In the following sentence, one part may contain a grammatical error. Read the sentence and the labelled parts carefully and identify which segment is incorrect, if any. The sentence is: Computers give us (A) / the easier access (B) / to information. (C) / No error. (D)

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: the easier access

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question tests basic grammar and usage, especially the correct use of articles with comparative adjectives. Learners must read the full sentence, understand the structure, and then decide which labelled part contains an error. Error spotting items like this one require close attention to small words such as articles and prepositions, because these are frequent sources of mistakes in English sentences used in exams and formal communication.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Original sentence: Computers give us (A) / the easier access (B) / to information. (C) / No error. (D)
  • The sentence is divided into four labelled parts: A, B, C, and D.
  • Part D represents the option that there is no error in the sentence.
  • The task is to identify the segment that contains the grammatical error.


Concept / Approach:
The concept involved here is the use of comparative adjectives such as easier with or without the definite article the. English usually uses the with a comparative adjective when we are comparing two specific things or groups, as in the easier task of the two. When we speak in a general sense, we normally omit the article and say easier access rather than the easier access. In the given sentence, computers are being talked about in a general way, and there is no direct comparison between two specific types of access. Therefore, the phrase should be easier access, not the easier access.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the entire sentence for overall meaning: computers in general provide access to information. Step 2: Examine Part A, Computers give us. This is grammatically correct and makes sense as the subject and verb. Step 3: Examine Part C, to information. This correctly uses the preposition to to show what we obtain. Step 4: Focus on Part B, the easier access. The combination of the with easier suggests a specific comparison that is not actually stated. Step 5: In a general statement, we should say computers give us easier access to information, without the. Step 6: Conclude that Part B contains the grammatical error because of the unnecessary definite article.


Verification / Alternative check:
We can check by rewriting the sentence in a natural way: Computers give us easier access to information. This sounds smooth and standard in English. If we keep the article the and make the sentence fully comparative, we would need a phrase such as than before, as in computers give us the easier access than earlier methods, which is not provided in the question. Because the original sentence does not make a complete or logical comparison, the with the comparative is unjustified. Therefore, correcting Part B by removing the results in a grammatically sound sentence that expresses the intended meaning.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Computers give us: This part correctly states the subject and verb and does not contain an error.
to information: This prepositional phrase is correct because we say give access to something in standard usage.
No error: Choosing this would incorrectly suggest that the original sentence is perfectly correct, which it is not due to the extra article in Part B.


Common Pitfalls:
Many learners overlook small words like articles and assume that if a sentence sounds somewhat acceptable, it must be correct. Another common confusion arises from the fact that the is used with superlative adjectives like the easiest, but comparative adjectives such as easier usually need a clear comparison to justify the article. Remember that in general statements about improvement or convenience, expressions like easier access, better service, or greater comfort typically do not use the unless a very specific comparison is explicit in the sentence.


Final Answer:
The erroneous segment is the easier access, which appears in Part B.

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