In the following English grammar question, read the sentence with labelled parts and identify which part (A), (B), (C) or (D) contains an error: Millions of Jews lost (A) / their kith and kin (B) / in Hitler concentration camps. (C) / No error (D).

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Error spotting questions test how carefully you can examine a sentence and locate the exact part that violates standard English grammar or usage. In this sentence, the candidate must decide which segment, marked as (A), (B), (C), or (D), contains the error. The sentence talks about Millions of Jews and their suffering in concentration camps during the time of Hitler, and the error is subtle but important because it involves the correct possessive form and use of a noun phrase for historical reference.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Part (A): Millions of Jews lost
  • Part (B): their kith and kin
  • Part (C): in Hitler concentration camps.
  • Part (D): No error.
  • The task is to identify which part contains a grammatical or usage mistake.


Concept / Approach:
The key idea in this question is correct use of possessives and descriptive noun phrases. When we refer to concentration camps run by Hitler, we normally use a possessive form such as Hitler's concentration camps or a descriptive phrase such as Nazi concentration camps. The phrase in Hitler concentration camps is not idiomatic in standard English because Hitler is used like an adjective without the required possessive marker or additional descriptive noun. The other parts of the sentence are grammatically sound: Millions of Jews lost is correct subject and verb, and their kith and kin is a standard idiom meaning friends and relatives.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Check part (A): Millions of Jews lost. This is grammatically correct, as lost is the past tense verb matching the plural subject. Step 2: Check part (B): their kith and kin. This is a correct idiomatic expression meaning their friends and relatives. Step 3: Check part (C): in Hitler concentration camps. Here, the phrase is awkward and incomplete, because we expect Hitler's concentration camps or Nazi concentration camps. Step 4: Conclude that part (C) is the segment containing the error, and therefore the correct option is C.


Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, rewrite the sentence correctly: Millions of Jews lost their kith and kin in Hitler's concentration camps. Now the phrase is in a natural and historically accurate form. If we leave it as in Hitler concentration camps, native speakers would immediately sense that some possessive or descriptive element is missing. Parts (A) and (B) read naturally even when isolated, while part (C) sounds incomplete until we add the possessive marker. This confirms that the error lies in part (C) and not in the other segments of the sentence.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A is incorrect as the error location because Millions of Jews lost is a standard plural noun phrase followed by a past tense verb and is grammatically sound. Option B is also correct usage; the expression kith and kin is an accepted idiom in English and does not need any change. Option D, No error, is wrong because we have clearly identified a mistake in part (C). Therefore, only option C accurately points to the phrase that must be corrected to make the sentence fully grammatical and idiomatic.


Common Pitfalls:
One common pitfall is to be distracted by the idiomatic phrase kith and kin and assume it is wrong simply because it is unfamiliar. Another mistake is to miss the subtle possessive issue and wrongly believe that in Hitler concentration camps is acceptable. Error spotting questions often hide the mistake in phrases that refer to ownership or association, so it is important to check whether a possessive form like apostrophe s is needed. Students should train themselves to examine prepositional phrases and descriptive noun groups carefully to avoid overlooking such issues.


Final Answer:
The error occurs in part (C), so the correct answer is C.

More Questions from English

Discussion & Comments

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