SPOTTING ERROR RULES

This Material consists of all the common errors while we use Articles, Subject-Verb, Pronoun,
Preposition etc. Spotting the Errors is the major important topic in any of the Competitive
Exams. These rules help you while practicing Spotting Errors Exercises.

SUBJECT – VERB AGREEMENT

1. Two or more singular subjects connected by and usually take a verb in the plural.
Example
Incorrect- Hari and Ram is here.
Correct- Hari and Ram are here

2. If two singular nouns refer to the same person or thing, the Verb must be Singular.
Example
Incorrect- The Secretary and Principal are coming.
Correct- The Secretary and Principal is coming. (Here the same person is Secretary as well
as Principal)

3. If the singular subjects are preceded by each or every, the verb is usually singular.
Example
Incorrect- Every boy and girl were ready.
Correct- Every boy and girl was ready.

4. Two or more singular subjects connected by or, ‘nor’, ‘either’….. ‘Or’, ‘neither’….
‘Nor’ take a verb in the singular.
Example
Incorrect- Neither he nor I were there.
Correct- Neither he nor I was there.

5. When a singular subject and a plural subject are joined by or or nor, a singular or
plural verb is used depending on which subject is nearer the verb.
Example
Incorrect – Neither the Assistant Masters nor the Headmaster was present.
Correct- Neither the Headmaster nor the Assistant Masters were present.

6. When the Subjects joined by or, nor are of different persons, the Verb agrees in
person with the one nearest to it.
Example
Incorrect- Either he or I is mistaken.
Correct- Either he or I, am mistaken.

7. A Collective Noun takes a Singular Verb when the collection is thought of as a whole,
a Plural verb when the individuals of which it is composed are thought of.

Example
Correct- The Council has chosen the President.
Correct- The military were called out.
 8. Indefinite pronouns such as someone, somebody, each, nobody, anyone, anybody,
one, no one, everyone, everybody, either, neither etc. always take a singular verb:
Example
Incorrect- Each of my friends call me once a month.
Correct- Each of my friends calls me once a month.

9. Indefinite pronouns which indicate more than one (several, few, both, many) always
take plural verbs.
Example
Incorrect- Both of the books requires careful reading.
Correct- Both of the books require careful reading.

10. Some words (such as news, measles, mathematics, politics, mumps etc.) end in –s but
represent a single thing. These words need singular verbs.
Example
Incorrect- Measles sometimes have rather serious side effects.
Correct- Measles sometimes has rather serious side effects.

Note: Words like Mathematics, Ethics, Politics, and Athletics are singular when they refer to
a study, science or practice. If these words have modifiers with them, they become plural and
hence take plural verbs.
Example: The mathematics of the tax-return are flawless.
His politics are somewhat divided.

11. Some words (such as scissors, trousers, spectacles, shorts etc.) end in –s and seem to
represent a single thing, but they are two parts to that single thing. These words take
plural verbs.
Example
Incorrect-His trousers are very costly.
Correct- His trousers is very costly.

12. Some nouns in the plural form represent an amount, a fraction, or an element of time.
These nouns are considered These nouns are considered singular and hence take
singular verbs.
Example: Sixty minutes is enough to finish this work.
Three-fourths of the land is barren.

13. If two subjects are joined together by with, together with, in addition to, as well as,
etc. the verb will act according to the first subject.
Example: The Principal together with his students was seeing the final match.
The students together with the Principal were seeing the final match.

14. The subject Many a …. is always followed by the singular verb.

Example: Incorrect: Many a man were drowned in the sea.
Correct: Many a man was drowned in the sea.

15. If the subject is the number of … it takes a singular verb.

Example: The number of books is very small.
The number of boys in this team is ten.
Note: If he subject begins with A number of… (many), use a plural verb.
Example: A number of books are missing.

16. If two subjects express one idea, use a singular verb.

Example: Bread and Butter is wholesome food. (Cup and Saucer, Spoon and Fork)

17. When adjectives such as much, less, little and more are used as nouns, they take a
singular verb.
Example: A little of good habits makes our life happy.
Less than a million of rupees is required.

18. When the Subject of the Verb is a Relative Pronoun care should be taken to see that
the Verb agrees in Number and Person with the Antecedent of the relative.
Example
Incorrect- I, who is your friend, will guard your interests.
Correct- I, who am your friend, will guard your interests.

Exercise:
1. (a) Everyone of the films/ (b) you suggested/ (c) are not worth seeing./ (d) No error
2. (a) The Secretary and Principal of the college/ (b) are attending/ (c) the District
Development Council Meeting at the Collectorate./ (d) No error
3. (a) One of my desires/ (b) are to become/ (c) a doctor./ (d) No error
4. (a) Neither of them/ (b) sent their papers/ (c) in time for the last seminar/ (d) No error
5. (a) This is a strange world/ (b) where each one pursues their own golden bubble/ (c)
and laughs at others for doing the same./ (d) No error
6. (a) If it were possible to get near when/ (b) one of the volcanic eruptions take place/ (c)
we would see a grand sight./ (d) No error
7. (a) If Mahatma Gandhi/ (b) was alive, he would feel sorry for the poor and
downtrodden who/(c) still struggle everyday to make both ends meet. / (d) No Error
8. (a) Having acquired some experience/ (b) she is no longer one of those who believes/
(c) every explanation they are given./ (d) No error
9. (a) With regard to implementation of the/ (b) details of the proposal, the committee
was divided/ (c) in their opinion./ (d) No error
10. (a) Most of the funds/ (b) we get from/ (c) America is used to build roads and
bridges./ (d) No error
ERRORS IN USE OF NOUNS

1.Nouns which are used in singular form:

i) Scenery, information, furniture, advice, machinery, stationery, news,
poetry, business, mischief, fuel, issue, repair, bedding.
Ex. The scenery of this place is worth seeing.
Ex. He has received no information so far.
ii) Physics, Mathematics, Economics, Classics, Ethics, Athletics, innings,
Gallows.
Ex. Economics is a very interesting subject.
Ex. The Indian team defeated the Australian by an innings.
iii) Words like dozen, score, hundred, thousand, million when preceded by a
numeral.
Ex. He bought ten dozen oranges.
Ex. I have four pair of shoes.
iv) Expressions as a ten-rupee note, a two-hour journey, a four-mile
 walk, a five-year plan, a six-man committee etc.
Ex. A ten-rupee note is lying there.

2. Nouns used only in plural form:

a. Cattle, police, poultry, people, gentry, peasantry, artillery.
Ex. The police have caught the thief.
Cattle are grazing in the field.
b. Scissors, trousers, stockings, spectacles, shorts, alms, remains, riches, goods,
measles.
Ex. My scissors are very sharp.
His spectacles are missing.

3. Nouns used both as singular and plural in the same form.

a. Deer, sheep, fish, apparatus, wages.
Ex. The wages of sin is death.
The wages of the workers have been raised.
b. Collective nouns as jury, public, team, audience, congregation, orchestra.
Ex. The team are looking quite fit.
The team has not turned up yet.

4. One of or any of is followed by plural words.

Ex. I want one of the books kept on table.
Any of these tools may serve the purpose.

5. Plural nouns are used with fractions and decimal over 1.

Ex. It took us one and a half hours.

Exercise:
1. (a) The sceneries / (b) of Kashmir / (c) is very charming./ (d) No error
2. (a) Last week’s sharp hike in the wholesale price of beef / (b) is a strong indication for / (c)
higher meat costs to come./ (d) No error
3. (a) Whenever he goes to Mumbai / (b) he stays in/ (c) five-stars hotels./ (d) No error
4. (a) The company has ordered / (b) some / (c) new equipments./ (d) No error
5. (a) One of her firmest belief among the Hindus is that/ (b) Karma affects their / (c) life and also
the life after death./ (d) No error
6. (a) He was advised to take/ (b) two spoonsful of / (c) medicine times a day./ (d) No error
7. (a) All the furnitures have been/ (b) sold for a song/ (c) as we were in a hurry to leave the
town./ (d) No error
8. (a) My cousin brother is a cheater/ (b) and he / (c) cheats his family members and friends too./
(d) No error.
9. (a) The committee/ (b) could not come to/ (c) a final conclusion./ (d) No error.
10. (a) The police have received / (b) two important informations / (c) that can help them solve
the triple murder case (E) No error

ERRORS IN USE OF PRONOUNS

1. The Indefinite Pronoun ‘One’ should be followed by ‘one’s..

Example
Incorrect- One must not boast of his own success.
Correct- One must not boast of one’s own success.

Note: When ‘one’ means ‘one in number’, the pronoun for it is third person singular pronoun
(he, she, it).
Example:
Incorrect- One of them has given up one’s studies.
Correct- One of them has given up his studies.

2. ‘Everyone’ or ‘Everybody’ must be followed by ‘his’.

Example: Everyone should love his country.

3. Each, every, anyone, anybody must be followed by the singular pronoun of their
person.
Example: Anyone can do this if he tries.

4. ‘But’ and ‘except’ are followed by pronoun in the objective case.

Example: Everyone attended the party except him.

5. ‘Such as’ is followed by pronoun in the subjective case.

Example: I have no liking for such a man as he.

6. Verbs like ‘enjoy’, avail’, ‘pride’, ‘resign’, ‘apply’, ‘acquit’, ‘assert’, ‘absent’, are
followed by reflexive pronouns.
Example: He absented himself from the class.
We enjoyed ourselves at the party.
I availed myself of the opportunity.

7. Reflexive pronouns are never used with verbs ‘keep’, ‘conceal’, ‘qualify’, ‘spread’,
‘rest’, ‘stay’.
Example: I stayed away from my class.
He qualified in the test.

8. ‘Who’ denotes subject and ‘whom’ denotes object.

Example: Who do you think did the job?
Whom did you abuse?

9. ‘Whose’ is used for persons and ‘Which’ for lifeless objects.

Example: This is the table which I was talking about.
He married Sunita who is the daughter of Mr.Roy.

10. ‘Which’ conveys additional information and ‘that’ explains a certain thing.
Example: I will tell you the first thing which I remember.
I am talking about traffic management that forms a part of his duties.

11. The following expressions usually take ‘that’ in place of ‘who’ or ‘which’. ‘Only’,
‘Any’, ‘It is’, ‘All’, Superlatives.
Example: He is the only man that can do it.
It is the same watch that was stolen by him.
All that glitters is not gold.
This is the best that we can do.
 12. ‘Either’ or ‘neither’ is used only in speaking of two persons or things; ‘any’, ’no one’
and ‘none’ is used in speaking of more t.han two.

Example
1. Incorrect- Anyone of these two roads leads to the railway station.
Correct- Either of these two roads leads to the railway station.
2. Incorrect- Neither of these three boys did his homework.
Correct- No one of these three boys did his homework.

13. ‘Each other’ is used in speaking of two persons or things; ‘one another’ is used in
speaking of more than two.
Example
Incorrect- The two brothers loved one another.
Correct- The two brothers loved each other.

14. A Noun or Pronoun governing a Gerund should be put in the possessive case.
Example
Incorrect- Please excuse me being late.
Correct- Please excuse my being late.

15. The compliment of the verb to be, when it is expressed by a pronoun, should be in
Nominative case.
Example: It was he who did it.
If I were he, I would not go there.

16. When the same person is the subject and object, it is necessary to use reflexive
pronouns.
Example:
Incorrect: I cut me shaving this morning.
Correct: I cut myself shaving this morning

17. The Relative Pronoun should be placed as near as possible to the antecedent.
Example: Here is the book that you lent me.
I have read the works of Shakespeare who was a great dramatist.

18. The case of the pronoun following ‘than’ and ‘as’ is decided by mentally supplying he
verb and completing the sentence.
Example: She is taller than I. (am)
I love you more than he. (loves you)

19. When two or more singular nouns joined by ‘or’ or ‘nor’, ‘either, or’, ‘neither ….
‘nor’, the Pronoun used for them should be in the singular.
Example
Incorrect – Neither Ravi nor Raja has done their homework.
Correct- Neither Ravi nor Raja has done his homework.
 20. When two or more singular Pronouns of different persons come together, the Pronoun
of second person singular (you) comes first, the pronoun of the first person singular
(I) comes last and the pronoun of the third person singular (he) comes in between.
Example
Incorrect- I, You and he must work together.
Correct- You, he and I must work together.

21. When two or more plural Pro-nouns of different persons come together first person
plural (we) comes first, then second person plural (you) and last of all third person
plural (they).
Example
Incorrect- You, they and we must work together.
Correct- We, you and they must work together.

22. After let, if a Pronoun is used, that Pronoun must be in the Objective Case.
Example
Incorrect- Let he go there.
Correct- Let him go there.

Exercise:
1. (a) Each of them/ (b) has to understand/ (c) their responsibility/ (d) No error.
2. (a) We are proud to announce/ (b) that every one of us have earned/ (c) a good name./
(d) No error.
3. (a) The company has appointed/ (b) consultants to help them/ (c) increase its revenue
and/ (d) improve its financial position./ (e) No error.
4. (a) You cannot change/ (b) people, but you/ (c) can definitely/ (d) change own./ (e) No
error.
5. (a) Governments and business houses must reduce/ (b) its own energy use/ (c) and
promote conservation/ (d) to their citizens and employees./ (e) No error.
6. (a) He is not one of those/ (b) who will help every Tom, Dick and Harry/ (c) whom he
meets/ (d) No error.
7. (a) It is not easy for anyone to command/ (b) respect from both one’s friends and
critics/ (c) as Mahatma Gandhi did/ (d) No error.
8. (a) He, You and I/ (b) shall arrange everything/ (c) and shall not ask them for help/ (d)
No error.
9. (a) Was it me/ (B) who had to face/ (c) the music?/ (d) No error.
10. (a) The audience/ (b) are requested/ (c) to be in its seats and stay away from the track/
(d) No error.
TENSE ERRORS

1. When there are two Subjects in a sentence and they are not in the same Number, then
we must have to use separate Auxiliaries (is, are, am, was, were, have, has) for both of
them.

Example
Incorrect- Three killed and one were injured.
Correct- Three were killed and one was injured.

2. A single Verb should be made to serve two Subjects, only when the form of Verb is
same for both the subjects.
Example
Incorrect- I am seventeen years old and my sister fourteen.
Correct- I am seventeen years old and my sister is fourteen.

3. Two auxiliaries can be used with one principal Verb, only when the form of the
principal Verb is appropriate to both the auxiliaries. ‘
Example
Incorrect- He never has, and never will take such strong measures.
Correct- He never has taken, and never will take such strong measures.

4. When there is only one auxiliary to two principal Verbs it should be correctly
associated with the both.
Example
Incorrect- Ten candidates have passed one failed.
Correct- Ten candidates have passed, one has failed.

5. A Past Tense in the main clause should be followed by a Past Tense in the subordinate
clause.
Example
Incorrect- He succeeded because he works hard.
Correct- He succeeded because he worked hard.

6. A Past Tense in main clause may be followed by a Present Tense in the subordinate
clause when the subordinate clause expresses a universal truth.
Example
Incorrect- Our teacher said that the earth moved round the sun.
Correct- Our teacher said that the earth moves round the sun.

7. When the subordinate clause comes after ‘lest’, the auxiliary Verb ‘should’ must be
used, whatever be the Tense of the Verb in the main clause.
Example
Incorrect- We start early lest we shall miss the train.
Correct- We start early lest we should miss the train.

8. An Adverb or Adverbial phrase should not be placed between ‘to’ and verbal part of
the infinitive. (This is called the split infinitive).
Example
Incorrect- I hoped to immediately reply to your letter.
Correct- I hoped to reply immediately to your letter.

9. An infinitive should be in the present tense unless it represents an action prior to that
of the governing Verb.
Example
Incorrect- I should have liked to have gone-there.
Correct- I should have liked to go there.

10. Gerund if preceded by a Pronoun, that Pronoun must be in Possessive case.

Example
Incorrect – He emphasized me going there.
Correct- He emphasized my going there.
 11. The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used for an action that began in the past time
and still going at the time of speaking. It is used with, Adverb of time introduced by
‘since’, ‘for’ and ‘how long’.
Example
Incorrect- How long are you working in this office?
Correct- How long have you been working in this office?

12. A Verb when preceded by a Preposition must be the Gerund.

Example
Incorrect- They were punished for come late.
Correct- They were punished for, coming late.

13. The Future Indefinite Tense is not used in the clauses of time, place and condition.
Here the Present Indefinite Tense is used.
Example
Incorrect- I shall wait for you till you will finish your work.
Correct- I shall wait for you, till you finish your work.

14. The Present Perfect Tense is not used with the Adverbs of past time like
yesterday, in 1990 etc. Here Past Indefinite Tense is used.
Example
Incorrect- I have bought a cycle yesterday.
Correct-I bought a cycle yesterday.

The Past Perfect Tense is used to represent the earlier of the two past actions.
Incorrect- When I reached the station, the train already left.
Correct- When I reached the station, the train had already left.

15. Modal Auxiliaries are not used together. But two Auxiliaries can be connected by a
Conjunction.

Example
Incorrect-He should must do it.
Correct- He should and must do it.

16. When need or dare is followed by not, it turns into modal auxiliary. In that situation it
takes Bare Infinitive ‘and we cannot use ‘needs not’ or ‘dares not’.
Example
Incorrect- He needs not do it.
Correct- He need not do it.

Exercise:
1. (a) Walking along the road/ (b) a car knocked/ (c) him down./(d) No error.
2. (a) Having done my homework/ (b) my mother allowed me/ (c) to go out and play./(d)
No error.
3. (a) Being a rainy day,/ (b) I had to cancel/ (c) all my appointments./ (d) No error.
4. (a) A few selfish leaders/ (b) are bent to harm/ (c) the very foundation of Democracy./
(d) No error.
5. (a) As I have worked hard,/ (b) I am confident to pass/ (c) with flying colours./ (d) No
 error.
6. (a) When the company offered him a purse on his retirement/ (b) he refused to/ (c)
agree it ./ (d) No error.
7. (a) The timid creature was driven/ (b) into a narrow lane/ (c) where it was slewed by
the kidnapper./ (d) No error.
8. (a) Being implicated in a murder case,/ (b) he was conclusively suspected/ (c) for all
the unsolved murder cases./ (d) No error.
9. (a) The lights went out/ (b) while we/ (c) took the examination./ (d) No error.
10. (a) His assistants have and/ (b) are still doing/ (c) excellent work for the
organization./ (d) No error.

ERRORS IN USE OF ADJECTIVES

Word qualifying a noun or a pronoun is called an adjective.

1. The adjectives ending in –ior (prior, junior, senior, superior, inferior, anterior,
posterior) take ‘to’ and not ‘than’ after them.
Example: He is senior to me.
This book is superior to that book.

2. Some adjectives like unique, ideal, perfect, extreme, complete, universal, infinite,
perpetual, chief, entire, round, impossible are not compared.
Example: It is the most unique book. (x)
It is a unique book. ( √ )

3. Comparative degree is used in comparing two things or persons.

Example: It is the better of the two books.
Superlative degree is used in comparing more than two things or persons.
Example: He is the best of the three boys.

4. Double comparatives and double superlatives must not be used.

Example: He is more wiser than his brother. (x)
He is wiser than his brother. ( √ )

5. When we compare two qualities in the same person or thing, the comparative ending
–er is not used.
Example: You are wiser than old. (x)
You are more wise than old. ( √ )

6. When two adjectives in superlative or comparative degree are used together, the one
formed by adding ‘more’ or ‘most’ must follow the other adjective.
Example: He is more intelligent and wiser than his brother. (x)
He is wiser and more intelligent than his brother. (√)

7. When two adjectives with differing degrees of comparison are used they should be
complete in themselves.
Example: He is as wise, if not wiser than his brother. (x)
 He is as wise as, if not wiser than his brother. (√)

8. When two changes happen together, comparative degree is used in both

Example: The higher you go, the cooler you feel.

9. When comparative degree is used in superlative sense, it is followed by ‘any other’.

Example: Kapil is better than any bowler. (x)
Kapil is better than any other bowler. (√)

10. Compound adjective formed by adding ‘’worth’ is placed after the noun it qualifies.
Example: This is a worth seeing sight. (x)
This is a sight worth seeing. (√)

11. When two or more comparatives are joined by ‘and’ they must be in the same degree.
Example: Russel was one of the wisest and most learned men of the world.

12. When there are two object of comparison, then to avoid repetition of noun, ‘that’ is
used for singular noun and ‘those’ for plural noun.
Example: The climate of Ranchi is better than Gaya.
The climate of Ranchi is better than that of Gaya.

13. If comparison is made by using ‘other’, ‘than’ is used instead of ‘but’.

Example: He turned out to be no other than my other than my old friend.

14. Likely, certain and sure are followed by ‘to’.

Example: He is likely to win.
We are sure to need help.

Confused Adjectives:
Beautiful – Woman, Handsome – Man
Less – Quantity, Fewer – Number
Last – Final One, Latest – Last up to the present.
Each – one of two or more things,
Every – more than two things, taken as a group.
Older- persons or things, Elder- persons only
Little- not much, A Little- ‘at least some’
Farther- ‘more distant’, Further- ‘additional’
Latter- the second of two things, Later- refers to time.
Exercise:
1. (a) Having been found / (b) guilty of the theft / (c) Sunny was sentenced to five year’s
imprisonment. / (d) No error
2. (a) The Railways have made / (b) crossing the tracks / (c) a punished offence. / (d) No
error
3. (a) While giving a loan/ (b) you must check / (c) if the borrower has sufficiently
collateral to repay it. / (d) No error
4. (a) Although his speech / (b) was not very clearly everyone understood / (c) the
underlying meaning. / (d) No error
5. (a) He is the most / (b) intelligent and also / (c) the very talented student of the college.
/ (d) No error
6. (a) There is not many traffic / (b) along the street / (c) where I live. / (d) No error
7. (a) The police arrived and discovered / (b) a large number of hoarded sugar/ (c) in his
shop. / (d) No error
8. (a) As a dramatist / (b) Shaw is superior than / (c) any other twentieth century writer. /
(d) No error.
9. (a) Everybody knows / (b) that Radha is the most unique / (c) singer of this college /
(d) No error
10. (a) Many a / (b) boys are / (c) absent today / (d) no error.
ERRORS IN USE OF ADVERBS
Adverbs are words that add information about the verb.
1. To modify a Verb, an Adjective or another Adverb, we use an Adverb.
Example
Incorrect- She writes very careful.
Correct- She writes very carefully.
Carefully is an Adjective which cannot modify the Adverb very, therefore carefully (Adverb)
must be used in place of Adjective careful.

2. Too means more than required and it is used with Unpleasant Adjective. So, we
cannot use too glad, too happy, too pleasant, too healthy.
Example
Incorrect- I am too glad to meet you.
Correct- I am very glad to meet you.

3. A sentence which is based on ‘Too’ ‘To’ format, we cannot replace ‘To’ with ‘so
that’. If we replace ‘To’ with ‘so that’, ‘Too’ also must be replaced with ‘cannot’.
Example
Incorrect- He is too weak so that he cannot walk.
Correct- He is too weak to walk.
Correct- He is so weak that he cannot walk.

4. Much too is followed by Unpleasant Adjective, whereas too much is followed by

Noun. Much too + Unpleasant Adjective. Too much + Noun.
Example
Incorrect- His failure is too much painful for me.
Correct- His failure is much too painful for me.

Incorrect- His wife’s rude behavior gives him much too pain.
Correct- His wife’s rude behavior gives him too much pain.

5. Quite and all are not used together.

Example
Incorrect- He is quite all right.
Correct- He is quite right (or) He is all right.
 6. A/An + fairly + Adjective + Noun (or) Rather + A + Adjective
(i) A fairly good book
(ii) Rather a difficult problem.
But we cannot use Pleasant Adjective with rather and Unpleasant Adjective with fairly.
Example
Incorrect- It was a rather good book.
Correct- It was a fairly good book.

7. Enough, when used as an Adverb, is preceded by a positive degree Adjective or

Adverb.
Example
Incorrect- He is greater enough to pardon you.
Correct- He is great enough to pardon you. ‘

8. Two negatives cancel each other. Hence two negatives should not be used in the same
sentence unless we make an affirmation.
Example
Incorrect-I have not got none.
Correct- I have not got any.

9. ‘At present’ means ‘at the present time’, ‘presently’ means ‘shortly’. These should not
be confused.
Example
1. Incorrect- Nothing more can be done presently.
Correct- Nothing more can be done at present.
2. Incorrect- He will come back at present.
Correct- He will come back presently.

10. ‘Hard’ means ‘diligently’, strenuously’, ‘Hardly’ means ‘scarcely at all’. These two
Adverbial forms of ‘hard’ must not be confused.
Example
1. Incorrect- He tried hardly to win the race.
Correct- He tried hard to win the race.
2. Incorrect- She has eaten hard anything today.
Correct- She has eaten hardly anything today.

11. ‘Much’ is used before past participles and Adjectives or Adverbs of comparative
degree. ‘Very’ is used before the present participles and
Adjectives and Adverbs of positive degree.
Example
1. Incorrect- The news is much surprising.
Correct- The news is very surprising.
2. Incorrect-I was very surprised at hearing the news.
Correct- I was much surprised at hearing the news.

12. Hardly is an Adverb which means rarely. Whereas hard is an Adjective which means
tough, rigid.
Example
Incorrect- It is a hardly job.
Correct- It is a hard job.

13. Ago is always used with Past Indefinite Tense. So, if ago is used in a sentence, that
sentence must be in the Past Indefinite Tense.
Example
Incorrect- He has come a month ago.
Correct- He came a month ago.

14. At present means at this moment and it is used with Present Tense, whereas presently
and shortly are used for future action and generally’ used with Future Indefinite
Tense.
Example
Incorrect- Presently he is in the room.
Correct- At present he is in the room.

15. Early means “just after the beginning of anything” and soon means just after a point
of time.
Example: Roses blossomed early this spring.

16. The sentence which starts with seldom, never, hardly, rarely or scarcely takes an
inverse structure, i.e., Verb + Subject – Structure.
Example
Incorrect- Seldom I had seen such a beautiful sight.
Correct- Seldom had I seen such a beautiful sight.

17. Inversion is also used in a sentence which starts with here/there/away/out/up/indoor or

outdoor and Main Verb, or Aux + Main Verb is used before the Subject.
Example
Incorrect- Away Sita went
Correct- Away went Sita.

Exercise:
1. (a) I refused to accompany him/(b) because he was/(c) so boring/(d) No error.
2. (a) I refused to consider/(b) him as an honest boy /(c) as he had cheated many
people/(d) No error.
3. (a) I see him often/(b) at the/(c) bus terminal/(d) No error.
4. (a) Mangoes taste /(b) more sweetly than /(c) any other fruit of this world/(d) No error.
5. (a) My father /(b) is very quicker than/(c) I at Chess/(d) No error.
6. 24. (a) The State Government/(b) appointed him as /(c) officer-in-charge/(d) No error.
7. (a) The teacher asked/ (b) the students to/(c) talk loudly/(d) No error.
8. (a) Though he was brave,/ (b) he could not face the ups and downs/(c) of life manly/
(d) No error.
9. (a) When she received the good news,/ (b) she ran straightly /(c) to call up her parents/
(d) No error.
10. (a) You always /(b) come lately/ (c) to class/(d) No error.

ERRORS IN USE OF CONJUNCTIONS

1. Two Conjunctions should not be used in the same sentence.

Example
Incorrect- Although she was tired, but she still went on working.
Correct- Although she was tired, she still went on working.

2. ‘Both’ should be followed by ‘and’. It should be used in the positive sense. In the
negative sense, ‘neither’….’nor’, should be used in place of ‘both’.
Example
Incorrect- Both Ravi as well as Raja were present there.
Correct- Both Ravi and Raja were present there.

3. ‘Either … or’, ‘neither …. ‘nor’, ‘both and’, ‘not only but also’ should be followed by
the same parts of speech.
Example
Incorrect- He not only lost his ticket, but also his luggage.
Correct- He lost not only his ticket but also his luggage.

4. ‘Neither’ should be followed, by ‘nor’, ‘either’ should be followed by ‘or’. Both these
should not be confused.
Example
Incorrect- He washed neither his hands or his face.
Correct- He washed neither his hands nor his face.

5. ‘No sooner’ should be followed by ‘than’, not by ‘but’ or ‘then’.

Example
Incorrect- No sooner do I finish this book then I shall begin another.
Correct- No sooner do I finish the book, than I shall begin another.

6. ‘Hardly’ and ‘scarcely’ should be followed by ‘when’ or ‘before’, but not by ‘than’ or
‘that’.
Example
Incorrect- Hardly did I reach the station, than the train left it.
Correct- Hardly did I reach the station when the train left it.

7. Though is followed by yet.

Example: Though he worked hard yet he failed.

8. Not only is followed by but also.

Example: Not only did he help her, but also dropped her home safely.

9. Lest is negative and so should not be followed by not; it is followed by should.

Example: Work hard lest you should fail.

10. If would or may is used in place of should, then else should be used in place of
lest.
Example: Give him water, else he may die.

11. So……. as is used in negative sentences, whereas, as….. as is used in

affirmative sentences.
Example: He is not so tall as his brother.
He is as tall as his brother
 12. Other is followed by than.
Example: He has no other claim than his wealth.

13. ‘That’ should not be used before a sentence in Direct Speech and before
Interrogative Adverbs and Pronouns in the Indirect Speech.
Example
1. Incorrect- He said that, “I shall go there.”
Correct- He said, “I shall go there”.
2. Incorrect- He asked me that who I was.
Correct- He asked me who I was.

Exercise
1. (a) I needed that money/ (b) so desperately, it was/ (c) like manna from heaven when it
arrived./ (d) No error.
2. (a) The period/ (b) between 1980 to 1990/ (c) was very significant in my life./ (d) No
error.
3. (a) No sooner had the hockey match started/ (b) when it began/ (c) to rain./(d) No error
4. (a) Scarcely had/ (b) I arrived than/ (c) the train left./ (d) No error.
5. (a) None of the diplomats at the conference/ (b) was able either to/ (c) comprehend or
solve the problem./ (d) No error.
6. (a) Unless/ (b) you will work hard,/ (c) you cannot pass./ (d) No error.
7. (a) Keep him at an arm's length/ (b) lest you may not repent/(c) in the long run./ (d)No
error.
8. (a) Unless you do not meet/ (b) all the requirements/ (c) your application will be
rejected./ (d) No error.
9. (a) You must either/ (b) work hard/ (c) else be prepared to lead a miserable life./ (d) No
error.
10. (a) Although these books/ (b) are not useful but the students buy them/ (C) because
their seniors did so./ (d) No error.

WRONG USAGE OF PREPOSITION

1. Objective case (of Noun or Pronoun) is used after Preposition.

Example
Incorrect- I do not depend on he.
Correct- I do not depend on him.

2. The Prepositions used after two words must be made clear if these two words are
connected by ‘and’ or ‘or’.
Example
Incorrect- She is conscious and engaged in her work.
Correct- She is conscious of and engaged in her work.

3. If a Principal Verb is used after about, after, at, before, for, from, in, on, to, that verb
must be in ‘ing’ (V4) form.
Example
Incorrect- You prevented me from do it.
Correct- You prevented me from doing it.
 4. On, in, at, are not used before today, tomorrow, yesterday, the following day, the next
day etc.
Example
Incorrect- He will go there on tomorrow.
Correct- He will go there tomorrow.

5. No Preposition is used before the word home. At home is a phrase which bears a
different meaning.
Example
Incorrect- Bring a T.V. set at home.
Correct- Bring a T.V. set home.

6. After Transitive Verbs, like discuss, describe, reach, order, tell, demand, attack,
resemble, ridicule, etc. we directly use the object and no Preposition is used after the
Verb.
Example.
Incorrect- The poet describes about the beauty of natural in this poem.
Correct- The poet describes the beauty of nature in this poem.

7. Say/suggest/propose/speak/reply/explain/talk/listen/write is followed by ‘to

‘Preposition if there is a person in the form of object.
Example
1. Incorrect- He did not reply me.
Correct- He did not reply to me.
2. Incorrect- He did not write to a letter.
Correct- He did not write a letter.
Adverbs are words that add information about the verb.

8. Adverbs of manner, place and time are usually placed after the verb or object.
Example: He was running slowly.
They followed Rachna everywhere.

9. Adverbs of frequency (e.g. never, often, usually, always, rarely, etc.) and other
adverbs (like already, almost, just, quite, nearly, hardly) are normally put
between subject and verb. If there is more than one word in the verb, they are
put after first word.
Example: He often goes to Delhi.
Note: But if verb is ‘am’, ‘is’ and ‘are’, adverb is placed after the verb.
Example: I am never late for school.

10. The adverb enough is placed after the adjective.

Example: She is cunning enough to tackle him.

11. ‘Ever’ is sometimes incorrectly used for ‘never’.

Example: He seldom or ever tells a lie. (x)
He seldom or never tells a lie. (√)

12. Adverb ‘not’ shouldn’t be used with words having negative meaning.
Example: The teacher forbade me not to go. (x)
The teacher forbade me to go. (√)
 13. The word ‘only’ should be placed immediately before the word it modifies.
Example: Hari answered only two questions.

14. An adverb should not be used before an infinitive.

Example: He quickly did the job. (x)
He did the job quickly. (√)

15. The auxiliaries have to and used to come after the adverb.
Example: He often used to go to cinema.

Exercise:
1. (a) Amphibians / (b) can live / (c) in water as well as land./ (d) No error.
2. (a) My mother is fond off/ (b) cooking different / (c) types of dishes/ (d) No error.
3. (a) Our teacher/ (b) cannot/ (c) control on the students./ (d) No error.
4. (a) The lawyer has been waiting/ (b) for the prisoner /(c) since two hours /(d) No
error.
5. (a) Mr. Bacon has / (b) great affection to/ (c) his family./ (d) No error.
6. (a) Despite of / (b)working hard/ (c) he failed/ (d) No error.
7. (a) Ashok/ (b) married with/ (c) Rekha last month./ (d) No error.
8. (a) The earth's atmosphere/ (b)comprises of/ (c) three layers/ (d) No error.
9. (a) The court held/ (b) the local MLA responsible/ (c) for the loss or damage to any
public property./ (d) No error.
10. (a)He was debarred to attend/(b) the monsoon session/(c) of the Parliament./(d)
No error.