Error detection is one of the important topics of various competitive exams, includingthe SSC (Staff Selection Commission) exams. In the SSC exams, error detection questions are designed to assess a candidate's understanding of English grammar rules, including tenses, subject-verb agreement, prepositions, pronouns, and sentence structure. These questions not only test a candidate's knowledge of grammar but also their proficiency in contextual comprehension and logical reasoning.The error detection questions in the SSC exams typically present a sentence or a passage that has been split into segments. Candidates are required to identify the segment(s) that contain errors and select the appropriate option that denotes the error. It is important to note that sometimes, the give sentence or passage may be error-free.
Therefore, candidates must be very cautious before marking their answer.
Directions (Qs.1 - 10): The following sentence has been split into four segments. Identify the segment that contains a grammatical error
1. Despite of/ his busy schedule,/ the scientist decided to/ attend the conference.
A) Despite of B) his busy schedule C) the scientist decided to D) attend the conference
Explanation: The error is in the phrase "Despite of." The correct phrase should be "Despite" without the additional of. The phrase "Despite" means "in spite of" or "regardless of." The preposition "of" is not required after "despite."
Ans: A
2. The committee members,/ as well as the chairman,/ are responsible/ for the decision.
A) The committee members B) are responsible C) as well as the chairman D) for the decision
Explanation: The error is in the verb form "are." It should be replaced with "is." The subject of the sentence is "committee members," which is plural. However, when the subject is followed by the phrase "as well as," the verb agrees with the first subject. In this case, "the chairman" (first subject) is singular, so the verb "is" should be used instead of "are."
Ans: B
3. Each of the/ students have/ submitted their/ assignments on time.
A) assignments on time B) Each of the C) submitted their D) students have
Explanation: The error is in the verb form "have." It should be replaced with "has." The phrase "each of the students" refers to individual students, and it should be treated as a singular noun. Therefore, the verb "has" should be used instead of "have" to agree with the singular subject.
Ans: D
4. The new professor is/ much more experienced/ than any other/ in the department.
A) The new professor is B) than any other C) much more experienced D) in the department
Explanation: The error is in the phrase "any other." It should be replaced with "any other one." The phrase "any other" should be followed by the word "one" to make the comparison complete. Therefore, the correct phrase should be "any other one" to compare the experience of the new professor with that of others in the department.
Ans: B
5. I am sorry, but/ I am not intereste/ on attending the/ meeting tomorrow.
A) I am sorry, but B) I am not interested C) on attending the D) meeting tomorrow
Explanation: The error is in the preposition "on." It should be replaced with "in." The correct preposition to use in this sentence is "in" when referring to attending an event. The correct phrase should be "interested in attending" to express the idea of being interested in participating in the meeting.
Ans: C
6. The company's profits have been/ increasing steadily for the/ past three years, and it seems like/ it will continues to grow in the future.
A) The company's profits have been B) past three years, and it seems like C) increasing steadily for the D) it will continues to grow in the future
Explanation: The error is in the verb form "continues." It should be replaced with "continue." The verb "continue" should be in the base form after the auxiliary verb "will." The correct phrase should be "it will continue to grow" to indicate the ongoing growth of the company in the future.
Ans: D
7. One of the main problems/ with our current/ system are the outdated/ software and hardware.
A) One of the main problems B) system are the outdated C) software and hardware D) with our current
Explanation: The error is in the verb form "are." It should be replaced with "is." The subject "one" is singular, and the verb should agree with it. Therefore, the correct verb form should be "is" instead of "are" to match the singular subject "one of the main problems."
Ans: B
8. The company is planning/ to expand their business/ by opening new branches/ in several countries.
A) to expand their business B) The company is planning C) by opening new branches D) in several countries
Explanation: The error is in the pronoun "their." It should be replaced with "its." The pronoun "their" is plural, indicating ownership by multiple entities. However, in this sentence, the company is a singular entity. Therefore, the correct pronoun to use is "its" to refer to the company as a single entity.
Ans: A
9. I have been working/ for this company/ since five years, and I/ have gained valuable experience.
A) I have been working B) for this company C) since five years, and I D) have gained valuable experience
Explanation: The error is in the phrase "since five years." It should be replaced with "for five years." When expressing the duration of an action that started in the past and continues to the present, the preposition "for" is used, not "since." Therefore, the correct phrase should be "for five years" to indicate the period of time during which the speaker has been working for the company.
Ans: C
10. The book, along/ with a pen/ and a notebook,/ were left on the desk.
A) The book, along B) were left on the desk C) and a notebook D) with a pen
Explanation: The error is in the verb form "were." It should be replaced with "was." The subject "the book" is singular, and the verb should agree with it. Even though there are additional items mentioned, the verb agrees with the main subject. Therefore, the correct verb form should be "was" instead of "were" to match the singular subject "the book."
Ans: B
Directions (Qs.11 - 17): The following sentence has been divided into parts. One of them may contain an error. Select the part that contains the error from the given options. If you don't find any error, mark 'No error' as your answer.
11. The organization aims to provide support/ for underprivileged children, especially/ those who lacks access to education.
A) The organization aims to provide support B) those who lacks access to education C) for underprivileged children, especially D) No error
Explanation: The error is in the verb form"lacks." It should be replaced with "lack." The verb "lack" should be in the base form to agree with the plural subject "those." The correct phrase should be "those who lack access toeducation" to indicate that multiple children lack access to education.
Ans: B
12. I need to buy/ some new furnitures/ for my living room.
A) for my living room B) I need to buy C) some new furnitures D) No error
Explanation: The error is in the word "furnitures." It should be replaced with "furniture." The noun "furniture" does not have a plural form. It is an uncountable noun, and therefore, it does not require an "s" at the end. The correct phrase should be "some new furniture" to refer to multiple items of furniture.
Ans: C
13. The teacher asked the students/ to bring their textbooks and a pencil/ to class, so they can start the lesson.
A) The teacher asked the students B) to bring their textbooks and a pencil C) to class, so they can start the lesson D) No error
Explanation: The error is in the pronoun "they."It should be replaced with "he or she." The pronoun "they" is used here to refer to a singular noun, "the teacher," which is incorrect usage. To maintain consistency in the sentence, the pronoun "he or she" or "he/ she" should be used instead of "they" to match the singular noun.
Ans: C
14. If you need any assistance,/ don't hesitate to ask me or/ any of the other team members.
A) If you need any assistance B) don't hesitate to ask me or C) any of the other team members D) No error
Explanation: The given sentence is grammatically correct and does not contain any errors in terms of subject-verb agreement, tense, or usage. It effectively conveys the message that the speaker is available for assistance and that other team members can also be approached for help.
Ans: D
15. I have went to/ the bookstore to/ buy a new novel.
A) buy a new novel B) I have went to C) the bookstore to D) No error
Explanation: The error is in verb tense "went". The sentence is in present perfect tense. So, we must use the past participle form of the verb "go," which is "gone" here, but not "went." Therefore, "went" should be replaced with "gone." "I have gone to the bookstore to buy a new novel." is the correct answer.
Ans: B
16. She was/ too tired to/ not take a nap.
A) She was B) not take a nap C) too tired to D) No error
Explanation: The error is in the usage of double negatives in a sentence (use of "too" and "not" in a sentence to imply a negative meaning). The word "not" should be removed to eliminate the double negative and make the sentence grammatically correct. "She was too tired to take a nap" is the correct sentence.
Ans: B
17. Neither Teja nor/ Jagadeesh have/ finished their homework.
A) Neither Teja nor B) Jagadeesh have C) finished their homework D) No error
Explanation: The error in the sentence is the verb form "have." It should be replaced with "has." When using the correlative conjunction "neither...nor" to join two subjects, the verb should agree with the closer subject. In this case, the closer subject is "Jagadeesh," which is singular. Therefore, the correct verb form should be "has" instead of "have" to match the singular subject. The corrected sentence would be"Neither Teja nor Jagadeesh has finished their homework."
Ans: B
