In the sentence "He was very kind enough to invite me," one part contains a grammatical error. Identify the part of the sentence that is incorrect.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: very kind enough

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Error spotting questions ask you to identify which segment of a sentence contains a grammatical or usage mistake. Here, the sentence "He was very kind enough to invite me" sounds awkward because of incorrect use of degree expressions. The task is to find the precise part that causes the error, which is a common test of knowledge about modifiers and intensifiers in English grammar.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Complete sentence: He was very kind enough to invite me.
  • Segments for analysis:
    • Part 1: He was
    • Part 2: very kind enough
    • Part 3: to invite me
    • Part 4: No error
  • We must choose the part that makes the sentence ungrammatical or unnatural.


Concept / Approach:
The key concept here is the use of intensifiers "very" and "enough." In standard English, "very" is used to intensify an adjective ("very kind"), and "enough" is used to indicate sufficiency ("kind enough"). Combining both "very" and "enough" before the same adjective ("very kind enough") is incorrect because it redundantly mixes two degrees of emphasis in one phrase. The correct expression is either "very kind" or "kind enough," but not both together.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Examine Part 1 "He was." This is grammatically fine as a subject plus linking verb. Step 2: Examine Part 2 "very kind enough." This expression combines two intensifiers before the adjective "kind," which is suspicious. Step 3: Examine Part 3 "to invite me." This infinitive phrase correctly explains the purpose of his kindness. Step 4: Conclude that the error lies in Part 2 because we should say either "He was very kind to invite me" or "He was kind enough to invite me," but not "very kind enough."


Verification / Alternative check:
If we correct the sentence, two acceptable versions emerge: "He was very kind to invite me" or "He was kind enough to invite me." Both are grammatically correct and natural in usage. The fact that removing either "very" or "enough" fixes the sentence confirms that their combination in Part 2 is the problematic element. The rest of the sentence does not need changes.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Option A: "He was" is correct; subject and verb agree and there is no grammatical issue. Option C: "to invite me" properly follows the adjective phrase "kind enough" or "very kind" to express purpose, and it does not contain an error. Option D: "No error" is incorrect because we have clearly identified a grammatical problem in the phrase "very kind enough." Option E: "The whole sentence is correct as it is." is wrong because the sentence is not acceptable in standard English without revising the degree phrase.


Common Pitfalls:
Students often try to intensify a sentence by stacking multiple adverbs like "very" and "enough" without realising that certain words do not combine naturally. Another common mistake is thinking that more modifiers always express stronger emphasis and are therefore acceptable. In English, words like "enough" already carry a specific meaning of sufficiency, so adding "very" before them makes the phrase ungrammatical. It is better to choose one appropriate intensifier rather than using two conflicting ones.


Final Answer:
The erroneous part of the sentence is very kind enough.

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