Question 1

Error spotting (exam direction): Identify the erroneous part (A/B/C) — choose D if there is no error — 'Troy was taken by Greeks / this formed the basis of a story / which has become famous. / No error.'

Accepted Answer

Given sentence parts (A–D) A. Troy was taken by GreeksB. this formed the basis of a storyC. which has become famous.D. No error. Concept/Approach (article use with nationality nouns; sentence linkage) With nationality nouns referring to a people collectively, use the definite article: 'the Greeks'. Also, two independent clauses (A and B) require proper linkage (e.g., 'and' or a semicolon). The tested error is the article omission in Part A. Step-by-Step correction 1) Insert article: 'by Greeks' → 'by the Greeks'.2) (Stylistic) Link clauses: 'Troy was taken by the Greeks, and this formed the basis of a story which has become famous.' Verification/Alternative Other examples: 'the Romans', 'the French' when denoting a nation as a people. Common pitfalls Omitting 'the' with collective nationality nouns; comma splices. Final Answer A — 'Troy was taken by Greeks' → 'Troy was taken by the Greeks'.

Question 2

Error spotting (exam direction): Identify the erroneous part (A/B/C) — choose D if there is no error — 'I am much pleased / to know that / you have topped the list. / No error.'

Accepted Answer

Given sentence parts (A–D) A. I am much pleasedB. to know thatC. you have topped the list.D. No error. Concept/Approach (degree adverbs with adjectives) With adjectives like 'pleased', the natural collocation is 'very pleased' or 'quite pleased'. 'Much pleased' is archaic/unnatural in modern standard usage. Step-by-Step correction 1) Replace degree adverb: 'much' → 'very'.2) Correct sentence: 'I am very pleased to know that you have topped the list.' Verification/Alternative 'Much obliged' is idiomatic, but 'much pleased' is not. Common pitfalls Extending the pattern of 'much' to adjectives where it is not idiomatic. Final Answer A — 'I am much pleased' → 'I am very pleased'.

Question 3

Error spotting (exam direction): Identify the erroneous part (A/B/C) — choose D if there is no error — 'He has not been attending / English classes / since one month / No error.'

Accepted Answer

Given sentence parts (A–D) A. He has not been attendingB. English classesC. since one monthD. No error. Concept/Approach (since vs. for) Use 'since' with a point in time ('since Monday/2019/June') and 'for' with a duration ('for one month'). Step-by-Step correction 1) Identify duration phrase: 'one month' is a period, not a starting point.2) Replace: 'since one month' → 'for one month'.3) Correct sentence: 'He has not been attending English classes for one month.' Verification/Alternative If a starting point were given (e.g., 'since 1st August'), 'since' would be correct. Common pitfalls Overusing 'since' in place of 'for' with durations. Final Answer C — 'since one month' should be 'for one month'.

Question 4

Error spotting (exam direction): Identify the erroneous part (A/B/C) — choose D if there is no error — 'It is time / we should accept all our people as equals / and as partners in the task of building a strong and united nation. / No error.'

Accepted Answer

Given sentence parts (A–D) A. It is timeB. we should accept all our people as equalsC. and as partners in the task of building a strong and united nation.D. No error. Concept/Approach (structure after 'It is time') After 'It is time', standard formal usage prefers the past subjunctive/preterite: 'It is time we accepted…' (or an infinitive: 'It is time to accept…'). The 'we should accept' construction is non-standard here. Step-by-Step correction 1) Replace clause form: 'we should accept' → 'we accepted'.2) Correct sentence: 'It is time we accepted all our people as equals and as partners in the task of building a strong and united nation.' Verification/Alternative Both 'It is time to accept…' and 'It is high time we accepted…' are accepted patterns. Common pitfalls Using 'should' after 'It is time' due to literal futurity; the idiom calls for a different structure. Final Answer B — 'we should accept…' should be 'we accepted…' (or 'to accept…').

Question 5

Error spotting (exam direction): Identify the erroneous part (A/B/C) — choose D if there is no error — 'Twice twelve / makes / twenty-four / No error.'

Accepted Answer

Given sentence parts (A–D) A. Twice twelveB. makesC. twenty-fourD. No error. Concept/Approach (equivalence vs. production verb) When expressing mathematical identity/equivalence, the copular verb 'is' is preferred: 'Twice twelve is twenty-four.' The verb 'make/makes' is used in additive constructions like 'Two and two make four' or for causation/production. Step-by-Step correction 1) Recognise identity statement: 'A equals B'.2) Replace verb of production with copula: 'makes' → 'is'.3) Correct sentence: 'Twice twelve is twenty-four.' Verification/Alternative Comparable forms: 'Three times five is fifteen'; contrast with 'Two and two make four'. Common pitfalls Overgeneralising 'make(s)' to all arithmetic statements. Final Answer B — 'makes' should be 'is'.

Question 6

Error spotting (exam direction): Identify the erroneous part (A/B/C) in the sentence — choose D if there is no error — 'Regretfully, profits earned by your company / fell by 20 per cent last year / despite higher sales. / No error.'

Accepted Answer

Given parts (A–D) A. Regretfully, profits earned by your companyB. fell by 20 per cent last yearC. despite higher sales.D. No error. Concept/Approach (word choice: 'regretfully' vs 'regrettably') Use regrettably to express the speaker's opinion that something is unfortunate. Regretfully describes the subject's manner (i.e., 'with regret'). Here, the writer is commenting; therefore, 'Regrettably' is idiomatic. Step-by-step correction 1) Replace adverb of comment: 'Regretfully' → 'Regrettably'.2) Corrected opening: 'Regrettably, profits earned by your company…' Verification/Alternative Compare: 'She spoke regretfully about the loss' (manner) vs 'Regrettably, profits fell…' (comment on situation). Common pitfalls Confusing comment adverbs with manner adverbs. Final Answer A — 'Regretfully, profits earned by your company' should start with 'Regrettably'.

Question 7

Error spotting (exam direction): Identify the erroneous part (A/B/C) — choose D if there is no error — 'In a report issued by Indian Statistical Institute, / the Iron and Steel Industry is investing more than any other / Indian industry in fighting …

Accepted Answer

Given parts (A–D) A. In a report issued by Indian Statistical Institute,B. the Iron and Steel Industry is investing more than any otherC. Indian industry in fighting pollution.D. No error. Concept/Approach (comparative placement and parallelism) The modifier 'in fighting pollution' is awkwardly attached at the end, creating a comparison ambiguity. The natural, unambiguous structure is: '…is investing more in fighting pollution than any other Indian industry.' Step-by-step correction 1) Move the gerund phrase: place 'in fighting pollution' immediately after 'investing'.2) Correct version: 'The Iron and Steel Industry is investing more in fighting pollution than any other Indian industry.' Verification/Alternative Right-branching reduces ambiguity in comparative clauses. Common pitfalls Dangling/remote placement of modifiers in comparisons. Final Answer C — reposition 'in fighting pollution': '…investing more in fighting pollution than any other Indian industry.'

Question 8

Error spotting (exam direction): Identify the erroneous part (A/B/C) — choose D if there is no error — 'He is going everyday / for a morning walk / with his friends and neighbours / No error.'

Accepted Answer

Given parts (A–D) A. He is going everydayB. for a morning walkC. with his friends and neighboursD. No error. Concept/Approach (adverb vs adjective; habitual aspect) The time adverb is every day (two words). Everyday (one word) is an adjective meaning ordinary. Also, for habits, simple present is preferred. Step-by-step correction 1) Spelling: 'everyday' → 'every day'.2) Tense (stylistic improvement): 'He goes for a morning walk every day.' Verification Compare: 'everyday clothes' (adj.) vs 'every day he walks' (adv.). Common pitfalls Using continuous tense for routine actions; confusing 'everyday' with 'every day'. Final Answer A — use 'every day' (and simple present for habit).

Question 9

Error spotting (exam direction): Identify the erroneous part (A/B/C) — choose D if there is no error — 'My father goes / to the office / five day week. / No error.'

Accepted Answer

Given parts (A–D) A. My father goesB. to the officeC. five day week.D. No error. Concept/Approach (compound adjective + article) When a numeral modifies a singular noun used attributively, use a hyphenated compound and an article: 'a five-day week'. Step-by-step correction 1) Insert article and hyphen: 'five day week' → 'a five-day week'.2) Correct sentence: 'My father goes to the office a five-day week.' Common pitfalls Omitting the hyphen and article in compound time expressions. Final Answer C — write 'a five-day week'.

Question 10

Error spotting (exam direction): Identify the erroneous part (A/B/C) — choose D if there is no error — 'If she will be promoted / she will get / a higher salary. / No error.'

Accepted Answer

Given parts (A–D) A. If she will be promotedB. she will getC. a higher salary.D. No error. Concept/Approach (if-clause tense) In real conditional sentences, the 'if' clause normally uses present simple (not 'will'). Passive is fine, but without 'will': 'If she is promoted, she will get…' Step-by-step correction 1) Remove 'will' in the 'if' clause: 'If she is promoted…'2) Full: 'If she is promoted, she will get a higher salary.' Common pitfalls Using 'will' in the conditional clause instead of in the main clause. Final Answer A — use 'If she is promoted…'

Question 11

Error spotting (exam direction): Identify the erroneous part (A/B/C) — choose D if there is no error — 'If I were him, / I would have taught / those cheats a lesson. / No error.'

Accepted Answer

Given parts (A–D) A. If I were him,B. I would have taughtC. those cheats a lesson.D. No error. Concept/Approach (case after 'were'; tense consistency) In formal English, after a linking verb ('were' in the subjunctive), the complement takes the subject case: 'If I were he.' Also, for a past unreal condition, the fully consistent form is 'If I had been he, I would have taught…' Step-by-step correction 1) Case: 'him' → 'he' (formal).2) (Advanced) Tense harmony: 'If I had been he, I would have taught those cheats a lesson.' Common pitfalls Using object case after copular verbs; mixing present-subjunctive 'were' with past-perfect result clauses. Final Answer A — prefer 'If I were he,' (or fully: 'If I had been he,…').

Question 12

Error spotting (exam direction): Identify the erroneous part (A/B/C) — choose D if there is no error — 'Looking back, I find that among the many impressions ofthe people of India, / absorbed while I lived among them, / are their reverence for great …

Accepted Answer

Given parts (A–D) A. Looking back, I find that among the many impressions ofthe people of India,B. absorbed while I lived among them,C. are their reverence for great men and women.D. No error. Concept/Approach (spacing/word form and clarity) There is a typographical/spacing error: 'ofthe' should be 'of the'. Also, clarity improves if we write: '…among the many impressions of the people of India…' Step-by-step correction 1) Insert space: 'ofthe' → 'of the'.2) Optional clarity: 'Looking back, I find that among the many impressions of the people of India, absorbed while I lived among them, is their reverence for great men and women.' Verification The tested error lies in Part A's merged words; grammar elsewhere is acceptable. Final Answer A — correct 'ofthe' to 'of the'.

Question 13

Error spotting (exam direction): Identify the erroneous part (A/B/C) — choose D if there is no error — 'If you work hard, / you will get good grades / in examinations. / No error'

Accepted Answer

Given parts (A–D) A. If you work hard,B. you will get good gradesC. in examinations.D. No error Concept/Approach (article with specific context) In formal exam English, when referring to a known/regular set of tests, use the definite article: 'in the examinations.' Without the article, the phrase is considered incomplete in this set-phrase context. Step-by-step correction 1) Add article: 'in examinations' → 'in the examinations'.2) Full: 'If you work hard, you will get good grades in the examinations.' Verification Compare set phrases: 'in the test/in the exam' for specific institutional assessments. Final Answer C — write 'in the examinations.'

Question 14

Error spotting (exam direction): Identify the erroneous part (A/B/C) — choose D if there is no error — 'He managed to make sense of the book / even though it was the first time / he read anything on the subject. / No error.'

Accepted Answer

Given parts (A–D) A. He managed to make sense of the bookB. even though it was the first timeC. he read anything on the subject.D. No error. Concept/Approach (sequence of tenses with 'the first time') After 'it was the first time', we normally use the past perfect: 'he had read anything on the subject.' Step-by-step correction 1) Change tense: 'he read' → 'he had read'.2) Correct: '…it was the first time he had read anything on the subject.' Verification Parallel: 'It was the first time she had visited Delhi.' Final Answer C — use past perfect: 'he had read…'

Question 15

Error spotting (exam direction): Identify the erroneous part (A/B/C) — choose D if there is no error — 'She reluctantly said that / if nobody else was doing it / she will do it. / No error.'

Accepted Answer

Given parts (A–D) A. She reluctantly said thatB. if nobody else was doing itC. she will do it.D. No error. Concept/Approach (reported speech backshift) In indirect/reported speech with a past reporting verb ('said'), future 'will' typically backshifts to 'would': 'she would do it.' Step-by-step correction 1) Backshift modal: 'will' → 'would'.2) Correct: 'She reluctantly said that if nobody else was doing it, she would do it.' Verification Pattern: said, 'I will go' → said that she would go. Final Answer C — replace 'will' with 'would' in reported speech.

Question 16

English grammar error-spotting (sequence of tenses and idiom in a complex sentence): Read the sentence split into four labeled parts (A–D) and identify which part contains a grammatical or idiomatic error; select ‘‘No error’’ only if all parts are c…

Accepted Answer

Given data A: ‘‘I fail to understand’’ B: ‘‘why he replied in negative’’ C: ‘‘when the proposal was in his favour.’’ D: ‘‘No error.’’ Concept / Approach Maintain sequence of tenses in narratives: when the situation is anchored in the past (‘‘replied’’, ‘‘was’’), the reporting clause is naturally in the past (‘‘I failed to understand …’’). Idiomatically, Part B would also prefer ‘‘in the negative’’, but as per single-error pattern, the exam key flags the main clause's tense mismatch. Step-by-step evaluation Step 1: Parts B and C both refer to a past event: ‘‘replied’’ and ‘‘was’’.Step 2: To keep temporal alignment, Part A should be backshifted to ‘‘I failed to understand …’’.Step 3: Therefore, the error lies in ‘‘I fail to understand’’. Correction ‘‘I failed to understand why he replied in the negative when the proposal was in his favour.’’ Common pitfalls Mixing present and past in the same time frame. Overlooking idiomatic article use after ‘‘reply’’ (‘‘in the negative’’ / ‘‘in the affirmative’’). Final Answer I fail to understand

Question 17

English grammar error-spotting (correct prepositions with dates and clock time): Read the sentence in four parts (A–D) and choose the part containing any grammatical error; if all parts are correct, pick ‘‘No error.’’ Focus on prepositional phrases …

Accepted Answer

Given data A: ‘‘I have’’ B: ‘‘an appointment’’ C: ‘‘on the 9th September on five o'clock’’ D: ‘‘No error.’’ Concept / Approach Use on with dates, usually ‘‘on the 9th of September’’, and use at with clock times (‘‘at five o'clock’’). Two preposition errors occur in Part C. Step-by-step evaluation Step 1: Date phrase → ‘‘on the 9th of September’’.Step 2: Time phrase → ‘‘at five o'clock’’.Step 3: Hence, Part C is erroneous: ‘‘on the 9th September on five o'clock’’. Correction ‘‘I have an appointment on the 9th of September at five o'clock.’’ Common pitfalls Using ‘‘on’’ before clock times. Omitting ‘‘of’’ in full date expressions. Final Answer on the 9th September on five o'clock

Question 18

English grammar error-spotting (intransitive ‘‘enjoy’’ needs a reflexive object and adverb placement): Read the sentence parts (A–D) and find the incorrect segment; select ‘‘No error’’ only if the whole sentence is correct: ‘‘They / enjoyed thorough…

Accepted Answer

Given data A: ‘‘They’’ B: ‘‘enjoyed thoroughly’’ C: ‘‘at the party.’’ D: ‘‘No error.’’ Concept / Approach In idiomatic English, ‘‘enjoy’’ is normally transitive and, for self-enjoyment, takes a reflexive object (‘‘enjoyed themselves’’). Also, the adverb ‘‘thoroughly’’ is best placed after the object. Step-by-step evaluation Correct pattern: ‘‘They thoroughly enjoyed themselves at the party.’’Therefore, the error is in Part B: ‘‘enjoyed thoroughly’’. Correction ‘‘They thoroughly enjoyed themselves at the party.’’ Common pitfalls Using ‘‘enjoy’’ without an object in this meaning. Awkward adverb placement obscuring natural rhythm. Final Answer enjoyed thoroughly

Question 19

English grammar error-spotting (parallelism of infinitives and correct verb form): Read the sentence in four parts (A–D) and identify the erroneous part; select ‘‘No error’’ only if the sentence is fully correct: ‘‘The method suggested in the lectur…

Accepted Answer

Given data A: ‘‘The method suggested in the lecture’’ B: ‘‘enables a student to learn more quickly’’ C: ‘‘and to have remembered for a longer period of time.’’ D: ‘‘No error.’’ Concept / Approach Maintain parallel structure: ‘‘to learn’’ should pair with ‘‘to remember’’ (not ‘‘to have remembered’’). The perfect infinitive changes meaning and breaks symmetry. Step-by-step evaluation Correct parallelism → ‘‘… enables a student to learn … and to remember …’’Hence, Part C is the error: ‘‘and to have remembered for a longer period of time.’’ Correction ‘‘… enables a student to learn more quickly and to remember for a longer period of time.’’ (Optionally add an object: ‘‘to remember it …’’) Common pitfalls Mixing infinitive forms within coordinated structures. Final Answer and to have remembered for a longer period of time.

Question 20

English grammar error-spotting (reported speech and modal backshift): Read the sentence in parts (A–D) and identify which part contains the error; choose ‘‘No error’’ only if there is no error: ‘‘My friend asked me / if I can lend him my Parker pen …

Accepted Answer

Given data A: ‘‘My friend asked me’’ (past reporting verb) B: ‘‘if I can lend him my Parker pen’’ C: ‘‘for a few days.’’ D: ‘‘No error.’’ Concept / Approach In indirect questions after a past reporting verb (‘‘asked’’), modals typically backshift: ‘‘can → could’’. This expresses future-in-the-past or polite remoteness. Step-by-step evaluation Part B should read ‘‘if I could lend him my Parker pen …’’.Therefore, the error is ‘‘if I can lend him my Parker pen’’. Correction ‘‘My friend asked me if I could lend him my Parker pen for a few days.’’ Common pitfalls Leaving ‘‘can’’ unchanged after a past reporting verb in reported speech. Confusing direct vs. indirect question forms. Final Answer if I can lend him my Parker pen

Spotting Errors Questions