in tests; here the idiom favours a noun.


Final Answer
of my failing

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