In this error-spotting sentence, identify the part that contains an error in the phrase "These kind of clothes are rather expensive for me to buy."

Introduction / Context:
This question checks your understanding of agreement between demonstratives like this or these and nouns such as kind and clothes. In English, phrases like this kind of or these kinds of have specific patterns. Mixing singular and plural incorrectly leads to awkward and ungrammatical expressions, which examiners target in error spotting questions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Part 1: These kind of clothes
• Part 2: are rather expensive
• Part 3: for me to buy.
• Part 4: No Error
• The intended meaning is that such clothes are expensive for the speaker to buy.

Concept / Approach:
There are two correct patterns: this kind of clothing or these kinds of clothes. Demonstratives and the noun kind must agree in number. These is plural, so it should be followed by kinds, not kind, when used with a plural noun like clothes. In the given sentence, These kind of clothes mixes a plural demonstrative with a singular kind, which is incorrect. Therefore the error lies in part 1.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the demonstrative these, which is plural. Step 2: Notice that it is immediately followed by the singular noun kind. Step 3: Recall that with these, we usually say these kinds of when referring to multiple types. Step 4: Check that clothes is plural, which supports the use of the plural kinds. Step 5: Conclude that the phrase should be these kinds of clothes, making part 1 incorrect as given.

Verification / Alternative check:
Rewrite the sentence correctly as These kinds of clothes are rather expensive for me to buy. This version is natural and grammatically consistent. Alternatively, you could also say This kind of clothing is rather expensive for me to buy, but that would change the sentence structure. Since the given sentence clearly uses these and clothes, the fix must involve changing kind to kinds in part 1, confirming that this is where the error lies.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Part 2 uses are rather expensive, which is an appropriate verb phrase for a plural subject like clothes.

Part 3, for me to buy, is a correct infinitive phrase expressing purpose or difficulty.

Part 4 cannot be chosen because we have already identified a mismatch in number in part 1.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners hear expressions like this kind of thing in speech and then simply replace this with these without adjusting the rest of the phrase. This leads to incorrect combinations like these kind of things. To avoid this, always check that your demonstrative (this or these) agrees with the form of kind or kinds and also matches the number of the following noun.

Final Answer:
The error is in part 1; it should read These kinds of clothes.