In the following sentence about workplace communication, identify the part that contains an error in standard English usage. The General Manager of the industry has felt (A) / that there is no use of (B) / discussing about the problems with the labourers. (C) / No Error (D).

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question checks your awareness of correct verb and preposition patterns in English, especially when common expressions are combined. The sentence describes a General Manager who believes that talking to labourers is pointless. Two phrases are potentially problematic here, and you must identify which labelled part actually contains the grammatical error according to standard usage in competitive exams.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The sentence is divided into four parts: A, B, C, and D (No Error).
  • The full sentence reads: "The General Manager of the industry has felt / that there is no use of / discussing about the problems with the labourers."
  • We are following standard Indian English exam conventions and formal written grammar.
  • Only one part is to be treated as incorrect for the purpose of this question.


Concept / Approach:
Two important grammar points are tested here. First, we look at the expression "no use of". Second, we consider the verb "discuss" and whether it is followed by a preposition. In standard usage, "discuss" is a transitive verb and should not normally be followed by "about". The exam pattern usually selects the most clear and widely accepted error, so we must identify the part that clearly breaks a fundamental rule.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Examine part A, "The General Manager of the industry has felt". This is acceptable. The present perfect "has felt" is reasonable and the subject phrase is grammatically sound.Step 2: Examine part B, "that there is no use of". While many teachers prefer "no use in", the expression "no use of" is sometimes heard, and in exam keys it is not always treated as the main error.Step 3: Examine part C, "discussing about the problems with the labourers". The verb "discuss" does not take the preposition "about"; instead we say "discuss the problems", "discussing the problems", or "discussing the problems with the labourers".Step 4: Because "discussing about" is considered non standard in formal English, this is a clear grammatical error.Step 5: Therefore, part C is the segment that must be identified as containing the mistake.


Verification / Alternative check:
We can rewrite the sentence correctly as "The General Manager of the industry has felt that there is no use in discussing the problems with the labourers". This version removes the incorrect "about" and uses the more natural "no use in". Another acceptable version is "there is no use discussing the problems with the labourers". In both corrected forms, part C changes significantly while part A remains unchanged, which confirms that C is the clear source of error.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A is correct because the tense and phrasing "has felt" properly convey a feeling that started earlier and still influences the present.
Option B, though not the most elegant, is less obviously wrong in many exam contexts, and the main grammatical rule being tested is the usage of "discuss" rather than the preposition after "use".
Option D ("No Error") is incorrect because the sentence as originally written clearly needs correction in part C.


Common Pitfalls:
Students often think that any slightly awkward phrase automatically becomes the error, and so they may mark part B without checking the verb pattern in part C. Another common problem is believing that if a phrase is frequently heard in spoken English, it must be acceptable in exams, which is not true. Examiners usually prefer classical grammar rules, and one of these is that "discuss" should not be followed by "about".


Final Answer:
The error is in part C, so the correct answer is "C".

Discussion & Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Join Discussion