BANSAL GROUP OF INSTITUTES

VERBAL ABILITY TRAINING TUTORIAL

B.TECH. COURSE

TOPIC : SENTENCE CORRECTION

Prepared By:
Prof. Shilpi Mishra
Communication Skills Trainer
Dept. – Training
Some tips for error spotting

1. Certain nouns being a singular form represent plurality and therefore, take a plural verb in a
sentence.

Example: police, clergy, people, peasantry, cattle.

 People has left. (Incorrect)

 People have left. (Correct)

2. Certain nouns take the plural verb because of their plural form.

Example: Clothes, Scissors, trousers, amends, spectacles, thanks.

 The spectacles is missing. (Incorrect)

 The spectacles are missing. (Correct)

3. When a noun denoting weight, number, money, length or measure is following a number, the
noun form does not change as long as another noun or pronoun follows it.

Example: Million, pair, meter, year, dozen.

 This is a 9-meters scale. (Incorrect)

 This is a 9-meter scale. (Correct)

4. When the pronoun ‘one’ is used, it should be maintained throughout the whole sentence.

 One must help his siblings. (Incorrect)

 One must help one’s siblings. (Correct)

5. For living people ‘whose’ is generally used and for things that are non-living ‘which’ is used.

 Which phone is kept on charging? (Incorrect)

 Whose phone is kept on charging? (Correct)
6. ‘Fewer’ is used for denoting number while ‘Less’ is used for denoting quantity.

 No less than thirty dogs were. (Incorrect)

 No fewer than thirty dogs were. (Correct)

7. Sentences are always opposite to question tags, for example, if the question tag is positive then
the sentence is negative and vice versa.

 It’s a bit early, is it? (Incorrect)

 It’s a bit early, isn’t it? (Correct)

8. Instead of ‘who’ or ‘which’, the relative pronoun ‘that’ is used after adjectives in the superlative
degree.

 These are the best which he could get. (Incorrect)

 These are the best that he could get. (Correct)

9. ‘As’ is used both before and after the adjective to show equality.

 I can write as fast, if not faster than her. (Incorrect)

 I can write as fast as, if not faster than her. (Correct)

10. ‘Though’ is always followed by ‘yet’ in a sentence and not by ‘but’.

 Though he is rich but he is kind. (Incorrect)

 Though he is rich, yet he is kind. (Correct)

11. ‘Not’ is never used with ‘unless’ as ‘unless’ expresses a condition that is always used in the
negative sense.

 Unless you do not pay the fine, you will not be excused. (Incorrect)
 Unless you pay the fine, you will not be excused. (Correct)

12. ‘While’ implies a time duration of doing something and ‘When’ denotes a general sense.

 When learning how to box, the technique is of utmost importance. (Incorrect)

 While learning how to box, the technique is of utmost importance. (Correct)
Understanding Error Spotting Rules with Examples

Rule 1: Check and identify the part of the speech.

 A part of speech classifies the way a word functions in a sentence. There are 8 parts of speech in English
Grammar: interjection, adjective, pronoun, verb, noun, preposition, adverb, and conjunction.
 If the word is a naming word, like having a name of any place, person and so forth, then the sentence is a
noun.
 If the word is replacing the noun, then it is the pronoun.
 If the word is showing an action, then it is the verb.
 If the word depicts the quality of a noun, then it is an adjective.
 If the word is modifying the verb and adjective, it is an adverb.
 If the word connects the other words, then it is a conjunction.
 If the word describes the relationship between noun and pronoun, then it is a proposition .

Incorrect: Running in the park children were happily.

Correct: Children were happily running in the park.

Rule 2: Identify the type of sentence.

The three kinds of sentences in English Grammar are interrogative, affirmative, and negative
sentences. If the sentence is written in the general form, with subject, verb, and object, then, the
sentence is affirmative. If the sentence consists of a ‘not’ with the verb, the sentence is negative. If
the helping verb of the sentence is written in the beginning or it consists of question words like why,
how, where, then the sentence is interrogative.

Example:
Q: How are you going?

Answer: Where are you going?

Rule 3 : Check Subject-Verb Agreement

Students must ensure that the subject and verb agree in terms of number (singular or
plural). Pay attention to singular subjects requiring singular verbs and plural subjects
requiring plural verbs.

For Example:

Incorrect: The dogs barks on the terrace.

Correct: The dogs bark on the terrace. Or The dog barks on the terrace.

Explanation:

Here, the subject is 'dogs' and the verb is 'barks' in the incorrect sentence. Since the
subject (dogs) is plural, the verb should also be plural (bark).

Likewise, since the verb (barks) is singular, you can also correct the sentence by making
the subject singular (dog).

Rule 4 :Check the Tenses and the Correct Form of the Verb for It

Use appropriate verb tenses and the right form of the verb for that particular tense to
convey the correct timeline of actions. Pay attention to the consistency of tenses and avoid
shifting between past, present, and future tenses without a clear reason.

For Example:

Incorrect: Yesterday, I go to the store.

Correct: Yesterday, I went to the store.

Explanation:

Yesterday means the previous day. Clearly, it's an action completed in the past. Thus, the
sentence suggests the usage of simple past tense. 'Go' is used for the present tense.

Thus, to make the sentence error-free, we need to use 'went' or the second form of the verb
'go' to convey the right meaning.

Rule 5 :Use the Right Article for the Corresponding Noun

Use articles (a, an, the) appropriately based on the specific noun being referenced and the
context. Pay attention to countable and uncountable nouns. Also, take extra care of special
cases and exceptions while working with articles.
For Example:

Incorrect: I want a airplane ticket to the India.

Correct: I want an airplane ticket to India.

Explanation:

Since 'airplane' starts with a vowel sound and it's singular, we use 'an' before airplane.

Similarly, India is the name of the country. We don't add articles before country names,
hence we remove 'the' placed before 'India'.

Ensure that pronouns for the noun agree in type, number, gender, voice, and person as per
the given sentence.

For Example:

Incorrect: Ram and me are studying.

Correct: Ram and I are studying.

Explanation:

'Me' is used as a pronoun for 'I' in the passive voice or when 'I' is the object of the action
instead of the subject. Since in the incorrect sentence, 'me' is the subject, 'I' is the correct
pronoun

Rule 7 : Learn to Use the Correct Prepositions

Use the appropriate prepositions to express relationships between words or phrases. Learn
the exceptions and special use cases for prepositions with certain words or situations.

For Example:

Incorrect: I am residing at Delhi.

Correct: I am residing in Delhi.

Explanation:

We always use 'in' for cities or countries. The preposition "in" is used to indicate a place
being a part of that location.

On the other hand, the preposition "at" is used to indicate a specific point or place, usually a
smaller and more specific location within a larger area. Hence, we replace 'at' with 'in' to
make the sentence correct.
Rule 8 : Maintain Parallelism and Continuation

While attempting error spotting questions, make sure to check parallel structures in lists,
comparisons, and conjunctions. Ensure that items within a series or phrases joined by
conjunctions follow a consistent grammatical pattern in terms of the tenses and the form of
verbs.

For Example:

Incorrect: She likes swimming, hiking, and to play tennis.

Correct: She likes swimming, hiking, and playing tennis.

Explanation:

Here, the incorrect sentence uses the infinitive form of play (to play) after the conjunction
"and" in the list of activities.

The other word forms maintain a participle or "-ing" form of verbs 'swim' and 'hike'. Thus, to
maintain parallelism, we have to use the "-ing" or participle form of the verb for 'play' as
well.

Rule 9 :Correct Usage of Adjectives, Adverbs, and Phrases

In English, a lot of times students can get confused between similar-sounding modifiers like
adjectives, adverbs, or other phrases. Ensure that modifiers (adjectives, adverbs, phrases)
are correctly placed to modify the intended words or phrases. Watch out for misplaced,
dangling, or ambiguous modifiers.

For Example:

Incorrect: I am so exciting to go on vacation.

Correct: I am so excited to go on vacation .

Explanation:

In this case, the use is the adjective "exciting" is incorrect. The adjective "exciting"
describes something or someone that causes excitement in others.

However, when describing one's own feelings, we use the adjective "excited." Hence, we
replace the adjective 'exciting' with 'excited' to correct the error.
Rule 10 : Rule Out Punctuation Errors

You have to specially check for the misplacement of punctuation marks that change the
meaning conveyed by the sentence in error spotting questions.

Analyze the sentence and use punctuation marks (commas, periods, semicolons, etc.)
correctly to convey meaning, separate clauses, and aid comprehension.

For Example:

Incorrect: Do you want to go. I really want to stay, the party is awesome.

Correct: Do you want to go? I really want to stay. The party is awesome!

Explanation:

Here, the incorrect sentence has multiple punctuation errors. The first part is visibly a
question because it's starting with 'do'. Hence, it should end with a question mark instead of
a full stop or period.

The second sentence seems to be complete on its own. Hence, it should end with a period.
Again, the last sentence shows excitement or exhilaration, an evident display of emotion or
admiration. Thus, an exclamation mark is fitting.

Rule 11 :Understand the Correct Usage of Superlatives, Numbers, and Genders

A lot of error spotting questions present a mistake in singular and plural for the nouns. They
can also present an error in the use of genders like using the right or wrong gender.
Superlative degrees are a major spot for error which most students miss out on.

For Example:

Incorrect: I am most happy person right now!

Correct: I am the happiest person right now!

Explanation:

The superlative degree for the adjective 'happy' is 'happiest'. Most happy will be the wrong
use of superlatives as demonstrated in the incorrect sentence here.

For Example:

Incorrect: He is one of the most talented and creative person I've ever met.

Correct: He is one of the most talented and creative people I've ever met.

Explanation:
The usage of the phrase 'one of the' indicates the presence of more than one person in the
'talented and creative' category.

This means there are multiple creative and talented people and the subject is one among
those people. Hence, the usage of 'person' is wrong as it's singular. The correction will be to
replace 'person' with 'people'.

Tips and Tricks to Solve Error Spotting Questions

1. Careful & Attentive Reading

Read the sentence slowly a couple of times while paying close attention to the words,
spellings, and grammatical structure. Stay alert and gauge each word for a possible error.

2. Grammar Rules are Crucial

Keep the grammar rules like subject-verb agreement, verb forms, tenses, and parts of
speech on tips. Apply them to quickly identify possible errors.

3. Context Matters

Analyzing the context of the sentence will help identify errors quickly. Spot inconsistencies,
logical errors, and vocabulary that seems unfit for the context.

4. Reduce Available Options

Eliminate visibly wrong or impossible options and enhance the chances of selecting the
right answer.

5. Mind the Modifiers

Most errors are around the adjectives, adverbs, and phrases being wrongly placed or
modifying the wrong words. Spot any issues with the placement of such modifiers and the
words they're modifying.

6. Take Care of Parallelism

Look out for errors in parallelism. Ensure that the contents of a list or comparison follow the
same grammatical pattern.

Here are some steps to remember the error spotting rules for a longer time:

 Understand the logic behind each rule.

 Break them into smaller chunks.
 Practice regularly and apply the rules in context.
 Create visual associations like flowcharts or tables
 Make mnemonic devices.
 Review and revise the rules periodically.
 Use study aids like flashcards or summaries.
 Teach or explain the rules to someone else.
 Relate the rules to real-life examples.

Here are some tips to improve and learn error spotting:

 Thoroughly absorb the grammar rules and concepts
 Look for and study common error patterns.
 Regularly practice error spotting exercises.
 Review and learn from mistakes.
 Get help from online resources and teachers.
 Develop a habit of active reading.
 Attentively look for details and context in texts.
 Work on time management.
 Develop attention to detail with respect to grammatical errors.
 Build vocabulary and language skills.
IN GIST

Rules and Concepts of Error Detection

Important Concepts of
Tips to Spot Errors Examples
Error Detection

Subject-Verb Ensure subjects and

She runs (singular) vs. They run (plural).
Agreement verbs match in number.

Keep the same tense

Tense Consistency He walks to school and ate lunch. (Error: should be eats.)
throughout.

Match pronouns with

Pronoun Usage Everyone should bring their own book.
their nouns.

Use the right

Preposition Accuracy Interested in (not on).
prepositions.

Use articles correctly

Article Usage She is a engineer (Error: should be an engineer).
(“a,” “an,” “the”).

Place modifiers next to He only runs (means he doesn’t walk) vs. Only he
Modifiers
what they describe. runs (means he is the only one).

Keep lists and phrases I like swimming, biking, and to run (Error: should
Parallel Structure
balanced. be running.)

Use the right

Conjunctions conjunctions for Either you come or stay (not or you stay).
connections.

Remove unnecessary
Avoiding Redundancy Free gift (just gift is enough).
repetitions.

Clarity and Keep sentences clear Due to the fact that it was raining, we canceled the
Conciseness and to the point. picnic (can be simplified to We canceled the picnic because
 it was raining).

Error Detection/Spotting Rules Questions

In the following question, one part of the sentence may have an error. Find out which part of the sentence
has an error and select the appropriate option. If the sentence is free from error, select ‘No Error’.

QUESTION NO. 1

(1) The boat came over the horizon like a ghost,

(2) which sinked during the battle,
(3) in which more than 1,000 U.S.
(4) service members were killed.
(5) No error

Ans:

Solution: Option (b) is the correct answer. The sentence talks about the past. So, we need to use ‘SANK’
instead of ‘SINKED’, as the second form of the verb ‘SINK’ is ‘SANK’ not ‘SINKED’. The sentence talks
about sinking a boat (in a battle) in which more than 1,000 U.S. service members were killed, but the boat
came over the horizon out of nowhere like a ghost.

QUESTION NO. 2

(1) Brando won the best actor Oscar in 1973

(2) for his role in the Godfather but did not
(3) attended the ceremony, protesting
(4) in support of Native American rights.
(5) No error

Ans:

Solution: Option (c) is the correct answer. The sentence is framed in the simple past tense, so we need to
replace the second form of the verb ‘ATTENDED’ with ‘ATTEND’, as the helping verb ‘DID’ takes the base
form of a verb with it. The sentence tells us that Brando won the Oscar but was not present at the ceremony
as he was protesting in support of Native American rights.

QUESTION NO. 3

(1) Young people today are facing unique

(2) challenges, which will threaten the future
(3) and aspirations of an entire
(4) generation if we don’t acted.
(5) No error
Ans:

Solution: Option (d) is the correct answer. Replace the second form of the verb ‘ACTED’ with the base
form ‘ACT’. The sentence is framed in the present tense, and the helping verb ‘DO’ takes the base form of a
verb with it. All the other parts of the sentence are correct.

QUESTION NO. 4

(1) North Korea has increase security on its

(2) northern border with China, constructing new
(3) fences guard towers under the pretext of stopping
(4) anyone with the coronavirus from entering the country.
(5) No error

Ans:

Solution: In A, replace the base form verb REPLACE with the past participle form to fit in HAS + VERB
present perfect tense construction. Thus, A is the right answer.

QUESTION NO. 5

(1) We frequently neglected to

(2) show ourselves the same
(3) level of affection and love
(4) that we do for others.
(5) No error

Ans:

Solution: In A, replace the second for verb NEGLECTED with base form NEGLECT as the sentence talks
about a habitual action. Thus, A is the right answer.

QUESTION NO. 7

After the Roman Empire fell (A)/ in the fifth century A.D., separate (B)/ barbarian states begin to emerge
(C)/ on its territory. (D)
(1) A
(2) B
(3) C
(4) D
(5) No error

Ans:

Solution: In C, replace the base form verb BEGIN with the second form verb BEGAN as the sentence
describes a past event. Thus, C is the right answer.

QUESTION NO. 8

The industrial revolution that happen in

(2) the 18th century is seen as a landmark event
(3) that broke the historical relationship between
 (4) human population and living standards.
(5) No error

Ans:

Solution: (a) is the right answer. In A, replace the base form verb HAPPEN with second form HAPPENED
as the sentence is in simple past tense, and talks about an event that took place in the past (the 18th
century).

QUESTION NO. 9

a)Science cannot solve the ultimate

b.) mystery of nature because we ourselves
c.) were part of nature and therefore part
d.) of the mystery that we are trying to solve.
e.) No error

Ans:

Solution: (c) is the right answer. In C, replace the past tense plural verb WERE with present tense verb
ARE as the sentence states an universal truth – us being part of nature.

QUESTION NO. 10

a)I felt as if I lost a dear friend when

b) I got the news that the cashew tree
c) in the compound of our home
d) had fell in a storm.
e) No error

Ans: (d)

Solution: In D, replace the past verb form FELL with its past participle verb form FALLEN to fit the past
perfect construction HAD+VERB. So, D is the correct answer.

QUESTION NO. 11

a)It is possible that if we don’t regularly

b) engaging in social discussion, our use of
c) language and other cognitive processes, such
d) as attention and memory, will diminish.
e) No error

Ans: (b)

Solution: In B, replace the present participle form verb ENGAGING with ENGAGE as we need a base form
verb to fit in the present tense construction DO + NOT + VERB. Thus, (b) is the right answer.