ENGLISH LANGUAGE - Error Detection  FOR UPCOMING EXAMINATION
  

Directions (1-15): Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is ‘No error’, the answer is (e). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any.)

Q1. I am very thirsty, give me little water to drink.     

(a) I am very thirsty 

(b) give me  

(c) little water  

(d) to drink 

(e) No error 

Q2. Everybody was in the garden amusing themselves.  

(a) Everybody was  

(b) in the garden  

(c) amusing 

(d) themselves 

(e) No error     

Q3. If I was you I would not attend the function. 

(a) If I was you 

(b) I would not  

(c) attend 

(d) the function 

(e) No error     

Q4. These organisations work lest their activities may be banned. 

(a) These organisations 

(b) work lest 

(c) their activities 

(d) may be banned 

(e) No error     

Q5. Avinash and his friend were walking towards the station when they met this common friend. 

(a) Avinash and his friend  

(b) were walking towards 

(c) the station when 

(d) they met this common friend  

(e) No error     

Q6. Priyamvada was unhappy to hear the news of her son’s failing in the final examination. 

(a) Priyamvada was unhappy 

(b) to hear the news 

(c) of her son’s failing 

(d) in the final examination  

(e) No error     

Q7. The information supplied to us were not as useful as we first thought it would be. 

(a) The information supplied 

(b) to us were not as  

(c) useful as we first  

(d) thought it would be 

(e) No error     

Q8. The man appears to have seen more happier days. 

(a) The man 

(b) appears 

(c)to have seen  

(d) more happier days 

(e) No error     

Q9. Have you read this book farther than I? 

(a) Have you 

(b)read  

(c) this book 

(d) farther than I 

(e) No error     

 

Q10. The production of different kinds of artificial materials are essential to the conservation of our natural resources. 

(a) The production of different kinds of artificial materials 

(b) are essential 

(c) to the conservation of  

(d) our natural resources

(e) No error     

Q11. My brother-in-law with his wife now in Singapore were present at the function.  

(a) My brother-in-law with his wife  

(b) now in Singapore  

(c) were present 

(d) at the function 

(e) No error     

Q12. She eagerly wishes to help me. 

(a) She 

(b) eagerly wishes   

(c) to 

(d) help me

(e) No error     

Q13. He labours hard lest he may fail. 

(a) He labours  

(b) hard 

(c) lest  

(d) he may fail  

(e) No error     

Q14. Two men have been arrested by the police who are believed to be involved in the robbery. 

(a) Two men have 

(b) been arrested 

(c) by the police who are believed 

(d) to be involved in the robbery

(e) No error     

Q15. No sooner the bell rang than the teacher entered the class. 

(a) No sooner the bell rang   

(b) than the teacher

(c) entered

(d) the class 

(e) No error     

solution

1. Ans.(c) 

Sol. Use ‘a little’ in place of ‘little’, because little refers to almost negligible amount and ‘a little’ is appropriate as it means some quantity of water. 

2. Ans.(d)

Sol. Use ‘himself’ in place of ‘themselves’.

3. Ans.(a)

Sol. When ‘as if’ is used to convey the sense of pre tension, it is appropriate to use ‘were’ in all cases. Thus, use ‘were’ in place of ‘was’.

4. Ans.(d)

Sol. ‘lest’ is followed by ‘should’ use ‘should be’ in place of ‘may be’.

5. Ans.(d)

Sol. The pronoun must be in accordance to the subject, use ‘there common’ in place of ‘this common’.

6. Ans.(c)

Sol. Use ‘son’ in place of ‘son’s’

7. Ans.(b) 

Sol. Use ‘Was not’ in place of ‘were not’

8. Ans.(d)

Sol. Use ‘happier’ in place of ‘more happier’.

9. Ans.(d)

Sol. Farther is incorrect here, use further. Farther is used to denote distance and further is used to indicate more.

10. Ans.(b)

Sol. Correct preposition will be ‘is’ in place of ‘are’.

11. Ans.(c)

Sol. Use ‘was’ in place of ‘were.

12. Ans.(b)

Sol. ‘she wishes eagerly’ is the correct phrase.

13. Ans.(d)

Sol. ‘lest’ is followed by ‘should’. Use ‘should’ in place of ‘may’.

14. Ans.(c)

Sol. Here the words ‘who are’ create a confusion, it is ambiguous weather ‘who are’ is used for ‘two men’ or ‘police’; such usage should be avoided.

15. Ans.(a)

Sol. ‘No sooner did the bell ring’ is the correct phrase