English grammar – Spot the error (choose the part with an error or “No error”). Sentence: He was too / irritated to / concentrate on his work / for a long time.
Verbal Ability
Spotting Errors
Difficulty: Easy
Choose an option
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AHe was too
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Birritated to
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Cconcentrate on his work
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Dfor a long time.
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ENo error.
Answer
Correct Answer: No error.
Explanation
Introduction / Context:This question checks idiomatic usage of “too … to” with an infinitive and the correctness of prepositional phrases describing duration. You must locate an error segment or confirm that no error exists.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The structure “too + adjective + to + verb” expresses an excess preventing the action.
- “Concentrate on” is the standard preposition collocation.
- “For a long time” is a standard duration phrase.
Concept / Approach:Evaluate each chunk independently: subject–verb agreement, infinitival complement, verb–preposition collocation, and duration phrase. Ensure the meaning is coherent: being too irritated prevents long concentration.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Part A: “He was too” — correct as the opening of the “too … to” construction.Part B: “irritated to” — correctly provides the adjective followed by the infinitive marker “to.”Part C: “concentrate on his work” — correct verb and collocation (“concentrate on”).Part D: “for a long time.” — standard duration phrase; punctuation acceptable.Verification / Alternative check:
Full sentence reads naturally: “He was too irritated to concentrate on his work for a long time.” Synonymous rewrites preserve meaning, confirming correctness.Why Other Options Are Wrong:
No segment exhibits a grammatical or idiomatic error; therefore “No error” is the best choice.Common Pitfalls:
Misplacing the duration phrase (“for long time” without the article) or changing the collocation to “concentrate at” or “concentrate in,” which would be incorrect.Final Answer:No error.