Error spotting: in the following question, one part of the sentence may have an error. Find out which part of the sentence has an error. If the sentence is free from error, choose the option marked No error. The King Juan Carlos of Spain (A) / arrived in London today (B) / for a three day visit (C) / No error (D)

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question checks your understanding of correct article usage with titles and proper names in English. The sentence mentions a specific monarch, King Juan Carlos of Spain, and you must identify which part, if any, is grammatically incorrect. Error spotting questions demand that you be sensitive to small but important details in structure.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Full sentence: The King Juan Carlos of Spain arrived in London today for a three day visit.
  • Part (A): The King Juan Carlos of Spain.
  • Part (B): arrived in London today.
  • Part (C): for a three day visit.
  • Part (D): No error.
  • The title is King and the proper name is Juan Carlos, followed by of Spain.


Concept / Approach:
In English, when you use a title directly before a proper name, you normally do not use the definite article the. You say King Juan Carlos, Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Nehru, not The King Juan Carlos or The Queen Elizabeth when the name follows the title. The definite article is used when the name is not given, as in the king of Spain or the queen of England. Therefore, The King Juan Carlos of Spain is incorrect, and the error is in part (A).


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on part (A) and recall standard patterns for titles and names. Step 2: Recognise that the correct phrase should be King Juan Carlos of Spain without the article the before King. Step 3: Check parts (B) and (C) for any obvious tense, preposition, or article errors; they are correct: arrived in London today for a three day visit. Step 4: Conclude that the only clear error is in part (A), where the article the should be omitted.


Verification / Alternative check:
Consider parallel examples: King Charles of the United Kingdom visited, not The King Charles of the United Kingdom visited. You can say the king of Spain visited, but once you introduce the proper name, the article drops. The rest of the sentence is standard: arrived in London today correctly uses the simple past and the preposition in, and for a three day visit uses the correct preposition and number expression.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Part (B): arrived in London today is correct and idiomatic.
  • Part (C): for a three day visit is acceptable; in very formal writing some writers use three day visit or three day long visit, but this is not considered an error in exam English.
  • Part (D): No error is wrong because an error has been identified in part (A).


Common Pitfalls:
Some students overlook article usage around names, focusing instead on obvious tense or preposition mistakes. Others think three day visit must be three days visit, but in English it is correct to use a compound adjective like three day before a noun. Whenever you see a title plus proper name, quickly check whether the article the is required. In this structure, it is not, so you correctly mark part (A) as containing the error.


Final Answer:
Correct option: A.

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