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Modifiers & Parallelism

English Language · Grammar

Useful for: IBPS Banking, OSSC RHT — Regular High School Teacher, UPSC NDA/NA, UPSC CDS, OSEPA Primary Teacher / JT Category-I, OSEPA Upper Primary — Arts, OSEPA Upper Primary — Science, OSSC English

and 7 more exams

OSSSC Govt Physical Education Teacher (PET), OSSSC Govt TGT Arts, OSSSC Govt TGT Science — CBZ, OSSSC Govt TGT Science — PCM, SSB Language Teachers, SSB Lecturer (Degree Colleges), SSB TGT Arts

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Overview

Error spotting covers agreement, tenses, pronouns, articles, prepositions, modifiers and parallelism.

Key points

The verb agrees with the true subject, not the nearest noun.
Sequence of tenses: a past main verb is usually followed by past forms in the subordinate clause.
Pronoun must agree with its antecedent.
Parallel structure in lists and comparisons.
Misplaced modifiers change meaning; place them next to the word they describe.

Explanation

"Neither … nor" and "either … or": the verb agrees with the nearer subject.
"Scarcely/Hardly … when", "No sooner … than".
Comparisons must compare like with like: "The climate of Delhi is hotter than that of Shimla."
Avoid double negatives.

Step by step

Read the full sentence or passage first.
Apply the exact grammar or vocabulary rule.
Re-read the final answer in context.

Examples

"The climate of Delhi is hotter than Shimla" → "than that of Shimla".
"Walking in the park, the trees looked beautiful" → "Walking in the park, I found the trees beautiful" (dangling modifier).
"She said that she will come" → "would come" (sequence of tenses).

Traps and advanced points

Trap: Comparing unlike things.
Trap: Dangling modifiers.
Trap: Breaking tense sequence.

Quick revision

Like with like.
Modifier next to its word.
Past main verb → past clause.

Practice MCQs

The Nagpur report discusses “indices”. Choose the conservative formal exam-grammar sentence.
1. The indices have shown in the table.
2. The indices are shown in the table.
3. None of the above
4. The indices is shown in the table.
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Answer: (b) The indices are shown in the table.. In traditional formal usage, “indices” is plural.
The Patna report discusses “media”. Choose the conservative formal exam-grammar sentence.
1. The media have covering the event.
2. The media is covering the event.
3. The media are covering the event.
4. None of the above
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Answer: (c) The media are covering the event.. In traditional formal usage, “media” is plural.
The Pune report discusses “phenomena”. Choose the conservative formal exam-grammar sentence.
1. None of the above
2. The phenomena are being studied.
3. The phenomena is being studied.
4. The phenomena have being studied.
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Answer: (b) The phenomena are being studied.. In traditional formal usage, “phenomena” is plural.
The Surat report discusses “stimuli”. Choose the conservative formal exam-grammar sentence.
1. The stimuli are presented in sequence.
2. The stimuli have presented in sequence.
3. None of the above
4. The stimuli is presented in sequence.
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Answer: (a) The stimuli are presented in sequence.. In traditional formal usage, “stimuli” is plural.
Fill in the blank: “The Indore office recorded ____ applications this month than last month.”
1. fewer
2. less
3. fewest
4. little
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Answer: (a) fewer. Use “fewer” with countable plural nouns.
Fill in the blank: “The Jaipur office recorded ____ complaints this month than last month.”
1. less
2. fewest
3. little
4. fewer
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Answer: (d) fewer. Use “fewer” with countable plural nouns.
Fill in the blank: “The Jaipur office recorded ____ tickets this month than last month.”
1. fewer
2. little
3. less
4. fewest
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Answer: (a) fewer. Use “fewer” with countable plural nouns.
Fill in the blank: “The Jaipur office recorded ____ applications this month than last month.”
1. fewer
2. fewest
3. little
4. less
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Answer: (a) fewer. Use “fewer” with countable plural nouns.
Fill in the blank: “The Jaipur office recorded ____ files this month than last month.”
1. little
2. less
3. fewest
4. fewer
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Answer: (d) fewer. Use “fewer” with countable plural nouns.
Fill in the blank: “The Jaipur office recorded ____ vehicles this month than last month.”
1. less
2. fewer
3. fewest
4. little
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Answer: (b) fewer. Use “fewer” with countable plural nouns.
Fill in the blank: “The Jaipur office recorded ____ questions this month than last month.”
1. fewest
2. fewer
3. little
4. less
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Answer: (b) fewer. Use “fewer” with countable plural nouns.
Fill in the blank: “The Mysuru office recorded ____ files this month than last month.”
1. fewer
2. little
3. less
4. fewest
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Answer: (a) fewer. Use “fewer” with countable plural nouns.
From the perspective of definition and scope, which one of the following statements about Grammar & Usage is correct?
1. Grammar & Usage requires standard formal English usage.
2. Do not rely only on “what sounds right” for Grammar & Usage.
3. Grammar & Usage is unrelated to institutions, processes or real-world applications.
4. Grammar & Usage has no exceptions or limitations in exam analysis.
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Answer: (a) Grammar & Usage requires standard formal English usage.. Grammar & Usage requires standard formal English usage.
Consider the following statements on Grammar & Usage and Cloze Test, focusing on definition and scope: 1. Do not rely only on “what sounds right” for Grammar & Usage. 2. Do not select an option only because it sounds conversationally familiar. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
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Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2. Neither statement is correct; both are common misconceptions.
Which option best connects the definition and scope dimension of Grammar & Usage with its broader exam relevance?
1. Context decides the best answer in Grammar & Usage. Also, Eliminate choices with agreement, tense, modifier or collocation errors.
2. Do not rely only on “what sounds right” for Grammar & Usage.
3. Every statement about Grammar & Usage is absolute and context-free.
4. Grammar & Usage can be understood without any mechanism, limitation or exception.
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Answer: (a) Context decides the best answer in Grammar & Usage. Also, Eliminate choices with agreement, tense, modifier or collocation errors.. Context decides the best answer in Grammar & Usage. Also, Eliminate choices with agreement, tense, modifier or collocation errors.