English Grammar – Spot the Error (choose the segment containing the mistake; if there is no mistake, choose ‘‘No error’’). Sentence: “He tried as he could, Naveen did not succeed in getting his car to start up.”
Verbal Ability
Spotting Errors
Difficulty: Easy
Choose an option
Answer
Correct Answer: He tried as he could
Explanation
Introduction / Context:This item checks idiomatic comparison and completeness of a fixed phrase. The intended expression is “He tried as hard as he could,” which uses a degree modifier to complete the comparison. Omitting “hard” makes the structure unidiomatic and incomplete.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Opening clause: “He tried as he could …”
- Target meaning: maximal effort.
- Remaining clauses are grammatical by themselves.
Concept / Approach:
- The correlative comparison “as … as …” requires an adjective/adverb between the two “as” markers, e.g., “as fast as”, “as hard as”.
- When describing effort with “try”, idiomatic English uses “try hard”.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Spot the missing degree word in “as … as …”.Insert the appropriate adverb: “hard”.Correct version: “He tried as hard as he could; Naveen did not succeed in getting his car to start up.”Verification / Alternative check:
Replace with a synonymous structure: “He made every possible effort …” confirms the intended meaning of maximal effort.Why Other Options Are Wrong:
B–D: These segments are grammatically fine (though punctuation could use a semicolon or conjunction between independent clauses; punctuation is not the tested error).E: Incorrect because an error appears in A.Common Pitfalls:
Forgetting to complete correlative structures; overlooking idiomatic collocations like “try hard”.Final Answer:
He tried as he could