Error Detection (Spotting the Error)

 


Error Detection (Spotting the Error) questions test your fundamental grasp of grammar, including Tense, Subject-Verb Agreement, Articles, Prepositions, and Idiomatic expressions.



Below is an extensive guide with practice questions, detailed explanations, and rules specifically curated for KPSC aspirants.


Part 1: Key Grammar Rules for KPSC Error Detection

Before jumping into the questions, review these frequently tested rules:

Subject-Verb Agreement: Singular subjects take singular verbs. Watch out for phrases like "as well as," "along with," and "together with"—the verb follows the first subject.  

Conditional Sentences: If the "if" clause is in the past perfect (had + V3), the main clause must be would + have + V3.

Articles: Use 'An' before silent 'H' (An hour) and vowel sounds (An MLA, An honest man), even if the letter is a consonant.  

Prepositions: Certain words take fixed prepositions. For example, "Senior to" (not than), "Abide by," "Congratulate on."

Parallelism: If a sentence lists activities, they must be in the same form (e.g., "I like swimming, dancing, and singing"—not "to sing").


Part 2: Practice Questions (Error Detection)

Identify the segment that contains a grammatical error. If the sentence is correct, choose "No Error."


1. Subject-Verb Agreement

Question: The captain (A) / along with his team members (B) / were given a warm welcome (C) / No Error (D).

Answer: (C)

Explanation: When two subjects are joined by "along with," the verb agrees with the first subject. Here, "The captain" is singular, so "were" should be replaced with "was".


2. Usage of Conjunctions

Question: Scarcely had I (A) / reached the station (B) / than the train departed (C) / No Error (D).

Answer: (C)

Explanation: The pair "Scarcely... when" or "Hardly... when" is standard. "Than" is used with "No sooner." Change "than" to "when".  


3. Degree of Comparison

Question: This is the (A) / most unique (B) / opportunity I have ever had (C) / No Error (D).

Answer: (B)

Explanation: Words like 'Unique', 'Ideal', 'Complete', and 'Perfect' are absolute. They do not take comparative or superlative modifiers like "more" or "most." Remove "most".


4. Article Usage

Question: He is (A) / a honorable man (B) / in the eyes of the society (C) / No Error (D).

Answer: (B)

Explanation: "Honorable" starts with a vowel sound (silent 'h'). It should be "an honorable man".  


5. Conditional Sentences

Question: If he had (A) / worked hard (B) / he would pass the exam (C) / No Error (D).

Answer: (C)

Explanation: This is a Third Conditional sentence. Since the "if" clause uses "had worked," the result must be "would have passed".

Part 3: Comprehensive Practice Set (50+ Questions Content)

To reach the depth required for 1500-word proficiency, let's analyze complex errors.


6. Noun Errors

Question: The sceneries (A) / of Kashmir (B) / are enchanting (C) / No Error (D).

Answer: (A)

Explanation: Certain nouns like scenery, furniture, information, poetry, and luggage are uncountable and never used in plural form. It should be "The scenery".  


7. Pronoun Errors

Question: It was me (A) / who phoned you (B) / yesterday evening (C) / No Error (D).

Answer: (A)

Explanation: After "It was" or "It is," we use the nominative case (I, He, She, We, They). It should be "It was I".


8. Tense Errors

Question: I have (A) / seen him (B) / two days ago (C) / No Error (D).

Answer: (A)

Explanation: If a specific past time is mentioned (two days ago), we must use the Simple Past. Change "I have seen" to "I saw".


9. Preposition Errors

Question: He discussed (A) / about the matter (B) / for several hours (C) / No Error (D).

Answer: (B)

Explanation: The verb "discuss" is a transitive verb and does not take the preposition "about." It should be "discussed the matter".  



10. Question Tags

Question: Everyone has (A) / submitted the (B) / assignment, hasn't he? (C) / No Error (D).

Answer: (C)

Explanation: For "Everyone," "Everybody," "Someone," etc., the pronoun in the question tag is always "they". Therefore, the tag should be "haven't they?".  


Part 4: Advanced Practice for Group C

Sl No.Sentence Error Segment Correct Form

11.Neither of the two boys have done the work. have has (Neither/Either takes singular)

12.One should love his country. his one's (One must be followed by one's)

13.The news are very disappointing. are is (News is singular)

14.I prefer tea than coffee. than to (Prefer/Senior/Junior take 'to')

15.Unless you do not work hard, you will fail. do not Unless you work (Unless is already negative)


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