In this error spotting question, identify the part of the sentence that contains a grammatical error: My twin (A) / is five minutes younger (B) / than myself. (C) / No error (D)

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of comparative structures and pronoun case in English. The sentence given is "My twin is five minutes younger than myself." You must decide which part, if any, contains an error. This type of question is common in competitive exams and helps to check whether you can recognise subtle mistakes in otherwise simple sentences.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The sentence is divided into four parts: (A) My twin, (B) is five minutes younger, (C) than myself., (D) No error.- The meaning is that the speaker's twin sibling is five minutes younger than the speaker.- The comparison is between "my twin" and the speaker.- The phrase "than myself" is suspicious and needs careful examination.

Concept / Approach:
In comparative constructions using "than", English normally uses the subject pronoun "I" or the object pronoun "me" according to the structure, but "myself" is only used for emphasis or reflexive purposes, not as a simple object of comparison. The most natural and correct forms here would be "than I am" or "than me". In standard exam grammar, "than myself" is considered incorrect because "myself" should not be used where a simple pronoun would suffice.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the structure of comparison: "My twin is younger than ...".Step 2: Recognise that we are comparing two people: my twin and me.Step 3: Recall that the usual forms are "younger than I am" or "younger than me", not "younger than myself".Step 4: Check each part of the sentence: Part A ("My twin") is a correct subject phrase.Step 5: Part B ("is five minutes younger") correctly expresses the comparative degree and the amount of difference.Step 6: Part C ("than myself") is incorrect because "myself" is reflexive and should not be used here.Step 7: Conclude that the error is in part C.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by substituting correct forms: "My twin is five minutes younger than I am" or "My twin is five minutes younger than me" both sound natural and are accepted in modern English. In contrast, "My twin is five minutes younger than myself" sounds overly formal and is treated as incorrect in standard exam grammar. Also, reflexive pronouns such as "myself", "yourself", "himself", and "themselves" are usually used when the subject and object of the verb are the same person, for example, "I hurt myself", which is not the case here.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A ("My twin"): Correct as the subject of the sentence.Option B ("is five minutes younger"): Correct, as it properly describes the comparative age and includes the expression of time difference.Option D ("No error"): Incorrect, because there is a clear error in part C as explained.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners overuse reflexive pronouns like "myself" in an attempt to sound formal or polite, leading to sentences such as "My friend and myself went to the market" or "He is older than myself", which are incorrect in standard grammar. Exams often exploit this tendency by including such forms in error spotting questions. To avoid these mistakes, remember that reflexive pronouns should only be used when the subject and object refer to the same person or for strong emphasis, not simply after "than".

Final Answer:
The error lies in part C, because the phrase should be "than me" or "than I am", not "than myself".