Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This error spotting question focuses on the use of the verb "wish" to talk about unreal or imagined situations. When we express a wish about a present state that we would like to be different, English uses a past tense form such as "were" or "was", not "will be". The sentence here describes Mohan's wish to be richer, which is an unreal present situation.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the meaning: Mohan is expressing a desire about his current financial condition, not about a future plan.
Step 2: Remember the grammar rule: for unreal present wishes, we use a past tense after "wish".
Step 3: In part B, the phrase "he will be" incorrectly uses future tense.
Step 4: The correct form should be "he were" or in less formal English "he was".
Step 5: Since "will be" is wrong in this structure, part B is the segment containing the error.
Verification / Alternative check:
Compare with sentences like "I wish I were richer" or "They wish they had a bigger house".
In each case, the clause after "wish" uses a past tense to express a present unreal idea.
If we said "I wish I will be richer", it would sound unnatural and grammatically incorrect.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a is wrong because "Mohan wishes" is correctly formed and introduces the idea of desire.
Option c is wrong because the single word "richer" properly serves as a complement in the sentence.
Option d is wrong because the sentence clearly includes an error in part B, so we cannot choose "No Error".
Common Pitfalls:
Learners often think of wishes as relating to the future and mistakenly use "will" in the clause after "wish".
Another misunderstanding arises from not distinguishing between real future plans and unreal present desires.
To handle such questions correctly, students should memorise the pattern: wish plus past tense for present unreal situations, wish plus past perfect for regrets about the past.
Final Answer:
The correct answer is: B.
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