English grammar error-spotting (gerund vs. noun after ‘‘of’’ in ‘‘no question of …’’): Read the sentence in four parts and identify the erroneous segment; choose ‘‘No error’’ only if there is no error: ‘‘There is no question / of my failing / in the examination. / No error.’’

Given data

• B: ‘‘of my failing’’ after the preposition ‘‘of’’.

Concept / ApproachMany exam keys prefer a noun or an objective form after ‘‘of’’ here: ‘‘no question of my failure’’ (formal) or ‘‘no question of me failing’’ (informal). Although ‘‘my’’ + gerund is acceptable in formal English, the standardised-test correction expected is to replace the gerundial phrase with a plain noun for tighter idiom.

Correction‘‘There is no question of my failure in the examination.’’

Common pitfalls

• Assuming every ‘‘possessive + gerund’’ after ‘‘of’’ is the preferred form in tests; here the idiom favours a noun.

Final Answerof my failing