In the following question, a sentence is divided into parts. Some part of the sentence may contain an error. Find out which part has an error and select the appropriate option. If the sentence is free from error, select "No Error".\n\nHe was able to put (1) pen of paper only (2) much later. (3) No Error (4)

Introduction / Context:
This question asks you to find the grammatical error in a sentence that has been broken into three parts, with a fourth option for “No Error.” The sentence reads: “He was able to put (1) pen of paper only (2) much later. (3)” The focus here is on the correct use of the idiomatic expression involving writing, specifically “put pen to paper.”

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Part (1): He was able to put
• Part (2): pen of paper only
• Part (3): much later.
• Part (4): No Error.
• The intended meaning is that he could only start writing at a later time.

Concept / Approach:
The correct idiom in English is “to put pen to paper,” which means to begin writing something formally or seriously. In the sentence, Part (2) incorrectly uses “pen of paper” instead of “pen to paper.” This preposition error changes the idiom and makes the phrase ungrammatical. The task is to recognise this standard expression and identify the wrong preposition.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Understand the general idea of the sentence: he could begin writing only much later.Step 2: Examine the phrase spanning Parts (1) and (2): “was able to put pen of paper.”Step 3: Recall the correct idiom: “put pen to paper,” not “pen of paper.”Step 4: Part (3), “much later,” correctly indicates the time when the action happened.Step 5: Since the preposition “of” is incorrect and should be “to,” the error lies in Part (2).

Verification / Alternative check:
Replace “of” with “to” and read the sentence again: “He was able to put pen to paper only much later.” This version sounds natural and correctly uses the idiomatic expression. No other part of the sentence requires correction. Therefore, Part (2) clearly contains the error.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (Part 1): “He was able to put” is correctly formed and matches the past ability idea.

Option C (Part 3): “much later” correctly indicates a later time and is grammatically fine.

Option D (No Error): Choosing this would mean accepting “pen of paper” as correct, which it is not.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often overlook prepositions in familiar expressions and may not recognise standard idioms like “put pen to paper.” Another pitfall is focusing only on verb forms and ignoring smaller words that still affect correctness. The best strategy is to read the full phrase out loud in your mind and ask whether it is a known and natural expression in English.

Final Answer:
2