Spotting errors is a common test and forms a part of almost all the important examinations that have objective English test on their syllabi. It requires a command over almost all the parts of grammar for the error may lie in any part of the sentence and in any element of grammar such as parts of speech, infinitives, participles, gerunds, subject-verb concord, form of tenses, use of articles and certain exceptional usages.

Directions: Now here are some sentences of which some are grammatically correct and some are incorrect. Find out which part of the sentence has an error and mark that part.

1.    Vijayawada is one of the known city (a)/ for internecine animosities for a power struggle(b)/ between two warring families for a long (c)/ No error (d)
2.    Hardly I had ended my essay (a)/ on corruption when the revenue officer (b)/ was set afire by sand mafia (c)/ No error (d)
3.    Since he heard his lecturer's speech, (a)/ he is trying his best (b)/ to achieve command over English (c)/ No error (d)
4.    In various parts of Andhra Pradesh, (a)/ many ponds and wells have dried down because of (b)/ lack of rain and scorching heat of glimmering summer (c)/ No error (d)
5.    Though corruption is as prevalent as air, (a)/ the government is blind enough (b)/ and unable to focus to this vital area (c)/ No error (d)
6.    Many a student (a)/ has failed in the English unit test (b)/ but Aparna has scored 95 per cent (c)/ No error (d)
7.     The police along with ammunition taken with them (a)/ has been blast while going (b)/ by a jeep through a jungle (c)/ No error (d)
8.    If you answered one more question (a)/ with required fastness or rapidity, you would have scored (b)/ some more marks enough for getting passed (c)/ No error (d)
9.    What Nani (a)/ had said (b)/ was (c)/ cent per cent right (d).
10.    When learning English grammar and usage, (a)/ one of the most important (b)/  things (c)/  is to practise well (d).
11.    He went (a)/ to (b)/  the college (c)/  for seeing the principal (d).
12.    I doubt (a)/ that (b)/ she will understand (c)/  his mind and concern for her (d).
13.    She not only helped (a)/ me (b)/ but also my brother (c)/ when he was in a great need (d).
Answers

1)    a (the phrase 'one of' is always followed by a plural noun so it is 'known cities');
2)    a (with such conjunctions as 'scarcely...when, no sooner...than etc the pattern is verb-subject);
3)    b (with time preposition especially 'since' the tense is 'present perfect or present perfect continuous so 'he has been trying');
4)    b (dried up is the correct phrase here);
5)    c (we 'focus on' something not 'focus to' something);
6)    b (the phrase 'many + a + singular noun' always takes a plural verb as the phrase given plural meaning. Many a book' means 'many books'. So 'have failed');
7)    b (replace 'has been' with 'have been' as the word 'police' is plural. Police man is singular);
8)    a (replace 'answered' with 'had answered' as the conditional tense needs that structure)
9)    d- ‘Hundred per cent right’ is the correct usage not ‘cent per cent’.
10)    a- ‘while learning English grammar...’ not ‘when learning English grammar...’ When indicates ‘at that time, whereas and considering that etc.’ ‘While’ indicates ‘during the time that or during the process of doing a work’.
11)    d- ‘to see the principal’ not ‘for seeing the principal’. A verb may take an infinitive or a gerund according to its implication. If the verb indicates a purpose, an infinitive is used and if the verb indicates a cause, a gerund or an –ing noun is used.
12)    b- ‘if or whether she will...’ not ‘that she will...’ The verb ‘doubt’ is always followed by ‘if or whether’ not ‘that’.
13)    a- ‘she helped not only me but also my brother’. The conjunctive phrase must be used before the word or words it immediately qualifies. When one clause has not only, it must be followed by a clause or word preceded by but.