In the following question, some part of the sentence may have errors. Find out which part of the sentence has an error and select the appropriate option. If the sentence is free from error, select 'No Error'.\n\n"His name was hardly (1) / known out (2) / his own country. (3) / No Error (4)"

Introduction / Context:
This error spotting question tests preposition usage and common collocations in English. The sentence describes how familiar a person's name is beyond his national boundaries. The phrase known outside his own country is a fixed and very common expression, so any deviation like known out his own country signals an error. You must identify which numbered part contains the incorrect wording.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Full sentence: His name was hardly (1) known out (2) his own country. (3)
• Part (1): His name was hardly.
• Part (2): known out.
• Part (3): his own country.
• The intended meaning is that people outside his country hardly knew his name.

Concept / Approach:
In standard English, we say known outside a place, not known out a place. The preposition outside is required after known when talking about recognition beyond a geographic or social boundary. The combination known out his own country is ungrammatical. Parts (1) and (3) do not break any grammar rules: hardly is correctly placed after the verb was, and his own country is a natural noun phrase. Therefore, the error is isolated in part (2), where the wrong preposition and incomplete phrase appear.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Understand the intended meaning: his name was not well known beyond the borders of his country. Step 2: Examine part (1): His name was hardly. This is acceptable, because hardly modifies known in the next part and the auxiliary was is correctly placed. Step 3: Examine part (2): known out. This is odd because the idiomatic phrase should be known outside, not known out. Step 4: Examine part (3): his own country. This is fine and functions as the object of the correct preposition outside in the corrected sentence. Step 5: Conclude that part (2) is incorrect and should read known outside.

Verification / Alternative check:
Rewrite the full sentence properly: His name was hardly known outside his own country. This version is natural and idiomatic. Only part (2) changes, from out to outside. Parts (1) and (3) remain the same. No other modifications are required, which confirms that the error is confined to the second part of the sentence.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, part (1), is grammatically acceptable. The auxiliary was and the adverb hardly combine correctly before the past participle known. Option C, part (3), his own country, correctly names the place and does not introduce any grammatical error. Option D, No Error, is incorrect because we have clearly seen that known out his own country is not standard English and needs to be corrected to known outside his own country.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may not notice the missing side in outside because out is partially similar and they read quickly. Others may suspect part (1) or part (3) simply because they feel safer choosing something that looks longer. To avoid such mistakes, always pay attention to prepositions and remember frequent collocations such as outside his country, inside the building, and beyond the border. These patterns are often tested in competitive exams.

Final Answer:
The incorrect segment is part 2, which should use outside instead of out.