Error Spotting questions with solutions

1. Question 1Easy

   Find the segment that contains a grammatical error: (A) They was (B) very happy (C) with the (D) final result.

   • A.ACorrect
   • B.B
   • C.C
   • D.D
   • E.No error
   Show solution

   The plural "they" takes "were", so "They was" is the error.

2. Question 2Easy

   Find the segment that contains a grammatical error: (A) The childrens (B) were playing (C) happily (D) in the park.

   • A.ACorrect
   • B.B
   • C.C
   • D.D
   • E.No error
   Show solution

   "Children" is already plural, so "childrens" is wrong.

3. Question 3Easy

   Find the segment that contains a grammatical error: (A) She go (B) to school (C) every morning (D) by bus.

   • A.ACorrect
   • B.B
   • C.C
   • D.D
   • E.No error
   Show solution

   The third-person singular needs "goes", so "She go" is the error.

4. Question 4Easy

   Find the part that contains an error. If there is no error, choose option E. She returned back (A) / from the office (B) / because she had forgotten (C) / her identity card (D).

   • A.She returned backCorrect
   • B.from the office
   • C.because she had forgotten
   • D.her identity card
   • E.No error
   Show solution

   'Return' already means to come back, so 'returned back' is redundant. The correct form is simply 'She returned'. Pairing a verb of motion with 'back' when the verb already carries that sense is a classic redundancy error.

5. Question 5Easy

   Find the part of the sentence that contains an error. If there is no error, choose option E. Each of the candidates (A) / were asked (B) / to submit their documents (C) / before the deadline (D).

   • A.Each of the candidates
   • B.were askedCorrect
   • C.to submit their documents
   • D.before the deadline
   • E.No error
   Show solution

   'Each of' is always followed by a plural noun but takes a singular verb, so 'were asked' must become 'was asked'. The trap is the plural noun 'candidates' sitting right before the verb, which makes the plural sound natural. Test it by reducing the sentence to its core: 'Each was asked', not 'Each were asked'.

6. Question 6Easy

   Find the segment that contains a grammatical error: (A) He don’t (B) like coffee (C) in the (D) evening.

   • A.ACorrect
   • B.B
   • C.C
   • D.D
   • E.No error
   Show solution

   The third-person singular takes "does not", so "He don’t" should be "He doesn’t".

7. Question 7Easy

   Find the segment that contains a grammatical error: (A) I have (B) went to (C) the market (D) twice today.

   • A.A
   • B.BCorrect
   • C.C
   • D.D
   • E.No error
   Show solution

   After "have", the past participle "gone" is needed, not "went".

8. Question 8Easy

   Find the segment that contains a grammatical error: (A) The sun (B) rise in (C) the east (D) every day.

   • A.A
   • B.BCorrect
   • C.C
   • D.D
   • E.No error
   Show solution

   A general truth takes the simple present third-person "rises", not "rise".

9. Question 9Moderate

   Find the part that contains an error. If there is no error, choose option E. Each of the students (A) / were given (B) / a separate desk (C) / for the examination (D).

   • A.Each of the students
   • B.were givenCorrect
   • C.a separate desk
   • D.for the examination
   • E.No error
   Show solution

   'Each of' is always followed by a plural noun but takes a singular verb, so 'were given' must be 'was given'. Reduce the sentence to its core to hear it: 'Each was given', not 'Each were given'.

10. Question 10Moderate

    Find the segment that contains a grammatical error: (A) He gave me (B) many useful advice (C) before the trip (D) to the hills.

    • A.A
    • B.BCorrect
    • C.C
    • D.D
    • E.No error
    Show solution

    "advice" is an uncountable noun, so "many" is wrong; it should be "much useful advice".

11. Question 11Moderate

    Find the segment that contains a grammatical error: (A) By the time we reached (B) the ceremony (C) already started (D) without us.

    • A.A
    • B.B
    • C.CCorrect
    • D.D
    • E.No error
    Show solution

    A past action completed before another past action needs the past perfect: "had already started".

12. Question 12Moderate

    Find the segment that contains a grammatical error: (A) The collection of these tools (B) were not (C) up to the mark (D) this season.

    • A.A
    • B.BCorrect
    • C.C
    • D.D
    • E.No error
    Show solution

    The subject is "the collection", which is singular, so it should be "was not", not "were not".

These are 12 of 82 error spotting questions in the bank. Attempt the rest with instant feedback in the practice drills, or under a clock in the mock tests.