Error spotting in an imperative English sentence: Pay attention to what I am saying. Decide which part of the sentence has a grammatical error or confirm that there is no error at all.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: No error in the sentence.

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The sentence Pay attention to what I am saying is a common imperative structure used to give instructions. This item checks whether the learner can recognise a fully correct sentence and avoid making unnecessary changes. In many competitive examinations, some questions are included specifically to test if candidates can confidently choose the No error option when there is no grammatical mistake.


Given Data / Assumptions:
- Sentence: Pay attention to what I am saying.
- Part (a): Pay attention
- Part (b): to what
- Part (c): I am saying
- Part (d): No error
We assume that neutral modern English is used and that the verb tense choice is deliberate and correct.


Concept / Approach:
The structure consists of an imperative verb pay, followed by the noun attention, then the preposition to, and finally a noun clause what I am saying. Imperatives usually omit the subject you, which is understood. The present continuous I am saying correctly describes an action in progress at the moment of speaking. All parts follow standard grammar and idiomatic usage, so no change is required.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Look at part (a) Pay attention. This is a standard imperative expression used in classrooms and formal contexts. Step 2: Consider part (b) to what. The preposition to is necessary after the phrase pay attention when we specify the focus of attention. Step 3: Examine part (c) I am saying. The present continuous tense shows an action happening now, which matches the idea of listening while the speaker is talking. Step 4: When we combine the parts, the full sentence reads: Pay attention to what I am saying, which is fully grammatical and natural. Step 5: Since there is no structural, tense, or prepositional error, we conclude that the correct choice is No error in the sentence.


Verification / Alternative check:
We can test alternative forms like Pay attention to what I say. This version uses the simple present for a more general statement. However, the original continuous form I am saying is also completely correct because it describes what is being said at that moment. This confirms that the original sentence is acceptable and does not require correction. No rewriting is necessary to meet standard exam expectations.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Error in part (a) only: Pay attention is a very common idiom and entirely correct, so this option is not valid.
- Error in part (b) only: Removing to would produce Pay attention what I am saying, which is incorrect; the given version with to is the correct one.
- Error in part (c) only: The verb phrase I am saying is grammatically sound and contextually appropriate, so there is no error here.
- Error in more than one part: There is no error in any part, so the idea of multiple errors is clearly wrong.


Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes overthink such questions and try to force an error where none exists, for example by feeling that I am saying should be I say. It is important to remember that examinations often include fully correct sentences to test confidence in choosing the No error option. Carefully reading the sentence and checking each component against basic rules of grammar helps avoid unnecessary changes.


Final Answer:
Correct option: No error in the sentence.

More Questions from English

Discussion & Comments

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