21 Error Identification
21.1 Introduction
Error identification questions test a candidate’s ability to detect grammatical mistakes, incorrect usage, or structural errors in sentences. The sentence is often divided into four parts, and you must spot the part containing the error. Sometimes, no error is present.
These questions strengthen your command of grammar, syntax, subject–verb agreement, pronouns, tenses, articles, prepositions, modifiers, and parallelism.
21.2 1) Common Error Areas
- Subject–Verb Agreement
- Singular subject → singular verb; plural subject → plural verb.
- Example: She go to school every day. ❌ → She goes to school. ✅
- Singular subject → singular verb; plural subject → plural verb.
- Tense Consistency
- The tense of verbs in a sentence must be consistent with context.
- Example: He was going to market when he meets his friend. ❌ → He met his friend. ✅
- The tense of verbs in a sentence must be consistent with context.
- Pronoun Reference and Agreement
- Pronouns must match in number and gender.
- Example: Every student must submit their work. ❌ → Every student must submit his or her work. ✅
- Pronouns must match in number and gender.
- Prepositions
- Wrong preposition is a frequent exam trap.
- Example: He is good in English. ❌ → He is good at English. ✅
- Wrong preposition is a frequent exam trap.
- Articles
- Misuse or omission of a, an, the.
- Example: He is honest man. ❌ → He is an honest man. ✅
- Misuse or omission of a, an, the.
- Parallelism and Redundancy
- Similar structures must be used when ideas are in a list.
- Example: She likes dancing, to sing, and reading. ❌ → She likes dancing, singing, and reading. ✅
- Similar structures must be used when ideas are in a list.
21.3 2) Strategy to Solve
- Read the entire sentence before checking parts.
- Focus on grammar rules: verb, pronoun, article, preposition.
- Identify logic errors: subject mismatch, incomplete comparisons.
- Check if all four parts are correct; sometimes answer is “No error.”
- Practice regularly to build a checklist-based approach.
21.4 3) Solved Examples
Example 1
He do not like playing cricket.
Error: “do not” with singular subject → should be does not.
Example 2
The teacher, as well as the students, were present.
Error: Subject = teacher (singular). Verb should be was.
Example 3
Neither of the boys have finished the work.
Error: Neither is singular → should be has.
Example 4
She is senior than me.
Error: Correct expression is senior to me.
Example 5
Each of the girls are intelligent.
Error: Subject = Each (singular) → should be is.
21.5 4) Practice Set – Level 1
Identify the part with error (or “No error”):
- She don’t / like to watch / horror movies / at all.
- The students / was playing / in the field / when the bell rang.
- Neither Ramesh / nor Suresh / have done / their homework.
- He is / married with / a teacher / last year.
- All of them / is going / to the park / right now.
21.6 5) Practice Set – Level 2
- The book / is more preferable / than that one / on the table.
- One of my friends / have gone / to London / yesterday.
- The man / along with his sons / are waiting / outside.
- He insisted / to go / to the market / immediately.
- The information / are true / beyond / any doubt.
21.7 6) Tips for Mastery
- Pay attention to singular vs plural.
- Watch for fixed prepositions (angry with, afraid of, prefer to).
- Don’t be misled by intervening words (subject–verb still must agree).
- Learn common incorrect comparisons (superior than ❌ → superior to ✅).
- For pronouns, check both reference and agreement.
21.8 Summary
- Error identification checks your grammar precision.
- Focus on subject–verb agreement, tense, pronouns, articles, prepositions, and parallelism.
- Always read the full sentence before answering.
- Regular practice improves both speed and accuracy in exams.