English grammar – Spot the error (choose the part with an error or “No error”). Sentence: Jayant told me / that Mihir expect / every friend to meet him / once in a week.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: that Mihir expect

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This sentence primarily tests subject–verb agreement in reported speech. A secondary stylistic tweak involves the frequency phrase (“once a week” is preferred to “once in a week”), but the grammatical error that exams target is in the verb form.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Subject: “Mihir” (third person singular).
  • Verb in B: “expect” (base plural form).
  • Standard English requires “expects.”


Concept / Approach:
Agreement rule: third person singular present → verb + s/es. Thus, “that Mihir expects …”. The time reference of reporting (“told me”) does not force backshift on the habitual truth (“expects”) in a subordinate content clause; both “expected” and “expects” could appear depending on meaning, but the uninflected “expect” is definitely wrong.



Step-by-Step Solution:

Change B: “expect” → “expects.”Optional style: D “once a week” is more idiomatic than “once in a week.”Keep A and C as they are.


Verification / Alternative check:

Corrected: “Jayant told me that Mihir expects every friend to meet him once a week.”


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A and C are fine; D is acceptable in some varieties but is less idiomatic. The clear grammar error is in B.


Common Pitfalls:

Missing third-person singular -s; over-backshifting tense unnecessarily in reported speech.


Final Answer:
that Mihir expect

More Questions from Spotting Errors

Discussion & Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Join Discussion