Never Lose Marks in Error Detection! |Error Detection Practice Set for Competitive Exam (With Exam Tricks)

Spot Errors in 5 Seconds!

Stop Making Grammar Mistakes! 

English Grammar for SSC, Banking & CAT

Error spotting plays a crucial role in competitive exams and directly affects an aspirant's score. To excel, one must have a clear command of grammar rules,including subject -verb agreement, tense usage, and the correct application of articles and prepositions. This article is written keeping these aspects

 in focus.

 Visual learning makes grammar simple, clear, and long- lasting in memory.

Visual image never fade away - learn it because images help you to remember grammar concepts faster and for a longer time. Perfect for candidates preparing for competitive exams.

Why Error Spotting is Important

Error detection in competitive examination is a vital skill that can greatly impact a candidate's performance. A strong command of grammar helps you to solve questions accurately and quickly.

Key Grammar Areas to Focus On

Subject - Verb Agreement

A subject-verb agreement flowchart is an invaluable tool for candidates, particularly those preparing for exams or honing their writing skills. This flowchart visually represents the rules that govern the correct pairing of subjects and verbs in a sentence, ensuring grammatical accuracy. Understanding these rules is crucial for clear and effective communication.

For instance, 

 “The dog runs fast.”

 Here, “dog” is a singular subject, and “runs” is the singular verb that agrees with it. 

A flowchart would guide candidates through this process by asking whether the subject is singular or plural and then directing them to choose the correct verb form. 

Conversely, in the sentence “The dogs run fast,” 

“dogs” is a plural subject, necessitating the plural verb “run.”

Another example,

 “Each of the students is responsible for their homework.” 

Despite “students” being plural, the subject “Each” is singular, thus requiring the singular verb “is.” 

The flowchart would clarify this rule by highlighting that certain pronouns like “each” or “everyone” are always 

singular, regardless of what follows.

By using a subject-verb agreement flowchart, candidates can systematically break down and understand these rules, thereby reducing errors in writing and speaking. This approach not only builds confidence but also enhances overall language proficiency.

• Singular subject ➡️ singular verb
• Plural subject ➡️ plural verb

Example:

• The birds flies. (wrong)❌
• The birds fly. (correct)✔️

Tense Consistency 

• Use the same tense throughout the sentence.

Example:

• The children are shouting and eat food. (wrong)❌
• The children are shouting and eating food. (correct)✔️

Know these 7 Golden Rules of Subject -Verb Agreement:

Exceptional Case 

Action verbs and stative verbs play distinct roles in the English language, each contributing to the richness and clarity of communication. Action verbs, as their name suggests, describe physical or mental actions performed 

by the subject. 

Examples include "run," "jump," "think," and "decide." 

For instance, 

"She plays every morning," 

The verb "plays" indicates a physical activity that the subject performs, emphasizing motion and effort.

On the other hand, stative verbs describe states of being or conditions that do not involve active movement or change.

 These verbs often relate to emotions, thoughts, relationships, senses, or possession. 

Examples include "love," "believe," "know," and "own." 

In the sentence "He knows the answer."

 The verb "knows" conveys a state of understanding or awareness, not an action that can be seen or measured.

 Unlike action verbs, stative verbs are generally not used in continuous tenses, as they represent states rather than ongoing actions.

 Understanding the difference between these two types of verbs enhances both writing clarity and the ability to convey precise meanings.

Articles

• Use 'a' before consonant sounds
• Use 'an' before vowel sounds
• Use 'the' for specific nouns

Example:

• He is a M.A in Political Science. (wrong)❌
• He is an M.A in Political Science. (correct)✔️

Prepositions

• Use correct prepositions based on context.

Example:

• They are sitting under shade of a mango tree. (wrong)❌
• They are sitting in the shade of a mango tree, (correct)✔️

Quick Tips: 

• Read the sentence carefully!
• Check for grammar mistakes like subject verb agreement, tense errors, and incorrect articles or prepositions.

Tips for Exam:

While reading the sentence try to identify the subject and verb first then check the structure and tense in the sentence.

 Focus on common errors like articles and prepositions. At last, eliminate wrong options.Attempt error spotting questions first in exams.

One Rule At a Time:

Note: 👉 Revise rules daily

           👉 Practice daily 15 - 20 (Error detection) questions.

👉Identify the part of the sentence that contains an error:

The jury members, as well as the secretary, is expected to look into the matter.

1. The jury members
2. as well as 
3. the secretary
4. is expected to 
5. look into the matter.

Ans: (4) The error is in the verb 'is'.

The jury members, as well as the secretary, are expected to look into the matter.

Explanation: When two subjects are connected by phrases " along with","together with", "in addition to"or 

"as well as" the verb must agree with the first subject.

In this sentence, if we analyze:

•  First Subject: " The jury members" (plural)
•  Second Subject: "the secretary" (singular)

 As the first subject (jury members) is plural, the verb must be plural (are)

Find the error:

If Raj had known about the traffic, he would reach the examination hall on time.

1. If Raj had known about the traffic,
2. he would reach
3.  the examination hall
4. on time.

Ans: (2) he would reach

If Raj had known about the traffic, he would have reached the examination hall on time.

Explanation: The error is in the verb phrase, "would reach".

In the sentence, there is past perfect tense (had known) in

 the ' if ' clause, it is a Third Conditional sentence. The correct structure of such type of sentence is:

If + Past perfect (had known) + would have + Past Participle (reached).

In other words, Raj did not know about the traffic in the past, and that is why, he did not reach the exam hall on time. So, the "would have + past participle (reached)"

 structure is used to describe an unreal past result.  

Find the grammatical error:

Stickers bindis which women apply on her foreheads, can cause white patches on the foreheads.

1. Stickers bindis which
2. women apply on 
3. her foreheads,
4. can cause white patches
5. on the foreheads.

Ans: (3) her foreheads

Stickers bindis which women apply on their foreheads, can cause white patches on the foreheads.

Explanation: Here "women" is plural, so the pronoun must be "their" not "her".The sentence has a subject-verb agreement error and a grammatical error regarding pronoun usage.

Spot the error in the following sentence:

Excessive consumption of sugar can caused the risk of diabeties and many other diseases.

1. Excessive consumption of sugar 
2. can caused the risk of
3. diabeties and many other 
4. diseases.
5. No error

Ans: (2) can caused the risk of

Excessive consumption of sugar can cause the risk of diabeties and many other diseases. 

Explanation:The modal verb "can" must be followed by the base form of the verb. "Caused" is the past tense/ past participle form. 

Find the error

He hired a rickshaw lest he would miss the bus.

1. He hired a 
2. rickshaw lest
3. he would 
4. miss the bus.

Ans: (3) he would

He hired a rickshaw lest he should miss the bus.

Explanation: The error is in the sentence is the use of the modal ' would ' after 'lest'.

The word 'lest ' is followed by the modal 'should' means Lest + should - when "lest" is used to mean " for fear that "or " to avoid " there must be "should" or the base form of the verb.

 If we write "would", "might " or "could" are grammatically wrong in this

context.

Identify the error

Each of the volunteers have performed well on the eve of the carnival.

1. Each of the
2. volunteers have performed
3. well on the
4. eve of the
5. carnival.

Ans: (2) volunteers have performed

Each of the volunteers has performed well on the eve of the carnival.

Explanation: Here, the noun is plural (volunteers) but the verb is singular,

because the subject is ' Each ' which refers to one person /thing at a time.

Mock Test to beat the exam:

The team _____ winning the championship this year.

1. is
2. are 
3. were 
4. have been 

Answer: is

Explanation: Collective nouns like "team" as singular when considered as a single unit.

Neither the captain nor his subordinates ___ prepared for the meeting.

1. is 
2. are
3. was
4. were 

Answer: are 

Explanation: When "neither... nor" is used, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

Each of the employees _____ a new laptop for the office work.

1. need
2. needs
3. have 
4. were 

Answer: needs

Explanation: "Each" is always singular, so it requires a singular verb.

The committee ______ agreed to sign a new verdict.

1. has
2. have 
3. was 
4. were 

Answer: has

Explanation: A committee, when acting as a single entity, takes a singular verb.

The new data ____ updated yearly.

1. is
2. am
3. was 
4. has

Answer : are 

Explanation: "Data" is traditionally plural, although in modern usage, it can be singular, however, here it is treated as plural.

Either the electrician or his assistants ____ responsible for the fault.

1. is
2. are
3. was
4. have 

Answer: are 

Explanation: In "either..... or" constructions, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

The number of candidates ____ increasing every year.

1. is
2. are
3. have been 
4. were 

Answer: is

Explanation: "The number of" is singular and requires a singular verb.

A bunch of keys _____ on the table.

1. was 
2. were 
3. is
4. are 

Answer: was 

Explanation: When a verb like "bunch of keys" is used, the verb agrees with the singular noun "bunch".

The members of jury _____ investating the case.

1. is
2. was 
3. has
4. are

Answer: are 

Explanation: "The members of the jury" is a plural noun and requires a plural noun.

Physics _____ my favorite subject.

1. is
2. was
3. have been 
4. were 

Answer: is

Explanation: Subjects like "Physics" that are singular in form but refer to a field of study take a singular verb.

The herd of cattle _______ grazing in the field.

1. was
2. is
3. are
4. were 

Answer: was 

Explanation: "Herd" is a collective noun treated as singular when acting as a single unit.

Frequently Asked Questions About Error Detection 

What is the difference between 'a number of' and 'the number of'?

The phrases "a number of" and "the number of" are often confused, but they serve distinct functions in English. "A number of" is an idiomatic expression used to indicate a non-specific quantity that is more than one but not necessarily large. It implies some indeterminate amount and is usually followed by a plural noun, as in "A number of students were absent today." In contrast, "the number of" refers to a specific count or quantity and is typically followed by a singular verb. It focuses on the actual count of items or people, as in "The number of students in the class is thirty." Understanding these differences helps in using the phrases accurately in both spoken and written communication.

Is there a trick to learn subject verb agreement?

One effective trick to mastering subject-verb agreement is to identify the subject of the sentence and determine whether it is singular or plural. Once you’ve established this, ensure the verb agrees in number. Singular subjects take singular verbs, usually ending in “-s” (e.g., “The cat runs”), while plural subjects take plural verbs without the “-s” (e.g., “The cats run”). Additionally, be mindful of tricky subjects: collective nouns (like “team” or “group”) can be singular or plural depending on context, and words like “everyone” or “each” are always singular. Practice by constructing sentences and checking each for agreement, and over time, identifying the correct verb form will become second nature.

How can a candidate master subject verb concord?

Mastering subject-verb concord, also known as subject-verb agreement, requires understanding the fundamental rule that the verb must agree with its subject in number and person. Here are some steps to help a candidate improve in this area:

1. Identify the Subject: Determine the subject of the sentence. This can be tricky in complex sentences, so practice identifying the core subject and ignoring intervening phrases.

2. Singular and Plural Forms: Learn the singular and plural forms of subjects and verbs. Singular subjects take singular verbs, while plural subjects take plural verbs. For example, "The cat runs" versus "The cats run."

3. Special Cases: Be aware of special cases such as collective nouns (e.g., team, group), which can be singular or plural depending on context, and indefinite pronouns (e.g., everyone, none), which often take singular verbs.

4. Inverted Sentences: Pay attention to sentences where the subject follows the verb, such as in questions ("Where are the keys?") or sentences beginning with "there" or "here."

5. Practice: Regular practice with exercises and writing can solidify these rules. Reading widely and analyzing sentence structures in different texts can also improve your understanding.

6. Feedback and Correction: Seek feedback on your writing and revisit any errors in subject-verb agreement to understand and correct them.

By consistently applying these strategies, candidates can enhance their ability to maintain proper subject-verb concord in their writing and communication.