1) Read each sentence given below and find out whether there is an error in it. The error if any will be one of the parts of the sentence which are marked as 1,2,3 and 4. If there is no error, the answer will be (5) i.e. No Error. (Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any).
Until you (1) / do not apologize (2) / you will not be (3) / permitted to go outside. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
'Until' itself conveys a negative sense. Above sentence is incorrect because 'not' is used.
The correct sentence should be: Until you apologize you will not be permitted to go outside.
These are “double negative” type of errors.
Similarly, do not use 'Not' with the following words: | Unless, Until, Least, Forbid, Prevent, Prohibit, Refuse, Deny, Dissuade |
For e.g. It is incorrect to say, “Unless you do not work hard, you will not succeed.” Just say “ Unless you work hard, you will not succeed.” Let's take another example, “He forbid me not to walk in the sun.” The correct construction would be, “He forbade me to walk in the sun.”
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2) She denied that (1) / she was not present (2) / there at the time (3) / of the accident. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Use of 'not' with 'deny' is incorrect.
The correct sentence should be: She denied that she was present there at the time accident took place.
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3) I forgot (1) / to return back (2) / the books (3) / to you. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Remove 'back'.
'Return' means to give back. Use of 'back' with 'return' is incorrect.
The correct sentence would be: I forgot to return the books to you.
Do not use ‘back’ with any of the following words:
| Recast, Recall, Recede, Reiterate, Rebuild, Repeat, Recapitulate, Retreat, Reimburse, Return |
The same rule applies for the use of 'again'. Do not use 'again' with the following words:
| Recast, Recall, Recede, Reiterate, Rebuild, Repeat, Recapitulate, Retreat, Reimburse, Return |
Example: Please repeat again the sentence. 'Repeat' itself means 'to do again'. The correct sentence should be: Please repeat the sentence.
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4) He has secured (1) / thirty-five marks (2) / but the passing marks (3) / are forty. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 3
Explanation:
Instead of 'passing marks' you should use 'pass marks', because 'passing marks' is incorrect in standard English usage.
The correct sentence should be: He has secured thirty-five marks but the pass marks are forty.
Similarly, | Don't use | Use |
|---|
| Passing marks | Pass marks | | Linking road | Link road | | Linking language | Link language |
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5) The English teacher said (1) / that we should read (2) / the poems everyday (3) / so as to memorize them. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 1
Explanation:
You should use 'The teacher of English' instead of 'The English teacher'.
This is because, the expression 'The English teacher' means 'a teacher who is an English man', while 'The teacher of English' means 'a teacher who teaches English'.
The correct sentence should be: The teacher of English said that we should read the poems everyday so as to memorize them.
Same applies to the following phrases:
| Don't use | Use |
|---|
| Hindi teacher | Teacher of Hindi | | Family members | Members of family | | Parliament members | Members of parliament |
Don't say: All his family members are working on some of the higher positions in the Insurance sector. Say: All the members of his family are working on some of the higher positions in the Insurance sector.
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6) They stayed (1) / in Nagpur (2) / for a short period of time (3) / and then returned home.(4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 3
Explanation:
Use of 'of time' and 'period' together is incorrect.
The correct expression should be 'for a short time' or 'for a short period'.
The correct sentence should be: They stayed in Nagpur for a short time and then returned home.
Similarly, | Don't use | Use |
|---|
| During the period of war | During the war | | The war period |
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7) I have (1) / given the (2) / examination so (3) / I am free now. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Use of 'given' is incorrect. The correct thing to say would be 'taken/appeared' for the examination.
The correct sentence should be: I have taken the examination so I am free now.
Similarly, | Don't use | Use |
|---|
| Gave speech | Made/ deliver speech | | Give exam | Take/ appear examination |
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8) She wishes to join (1) / lecturership as (2) / she thinks it is (3) / a rewarding profession. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Use of 'lecturership' is wrong. The correct term would be - lectureship.
The correct sentence should be: She wishes to join lectureship as she thinks it is a rewarding profession.
Similarly, 'freeship' is incorrect, 'free-studentship' is correct form.
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9) Raman was awarded (1) / cent-percent marks (2) / in the (3) / examination. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Use of 'cent-percent' is wrong. In standard English, it is incorrect to use 'cent-percent'.
The correct expression would be 'hundred-percent'.
The correct sentence should be: Raman was awarded hundred-percent marks in the examination.
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10) She put her (1) / sign in the corner (2) / of the document (3) / and submitted it. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Use of 'sign' is incorrect. Instead, the word 'signature' should be used.
'Sign' is a verb, whereas 'signature' is a noun.
e.g. He signed the letter. (Verb)
He put his signature on the letter. (Noun)
The correct sentence should be: She put her signature in the corner of the document and submitted it.
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11) The lady (1) / asked me (2) / if there was any (3) / place in the bus. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 4
Explanation:
In case of 'bus/ train/ cart/ van/ compartment', 'room' is used for space, not 'place'.
The correct sentence should be: The lady asked me if there was any room in the bus.
Some other wrongly used words are: | Incorrect | Correct |
|---|
| Congratulation_ | Congratulations | | True fact/ Actual fact | Fact (Fact by definition is true.) | | Past history | History | | Unexpected surprise | Surprise | | Alternative choice | Either use 'alternative' or 'choice', not both | | Sum total | Either 'sum' or 'total', not both | | Consensus opinion | Consensus | | Consort husband/ wife | Consort |
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12) All the members (1) / of the committee are (2) / kindly requested to appear (3) / in the next meeting. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 3
Explanation:
'Kindly' and 'Requested' are not used together.
'Kindly' and 'Please' are used in active voice to denote 'request';
while to denote 'kindly' and 'please' in passive voice, 'requested' is generally used.
e.g. (Active) Kindly/ Please help me.
(Passive) You are requested to help me.
The correct sentence should be: All the members of the committee are requested to appear in the next meeting.
Correct ways to use 'kindly' are: a kindly smile, a kindly thought, a kindly way, a kindly manner.
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13) He came to (1) / the final conclusion (2) / that he would (3) / not accept the offer. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
'final' is a superfluous word here. 'Final' and 'conclusion' cannot be used together.
Conclusion itself denotes 'result.'
The correct sentence should be: He came to the conclusion that he would not accept the offer.
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14) He wanted (1) / to know whether (2) / it was right and proper (3) / way to do it. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 3
Explanation:
Use of 'right' and 'proper' together is incorrect. Use either 'right' or 'proper', not both of them.
The correct sentence should be: He wanted to know whether it was the right way to do it.
He wanted to know whether it was the proper way to do it.
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15) Iran’s support (1)/ to the terrorists (2) / is universally condemned (3) / by all. (4)/ No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 4
Explanation:
Remove 'by all'. Never use "by all' and universally" together because both convey the same meaning.
The correct sentence should be: Iran’s support to the terrorists is universally condemned.
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16) Suppose if (1) / all problems are solved (2) / what would you (3) / do then? (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 1
Explanation:
Remove 'if'. Using 'if' with 'suppose' is incorrect.
Either use 'suppose' or 'if', not both of them together.
The correct sentence should be: Suppose all the problems are solved what would you do then?
If all the problems are solved what would you do then?
e.g. Supposing he does not come, what will you do?
If he comes late, what will you do?
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17) In Pune, (1) she came across with (2) many of her friends (3) / who had settled there. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Remove 'with'.
'Came across' means 'to meet suddenly'.
The correct sentence should be: In Pune, she came across many of her friends who had settled there.
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18) I suddenly came across (1) Rohit when (2) I was going (3) / to college. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 1
Explanation:
The above sentence is wrong because 'suddenly' and ' came across' cannot be used together.
The correct sentence should be: I came across Rohit when I was going to college.
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19) The reason why (1) / he was (2) / rejected was because (3) / he was too young. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 3
Explanation:
Remove 'because'. 'Because' is not used with 'reason', it is superfluous to use 'because'.
The correct sentence should be: The reason why he was rejected was, he was too young.
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20) The science project (1) / was equally successful as (2) / the software project (3) / they had presented. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
'Equally' and 'successful as' cannot be used together.
The correct sentence should be: The science project was as successful as the software project they had presented.
e.g. Ravi and Manish are equally successful.
Ravi is as successful as Manish.
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21) The funeral service (1) / was to be (2) / conducted by the (3) / family priest. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 1
Explanation:
Use of 'service' is superfluous. 'Funeral' is itself a 'service'.
The correct expressions are 'a funeral procession', 'a funeral march, 'a funeral pyre', 'a funeral pile'.
The correct sentence should be: The funeral was to be conducted by the family priest.
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22) The recent incidents of corruption (1) / amply illustrate about (2) / the characters of (3) / our officers. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Remove 'about'.
Use of 'about' is superfluous. 'Illustrate/ demonstrate/ describe', are immediately followed by 'object'.
For e.g. describe + 'about' + 'object' is wrong.
The correct sentence should be: The recent incidents of corruption amply illustrate the characters of our officers.
e.g. He demonstrates it.
He described it.
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23) He is not (1) / able to (2) / cope up with (3) / the peer pressure. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 3
Explanation:
Use of 'up' with 'cope' is superfluous. 'to cope with' is the correct way.
e.g. Desert plants are adapted to cope with extreme heat.
The correct sentence should be: He is not able to cope with the peer pressure.
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24) The Teacher said that (1) / it was his decision (2) / and that nobody (3) / could deny it. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 3
Explanation:
Use of 'that' in the C part is superfluous.
The correct sentence should be: The Teacher said that it was his decision and nobody could deny it.
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