Question 1

Identify the erroneous segment; choose ‘‘No error’’ if the sentence is correct. Sentence: They wanted money to purchase certain things for themselves and for donated to their colleagues.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This sentence mixes prepositional structure with an incorrect verb form. After a preposition like ‘‘for,’’ a noun or gerund should follow, not a past participle used as in ‘‘for donated.’’ There is also a spelling slip in ‘‘themeselves,’’ but the heavier grammatical error is in the fourth segment. Given Data / Assumptions: Parallelism intended: ‘‘for themselves and for … to their colleagues.’’ Problem phrase: ‘‘for donated’’ Purpose: to indicate giving money/items to colleagues Concept / Approach: After ‘‘for,’’ use a noun (‘‘donation’’) or a gerund (‘‘donating’’). Therefore, the correct forms are ‘‘for donation to their colleagues’’ or ‘‘for donating to their colleagues.’’ The past participle ‘‘donated’’ is wrong in this slot because no auxiliary creates a passive clause. Step-by-Step Solution: Maintain parallel structure: ‘‘for themselves and for donating to their colleagues.’’Correct word form: change ‘‘donated’’ → ‘‘donating’’ (or noun ‘‘donation’’).Optional secondary fix: correct ‘‘themeselves’’ → ‘‘themselves’’ in C. Verification / Alternative check: Try other prepositions: ‘‘for eating,’’ ‘‘for reading,’’ not ‘‘for eaten/for read,’’ which would be ungrammatical without a passive auxiliary. Why Other Options Are Wrong: A and B are fine. C contains a spelling error, but exams typically prioritise the major grammatical fault when two issues exist; D is the segment that clearly violates grammar rules. Common Pitfalls: Using past participles after prepositions; breaking parallelism in coordinated prepositional phrases. Final Answer: for donated to their colleagues.

Question 2

Spot the error; choose ‘‘No error’’ if none. Sentence: According to one survey only those forests which were not under village management succumbed from fires recently.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The verb ‘‘succumb’’ takes the preposition ‘‘to,’’ not ‘‘from,’’ when expressing yielding or falling victim to something. This collocation is a frequent test point. Given Data / Assumptions: Clause: ‘‘forests … succumbed …’’ Cause: ‘‘fires’’ Preposition used: ‘‘from’’ Concept / Approach: Correct collocation: ‘‘succumb to + noun’’ (e.g., ‘‘succumbed to injuries,’’ ‘‘succumbed to temptation’’). ‘‘From’’ would be used after a passive with ‘‘suffered from’’ or a different verb like ‘‘died from.’’ Step-by-Step Solution: Replace preposition: ‘‘from’’ → ‘‘to’’Maintain tense/aspect: simple past ‘‘succumbed’’ aligns with ‘‘recently.’’Correct version: ‘‘… succumbed to fires recently.’’ Verification / Alternative check: Try synonymous verbs: ‘‘fell prey to,’’ ‘‘were destroyed by’’—all show that the cause follows ‘‘to/by,’’ not ‘‘from,’’ in this sense. Why Other Options Are Wrong: A–C are appropriately structured modifiers; the determiners and relative clause are fine. Only D misuses the preposition. Common Pitfalls: Confusing ‘‘succumb to’’ with ‘‘suffer from.’’ The latter would be grammatical but changes meaning and structure. Final Answer: succumbed from fires recently.

Question 3

Find the erroneous segment; if none, select ‘‘No error.’’ Sentence: We must go and congratulate him for his brilliant performance.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: English has fixed prepositional patterns with certain verbs. With ‘‘congratulate,’’ the standard preposition introducing the reason is ‘‘on,’’ not ‘‘for,’’ in formal usage. Given Data / Assumptions: Verb: ‘‘congratulate’’ Current preposition: ‘‘for’’ Complement: ‘‘his brilliant performance’’ Concept / Approach: The idiomatic frame is ‘‘congratulate someone on something’’ (e.g., ‘‘congratulate her on her success’’). While ‘‘for’’ can occur in informal speech, tests of standard usage consider ‘‘on’’ the correct choice. Step-by-Step Solution: Swap preposition: ‘‘for’’ → ‘‘on.’’Keep modality and coordination: ‘‘We must go and congratulate …’’ is fine.Correct sentence: ‘‘We must go and congratulate him on his brilliant performance.’’ Verification / Alternative check: Compare with similar verbs: ‘‘commend someone on/for’’ exists with both options, but ‘‘congratulate’’ overwhelmingly takes ‘‘on’’ in careful writing. Why Other Options Are Wrong: A, C, and D are fine; the lexical-prepositional error is isolated in B. Common Pitfalls: Overgeneralising ‘‘for’’ to mark reason after all verbs. Memorise common verb–preposition pairs: ‘‘apologise for,’’ ‘‘thank for,’’ ‘‘congratulate on.’’ Final Answer: and congratulate him for

Question 4

English Grammar – Spot the Error (choose the segment with the mistake; if there is no mistake, choose ‘‘No error’’). Sentence: “Are you aware for a long time that, by making me waiting for a long time, my schedule is getting upset?”

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Error-spotting questions evaluate command of standard idiom and non-finite verb forms. In this sentence, the writer tries to use the pattern “by + gerund” after a preposition. Only the -ing form of the main verb should follow “by”, not a causative verb plus a second -ing. The structure “make + object + base verb” also interacts here and often causes confusion. Given Data / Assumptions: Target meaning: “you are causing me to wait a long time.” Phrasal preposition: “by”. Segment B reads “by making me waiting”. Other parts may be wordy or stylistically clumsy, but we must select the segment that contains the clear grammatical error. Concept / Approach: After a preposition like “by”, use a gerund: “by making …”. After “make + object”, use the base verb: “make me wait”, not “make me waiting”. Combine both correctly: “by making me wait”. Step-by-Step Solution: Locate the prepositional phrase beginning with “by”.Check the verb after “make”: it must be base form “wait”.Correct segment B to: “by making me wait”. Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase: “because you make me wait for a long time, my schedule gets upset.” The base verb “wait” fits; “waiting” does not. Why Other Options Are Wrong: A: Clumsy spacing and wordiness, but not the key grammar error tested.C: Redundant but grammatically fine.D: Present progressive choice is acceptable for a continuing effect.E: Not applicable because B contains a definite error. Common Pitfalls: Mixing the “by + V-ing” pattern with “make + object + base verb”.Letting redundancy distract from the main grammatical mistake. Final Answer: by making me waiting

Question 5

English Grammar – Spot the Error (choose the segment with the mistake; if there is no mistake, choose ‘‘No error’’). Sentence: “Not only the judges acquited him of all the charges levelled against him, but also commended all his actions.”

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This item checks two common issues: the correct correlative construction with “not only … but also …” and the spelling of the verb “acquit”. Formal English places an auxiliary before the subject after “not only” when it begins a clause, and “acquit” doubles the “t” in its past forms. Given Data / Assumptions: The sentence begins with “Not only …”. Segment A contains “acquited” (misspelling) and lacks the auxiliary inversion. Other segments are otherwise acceptable content-wise. Concept / Approach: Correlative pattern (fronted): “Not only did + subject + base verb … but also …”. Correct past form: “acquitted”. Therefore, Segment A should read: “Not only did the judges acquit …”. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify correlative conjunction starting the sentence.Insert the auxiliary “did” and revert the verb to base: “did … acquit”.Fix spelling: “acquitted”. Verification / Alternative check: Parallelism test: “not only did they acquit … but they also commended …” — structure is now balanced. Why Other Options Are Wrong: B and C: Correct objects and participle “levelled”.D: Completes the correlative with “also” appropriately.E: Not valid because A contains clear errors. Common Pitfalls: Forgetting inversion after fronted negatives like “not only”.Misspelling “acquitted”. Final Answer: Not only the judges acquited

Question 6

English Grammar – Spot the Error (choose the segment with the mistake; if there is no mistake, choose ‘‘No error’’). Sentence: “This book is designed to increase a working knowledge of spoken and written English.”

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The test here is idiomatic determiners with “working knowledge”. Books typically address “your” or “the reader’s” working knowledge. The phrase “increase a working knowledge” is odd because “a” does not anchor whose knowledge is being increased; the sentence needs a possessive or a definite reference to sound natural and precise. Given Data / Assumptions: Purpose clause: “designed to increase …”. Target noun phrase in C: “a working knowledge of …”. Audience is general readers, so a second-person implied possessive is standard in educational copy. Concept / Approach: Preferred collocation: “increase your working knowledge of …” or “increase the reader’s working knowledge of …”. Using bare “a working knowledge” without a possessor makes the claim grammatically awkward. Step-by-Step Solution: Replace the indefinite article with a possessive determiner.Correct version: “This book is designed to increase your working knowledge of spoken and written English.”All other parts remain unchanged. Verification / Alternative check: Compare publishing blurbs: they routinely use “your working knowledge”. Why Other Options Are Wrong: A, B, D: Grammatically sound as framed.E: Not applicable because C contains the idiomatic error. Common Pitfalls: Overusing the indefinite article with abstract count nouns that need a possessor. Final Answer: a working knowledge of

Question 7

English Grammar – Spot the Error (choose the segment with the mistake; if there is no mistake, choose ‘‘No error’’). Sentence: “Even if the doctor put in his best efforts, he could not succeed in saving the patient.”

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question checks the correct use of concessive vs. conditional connectors. “Even if” introduces a hypothetical condition, while “even though/although” concedes a fact. Because the result clause is in the past (“could not succeed”) and the effort actually occurred, the concessive “even though” is required, not the conditional “even if”. Given Data / Assumptions: Event happened: the doctor tried hard. Outcome: the patient could not be saved. Connector used: “Even if …” (wrong for factual concession). Concept / Approach: Use “even though/although” to concede a real, completed action. Use “even if” for imagined or possible situations. Therefore, Segment A should read “Even though the doctor …”. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify whether the subordinate clause states fact or possibility.Replace “if” with “though/although” for factual concession.Re-read for coherence in past time: “Even though the doctor put in …, he could not succeed …”. Verification / Alternative check: Switch to hypothetical: “Even if the doctor puts in his best efforts, he may not succeed.” That different meaning confirms the error in the original. Why Other Options Are Wrong: B–D: Correct past-time description with appropriate collocation “put in efforts”.E: Not applicable because A is erroneous. Common Pitfalls: Confusing concessive (“though”) and conditional (“if”) clauses. Final Answer: Even if the doctor

Question 8

English Grammar – Spot the Error (choose the segment with the mistake; if there is no mistake, choose ‘‘No error’’). Sentence: “The soap brought in the market recently is not very fragrant and is too expensive.”

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This item tests prepositional choice with the verb “bring” in a commercial context. Products are “brought to the market”, not “brought in the market”. The preposition “to” indicates destination, which is the intended meaning here (introduced/launched). Given Data / Assumptions: Noun phrase: “The soap … is not very fragrant …”. Participial modifier in A: “brought in the market recently”. Meaning intended: launched to/into the market. Concept / Approach: Standard collocations: “bring/introduce a product to market”, “launch into the market”. “In the market” expresses location among buyers, not movement to market; it misfires here. Step-by-Step Solution: Replace the preposition “in” with “to”.Corrected modifier: “brought to the market recently”.Rest of the predicate remains unchanged. Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase: “recently launched to market” aligns with standard marketing English. Why Other Options Are Wrong: B–D: Grammatically fine; they describe quality and price.E: Not correct because A has a prepositional error. Common Pitfalls: Using “in” where motion/destination “to” is required. Final Answer: The soap brought in the

Question 9

English Grammar – Spot the Error (choose the segment with the mistake; if there is no mistake, choose ‘‘No error’’). Sentence: “According to me, the Indians in general is not a vigilant and security conscious people.”

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This sentence checks subject–verb agreement with a plural head noun and, secondarily, article use with “people”. While “According to me” is stylistically weak (we prefer “In my opinion”), the grammatical error lies in the singular verb “is” with a plural subject phrase. Given Data / Assumptions: Subject NP: “the Indians in general” (plural). Verb: “is”. Complement NP: “a vigilant and security conscious people” (also discordant but outside the marked segment). Concept / Approach: Plural subject requires plural verb: “are”. Additionally, “people” is a plural noun; articles like “a” typically do not precede it. A full correction would read “Indians in general are vigilant …” or “are not a very vigilant and security-conscious people” depending on register. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the grammatical subject: “Indians”.Change the finite verb to plural: “are”.Optional clean-up: prefer “In my opinion” for stylistic polish and hyphenate “security-conscious”. Verification / Alternative check: Substitute a clearly plural noun: “citizens in general are …” confirms the agreement pattern. Why Other Options Are Wrong: A: Stylistic, not a strict grammar error in this format.C–D: May need article/hyphen tweaks, but the tested error is in the finite verb of B.E: Not correct because an error exists in B. Common Pitfalls: Letting a long subject with prepositional phrase “in general” obscure number agreement. Final Answer: the Indians in general is

Question 10

English Grammar – Spot the Error (choose the segment with the mistake; if there is no mistake, choose ‘‘No error’’). Sentence: “Honesty and integrity are the qualities which cannot be done away with and hence assume a lot of importance.”

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Sometimes the test item is fully correct, and your task is to recognize a sound construction rather than to “find something wrong”. This sentence exemplifies parallel compound subjects, a relative clause with a phrasal verb, and logical coordination of verbs. Given Data / Assumptions: Compound subject: “Honesty and integrity”. Linking verb in the plural: “are”. Relative clause: “which cannot be done away with”. Coordinated predicate: “and hence assume …”. Concept / Approach: Subject–verb agreement is correct (plural “are”). “Do away with” is a standard phrasal verb meaning “remove/abolish”, and the passive “done away with” fits properly after “cannot be”. Coordinated verb “assume” agrees with the compound subject. Step-by-Step Solution: Check number agreement: plural subject → plural verbs (“are”, “assume”).Verify the relative clause uses a retained preposition correctly (“with” at the end is acceptable in modern usage).Confirm logical flow: because they cannot be discarded, they assume importance. Verification / Alternative check: Recast: “Honesty and integrity cannot be dispensed with; therefore, they assume great importance.” Meaning unchanged, grammar intact. Why Other Options Are Wrong: A–D all function correctly; there is no grammatical error to isolate. Common Pitfalls: Mistakenly “fixing” sentence-final prepositions in relative clauses, which are acceptable. Final Answer: No error.

Question 11

English Grammar – Spot the Error (choose the segment with the mistake; if there is no mistake, choose ‘‘No error’’). Sentence: “Mangesh cannot be able to finish this work unless he takes the help of his colleagues.”

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The sentence tests redundancy in modal expressions of ability. “Can/cannot” already expresses ability; adding “be able” repeats the meaning and creates an ungrammatical stack in standard English. Choose either “cannot” or “will not be able to”, depending on intended nuance and time reference. Given Data / Assumptions: Current general statement about feasibility. Modal used: “cannot”. Phrase added: “be able”, causing redundancy. Concept / Approach: Correct forms: “cannot finish …” (present general) or “will not be able to finish …” (future ability). Incorrect: “cannot be able to …”. Step-by-Step Solution: Remove the extra ability marker “be able”.Correct version: “Mangesh cannot finish this work unless he takes the help of his colleagues.”Alternatively (future plan): “Mangesh will not be able to finish … unless …”. Verification / Alternative check: Substitute “able” alone: “is not able to finish” works; adding “cannot” duplicates it. Why Other Options Are Wrong: B–D are fine once the modal redundancy is fixed.E is not applicable because A has a clear error. Common Pitfalls: Combining “can/could” with “be able” unnecessarily. Final Answer: Mangesh cannot be able

Question 12

English Grammar – Spot the Error (choose the segment with the mistake; if there is no mistake, choose ‘‘No error’’). Sentence: “Since I meet Dinesh last Saturday, he has been contacting me every day over phone.”

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests tense sequence with “since” and present perfect. When “since” introduces a specific past point in time, the verb in that clause must be in the simple past. The main clause then naturally takes present perfect or present perfect progressive to indicate a continuing situation from that point until now. Given Data / Assumptions: Marker “since” + time point: “last Saturday”. Main clause: present perfect progressive “has been contacting”. Subordinate clause has “meet” instead of “met”. Concept / Approach: Rule: “since + past time point → simple past verb”. Therefore, “Since I met Dinesh last Saturday …”. Additionally, “every day” is two words; “everyday” is an adjective meaning “ordinary”. That appears in D but is often treated as style; the key tested error is the tense in A. Step-by-Step Solution: Change “meet” to “met”.Optional polish: write “every day” and “on the phone” for idiomatic usage.Final: “Since I met Dinesh last Saturday, he has been contacting me every day on the phone.” Verification / Alternative check: Test with another example: “Since I moved here, I have met many people.” Past in the “since”-clause; perfect in the main clause. Why Other Options Are Wrong: B and C fit the timeline.D contains a common spacing issue, but the grammar error under test is in A. Common Pitfalls: Using present tense after “since” with a definite past time marker. Final Answer: Since I meet

Question 13

English Grammar – Spot the Error (choose the segment with the mistake; if there is no mistake, choose ‘‘No error’’). Sentence: “Even after worked in the office for as many as fifteen years, he still does not understand the basic objectives of the wo…

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The focus here is the correct non-finite form after a preposition. After “after”, we typically use a gerund/gerund-participial form (“working”), not a past participle by itself (“worked”) unless it forms part of a reduced clause with “having worked”. Given Data / Assumptions: Preposition: “after”. Verb form used: “worked”. Intended meaning: duration of employment prior to the current evaluation. Concept / Approach: Correct patterns: “after working …” or “after having worked …”. Therefore, Segment A must change to “Even after working in the office …”. The adverbial intensifier “as many as fifteen years” is acceptable emphasis. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the preposition and its complement.Replace bare past participle with gerund-participial form: “working”.Re-read: “Even after working in the office for as many as fifteen years, …”. Verification / Alternative check: Alternate reduction: “Even after having worked in the office for fifteen years, …” also correct. Why Other Options Are Wrong: B–D are grammatical once A is corrected; the contrast “still does not understand” is idiomatic.E: Not applicable because A contains the error. Common Pitfalls: Using past participles directly after prepositions instead of gerunds. Final Answer: Even after worked in the office

Question 14

English Grammar – Spot the error (choose the erroneous segment or ‘‘No error’’). Sentence: The principals of equal justice for all is one of the cornerstones of our democratic way of life.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This classic error-spotting item checks two common issues: confusing “principals” with “principles,” and number agreement between the grammatical subject and the verb. English exams frequently combine a diction error with a subtle agreement trap to test precise usage. Given Data / Assumptions: Target meaning is “principles” (fundamental beliefs), not “principals” (heads of schools or main participants). The clause reads: “The principals of equal justice … is one of the cornerstones …”. The intended idea is about a foundational ideal in a democracy. Concept / Approach: “Principle” = rule/ideal; “principal” = head/primary. Use “principle(s)” for ethics and justice. For agreement, either make the head noun singular (“The principle … is …”) or plural with a matching verb (“The principles … are …”). The test focuses on the wrong word choice in segment A; choosing the correct word also clarifies agreement. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify wrong diction: “principals” → should be “principles”.Choose a clean fix: “The principle of equal justice for all is …” (singular principle, singular verb).Alternatively: “The principles … are …” (plural principle, plural verb). Either way, A is indisputably wrong as written. Verification / Alternative check: Substitute synonyms: “foundational idea of equal justice.” That supports “principle,” not “principal.” Agreement then follows naturally. Why Other Options Are Wrong: B: Phrase is acceptable once the subject is correctly set to singular “principle”. C and D: Idiomatic and grammatically fine. E: Not valid because an error exists in A. Common Pitfalls: Mistaking “principal/principle”; overlooking that the head noun controls the verb form, not the nearest noun. Final Answer: The principals of equal justice

Question 15

English Grammar – Spot the error (choose the erroneous segment or ‘‘No error’’). Sentence: We are trying to locate the historical city for the past two years.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The sentence tests correct tense for an action that began in the past and continues up to the present. English requires the present perfect continuous for such duration-marked activities. Given Data / Assumptions: Duration marker: “for the past two years”. Ongoing action: “trying to locate the historical city”. Current form used: present continuous “are trying”. Concept / Approach: Use “have/has been + -ing” for actions that started earlier and continue now: “We have been trying … for the past two years.” Present continuous (“are trying”) describes “right now,” not an action sustained across two years, so it clashes with the duration phrase. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify duration phrase → signals present perfect continuous.Change “are trying” → “have been trying”.Correct sentence: “We have been trying to locate the historical city for the past two years.” Verification / Alternative check: Try removing the duration: “We are trying to locate …” becomes fine. The error emerges only because “for the past two years” demands “have been trying”. Why Other Options Are Wrong: B, C, D: Lexically and structurally fine once the tense is corrected. E: Not valid since an error is present in A. Common Pitfalls: Using present continuous with “for/since + time period”; forgetting the perfect aspect for continuing states and actions. Final Answer: We are trying

Question 16

English Grammar – Spot the error (choose the erroneous segment or ‘‘No error’’). Sentence: Hardly had I entered the compartment than I met my friend Vishwas.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This checks the fixed correlative structure “Hardly/Scarcely … when …” and the required inversion in the first clause. The most common slip is pairing “hardly” with “than.” Given Data / Assumptions: Opening structure: “Hardly had I …” (correct inversion). Connector used: “than” (incorrect with “hardly”). Intended meaning: The second action happened immediately after the first. Concept / Approach: Use these pairs: “No sooner … than …” and “Hardly/Scarcely … when …”. Since the sentence starts with “Hardly had I …”, the correct connector is “when,” not “than”. Step-by-Step Solution: Keep inversion: “Hardly had I entered …”.Replace “than” with “when”.Correct sentence: “Hardly had I entered the compartment when I met my friend Vishwas.” Verification / Alternative check: Switch to the sibling correlative: “No sooner had I entered … than …”. That shows why “than” belongs with “no sooner,” not “hardly”. Why Other Options Are Wrong: A: Proper inversion already used. B and D: Grammatically fine. E: Not valid because an error exists in C. Common Pitfalls: Mixing the correlative partners; forgetting the inversion after negative/limiting adverbs. Final Answer: than I met

Question 17

English Grammar – Spot the error (choose the erroneous segment or ‘‘No error’’). Sentence: It seems evidents to me that the visits they made to the island were not very frequent.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The item tests correct adjective form and number. “Evident” is an adjective; “evidence” is a noun. “Evidents” is not a valid form. Precision with parts of speech is central to error-spotting. Given Data / Assumptions: Main clause opener: “It seems …”. Intended meaning: “It seems evident to me that …”. Plural-sounding “evidents” appears as a malformed adjective. Concept / Approach: Use “evident” (adjective) to modify or complete “seems.” Do not pluralize adjectives in English. If a noun is needed, use “evidence,” but then the structure would change (e.g., “There is evidence that …”). Step-by-Step Solution: Replace malformed word: “evidents” → “evident”.Keep remainder intact: “… to me that the visits … were not very frequent.”Correct sentence: “It seems evident to me that the visits they made to the island were not very frequent.” Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase: “Apparently, the visits … were not frequent.” The adjective slot after “seems” fits “evident,” not a noun or a pluralized form. Why Other Options Are Wrong: B, C, D: Grammatically sound as written. E: Not acceptable since A contains a clear error. Common Pitfalls: Confusing adjective–noun pairs (evident/evidence); incorrectly pluralizing adjectives. Final Answer: It seems evidents

Question 18

English Grammar – Spot the error (choose the erroneous segment or ‘‘No error’’). Sentence: Unintentionally I let out the secret by talking about it loudly in the library.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This sentence checks idiomatic verb–particle usage and adverb placement. The phrasal verb “let out (a secret)” is idiomatic, and the adverbs are in natural positions. Given Data / Assumptions: Phrasal verb: “let out” meaning “reveal”. Manner/place adverbs: “unintentionally”, “loudly”, “in the library”. Clause sequence is straightforward and logical. Concept / Approach: There is no grammatical or idiomatic error: “Unintentionally” (fronted adverb) is fine; “let out the secret” is correct; “by talking about it loudly in the library” is a sound prepositional phrase of means, with adverb “loudly” placed naturally before the prepositional phrase of place. Step-by-Step Checks: Confirm verb–particle collocation: “let out (a secret)” ✓Check adverb order: manner (“loudly”) before location (“in the library”) ✓No tense/agreement issues ✓ Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase: “I accidentally revealed the secret by talking about it loudly in the library.” Grammar remains correct. Why Other Options Are Wrong (as error picks): Each segment is acceptable; therefore, the only correct choice is “No error.” Common Pitfalls: Overcorrecting idiomatic phrasal verbs; assuming fronted “Unintentionally” is wrong—fronting is permitted and common for emphasis. Final Answer: No error.

Question 19

English Grammar – Spot the error (choose the erroneous segment or ‘‘No error’’). Sentence: You deserve to be rewarded by your successful completion of the entire work in such a short time.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question checks preposition choice after “rewarded.” Standard English uses “rewarded for + noun/gerund” to express the reason. “Rewarded by” changes the meaning to “rewarded through/with the agency of,” which is not intended here. Given Data / Assumptions: Verb phrase: “deserve to be rewarded …”. Cause/reason intended: “your successful completion …”. Current preposition: “by” (incorrect for reason). Concept / Approach: Use “for” to mark the reason: “rewarded for your successful completion …”. Use “by” only to mark the agent in passive voice (“rewarded by the company”), not the reason. Therefore, the preposition in segment B is wrong. Step-by-Step Solution: Replace “by” with “for”.Keep the rest unchanged.Correct sentence: “You deserve to be rewarded for your successful completion of the entire work in such a short time.” Verification / Alternative check: Test a simple noun: “rewarded for excellence” vs. “rewarded by excellence.” Only “for” expresses cause correctly. Why Other Options Are Wrong/Acceptable: A, C, D: Grammatically sound. E: Not valid since B contains a definite prepositional error. Common Pitfalls: Confusing “by” (agent) with “for” (reason); overextending passive-agent “by” to mark cause. Final Answer: rewarded by your successful

Question 20

English Grammar – Spot the error (choose the erroneous segment or ‘‘No error’’). Sentence: Ever since the government announced its new policy the private institutions had run into heavy weather.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Ever since” signals a time starting in the past and continuing to the present. Therefore, the present perfect is expected in the main clause, not past perfect. This item tests tense sequencing with time expressions. Given Data / Assumptions: Time marker: “Ever since …”. Past event: government “announced”. Ongoing result: institutions “have run into heavy weather”. Current phrasing wrongly uses “had” (past perfect). Concept / Approach: Use present perfect (“have/has + past participle”) to express a state persisting from a past point to now: “Ever since …, … have run …”. Past perfect (“had run”) would require another explicit past reference point and does not fit with “ever since” reaching to the present. Step-by-Step Solution: Replace “had” with “have”.Correct sentence: “Ever since the government announced its new policy, the private institutions have run into heavy weather.”Optional comma after the introductory clause improves readability. Verification / Alternative check: Try “since 2022 … have …”. The present perfect is natural; past perfect would be wrong without a past anchor. Why Other Options Are Wrong/Acceptable: A–B and D are fine once C is corrected. E cannot be chosen because an error exists in C. Common Pitfalls: Using past perfect by default after “since”; forgetting that “ever since” normally pairs with present perfect. Final Answer: the private institutions had

Spotting Errors Questions