In the sentence "It is easy to fall victim not only to those who may hurt or mistreats us but also to our own anger", which numbered part contains the grammatical error?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: 2

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question is an example of error spotting in English grammar. The sentence describes how we can fall victim to others and to our own anger. It is divided into four numbered parts, and you must identify which part contains a grammatical mistake. Paying close attention to subject verb agreement within the relative clause is the key here.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Part 1: It is easy to fall victim
  • Part 2: not only to those who may hurt or mistreats us
  • Part 3: but also to our own anger
  • Part 4: No error
  • The structure who may hurt or mistreats us is the area likely to contain the problem.


Concept / Approach:
Inside the clause who may hurt or mistreats us, the subject is who, referring to those. The auxiliary verb may requires the base form of the main verb, not the -s form. Therefore, after may, both verbs should appear in the base form: may hurt or mistreat us. Using mistreats after may is incorrect because the -s ending indicates simple present third person singular without a modal. The rest of the sentence is grammatically sound.



Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the complete sentence and focus on the verb phrase may hurt or mistreats.Step 2: Recall the rule that modal verbs like may, can, must, and should are followed by the base form of the main verb, without -s, -ed, or -ing endings.Step 3: Check hurt; it is already in the base form and is correct after may.Step 4: Check mistreats; this is the third person singular simple present form and violates the rule after may.Step 5: Conclude that part 2, which contains may hurt or mistreats us, has the error and should be corrected to may hurt or mistreat us.


Verification / Alternative check:
Rewrite the sentence correctly: It is easy to fall victim not only to those who may hurt or mistreat us but also to our own anger. Now the verbs hurt and mistreat are parallel in form and correctly follow the modal may. Parts 1 and 3 do not show any tense, agreement, or preposition errors. Part 4 cannot be correct because we have clearly identified a grammar rule violation in part 2. This confirms that option 2 is the one with the mistake.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Part 1 It is easy to fall victim is grammatically sound and uses the infinitive fall correctly. Part 3 but also to our own anger correctly completes the not only... but also construction. Part 4 No error is wrong because we have found a definite error in part 2. Therefore, none of the other sections need correction.


Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes get distracted by the phrase fall victim and suspect it is incorrect, but it is actually a standard English expression. The real error lies in a much smaller detail: the -s ending on mistreats after may. A helpful exam strategy is to pay special attention to verbs after modal auxiliaries and to ensure parallel structure when two verbs share the same auxiliary, as they do here.


Final Answer:
The grammatical error occurs in part 2, where mistreats should be mistreat, so option B is correct.

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