English Grammar — Spot the error (choose the incorrect part; select 'No error' if the sentence is correct). Sentence parts: A) He was very disappointed B) when he found C) that someone else D) had secured higher marks. E) No error
Correct Answer: No error
Introduction / Context:This question checks tense sequencing in reported content and idiomatic use of “disappointed.” The sentence narrates a past event with a prior action embedded via past perfect.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Main clause: “He was very disappointed.”
- Time of realization: “when he found …”
- Earlier action: “someone else had secured higher marks.”
Concept / Approach:Past perfect (“had secured”) is used for an action completed before another past moment (“found”). The pattern “was disappointed when he found that …” is idiomatic and standard.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the time points: disappointment (past), finding (past), securing marks (prior to finding).Step 2: Verify form: past perfect for the earlier action is correct.Step 3: Confirm natural collocation: “secured higher marks” is standard in academic results contexts.Verification / Alternative check:Change the embedded verb to simple past: “someone else secured higher marks.” The meaning remains, but past perfect neatly shows prior completion; both can be acceptable, so the given is certainly not erroneous.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- A–D: Each part is grammatical and idiomatic.
- E: Correct because the sentence contains no error.
Common Pitfalls:Over-correcting to remove past perfect even when it clarifies sequence. Keep it when you want to foreground an action preceding another past point.
Final Answer:E) No error