A sentence cut into four parts, one of which has a mistake. Most errors sit in the verb: a subject and verb that do not agree, or a tense that clashes with its time word. The rest hide in an article, a preposition, a pronoun or a comparison. This lesson gives a fixed order of checks that finds the error in under a minute, and the errors the paper sets most often.
The question prints a sentence in four parts and asks which part has an error. Exactly one part is wrong. The other three are correct, so the question is really "which part would a careful writer change?"
Error spotting is not on NTA's list of item types. It is here because papers since 2022 have asked it, and because it tests the same rules as every other grammar question, only without a blank to point at the problem.
Read the whole sentence once for its meaning. Then check the parts in this order, because the first checks catch most errors:
If all four checks pass, read the sentence again aloud in your head. The error is often a word too many: "return back", "discuss about".
Example 1 · The verb first
Which part of this sentence has an error?
The quality of these mangoes are not as good as last year's.
Parts: The quality of / these mangoes are / not as good / as last year's.
The subject is "the quality", not "mangoes". "Of these mangoes" only says whose quality.
"The quality" is singular, so its verb must be "is". The verb stands in the second part.
The second part, "these mangoes are", should read "these mangoes is"; the whole sentence reads "The quality of these mangoes is not as good as last year's."
| Error | Wrong | Right |
|---|---|---|
| A singular subject, a plural verb | Each of the girls have a gift. | Each of the girls has a gift. |
| The present perfect with a finished time | He has visited Mysore last year. | He visited Mysore last year. |
| Since with a present tense | It is raining since morning. | It has been raining since morning. |
| A past form after did | She did not went. | She did not go. |
| A wrong past participle | The bell has rang. | The bell has rung. |
| Will in an "if" or time clause | If you will come, I will cook. | If you come, I will cook. |
| Would have in both halves | If you would have asked, I would have helped. | If you had asked, I would have helped. |
| Error | Wrong | Right |
|---|---|---|
| An or a by the letter | a honest man, an university | an honest man, a university |
| A preposition too many | discussed about, reached at, return back | discussed, reached, return |
| The wrong fixed preposition | fond for, senior than, cope up with | fond of, senior to, cope with |
| A double comparative | more taller, most tallest | taller, tallest |
| One of + a singular noun | one of the best player | one of the best players |
| An adjective for an adverb | played very good | played very well |
| An object pronoun as subject | Me and my friend went. | My friend and I went. |
| A subject pronoun after a preposition | between you and I | between you and me |
| Two joining words | Although it was late, but we stayed. | Although it was late, we stayed. |
| The wrong pair | no sooner ... when; neither ... or | no sooner ... than; neither ... nor |
| Unlike things compared | The scenery of Kashmir is finer than Shimla. | ... than that of Shimla. |
Example 2 · An error with no blank to point at it
Which part of this sentence has an error?
No sooner had the bell rung when the children ran out of the class.
Parts: No sooner had / the bell rung / when the children / ran out of the class.
The verb checks pass: "had the bell rung" is the turned-round order that "no sooner" needs, and "rung" is the right form.
The joining words: "no sooner" is always paired with "than". "When" belongs with "hardly" and "scarcely".
The third part, "when the children", should read "than the children".
Exam shortcut
An error is usually one word. When you find it, say the corrected sentence in full. If the correction needs you to change two parts, you have probably found the wrong error.
Order of checks
Most common errors
Checks on yourself
The verb rules behind most errors are in tenses and agreement, and the small words in articles, prepositions and modals.
80 questions, grouped by type, easy to hard. Pick an answer and check it. The worked solution opens when you ask for it.
Which part of this sentence has an error?
He do not like spicy food, so we cooked a mild curry for him.
AnswerA · He do not
The subject "he" is singular, so the helping verb must be "does": "He does not like spicy food."
Which part of this sentence has an error?
Each of the girls have brought a small gift for the teacher.
AnswerB · have brought
The subject is "each", which is singular, so the verb must be "has brought".
Worth noting
"Girls" stands next to the verb, but it is not the subject. "Of the girls" only says which group.
Which part of this sentence has an error?
Yesterday my mother went to the market and buys fresh vegetables.
AnswerC · and buys
"Yesterday" and "went" put the sentence in the past, so the second verb must be past too: "and bought fresh vegetables".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
The teacher asked us to finish the work before the bell will ring.
AnswerD · will ring
A time clause after "before" never takes "will". The sentence is in the past ("asked"), so it should be "before the bell rang".
Worth noting
The other parts are correct. The mistake is putting "will" into a clause that begins with "before".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
She have been living in Jaipur for the last five years.
AnswerA · She have been
"She" is singular, so it takes "has": "She has been living in Jaipur."
Which part of this sentence has an error?
My brother can speaks three languages fluently.
AnswerB · can speaks
After a modal such as "can", the verb stays in its plain form: "can speak", never "can speaks".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
Did you remember to locked the front door?
AnswerC · locked
After "to", the verb takes its plain form: "remember to lock". "Did" has already shown the past.
Which part of this sentence has an error?
There is many old books on the top shelf of the cupboard.
AnswerA · There is
After "there", the verb agrees with the noun that follows. "Many old books" is plural, so it should be "There are".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
The children was playing in the park when it began to rain.
AnswerB · was playing
"Children" is plural, so the helping verb must be "were": "The children were playing."
Which part of this sentence has an error?
She usually walks to school, but today she take the bus.
AnswerC · today she take
"She" is singular, and "today" is about what is happening now: "today she is taking the bus". "She take" is wrong on both counts.
Which part of this sentence has an error?
Every morning my grandfather reads the newspaper and drink a cup of tea.
AnswerD · and drink a cup of tea
Both verbs belong to "my grandfather", who is singular: "reads the newspaper and drinks a cup of tea".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
Mathematics are my favourite subject, and I want to teach it one day.
AnswerA · Mathematics are
"Mathematics" is the name of one subject, so it takes "is".
Worth noting
The -s at the end makes it look plural, as with "physics" and "economics".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
Ravi and his sister goes to the same school near the temple.
AnswerB · goes to
Two subjects joined by "and" are plural, so the verb must be "go".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
When the guests arrived, we had already finished dinner and wash the dishes.
AnswerD · wash the dishes
Both verbs belong to "had already": we had finished dinner and washed the dishes. "Wash" must be "washed".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
The news were received with joy by everyone in the village.
AnswerA · The news were
"News" is singular, so it takes "was": "The news was received with joy."
Worth noting
The -s ending makes "news" look plural. It never is.
Which part of this sentence has an error?
The quality of these mangoes are not as good as last year's.
AnswerB · these mangoes are
The subject is "the quality", which is singular, so the verb must be "is": "The quality of these mangoes is not as good."
Worth noting
"Mangoes" stands right before the verb, which is why "are" sounds right. The verb follows "quality".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
If it rains tomorrow, the match will postponed to Sunday.
AnswerC · will postponed
The match does not postpone anything; it is postponed. The passive needs "be": "will be postponed".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
Neither the manager nor his assistants was aware of the problem.
AnswerC · was aware
With "neither ... nor", the verb agrees with the nearer subject. "His assistants" is plural, so "were aware".
Worth noting
"Was" agrees with "the manager", but the manager is further from the verb.
Which part of this sentence has an error?
By the time the fire brigade arrived, the whole shop has burnt down.
AnswerD · has burnt down
The shop burnt down before the fire brigade arrived. The earlier of two past events takes the past perfect: "had burnt down".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
One of my cousins live in London and works as a nurse in a hospital.
AnswerA · One of my cousins live
The subject is "one", which is singular, so the verb must be "lives". The sentence itself uses "works" for the second verb.
Worth noting
"Cousins" stands next to the verb, but only one cousin lives in London.
Which part of this sentence has an error?
He has visited Mysore last year with his family and loved the palace.
AnswerA · He has visited
"Last year" is a finished time, and the present perfect never takes one. It should be "He visited Mysore last year."
Worth noting
"Last year" is correct as it stands. It is the verb that must change to fit it.
Which part of this sentence has an error?
When I was a child, I use to play in this field.
AnswerC · use to
A past habit takes "used to", with a d: "I used to play in this field."
Worth noting
"Use to" without the d appears only after "did", as in "did you use to play here?"
Which part of this sentence has an error?
The train had left before we reach the station.
AnswerD · reach the station
The sentence is in the past ("had left"), so the second event must be past too: "before we reached the station".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
It is raining since morning, so the match has been called off.
AnswerA · It is raining
"Since morning" needs a perfect tense, because the rain began in the past and is still going on: "It has been raining since morning."
Worth noting
"Since morning" is correct. It is "is raining" that cannot take "since".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
The price of petrol and diesel have gone up again this month.
AnswerB · petrol and diesel have
The subject is "the price", which is singular, so the verb must be "has gone up".
Worth noting
"Petrol and diesel" are two things, but they only say which price. The verb follows "price".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
Neither Anil nor his brothers has finished their homework.
AnswerC · has finished
With "neither ... nor", the verb agrees with the nearer subject, "his brothers", which is plural: "have finished".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
If you heat ice, it turns into water, and if you boil water, it turned into steam.
AnswerD · it turned into steam
A scientific fact takes the simple present throughout: "it turns into steam", as the second part already says "turns into water".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
She did not went to school yesterday because of a fever.
AnswerA · She did not went
After "did", the verb goes back to its plain form: "She did not go to school."
Worth noting
"Did" already shows the past, so "went" shows it twice.
Which part of this sentence has an error?
The police has arrested the man who stole the car.
AnswerB · has arrested
"Police" is always plural, so it takes "have": "The police have arrested the man."
Which part of this sentence has an error?
Many a student have tried to climb this wall.
AnswerB · have tried
"Many a" is followed by a singular noun and a singular verb: "Many a student has tried."
Worth noting
"Many students have tried" would be correct. "Many a" means the same, but it is singular.
Which part of this sentence has an error?
If I was knowing the answer, I would tell you.
AnswerB · was knowing
"Know" describes a state, not an action, so it is not used with -ing. The imagined present takes the past simple: "If I knew the answer."
Which part of this sentence has an error?
If she had studied harder, she would pass the exam last week.
AnswerC · she would pass
"Had studied" and "last week" describe a past that did not happen, so the result needs "would have": "she would have passed the exam last week."
Which part of this sentence has an error?
The captain, along with his players, reached the ground and were given a warm welcome.
AnswerD · and were given a warm welcome
The subject is "the captain". "Along with his players" does not change it, so the verb must be singular: "and was given a warm welcome".
Worth noting
The players make the subject sound plural. "Along with" adds them without joining them to the subject.
Which part of this sentence has an error?
After the storm, two-thirds of the city were under water.
AnswerD · were under water
With a fraction, the verb agrees with the noun after "of". "The city" is singular, so "was under water".
Worth noting
"Two-thirds" sounds plural. "Two-thirds of the houses were" would be right, because "houses" is plural.
Which part of this sentence has an error?
The furniture in these rooms have been bought from Saharanpur.
AnswerC · have been bought
"Furniture" cannot be counted and takes a singular verb: "has been bought".
Worth noting
"These rooms" is plural, but the subject is "furniture".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
The bridge, which was built in 1890, need urgent repairs.
AnswerD · need urgent repairs
The subject is "the bridge", which is singular, so the verb must be "needs".
Worth noting
"Which was built in 1890" stands between the subject and its verb. It does not change the subject.
Which part of this sentence has an error?
A number of people was hurt when the roof fell in.
AnswerA · A number of people was
"A number of" means "many", so it takes a plural verb: "A number of people were hurt."
Worth noting
"The number of people was large" would be right, because "the number" means a count.
Which part of this sentence has an error?
Scarcely had she reach the station when the train left.
AnswerB · she reach
"Had" is followed by the past participle, so it must be "scarcely had she reached".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
Not only the pupils but also the teacher were punished for the noise.
AnswerC · the teacher were
With "not only ... but also", the verb agrees with the nearer subject. "The teacher" is singular, so it should be "was punished".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
I would have helped you if you would have asked me.
AnswerD · would have asked me
The "if" part of a past that did not happen takes the past perfect: "if you had asked me". "Would have" belongs only in the result.
Worth noting
"I would have helped you" is correct. Only one half of the sentence takes "would have".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
He is a honest man who never tells lies to anyone.
AnswerA · He is a honest man
The h in "honest" is silent, so the word begins with a vowel sound and takes "an": "an honest man".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
We discussed about the problem for an hour but found no answer.
AnswerB · about the problem
"Discuss" takes its object directly, with no preposition: "we discussed the problem".
Worth noting
"We talked about the problem" is correct. "Discuss" already means "talk about".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
My sister is very fond for sweets, especially jalebis.
AnswerC · for sweets
"Fond" is followed by "of": "very fond of sweets".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
Of all the boys in the class, Rahul is the most tallest.
AnswerD · the most tallest
"Tallest" already means "most tall", so "most" is not needed: "Rahul is the tallest".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
Me and my friend went to see the new film on Saturday.
AnswerA · Me and my friend
The subject needs "I", not "me", and the other person comes first: "My friend and I went to see the new film."
Which part of this sentence has an error?
Please return back the book to the library by Friday.
AnswerB · back the book
"Return" already means "give back", so "back" repeats it: "Please return the book."
Which part of this sentence has an error?
The old man walked slowly because of he was very tired.
AnswerC · because of he was
"Because of" is followed by a noun ("because of his age"). Before a whole clause such as "he was tired", it must be "because".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
She is more taller than her elder sister, Anjali.
AnswerA · She is more taller
"Taller" already means "more tall", so "more" is not needed: "She is taller than her elder sister."
Which part of this sentence has an error?
We reached at the station just as the train left.
AnswerB · at the station
"Reach" takes its object directly: "We reached the station." "Arrive" is the verb that takes "at".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
The book is lying in the table, next to the lamp.
AnswerC · in the table
Something resting on a surface is "on" it: "on the table".
Worth noting
"In the table" would put the book inside it, as in a drawer.
Which part of this sentence has an error?
The dog wagged its tail when it saw it's owner.
AnswerD · it's owner
"It's" means "it is". The word that means "belonging to it" has no apostrophe: "its owner", as in "its tail".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
An university has opened in our district.
AnswerA · An university
"University" begins with a "yoo" sound, a consonant sound, so it takes "a": "A university".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
He is elder than his cousin by a year.
AnswerB · elder than
"Elder" is used only before a noun ("my elder brother") and never takes "than". With "than", it must be "older than his cousin".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
The children are playing besides the river under the trees.
AnswerC · besides the river
"Beside" means next to; "besides" means in addition to. The children are next to the river: "beside the river".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
My brother is two years older to me.
AnswerD · to me
"Older" is a comparative, and comparatives take "than": "two years older than me".
Worth noting
"Senior to" and "junior to" take "to", which may be why it tempts. "Older" takes "than".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
Each of the boy received a prize for his work in the science fair.
AnswerA · Each of the boy
"Each of" is followed by a plural noun: "each of the boys". Without "of", it would be "each boy".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
She is senior than me by three years in the office.
AnswerB · senior than me
"Senior", like "junior", "superior" and "inferior", takes "to", not "than": "senior to me".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
He is one of the best player in our team.
AnswerC · player in
"One of the best" is followed by a plural noun: "one of the best players".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
The team played very badly in the first half but very good in the second.
AnswerD · very good in the second
The word describes how they played, a verb, so it must be an adverb: "very well in the second".
Worth noting
"Good" describes a noun ("a good team"). "Well" describes an action ("played well").
Which part of this sentence has an error?
The Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world.
AnswerA · The Mount Everest
A single mountain takes no article: "Mount Everest is the highest peak."
Worth noting
A mountain range takes "the", as in "the Himalayas". One peak does not.
Which part of this sentence has an error?
Neither my brother or my sister knows how to drive.
AnswerB · or my sister
"Neither" is paired with "nor", never "or": "neither my brother nor my sister".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
Although the shop was very small, but it had everything.
AnswerD · but it had everything
"Although" already joins the two halves, so "but" is one joining word too many: "Although the shop was very small, it had everything."
Which part of this sentence has an error?
Unless you do not work hard, you will not pass the exam.
AnswerA · Unless you do not work hard
"Unless" already means "if not", so "do not" makes a double negative: "Unless you work hard, you will not pass."
Which part of this sentence has an error?
I have a lot of homeworks to finish before tomorrow.
AnswerB · a lot of homeworks
"Homework" cannot be counted and has no plural: "a lot of homework".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
He gave me some useful advices about the interview.
AnswerC · advices about
"Advice" cannot be counted and has no plural: "some useful advice".
Worth noting
"A piece of advice" is how one item is counted.
Which part of this sentence has an error?
She was so tired that she could not hardly walk.
AnswerD · could not hardly walk
"Hardly" is already negative, so "not" makes a double negative: "she could hardly walk".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
Who's bag is this lying under the table?
AnswerA · Who's bag
"Who's" means "who is". The word that asks whose something is has no apostrophe: "Whose bag is this?"
Which part of this sentence has an error?
The teacher explained us the meaning of the poem.
AnswerB · explained us
"Explain" does not take a person straight after it. The person needs "to": "explained to us the meaning", or "explained the meaning to us".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
No sooner had the bell rung when the children ran out of the class.
AnswerC · when the children
"No sooner" is always paired with "than": "No sooner had the bell rung than the children ran out."
Worth noting
"Hardly" and "scarcely" take "when", which is why "when" tempts. "No sooner" takes "than".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
The secret must stay between you and I.
AnswerD · you and I
"Between" is a preposition, and a pronoun after it takes the object form: "between you and me".
Worth noting
"You and I" sounds more correct to many people, but "I" is used only as a subject.
Which part of this sentence has an error?
Hardly I had reached home when it started to pour.
AnswerA · Hardly I had
"Hardly" at the start of a sentence turns the verb round: "Hardly had I reached home."
Which part of this sentence has an error?
She could not cope up with the pressure of the new job.
AnswerB · cope up with
The phrase is "cope with": "She could not cope with the pressure." "Up" adds nothing.
Which part of this sentence has an error?
I am looking forward to meet you at the conference.
AnswerC · to meet you
In "look forward to", the "to" is a preposition, so it is followed by an -ing form: "looking forward to meeting you".
Worth noting
Most "to"s take a plain verb ("I want to meet you"), which is why "to meet" sounds right.
Which part of this sentence has an error?
Walk carefully on the icy road lest you will fall.
AnswerD · will fall
"Lest" means "so that ... not", and it is followed by "should" or the plain verb: "lest you fall" or "lest you should fall", never "will".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
She has been working here since five years and loves it.
AnswerC · since five years
"Five years" is a length of time, which takes "for": "for five years". "Since" is for a starting point, such as "since 2021".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
Your brother works in a bank in Pune, isn't it?
AnswerD · isn't it?
A question tag repeats the subject as a pronoun and the helping verb of the sentence. "Your brother works" becomes "doesn't he?"
Worth noting
"Isn't it?" is a common tag in Indian speech, but in written English the tag must match the subject and the verb.
Which part of this sentence has an error?
Being a rainy day, we stayed at home and played cards.
AnswerA · Being a rainy day
The opening phrase describes the subject that follows, which is "we", and we were not a rainy day. It should be "It being a rainy day" or "As it was a rainy day".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
The committee consisted from five members and a chairman.
AnswerB · consisted from
"Consist" in this sense is followed by "of": "consisted of five members".
Which part of this sentence has an error?
He is the man whom I think stole my bag.
AnswerC · whom I think
The pronoun is the subject of "stole", so it takes the subject form "who": "the man who I think stole my bag". "I think" is only an aside.
Worth noting
"Whom" is for an object, as in "the man whom I met". Here, the man did the stealing.
Which part of this sentence has an error?
The scenery of Kashmir is more beautiful than Shimla.
AnswerD · than Shimla
The sentence compares the scenery of Kashmir with a place, Shimla. Like must be compared with like: "than that of Shimla".
NTA's English syllabus is one page. It names two skill areas: Reading Comprehension, with three kinds of passage of at most 300 words each (factual, narrative and literary), and Verbal Ability, with four item types (rearranging the parts, match the following, choosing the correct word, synonyms and antonyms). It says the questions are not limited to these, and prints no chapters and no split of the 50 questions. So the chapters here are ours. Reading is split by the kind of passage, because a poem is not read the way a report is. Verbal Ability is split into three areas of our own: Vocabulary, Sentence & paragraph order, and Grammar & usage. Where a chapter covers something past NTA's short list, it says so, and it is there because the papers since 2022 have asked it.