25 Spotting Error With Explanation

#everydayquiz #25Questions
1.Hari and Ram is here.

Two or more Singular Subjects connected by and usually take a Verb in the Plural. For example, Incorrect- Hari and Ram is here. Correct- Hari and Ram are here.

2.The Secretary and Principal are coming.If two Singular Nouns refer to the same person or thing, the Verb must be Singular. Incorrect- The Secretary and Principal are coming.

Correct- The Secretary and Principal is coming. (Here the same person is .Secretary as well as Principal)

3.Every boy and girl were ready.

If the Singular Subjects are preceded by each or every, the Verb is usually Singular. For example,

Incorrect- Every boy and girl were ready.

Correct- Every boy and girl was ready

4.Neither he nor I were there

Two or more Singular Subjects connected by or, nor, either ..... or, neither .... nor take a Verb in the Singular.

For example, Incorrect- Neither he nor I were there. 

Correct- Neither he nor I was there.

5.Neither the Headmaster nor the Assistant Masters were present.

When the Subjects joined by 'or/nor are of different numbers, the Verb must be Plural, and the Plural Subject must be placed next to the Verb. 

For example, lncorrect- Neither the Assistant Masters nor the Headmaster was present. 

Correct- Neither the Headmaster nor the Assistant Masters were present.

6.Either he or I, am mistaken.

When the Subjects joined by or, nor are of different persons, the Verb agrees in person with the one nearest to it. 

For example, Incorrect- Either he or I is mistaken. 

Correct- Either he or I, am mistaken.

7A.The military were called out.

a Plural Verb when the individuals of which it is composed are thought of. 

7B.The Council has chosen the President.

A Collective Noun takes a Singular Verb when the collection is thought of as a whole, 

8.Mathematics is a branch of study in every school.Some Nouns which are singular in form but plural in meaning, take a SINGULAR Verb.

For example,

Incorrect- Mathematics are a branch of study in every school.

Correct- Mathematics is a branch of study in every school.

9.The Chief, with all his men, were massacred

Words joined to a Singular Subject by with, together with, in addition to, or, as well as, etc. are parenthetical, and therefore do not affect the number of the Verb.

For example, 

Incorrect- The Chief, with all his men, were massacred .•

 Correct-The chief, with all his men, was massacred.

10.I, who am your friend will guard your interests.

When the Subject of the Verb is a Relative Pronoun care should be taken to see that the Verb agrees in Number and Person with the Antecedent of the relative. For example, 

Incorrect- I, who is your friend, will guard your interests. 

Correct- I, who am your friend will guard your interests.

11.He advised to do it by me.

Ask, advise, allow, command, force, forbid, invite, encourage, compel, beg, order•, imagine, instruct, permit, persuade, tell, require, remind, teach, etc. are followed by 

"Object + To +V1" 

For example,

Incorrect- He advised to do it by me. 

Correct- He advised me to do it.

 But if these are used in Passive Voice, then they are followed by To +V1 

For example, Correct- She was permitted to go with him.

12.I know how to write a letter.

Know is followed by how/ where/when/why and Infinitive.

For example, 

Incorrect- I know to write a letter. 

Correct- I know how to write a letter.

13.I heard him to speak on several subjects.

After let, bid, behold, watch, see, feel, make etc. we use Bare-Infinitive and not To- infinitive. 

For example, 

Incorrect- I heard him to speak on several subjects.

Correct- I heard him speak on several subjects.

14.You need not to work hard.

Bare Infinitive is used after Modal Auxiliaries (can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must, dare not, need not). 

For example, 

Incorrect- You need not to work hard.

Correct- You need not work hard.

15.He had better to go now.

Had better, had rather,had as soon ... as ... , had sooner etc. are followed by Bare Infinitive. 

For example, 

Incorrect- He had better to go now.

Correct- He had better go now.

16.He had better read than write

Conjunction than is also followed by Bare Infinitive.

For example, 

Incorrect- He had better read than to write.

Correct- He had better read than write.

17.He did nothing but to wander.

When but is used as a Preposition and preceded by any form of the Verb do, then but is followed with Bare Infinitive. 

Incorrect- He did nothing but to wander.

Correct- He did nothing but wander.


18.It being a rainy day, Vijay decided to stay at home.

Every Participle must have a Subject of Reference. 

For example, 

Incorrect- Being a rainy day Vijay decided to stay at home. 

Correct- It being a rainy day Vijay decided to stay at home.


19. After the leader having been killed, the followers ran away.
For completed action Having + Va is used in Active Voice, whereas Having + been + Va or Being + Va is used in Passive Voice. 

"After" should not be used in such a sentence.

For example,

Incorrect- After the leader having been killed, the followers ran away.

Correct- The leader having been killed, the followers ran away.


20. Considering the case, I took the decision.

Participles like considering, judging, referring, concerning, regarding, viewing, broadly speaking etc. do not take any Subject of Reference.

For example, 

Correct - Considering the case, I took the decision. 

Here I is not a Subject of Reference of considering. So, there is no Subject of Reference for 'considering, still the sentence is correct.

21.Three were killed and one was injured.

When there are two Subjects in a sentence and they are not in the same Number, then we must have to use separate Auxiliaries (is, are, am, was, were, have, has) for both of them.

For example,

Incorrect- Three- killed and one were injured. 

Correct- Three were killed and one was injured.


22. I am seventeen years old and my sister fourteen.A single Verb should be made to serve two Subjects, only when the form of Verb is same for both the subjects. 

Incorrect- I am seventeen years old and my sister fourteen. 

Correct- I am seventeen years old and my sister is fourteen.

23 He never has, and never will take such strong measures.

Two auxiliaries can be used with one principal Verb, only when the form of the principal Verb is appropriate to both the auxiliaries. ' 

Incorrect- He never has, and never will take such strong measures. 

Correct- He never has taken, and never will take such strong measures.


24. Ten candidates have passed, one has failed.
When there is only one auxiliary to two principal Verbs it should be correctly associated with the both. 

Incorrect- Ten candidates have passed one failed. 

Correct- Ten candidates have passed, one has failed.

25.He succeeded because he worked hard.

A Past Tense in the main clause should be followed by a Past Tense in the subordinate clause. 

Incorrect- He succeeded because he works hard. 

Correct- He succeeded because he worked hard.