Common errors (error spotting)

Rules

1. 'Discuss', 'order', 'request', 'reach', 'attack' do not take 'about/for/to/on' directly after them.
2. Uncountable nouns have no plural: information, advice, furniture, luggage, equipment.
3. 'One of' + plural noun + singular verb: One of my friends is a doctor.
4. 'Scarcely/hardly … when', 'no sooner … than' are fixed pairs.
5. 'Lest' is followed by 'should': Work hard lest you should fail.

Examples

• We discussed the plan.
• She gave me some useful advice.
• No sooner had he arrived than it began to rain.

Practice MCQs

1. Find the error: We discussed about / the problem / for an hour / no error.

   1. We discussed about
   2. the problem
   3. for an hour
   4. No error
   Show answer

   Answer: (a) We discussed about. 'Discuss' takes a direct object; remove 'about'.

2. Find the error: She gave me / many useful / informations / no error.

   1. She gave me
   2. many useful
   3. informations
   4. No error
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) informations. 'Information' is uncountable; say 'much useful information'.

3. Find the error: One of my friend / is a doctor / in Delhi / no error.

   1. One of my friend
   2. is a doctor
   3. in Delhi
   4. No error
   Show answer

   Answer: (a) One of my friend. 'One of' needs a plural noun: 'one of my friends'.

4. Find the error: No sooner did he reach / the station / when the train left / no error.

   1. No sooner did he reach
   2. the station
   3. when the train left
   4. No error
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) when the train left. 'No sooner' pairs with 'than', not 'when'.

5. Find the error: Work hard / lest you / will fail / no error.

   1. Work hard
   2. lest you
   3. will fail
   4. No error
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) will fail. 'Lest' takes 'should': 'lest you should fail'.

6. Find the error: The furnitures / in this room / are new / no error.

   1. The furnitures
   2. in this room
   3. are new
   4. No error
   Show answer

   Answer: (a) The furnitures. 'Furniture' has no plural and takes 'is': 'The furniture in this room is new'.

7. Find the error: He reached to / the office / at nine / no error.

   1. He reached to
   2. the office
   3. at nine
   4. No error
   Show answer

   Answer: (a) He reached to. 'Reach' takes a direct object; remove 'to'.