In the following sentence, identify the part that has an error. If the sentence is free from error, select the option indicating no error. Her heart was (A) / pounding as he (B) / stopped front of her. (C) / No error (D).

Introduction / Context:

Error spotting questions test your ability to notice small but important mistakes in grammar, usage, or prepositions. The sentence here describes a dramatic moment when someone stops near another person. The error lies in the choice of prepositions, which is a common area of confusion for learners of English.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The sentence is divided into four parts: Her heart was (A) / pounding as he (B) / stopped front of her. (C) / No error (D).
• We must decide which part contains the grammatical error.
• Part A: Her heart was.
• Part B: pounding as he.
• Part C: stopped front of her.
• Part D: No error.

Concept / Approach:

The phrase that native speakers use to describe someone being positioned ahead of another person is in front of, not simply front of. Prepositions such as in, on, and at are often required before certain nouns to form correct expressions. Therefore we focus on part C, where the phrase stopped front of her appears. Parts A and B look grammatically correct as they stand, expressing a continuous action and a past simple action in sequence.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Rewrite the sentence with the corrected phrase: Her heart was pounding as he stopped in front of her. This version sounds natural and grammatically correct. If you try changing other parts, such as Her heart were pounding or stopped at front of her, the sentence becomes incorrect or unnatural. This confirms that part C is the only part containing an error.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Option A is not wrong because Her heart was pounding is a standard way to express fear or excitement.

Option B is not wrong because pounding as he correctly introduces the clause describing the second action.

Option D, representing No error, is wrong because we have clearly identified a mistake in part C.

Common Pitfalls:

A frequent pitfall is ignoring small function words like prepositions and focusing only on verbs and nouns. However, prepositions are crucial for idiomatic English. Another mistake is thinking that if a phrase is understandable, it must be correct. In exams, you are expected to know the exact standard expressions like in front of, on behalf of, and in charge of, not compressed or altered forms.

Final Answer:

The error is in part C, which should read stopped in front of her.