Many of our readers have requested us to publish different questions from English Section. Today we will talk about spotting errors and sentence correction. A topic which is feared by candidates across all banking exams.
1. Some nouns are singular in form, but they are used as plural nouns and always take a plural verb.
Cattle, gentry, vermin, peasantry , artillery, people clergy, company , police.
Example :
1. The cattle is grazing in the ground ( Incorrect )
2. Some nouns are always used in a plural form and always take a plural verb.
Trousers, scissors, spectacles stockings, shorts measles, goods, alms, premises, thanks , tidings, annals, chattels, etc.
Example:
1. Where is my trousers? ( Incorrect)
2. Where are my trousers? ( Correct)
3. There are some nouns that indicate length, measure, money , weight or number. When they are preceded by a numeral, they remain unchanged in form.
Foot, metre, pair , score, dozen, head , year, hundred, thousand, million
1. It is a three – years degree course ( Incorrect)
2. It is a three – year degree course ( Correct )
4. Collective nouns such as jury, public, team, committee, government, audience, orchestra, company, etc. are used both as singular and plural depending on the meaning. When these words indicate a unit, the verb is singular, otherwise the verb will be plural.
For example:
1. The jury was divided in this case. ( Incorrect)
2. The jury were divided in this case. ( Correct)
5. A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in person, number and gender.
Example :
Every man must being his luggage.
All students must do their home work.
Each of the girls must carry her own bag
6. The pronoun ‘one’ must be followed by ‘one’s’.
Example :
One must finish his task in time ( Incorrect)
One must finish one’s task in time ( Correct)
7. ‘Whose’ is used for living persons and ‘which’ for lifeless objects.
Example:
Which photograph is lying here? ( Incorrect)
Whose photograph is living there? ( Correct)
8. Use of ‘less’ and ‘fewer’
Example:
‘Less’ denotes quantity and ‘fewer’ denotes number.
No less than fifty persons were killed. ( In correct)
No fewer than fifty person were killed. ( Correct)
9. ‘One of’ always takes a plural noun after it.
Example:
It is one of the important day in my life. ( In Correct)
It is one of the important days in my life. ( Correct )
10. Use of ‘not only ‘ and ‘ but also ‘ Examine the sentences given below.
Example:
He not only comes for swimming but also for coaching the learners. ( In correct )
He comes not only for swimming but also for coaching the learners. ( correct )
Section:2
1. When a pronoun comes after ‘like ‘ and ‘ unlike ‘ it takes an objective case.
Example:
1. (i) A man like I will not do it. ( Incorrect )
( ii) A man like me will not do it. ( Correct)
2. A pronoun takes an objective case after ‘let’.
Example :
1. ( i ) Let I do it. ( Incorrect)
( ii) Let me do it. ( Correct)
3. Pronouns joined by ‘and ‘ remain in the same case.
Example :
1. (i) He and her are brother and sister. ( Incorrect)
( ii) He and she are brother and sister. (Correct)
2 ( i) He and me are friends. ( Incorrect)
(ii) He and I are friends. ( Correct)
4. When pronouns of second person and third person are used as subjects, the pronoun following them will be according to the second person pronoun.
Example:
1. ( i) You and he must bring his books ( Incorrect)
( ii) You and he must bring your books. ( Correct)
5. When pronouns of second person and first person are used as subjects, the pronoun following them will be first person plural form.
Example:
1. (i) You and I must finish your work in time. ( Incorrect)
(ii) You and I must finish our work in time. ( Correct)
6. The relative pronoun ‘that is used in preference to ‘who’ or ‘which after adjectives in the superlative degree.
Example:
1. (i) The wisest man who ever lived made mistakes. ( Incorrect)
(ii) The wisest man that ever lived made mistakes ( Correct)
2. (i) This is the best which we can do ( Incorrect)
(ii) This is the best that we can do . ( Correct)
7. When there are two antecedents, a man and an animal or two things before the relative pronoun, we should use ‘that’.
Example:
1. (i) The man and his dog which passed through this road were killed. ( Incorrect)
(ii) The man and his dog that passed through this road were killed. ( Correct)
8. The case of the noun or pronoun preceding or succeeding the verb ‘to be’ should be the same.
Example:
1. (i) It is him who came to see us. ( Incorrect)
(ii) It is he who came to see us. ( Correct)
2. It is me who caught the thief . ( Incorrect)
(ii) It is I who caught the thief. ( Correct)
9. To show equality ‘as’ is used before after adjective.
Example:
1. (i) I can run as fast, if not faster, than you. (Incorrect)
(ii) I can run as fast as, if not faster, than you. ( Correct)
10. ‘More than one’ indicates a plural sense, but it is treated as a sort of compound of one. Thus it agrees with a singular noun and takes a singular verb.
Example:
1. ( i) More than employees were killed in the accident. ( Incorrect)
(ii) More than one employee was killed in the accident. ( Correct)
Section: 3
1.‘Than ‘ should be used after ‘no other’
Example:
I met no other man but Mr. Roy. (Incorrect)
I met no other man than Mr. Roy. (Correct)
2.After the word ‘Know’, ‘how, or ‘when’ should be used before using an infinitive.
Example :
I know to write French . (Incorrect)
I know how to write French. (Correct)
3.A verb may take an infinitive or a gerund according to its implication. If the verb indicates a purpose, an infinitive should be used and if the verb indicates a cause, a gerund should be used.
Example :
He went to school for seeing the principal.(Incorrect )
He went to school to see the principal. (Correct)
He was turned out to copy answers.(Incorrect)
He was turned out for copying answers.(Correct)
4.Adverb ‘as' is not used with verbs like ‘appointed’, ‘elected’ , ‘considered’, ‘called’ but it is used with ‘regard’.
Example:
He was elected as President of our society.(Incorrect)
He was elected President of our society.(Correct)
I regard Ramesh my friend(Incorrect)
I regard Ramesh as my friend(Correct)
5.Often a mistake is committed is the use of adjectives and adverbs. An adjective is correctly used with the verb when some quality of the subject, rather than of the action of the verb, is to be expressed.
Example:
The flowers smelt sweetly.(Incorrect)
The flowers smelt sweet.(Correct)
6.It is common practice in conversation to make statement and ask for confirmation; as , ‘it’ is very hot, isn’t it? Two points are to be kept in mind. If the statement is positive, the pattern will be
Auxiliary + n’t + Subject
If the statement is negative, the pattern will be
Auxiliary + subject
Example:
It is raining, is it? (Incorrect)
It is raining isn’t it? (Correct)
You are not busy, aren’t you?(Incorrect)
You are not busy, are you?(Correct)
7.‘The two first’ is a meaningless expression for it implies that two things may be first. We should say ‘the first two’.
Example :
The two first chapters of novel are dull. (Incorrect )
The first two chapters of the novel and dull. ( Correct)
8.‘Only’ should be placed immediately before the word it qualifies.
Example :
He only lost his ticket in the stampede. ( Incorrect)
Only he lost his ticket in the stampede. (Correct)
9.An infinitive verb should not be split.
Example :
I request you to kindly help me. ( Incorrect)
I request you kindly to help me. (Correct)
10.Care should be taken in the use of verbs
Example :
The doctor saw the pulse of the patient. (Incorrect)
The doctor felt the pulse of the patient. (Correct)
QUIZ
English Spotting Error With Explanations
1. Without waiting for (1) / the instructions from the Government, (2) / some cable operators in the city had block the news.(3) /No error (4)
2. The authorities have instructed (1) / that brief notes must be prepared (2) / on all the issues related to customer grievances. (3) / No error (4)
3. Hindi films are certainly (1) / popular in the last decade but in these days our regional films (2) have attained more popularity. (3) / No error (4)
4. On account of the high land prices we (1) / are set up the factory (2)/ on the outskirts of the city.(3) / No error (4)
5. Our customers are always visit (1) / our branches to discuss their problems (2) / with staff (3) / No error (4)
6. Just before the demonstration started (1) / the police arrive at the site as if they had (2) / received invitation. (3) / No error (4)
7. The actual conduct of the test (1) / at each venue will be entrusted (2) / to the officer – in – charge who will be designated as test conductor. (3) / No error (4)
8. In the early days (1) / I would sit through meetings (2) / and frequently have no idea what a presenter was talking with. (3) / No error (4)
9. India’s travel and tourism industry is poised (1) / on growth at seven (2)/ percent this year along. (3) / No error (4)
10. After you will return (1)/ from Chennai (2) / I will come and see you. (3) / No error (4)
Solve and post your answers in the comment below.
4. On account of the high land prices we (1) / are set up the factory (2)/ on the outskirts of the city.(3) / No error (4)
5. Our customers are always visit (1) / our branches to discuss their problems (2) / with staff (3) / No error (4)
6. Just before the demonstration started (1) / the police arrive at the site as if they had (2) / received invitation. (3) / No error (4)
7. The actual conduct of the test (1) / at each venue will be entrusted (2) / to the officer – in – charge who will be designated as test conductor. (3) / No error (4)
8. In the early days (1) / I would sit through meetings (2) / and frequently have no idea what a presenter was talking with. (3) / No error (4)
9. India’s travel and tourism industry is poised (1) / on growth at seven (2)/ percent this year along. (3) / No error (4)
10. After you will return (1)/ from Chennai (2) / I will come and see you. (3) / No error (4)
Solve and post your answers in the comment below.
