🧠 Understanding Error Spotting
What is Error Spotting?
Error Spotting involves identifying grammatical mistakes in
sentences. These errors can pertain to various aspects of English grammar,
including:testbook.com+1studyandscore.com+1
- Subject-Verb
Agreement: Ensuring the subject and verb in a sentence agree in number
and person.
- Tense
Consistency: Maintaining the correct verb tense throughout a sentence.
- Prepositions:
Using appropriate prepositions in context.
- Articles:
Correct usage of 'a', 'an', and 'the'.
- Pronouns:
Ensuring pronouns agree with their antecedents in number and gender.
- Modifiers:
Placing modifiers correctly to avoid ambiguity.
- Parallelism:
Ensuring elements in a list or comparison are grammatically parallel.
- Idiomatic
Expressions: Using expressions that are natural to native English
speakers.
Why is it Important?
Mastering error spotting enhances your ability to write and
speak English accurately, which is essential for competitive exams and
professional communication.
🔍 Tips for Effective
Error Spotting
- Read
the Entire Sentence Carefully: Understand the context before
identifying errors.
- Check
for Subject-Verb Agreement: Ensure singular subjects have singular
verbs and plural subjects have plural verbs.
- Maintain
Tense Consistency: Avoid shifting tenses unnecessarily within a
sentence.
- Verify
Prepositions and Articles: Ensure correct usage based on the nouns and
verbs they accompany.
- Look
for Modifier Placement: Modifiers should be placed next to the words
they modify to avoid confusion.
- Ensure
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement: Pronouns must agree with their
antecedents in number and gender.
- Check
for Parallel Structure: Elements in a series should be in the same
grammatical form.
- Be
Aware of Common Idioms: Use expressions that are standard in English
usage.testbook.com
📝 100 Practice Questions
with Answers and Explanations
Below are 100 error spotting questions designed to mirror
the style and difficulty of SSC and Banking exams. Each question is followed by
the correct answer and a detailed explanation to enhance your understanding.
1. Each of the students have submitted their
assignments.
Answer: Error in "have"; should be "has".
Explanation: "Each" is singular and requires a singular verb.testbook.comstudyandscore.com
2. She is more smarter than her brother.
Answer: Error in "more smarter"; should be
"smarter".
Explanation: Avoid double comparatives; use either "more
smart" or "smarter".
3. The team have won the championship.
Answer: Error in "have"; should be "has".
Explanation: "Team" is a collective noun and takes a singular
verb.kdcampus.live+1testbook.com+1
4. He is good in mathematics.
Answer: Error in "in"; should be "at".
Explanation: The correct preposition is "good at" when
referring to a subject.
5. Neither of the options are suitable.
Answer: Error in "are"; should be "is".
Explanation: "Neither" is singular and takes a singular verb.
6. She did not knew the answer.
Answer: Error in "knew"; should be "know".
Explanation: After "did," the base form of the verb is used.
7. The sceneries of Switzerland are breathtaking.
Answer: Error in "sceneries"; should be "scenery".
Explanation: "Scenery" is an uncountable noun and doesn't have
a plural form.
8. She is married with a doctor.
Answer: Error in "with"; should be "to".
Explanation: The correct preposition is "married to".
9. I look forward to meet you.
Answer: Error in "meet"; should be "meeting".
Explanation: "Look forward to" is followed by a gerund
(verb+ing).
10. The news are very depressing.
Answer: Error in "are"; should be "is".
Explanation: "News" is an uncountable noun and takes a
singular verb.
11. The number of students are increasing every year.
Answer: Error in "are"; should be "is".
Explanation: "The number" is singular and takes a singular
verb.
12. He enjoys to play cricket on weekends.
Answer: Error in "to play"; should be "playing".
Explanation: "Enjoy" is followed by a gerund (verb+ing).
13. Neither John nor his friends is coming to the
party.
Answer: Error in "is"; should be "are".
Explanation: When subjects are joined by "neither...nor," the
verb agrees with the nearer subject (friends = plural).
14. This is the bestest cake I have ever eaten.
Answer: Error in "bestest"; should be "best".
Explanation: "Best" is the superlative form;
"bestest" is incorrect.
15. She has been working here since five years.
Answer: Error in "since"; should be "for".
Explanation: "Since" refers to a point in time,
"for" refers to a duration.
16. Everyone must bring their own lunch.
Answer: Error in "their"; should be "his or her".
Explanation: "Everyone" is singular, so singular pronouns
should be used.
17. I prefer coffee than tea.
Answer: Error in "than"; should be "to".
Explanation: "Prefer" is followed by "to", not
"than".
18. The police has arrested the criminals.
Answer: Error in "has"; should be "have".
Explanation: "Police" is plural and takes a plural verb.
19. She is able to solved the problem easily.
Answer: Error in "solved"; should be "solve".
Explanation: After "able to," the base form of the verb is
used.
20. He did not come because he was ill yesterday.
Answer: No error.
21. If I was you, I would apologize.
Answer: Error in "was"; should be "were".
Explanation: Use subjunctive mood "were" for hypothetical
situations.
22. Either my mother or my sisters is going to the
market.
Answer: Error in "is"; should be "are".
Explanation: Verb agrees with the nearer subject ("sisters" =
plural).
23. The data is showing an increase in sales.
Answer: Error in "is"; should be "are".
Explanation: "Data" is plural (datum = singular).
24. He suggested to meet at 6 pm.
Answer: Error in "to meet"; should be "meeting".
Explanation: "Suggest" is followed by a gerund.
25. This kind of music are very popular nowadays.
Answer: Error in "are"; should be "is".
Explanation: "Kind" is singular.
26. She has less friends than me.
Answer: Error in "less"; should be "fewer".
Explanation: Use "fewer" for countable nouns.
27. He runs faster than anybody else in the class.
Answer: No error.
28. The teacher asked if I had completed my homework.
Answer: No error.
29. I will meet you at the bus stand on 6 o'clock.
Answer: Error in "on"; should be "at".
Explanation: Use "at" for specific times.
30. He is responsible of managing the team.
Answer: Error in "of"; should be "for".
Explanation: "Responsible for" is the correct phrase.
31. They invited me to attend the meeting tomorrow.
Answer: No error.
32. The group of players are practicing hard.
Answer: Error in "are"; should be "is".
Explanation: "Group" is singular.
33. I am good in swimming.
Answer: Error in "in"; should be "at".
Explanation: "Good at" is correct.
34. The manager, along with his assistants, are here.
Answer: Error in "are"; should be "is".
Explanation: The subject is singular; phrases like "along
with" do not change number.
35. Each of the girls have a bicycle.
Answer: Error in "have"; should be "has".
36. There is many reasons for his failure.
Answer: Error in "is"; should be "are".
Explanation: "Many reasons" is plural.
37. I will call you when I will reach home.
Answer: Error in second "will"; should be simple present
"reach".
Explanation: In time clauses, use simple present, not future tense.
38. He did not attend the meeting because he was
sick.
Answer: No error.
39. It is raining since morning.
Answer: Error in "since"; should be "for".
Explanation: Use "for" with durations.
40. The number of accidents have increased this year.
Answer: Error in "have"; should be "has".
41. I prefer reading books than watching movies.
Answer: Error in "than"; should be "to".
42. Neither of the boys are guilty.
Answer: Error in "are"; should be "is".
43. She speaks French very well.
Answer: No error.
44. They enjoys playing football every Sunday.
Answer: Error in "enjoys"; should be "enjoy".
Explanation: Subject "they" is plural.
45. The students is studying for the exam.
Answer: Error in "is"; should be "are".
46. I have visited London last year.
Answer: Error in tense; should be "visited" (correct), but no
"have".
Explanation: Past time expressions use simple past, not present perfect.
47. He suggested me to go there.
Answer: Error in structure; should be "suggested that I go
there" or "suggested going there".
48. She said that she will come tomorrow.
Answer: Error in reported speech; should be "would come".
49. Neither of them were able to solve the problem.
Answer: Error in "were"; should be "was".
50. I wish I was taller.
Answer: Error in "was"; should be "were".
51. Everybody have done their homework.
Answer: Error in "have"; should be "has".
52. He is better than me in chess.
Answer: Error in "me"; should be "I".
53. She has been working here since two years.
Answer: Error in "since"; should be "for".
54. The jury were unanimous in their decision.
Answer: Generally acceptable in British English but in American English,
"jury" is singular, so "was".
55. He doesn't knows the answer.
Answer: Error in "knows"; should be "know".
56. It takes me two hours to reach office.
Answer: No error.
57. The clothes is on the table.
Answer: Error in "is"; should be "are".
58. He is looking forward to meet you.
Answer: Error in "meet"; should be "meeting".
59. She is one of the smartest student in class.
Answer: Error in "student"; should be "students".
60. This is the worst day of my life.
Answer: No error.
61. If he would have studied, he would have passed.
Answer: Error; correct form: "If he had studied".
62. We discussed about the problem.
Answer: Error in "about"; "discuss" doesn't require
a preposition.
63. She advised me to not go there.
Answer: Incorrect placement of "not"; correct: "She
advised me not to go there."
64. He is afraid from dogs.
Answer: Error in "from"; should be "of".
65. The team are playing well.
Answer: Error in "are"; should be "is".
66. I can't hardly wait for the event.
Answer: Double negative; correct: "I can hardly wait".
67. He has less money than his brother.
Answer: No error (money is uncountable).
68. I was doing my homework when he called.
Answer: No error.
69. There is a lot of problems in this task.
Answer: Error in "is"; should be "are".
70. She likes to dance and singing.
Answer: Error in parallelism; should be "dance and sing".
71. The weather are pleasant today.
Answer: Error in "are"; should be "is".
72. He works hardly to finish the project.
Answer: Error in "hardly"; should be "hard".
73. Do you know where is the station?
Answer: Error in indirect question word order; correct: "Do you
know where the station is?"
74. I have two brothers and a sister.
Answer: No error.
75. She can sings very well.
Answer: Error in "sings"; should be
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