In the following question, some part of the sentence may have errors. Find out which part of the sentence has an error and select the appropriate option. If the sentence is free from error, select No error. He did not go (1) to the temple on foot (2) he went there by the car. (3) No error (4)

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: 3

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This is an error detection question, a common type in English grammar sections of competitive exams. You must identify which part of the sentence contains a grammatical or usage error. The sentence deals with ways of travelling and uses common prepositions with means of transport. Correct preposition usage is an important area for learners preparing for examinations.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Complete sentence parts: (1) He did not go (2) to the temple on foot (3) he went there by the car. (4) No error.
  • The task is to mark the first segment that contains an error.
  • We assume standard formal English usage.


Concept / Approach:
There are two key points here. First, preposition patterns with different modes of travel. We usually say on foot when walking, by car, by bus, by train, and so on. We do not normally add the article the before the vehicle name in such expressions. Second, there is a missing conjunction between two independent clauses: He did not go to the temple on foot and he went there by car. However, in exam style questions of this type, only one part is considered the main tested error, and here the focus is on the phrase by the car in part 3.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read part 1: He did not go. This is grammatically correct and sets up a negative clause.Step 2: Read part 2: to the temple on foot. This is a correct expression for walking to a place.Step 3: Read part 3: he went there by the car. The phrase by the car is unusual in English when describing travel in general.Step 4: Recall that the idiomatic form is by car, without any article.Step 5: Therefore, part 3 contains an error and should be corrected to he went there by car, ideally also with a conjunction: but he went there by car.Step 6: Mark option 3 as the segment with the error.


Verification / Alternative check:
Rewrite the sentence in fully correct form: He did not go to the temple on foot, but he went there by car. This version uses standard prepositions and natural conjunctions. The phrase by car is consistent with usual patterns like by bus, by train, and by air. No other part of the sentence requires a change for basic correctness, even though adding a conjunction improves flow and style.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option 1: He did not go is grammatically correct. There is no subject verb agreement problem and the tense is fine.
Option 2: to the temple on foot is an accepted way to describe walking to a religious place. Preposition and noun choice are correct.
Option 4: No error is wrong because we have already identified an error in part 3. Therefore the sentence is not free from error.


Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes get distracted by the missing conjunction between on foot and he went, but standard exam practice is to test one clear grammatical issue per question. Others may doubt the phrase on foot, but that expression is correct. The main trap lies in the article the used with a vehicle after by. Remember that for general travel, we say by car, by train, by bus, and by plane, without using a, an, or the. Only when we refer to a specific vehicle or modify the noun further, such as by the red car, does an article appear, and that is not the intended simple travel mode expression here.


Final Answer:
The error is in part 3, where the phrase by the car should be corrected to by car.

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