Error Spotting – Choose the part (A–D) that contains the grammatical error, or choose No error if the sentence is fully correct. Sentence (parts correspond to options below): A) Even after requesting B) him, he did not C) tell us that how D) he solved the problem

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: tell us that how

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The item targets clause structure after reporting verbs and the incompatibility of that with wh-words in the same slot. In an embedded wh-clause (how, why, where), the complementizer that is not used before the wh-word.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Reporting frame: tell us …
  • Wh-word: how
  • Added complementizer: that


Concept / Approach:
After verbs like tell, say, or explain, we use either a that-clause (tell us that he solved it) or a wh-clause (tell us how he solved it), but not both together. Therefore, that how is incorrect; the correct structure is tell us how …


Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Identify the clause type following tell us: it introduces manner (how), so it is a wh-clause.Step 2: Remove the complementizer that because wh-clauses do not take that.Step 3: Produce the corrected sequence: tell us how he solved the problem.


Verification / Alternative check:
Compare minimal pairs: He told us that he solved it (that-clause) vs He told us how he solved it (wh-clause). Mixing them is ungrammatical.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • A) Even after requesting … is an acceptable concessive preface (understood object is him).
  • B) Pronoun reference he and negation did not are fine.
  • D) Past form solved is correct and idiomatic.


Common Pitfalls:
Writers often overinsert that before wh-clauses. Choose one complementizer pattern only.


Final Answer:
Option C contains the error. Use tell us how he solved the problem.

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