Question 1

English grammar – Spot the error (choose the part with an error or “No error”). Condition pattern: We can not handle / this complicated case today / unless full details are not given / to us by now.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This sentence tests correct use of “unless,” which means “if not.” Adding another “not” creates a double negative and reverses the intended meaning. Given Data / Assumptions: Main clause: inability to handle the case today. Condition: presence/absence of “full details.” Temporal phrase: “by now.” Concept / Approach: “Unless” inherently carries negation, so the subordinate clause should be affirmative: “unless full details are given.” If you add “not,” the meaning shifts to “if full details are not not given” (i.e., if they are given), producing the opposite of what is intended. Step-by-Step Solution: Replace Part C with “unless full details are given”.Retain Parts A–B as they state the main claim properly.D is awkward with “by now” (today vs. now), but not the core grammatical error; the test focuses on the misuse of “not.” Verification / Alternative check: Improved: “We cannot handle this complicated case today unless full details are given to us.” Why Other Options Are Wrong: A–B are grammatically fine; D is stylistically clumsy but acceptable; C contains the genuine grammar fault. Common Pitfalls: Using “unless … not …”; mixing time adverbials (“today” vs. “by now”). Final Answer: unless full details are not given

Question 2

English grammar – Spot the error (choose the part with an error or “No error”). Sentence: The customer scarcely had / enough money to pay / to the cashier / at the cash counter.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The focus here is verb complementation with “pay.” In English, “pay” takes a double-object pattern: “pay someone something” or “pay something to someone.” When using the infinitive “to pay,” we normally take a direct object “the cashier” (without “to”). Given Data / Assumptions: Main clause: “The customer scarcely had enough money …”. Verb of payment: “pay.” Two possible patterns exist; we must pick the correct one for this context. Concept / Approach: With “pay,” the idiomatic forms are: “pay the cashier” (no preposition) or “pay the money to the cashier.” Since the sentence already has “to pay” followed by a person, the preposition “to” should be omitted. Step-by-Step Solution: A–B: “scarcely had enough money to pay” is fine.C: Replace “to the cashier” with “the cashier.”D: “at the cash counter” is a correct locative phrase. Verification / Alternative check: Alternative pattern: “enough money to pay the amount to the cashier at the cash counter.” Both are grammatical when used correctly. Why Other Options Are Wrong: They are not wrong; only C violates the verb’s complementation pattern. Common Pitfalls: Adding redundant “to” after “pay” when the direct object is a person. Final Answer: to the cashier

Question 3

English grammar – Spot the error (choose the part with an error or “No error”). Sentence: We don't deny / your right to know / whatever happened while / you were not in the office.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This item tests clause structure and tense in a complex sentence involving a negated main clause and a temporal subordinate clause. The task is to determine whether any segment contains a grammatical error. Given Data / Assumptions: Main clause: “We don’t deny your right to know …”. Object: a gerund-participial complement “your right to know”. Embedded content clause: “whatever happened while you were not in the office.” Concept / Approach: All parts align with standard usage: “right to know” is idiomatic; “whatever happened” uses past tense for a completed time; “while you were not in the office” is a correct temporal clause. There is no disagreement, faulty preposition, or tense mismatch. Step-by-Step Solution: A: Negative declarative is properly formed.B: Infinitive phrase functions correctly as complement to “right.”C: Free relative “whatever” + past verb “happened” is grammatical.D: Past progressive context in the temporal clause is appropriate (“were not in the office”). Verification / Alternative check: One could also write “while you were out of the office,” which is stylistic, not grammatical. Why Other Options Are Wrong: They are not wrong; each stands correct, so “No error.” is the right choice. Common Pitfalls: Over-correcting idiomatic structures like “right to know” or the free-relative “whatever.” Final Answer: No error.

Question 4

Error Spotting (Grammar) — choose the part that contains a grammatical error. If the sentence is correct, choose ‘‘No error.’’ Complete sentence: Neither of the plans suits him and therefore he decided not to go out yesterday.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This item checks tense consistency within one sentence. When a past result is introduced with ‘‘therefore,’’ the cause is normally framed in the same past-time context. Given Data / Assumptions: Main action: ‘‘he decided not to go out yesterday’’ (simple past with a clear past-time marker). Causal clause before it: ‘‘suits him and therefore …’’ is in present tense. We seek the grammatically most appropriate and consistent tense choice. Concept / Approach: Maintain the same time frame for cause and effect describing a specific past incident. Use ‘‘suited’’ (simple past) rather than ‘‘suits’’ (simple present).
 Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the time anchor: ‘‘yesterday’’ sets a past reference.Find the mismatch: present ‘‘suits’’ vs past ‘‘decided.’’Correct the verb in the causal clause to the past: ‘‘neither of the plans suited him …’’Revised sentence: ‘‘Neither of the plans suited him and therefore he decided not to go out yesterday.’’
 Verification / Alternative check: Read the sentence entirely in past time. The narrative now flows logically: cause (suited/not suited) and effect (decided) both in the past. Why Other Options Are Wrong: ‘‘Neither of the plans’’ — correct subject; ‘‘neither’’ is singular. ‘‘he decided not to’’ — correct past-tense main clause beginning. ‘‘go out yesterday.’’ — idiomatic past-time adverbial. ‘‘No error’’ — incorrect because a tense mismatch exists in part B. Common Pitfalls: Mixing present and past in a single, time-specific event; forgetting ‘‘neither’’ takes a singular verb (which remains true after correction: ‘‘suited’’ matches singular subject). Final Answer: suits him and therefore

Question 5

Error Spotting (Grammar) — choose the part that contains a grammatical error. If the sentence is correct, choose ‘‘No error.’’ Complete sentence: I was being astonished when I heard that he had left the country without informing anyone of us.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests correct aspect usage with stative verbs and participial adjectives. Emotions and sudden reactions like ‘‘astonished’’ are not used in progressive aspect when describing a past reaction. Given Data / Assumptions: Reaction time anchor: ‘‘when I heard …’’ Predicate used: ‘‘was being astonished’’ (progressive passive with a stative meaning). Standard written English conventions apply. Concept / Approach: Stative verbs or adjective-like participles (astonished, pleased, afraid) normally take simple forms, not progressive. Use ‘‘I was astonished’’ rather than ‘‘I was being astonished.’’ Step-by-Step Solution: Locate the nonstandard aspect: ‘‘was being astonished.’’Replace with simple past of the copula + adjective: ‘‘was astonished.’’Revised sentence: ‘‘I was astonished when I heard that he had left the country without informing any of us.’’ Verification / Alternative check: Compare with other emotion words: ‘‘I was surprised/shocked/pleased’’ (not ‘‘was being surprised’’) — confirms the fix. Why Other Options Are Wrong: ‘‘when I heard that’’ — correct subclause marker. ‘‘he had left the country’’ — correct past perfect for an action earlier than ‘‘heard.’’ ‘‘without informing anyone of us’’ — better as ‘‘any of us,’’ but the core grammatical error is in part A. Common Pitfalls: Overusing progressive aspect with stative meanings; misusing ‘‘anyone of us’’ instead of ‘‘any of us’’. Final Answer: I was being astonished

Question 6

Error Spotting (Grammar) — choose the part that contains a grammatical error. If the sentence is correct, choose ‘‘No error.’’ Complete sentence: Since I had been gone through the book long back, I could not remember the contents.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This item examines verb form and voice with the phrasal verb ‘‘go through’’ meaning ‘‘read/review carefully.’’ Given Data / Assumptions: The intended meaning is that the speaker read the book a long time ago. ‘‘go through’’ is being used, but the construction is malformed. Concept / Approach: ‘‘Go through (a book)’’ is an active, intransitive phrasal verb taking a direct object; it should be ‘‘had gone through the book’’ (active). ‘‘Had been gone through’’ mixes passive and the intransitive verb ‘‘go’’ incorrectly. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the faulty string: ‘‘had been gone through’’.Use correct active past perfect: ‘‘had gone through’’.Revised sentence: ‘‘Since I had gone through the book long back, I could not remember the contents.’’ Verification / Alternative check: Passive would require a different verb: ‘‘The book had been gone through (by me)’’ is also awkward; active is best with a personal subject. Why Other Options Are Wrong: ‘‘through the book’’ — correct complement after ‘‘gone.’’ ‘‘long back, I could’’ — acceptable usage in exam English; commas okay. ‘‘not remember the contents.’’ — fine. ‘‘No error.’’ — incorrect because part A is faulty. Common Pitfalls: Confusing ‘‘gone through’’ with a passive form; using ‘‘been’’ where the active past perfect is required. Final Answer: Since I had been gone

Question 7

Error Spotting (Grammar) — choose the part that contains a grammatical error. If the sentence is correct, choose ‘‘No error.’’ Complete sentence: He is smarter enough to get selected for this prestigious post.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests the correct use of ‘‘enough’’ with adjectives. The form is ‘‘adjective + enough,’’ not ‘‘comparative adjective + enough.’’ Given Data / Assumptions: Target structure: ‘‘smart enough to do something.’’ The sentence incorrectly uses ‘‘smarter’’ (comparative). Concept / Approach: ‘‘Enough’’ follows the base adjective (smart enough, tall enough). Comparatives already indicate degree and do not combine with ‘‘enough’’ in this construction. Step-by-Step Solution: Locate the adjective phrase: ‘‘smarter enough’’.Change to base adjective: ‘‘smart enough’’.Corrected sentence: ‘‘He is smart enough to get selected for this prestigious post.’’ Verification / Alternative check: Compare: ‘‘so smart that …’’ vs ‘‘smart enough to …’’ — both grammatical but require base ‘‘smart,’’ not ‘‘smarter.’’ Why Other Options Are Wrong: ‘‘enough to get’’ — correct placement after the adjective. ‘‘selected for this’’ — fine. ‘‘prestigious post.’’ — idiomatic. ‘‘No error.’’ — incorrect because part A contains the error. Common Pitfalls: Mixing comparative forms with ‘‘enough’’; keep ‘‘enough’’ with base adjectives or adverbs. Final Answer: He is smarter

Question 8

Error Spotting (Grammar) — choose the part that contains a grammatical error. If the sentence is correct, choose ‘‘No error.’’ Complete sentence: What you will think if school boys make fun of you?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: English questions typically require auxiliary–subject inversion in direct questions. This test checks your control over word order. Given Data / Assumptions: Interrogative word: ‘‘What’’ starts the question. Auxiliary: ‘‘will’’ with subject ‘‘you.’’ Conditional clause follows. Concept / Approach: Form direct questions with auxiliary–subject inversion: ‘‘What will you think …?’’ not ‘‘What you will think …’’ (the latter is for embedded questions). Step-by-Step Solution: Detect missing inversion after ‘‘What’’.Swap auxiliary and subject: ‘‘will you’’.Corrected sentence: ‘‘What will you think if school boys make fun of you?’’ Verification / Alternative check: Compare with an embedded clause: ‘‘Tell me what you will think …’’ (no inversion). In a direct question, inversion is mandatory. Why Other Options Are Wrong: ‘‘What’’ — correct interrogative marker. ‘‘if school boys’’ — acceptable (often one word ‘‘schoolboys’’). ‘‘make fun of you?’’ — idiomatic verb phrase. ‘‘No error.’’ — incorrect because part B needs inversion. Common Pitfalls: Using embedded-question word order in direct questions. Final Answer: you will think

Question 9

Error Spotting (Grammar) — choose the part that contains a grammatical error. If the sentence is correct, choose ‘‘No error.’’ Complete sentence: I have the firm belief in the basic goodness of all men.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This tests article choice with countable abstract nouns. ‘‘Belief’’ is countable when specified; otherwise use an indefinite article or no article depending on meaning. Given Data / Assumptions: The speaker expresses a general conviction, not a unique, previously specified belief. Hence, the indefinite article is preferred. Concept / Approach: Use ‘‘a firm belief’’ for a general personal conviction. ‘‘The firm belief’’ suggests a particular belief already known in context, which is not indicated here. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify article misuse: ‘‘the firm belief’’.Replace with the indefinite article: ‘‘a firm belief’’.Corrected sentence: ‘‘I have a firm belief in the basic goodness of all men.’’ Verification / Alternative check: If we add a specifying clause (e.g., ‘‘the firm belief that honesty pays’’), ‘‘the’’ could work. Without such context, ‘‘a’’ is standard. Why Other Options Are Wrong: ‘‘I have’’ — fine. ‘‘belief in the basic goodness of’’ — correct prepositional complement. ‘‘all men.’’ — idiomatic; could be ‘‘all people’’ stylistically. ‘‘No error.’’ — incorrect because article choice in part B is wrong. Common Pitfalls: Overusing the definite article with abstract nouns; check whether the noun is specific/unique. Final Answer: the firm

Question 10

Error Spotting (Grammar) — choose the part that contains a grammatical error. If the sentence is correct, choose ‘‘No error.’’ Complete sentence: We have been living in this house since two years.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This checks correct use of ‘‘since’’ and ‘‘for.’’ ‘‘Since’’ takes a point in time; ‘‘for’’ takes a duration. Given Data / Assumptions: ‘‘two years’’ is a duration, not a starting point. Present perfect progressive is otherwise correct for a continuing action. Concept / Approach: Use ‘‘for + duration’’ and ‘‘since + starting time.’’ Thus ‘‘for two years’’ is required. Step-by-Step Solution: Spot preposition mismatch: ‘‘since two years’’.Replace with ‘‘for two years.’’Corrected sentence: ‘‘We have been living in this house for two years.’’ Verification / Alternative check: If there were a starting year (e.g., ‘‘since 2023’’), ‘‘since’’ would be correct. With a bare duration, ‘‘for’’ is mandatory. Why Other Options Are Wrong: ‘‘We’’ — fine. ‘‘have been living’’ — correct aspect for ongoing action. ‘‘in this house’’ — correct prepositional phrase. ‘‘No error.’’ — incorrect because part D is wrong. Common Pitfalls: Confusing ‘‘since’’ and ‘‘for’’ due to L1 transfer or memorized chunks. Final Answer: since two years.

Question 11

Error Spotting (Grammar) — choose the part that contains a grammatical error. If the sentence is correct, choose ‘‘No error.’’ Complete sentence: He is a mason who built my house.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This item checks relative clause usage with appropriate tense. The sentence describes a person’s occupation (present) and a specific past action that the same person performed. Given Data / Assumptions: Main clause: ‘‘He is a mason’’ (present state/occupation). Relative clause: ‘‘who built my house’’ (completed past action). Concept / Approach: It is acceptable to use a past-tense relative clause to refer to a specific action done by someone whose present occupation is being stated. No change of tense is needed. Step-by-Step Check: Subject–complement structure is correct.Relative pronoun ‘‘who’’ correctly refers to ‘‘a mason.’’Past simple ‘‘built’’ is suitable for a finished action. Why Other Options Are Wrong: They each represent grammatical segments. No alteration improves the sentence. Common Pitfalls: Overcorrecting by forcing present perfect in the relative clause; it is unnecessary here. Final Answer: No error.

Question 12

Error Spotting (Grammar) — choose the part that contains a grammatical error. If the sentence is correct, choose ‘‘No error.’’ Complete sentence: He served the country with heart and soul but got nothing in return.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This tests idiomatic adverbial expressions. ‘‘(With) heart and soul’’ is an idiom meaning ‘‘with complete devotion/wholeheartedly.’’ Given Data / Assumptions: Past simple narrative: ‘‘served’’ and ‘‘got’’ are consistent. Prepositional phrase ‘‘with heart and soul’’ functions adverbially. Concept / Approach: Both ‘‘heart and soul’’ and ‘‘with heart and soul’’ are accepted idioms. The sentence’s structure and tense sequence are sound. Step-by-Step Check: Verb forms are consistent (simple past).Idiom is correctly used to indicate wholehearted service.Coordinate clause with ‘‘but’’ is grammatical. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Each represents a grammatical fragment; no part requires correction. Common Pitfalls: Assuming ‘‘with heart and soul’’ is wrong; it is a standard variant in formal writing. Final Answer: No error.

Question 13

Error Spotting (Grammar) — choose the part that contains a grammatical error. If the sentence is correct, choose ‘‘No error.’’ Complete sentence: I am contacting you sometime in next week to explain to you my problem in detail.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This tests idiomatic time expressions with ‘‘next/last’’ and the use of ‘‘in’’ with weeks. English normally omits a preposition before ‘‘next week.’’ Given Data / Assumptions: Planned future arrangement: present progressive is acceptable (‘‘I am contacting …’’). The phrase ‘‘in next week’’ appears. Concept / Approach: Use ‘‘sometime next week’’ (no preposition). ‘‘In the next week’’ is also possible but has a slightly different meaning (within the coming week, often with a deadline). Here the best fix is to drop ‘‘in.’’ Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the non-idiomatic segment: ‘‘in next week.’’Remove the preposition: ‘‘sometime next week.’’Revised sentence: ‘‘I am contacting you sometime next week to explain to you my problem in detail.’’ Verification / Alternative check: Compare: ‘‘I will contact you sometime next week’’ (also correct). With a scheduled plan, present progressive is fine. Why Other Options Are Wrong: ‘‘I am contacting you’’ — acceptable for a planned arrangement. ‘‘to explain to you’’ — slightly verbose but grammatical; could be ‘‘to explain’’ or ‘‘to explain my problem to you.’’ ‘‘my problem in detail.’’ — correct object phrase. ‘‘No error.’’ — incorrect because part B contains a phrase-level error. Common Pitfalls: Adding unnecessary prepositions before ‘‘next/last + time word’’ (e.g., ‘‘in next week,’’ ‘‘on last Monday’’). Final Answer: sometime in next week

Question 14

Spot the grammatical error in the sentence. Select the part (A–D) that contains an error; if the sentence is correct, choose ‘‘No error.’’ Sentence: Manohar has not only opened a restaurant, but also a grocery shop in the village where we live.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Error-spotting items often test correlative conjunctions such as ‘‘not only … but also …’’ and overall sentence parallelism. The sentence about Manohar mentions two ventures and the place where the speaker lives, providing a natural setup to check correlative balance and verb forms. Given Data / Assumptions: Main clause uses present perfect: ‘‘has … opened.’’ Correlative pair present: ‘‘not only … but also …’’ Two coordinated objects: ‘‘a restaurant’’ and ‘‘a grocery shop.’’ Locative clause: ‘‘in the village where we live.’’ Concept / Approach: For ‘‘not only … but also …’’ ensure: (1) both sides balance the same grammatical structure; (2) the verb need not be repeated if it equally applies to both objects; (3) present perfect with ‘‘has opened’’ matches a recent completed action with current relevance. Commas around ‘‘but also’’ are optional; a light pause is acceptable in many styles. Step-by-Step Solution: Check agreement: subject ‘‘Manohar’’ with auxiliary ‘‘has’’ → correct.Check parallelism: ‘‘opened [object1] … but also [object2]’’ → objects are parallel noun phrases.Check placement of ‘‘not only’’: placed before the verb phrase ‘‘opened,’’ which is acceptable: ‘‘has not only opened … but also …’’Check prepositions and article use: ‘‘in the village’’ and relative clause ‘‘where we live’’ are idiomatic. Verification / Alternative check: A stricter alternative is to repeat the verb: ‘‘has not only opened a restaurant but also opened a grocery shop …’’ Repetition is not required; ellipsis of the second verb is common and correct. Another stylistic alternative is moving ‘‘not only’’ before the object: ‘‘has opened not only a restaurant but also a grocery shop’’—also correct. Why Other Options Are Wrong: They are not wrong—each segment is grammatical. The correlative pair is balanced, the tense is correct, and the final prepositional phrase is idiomatic. Hence ‘‘No error’’ is the right choice. Common Pitfalls: Assuming that ‘‘not only’’ must always directly precede the noun. It may modify the verb phrase as shown. Another pitfall is believing a comma after ‘‘restaurant’’ is an error; it is optional and acceptable as a light pause. Final Answer: No error.

Question 15

Spot the grammatical error in the sentence. Select the part (A–D) that contains an error; if correct, choose ‘‘No error.’’ Sentence: The daily wages that the workers of this factory receive range between twenty to thirty rupees.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question targets the correct pairing of prepositions with the verb ‘‘range.’’ Candidates often mix the frames ‘‘range from X to Y’’ and ‘‘between X and Y,’’ creating a hybrid that is ungrammatical. Given Data / Assumptions: Noun phrase: ‘‘The daily wages …’’ (plural subject). Verb: ‘‘range’’ agrees with ‘‘wages’’ → correct. Problem segment: ‘‘between twenty to thirty rupees.’’ Concept / Approach: English allows two idiomatic frames to express a span: (1) ‘‘range from X to Y’’ or (2) ‘‘range between X and Y.’’ Mixing ‘‘between’’ with ‘‘to’’ is incorrect. Keep either pair consistent: ‘‘from … to …’’ or ‘‘between … and …’’ Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the span expression: ‘‘between … to …’’Replace with either ‘‘between twenty and thirty rupees’’ or ‘‘from twenty to thirty rupees.’’Maintain subject–verb agreement: ‘‘wages … range’’ remains correct. Verification / Alternative check: Test with other numbers: we say ‘‘range between 5 and 10’’ or ‘‘range from 5 to 10.’’ Any mixing, e.g., ‘‘between 5 to 10,’’ sounds non-native and is flagged in style guides. Why Other Options Are Wrong: A–C are grammatically fine. The factory phrase is a standard restrictive modifier, and ‘‘range’’ agrees with the plural subject. The only error is the prepositional pair in D. Common Pitfalls: Writing ‘‘between … to …’’ or ‘‘from … and …’’; forgetting that ‘‘wages’’ is plural and takes ‘‘range,’’ not ‘‘ranges.’’ Final Answer: between twenty to thirty rupees.

Question 16

Find the part containing the error; choose ‘‘No error’’ if the sentence is correct. Sentence: His speech was judged by many as one of the most important speech given in the function.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Here the test is on number agreement after the quantifier ‘‘one of the …’’ which must be followed by a plural noun. This is a very common exam pattern. Given Data / Assumptions: Determiner phrase: ‘‘one of the …’’ Noun used: ‘‘speech’’ (singular) after ‘‘one of the most important’’ Setting: a function where speeches were delivered Concept / Approach: When a noun phrase begins with ‘‘one of the,’’ the head countable noun that follows must be plural: ‘‘one of the best speeches,’’ ‘‘one of the finest books.’’ The verb earlier in the sentence relates to ‘‘His speech’’ and is correct; the error is purely in noun number after the quantifier. Step-by-Step Solution: Locate the quantifier: ‘‘one of the …’’Ensure plural noun form after it: change ‘‘speech’’ → ‘‘speeches.’’Corrected segment: ‘‘as one of the most important speeches …’’ Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase: Many people judged his speech to be among the most important speeches at the function. ‘‘Among’’ similarly requires a plural set, reinforcing the need for ‘‘speeches.’’ Why Other Options Are Wrong: A is fine; B is a proper passive agent phrase; D correctly adds a reduced relative clause ‘‘given …’’ modifying ‘‘speeches.’’ Only C misuses singular after ‘‘one of the.’’ Common Pitfalls: Forgetting the plural after ‘‘one of the …’’; trying to force agreement with the earlier ‘‘His speech’’ and accidentally making the set noun singular. Final Answer: as one of the most important speech

Question 17

Identify the erroneous segment; if the sentence is correct, select ‘‘No error.’’ Sentence: You must had a kind and gentle heart if you want to be a successful doctor.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This checks modal auxiliary usage. Modals such as ‘‘must, can, could, should, may’’ are always followed by the base (bare infinitive) form of the verb, not a past form. Given Data / Assumptions: Modal: ‘‘must’’ Verb provided: ‘‘had’’ (past form of ‘‘have’’) Intended meaning: a requirement or necessity in the present Concept / Approach: The correct construction is ‘‘must + base verb.’’ Therefore, ‘‘must have’’ is required, not ‘‘must had.’’ Note this is not the perfect modal ‘‘must have + past participle’’ that infers past certainty; here ‘‘have’’ is a main verb meaning ‘‘possess.’’ Step-by-Step Solution: Replace past form with base: ‘‘had’’ → ‘‘have.’’Keep the complement noun phrase: ‘‘a kind and gentle heart.’’Correct sentence: ‘‘You must have a kind and gentle heart if you want to be a successful doctor.’’ Verification / Alternative check: Test other modals: ‘‘You should have a kind heart,’’ ‘‘You can have …’’—all take the base form after the modal, never the past form. Why Other Options Are Wrong: B, C, and D are well-formed. The error uniquely lies in A. Common Pitfalls: Confusing ‘‘must have + V3’’ (epistemic past inference) with ‘‘must have’’ (main verb ‘‘have’’). Here no past participle follows; thus the base ‘‘have’’ is correct. Final Answer: You must had

Question 18

Spot the error; choose ‘‘No error’’ if none. Sentence: They would not have able to plan the details of the job, if you had not cooperated.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The structure under test is the modal perfect passive/ability expression ‘‘would have been able to + verb.’’ Learners often omit ‘‘been’’ and write ‘‘have able,’’ which is ungrammatical. Given Data / Assumptions: Conditional type: third conditional counterfactual (past) indicated by ‘‘would not have … if you had not …’’ Target phrase: ‘‘have able to plan’’ Main verb idea: ability to plan Concept / Approach: Use ‘‘be able to’’ to express ability when modal auxiliaries are restricted by tense. In perfect constructions, insert the past participle ‘‘been’’: ‘‘would have been able to plan.’’ Step-by-Step Solution: Identify intended form: modal perfect of ‘‘be able to.’’Insert required participle: change ‘‘have able’’ → ‘‘have been able.’’Full correction: ‘‘They would not have been able to plan the details of the job if you had not cooperated.’’ Verification / Alternative check: Compare with similar verbs: ‘‘would have been ready,’’ ‘‘would have been willing’’—all require ‘‘been’’ after ‘‘have’’ for the perfect of ‘‘be.’’ Why Other Options Are Wrong: A, C, and D are fine within the third-conditional framework. Only B omits the crucial ‘‘been.’’ Common Pitfalls: Dropping ‘‘been’’ in perfect tenses; mixing second and third conditionals. Final Answer: have able to plan

Question 19

Find the erroneous segment; if the sentence is correct, select ‘‘No error.’’ Sentence: Looking forward to meet you here.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This checks gerund vs. infinitive after a preposition. After ‘‘to’’ used as a preposition (part of a phrasal preposition like ‘‘look forward to’’), we must use a gerund (verb + -ing), not the base form. Given Data / Assumptions: Expression: ‘‘look forward to’’ Verb form used: ‘‘meet’’ (base form) Omitted subject is acceptable in notes or headlines Concept / Approach: Differentiate between the infinitive marker ‘‘to’’ (e.g., ‘‘to meet’’ after ‘‘hope’’) and the preposition ‘‘to’’ in fixed expressions like ‘‘be used to,’’ ‘‘object to,’’ and ‘‘look forward to.’’ After a preposition, use a gerund: ‘‘meeting.’’ Step-by-Step Solution: Identify ‘‘to’’ as preposition (because of ‘‘look forward to’’).Change following verb to gerund: ‘‘meet’’ → ‘‘meeting.’’Correct version (elliptical style): ‘‘Looking forward to meeting you here.’’ Verification / Alternative check: Other examples: ‘‘I am used to working late,’’ not ‘‘used to work late’’ (different meaning). ‘‘She objects to paying extra.’’ Why Other Options Are Wrong: A, B, and D are fine in a note-like sentence. The sole error is the verb form in C. Common Pitfalls: Treating every ‘‘to’’ as the infinitive marker; forgetting that many common expressions take ‘‘to + -ing.’’ Final Answer: meet you

Question 20

Spot the error; choose ‘‘No error’’ if none. Sentence: He has in his possession a price collection of very old coins and some ancient paintings.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests vocabulary accuracy and collocation. The intended phrase in formal English is ‘‘a prized collection’’ (highly valued), not ‘‘price collection.’’ The latter is unidiomatic and changes the meaning. Given Data / Assumptions: Noun phrase following the article ‘‘a’’: ‘‘price collection of very old coins.’’ Parallel addition: ‘‘and some ancient paintings’’ → fine. Possession phrase ‘‘has in his possession’’ → formal but acceptable. Concept / Approach: ‘‘Prized’’ is an adjective meaning ‘‘valued highly; treasured.’’ ‘‘Price’’ is a noun; as an adjective it would suggest ‘‘price list’’ or ‘‘price index,’’ not the value judgment intended here. Thus the correct collocation is ‘‘a prized collection of very old coins.’’ Some also use ‘‘precious’’ or ‘‘valuable.’’ Step-by-Step Solution: Identify wrong word: ‘‘price’’Replace with correct adjective: ‘‘prized’’ (or ‘‘valuable’’).Corrected segment: ‘‘a prized collection of very old coins.’’ Verification / Alternative check: Corpus and dictionary usage confirms ‘‘prized collection’’ is standard; ‘‘price collection’’ returns as an error or means a data set of prices, which is not the context here. Why Other Options Are Wrong: A and B are acceptable formal phrasing. D correctly continues the coordinated object. The lexical error is solely in C. Common Pitfalls: Confusing ‘‘prize’’ (noun) with ‘‘prized’’ (adjective), and accidentally substituting ‘‘price.’’ Also, avoid placing a full stop before ‘‘and’’ that would create a fragment; this version already fixes that. Final Answer: price collection of very old coins.

Spotting Errors Questions