English Grammar — Error Spotting (Verb Choice) Identify the part that contains a grammatical or word-choice error. If there is no error, choose 'All correct'. Full sentence: The religious leaders attained all the ceremonies of other creeds.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: attained all the

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Error-spotting items test precise verb choice and collocations. In formal English, specific verbs pair naturally with certain objects. Here the sentence speaks about participation in religious events, so we must select the verb that correctly collocates with “ceremonies.”


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The sentence is: “The religious leaders attained all the ceremonies of other creeds.”
  • Exactly one fragment (A–D) is erroneous; E means the sentence has no error.
  • Register: standard written English.


Concept / Approach:

“Attain” means reach, achieve, or accomplish (e.g., attain a goal/height). When referring to being present at or participating in events, English uses “attend” (e.g., attend a meeting/ceremony/festival). Thus the required collocation is “attend ceremonies,” not “attain ceremonies.”


Step-by-Step Solution:

1) Identify the head noun governed by the verb: “ceremonies.”2) Recall the standard verb: attend + event.3) Compare with the used verb “attained,” which misexpresses achievement rather than presence.4) Conclude that part B is incorrect; the sentence should read “attended all the ceremonies …”.


Verification / Alternative check:

Substitute the correct verb: “The religious leaders attended all the ceremonies of other creeds.” This is idiomatic and semantically accurate.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A: Subject phrase is fine.C: Prepositional phrase “ceremonies of other …” is acceptable.D: Noun “creeds” is correct in context.


Common Pitfalls:

Confusing “attain” and “attend” due to similar spelling. Remember: attain = achieve; attend = be present at.


Final Answer:

attained all the

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