Error Spotting Questions for English, also called Error Detection Questions, are among the most common grammar-based problems asked in SSC CGL, Banking, Insurance, and other competitive exams. These questions test your ability to identify grammatical mistakes in sentences based on English grammar rules. Since spotting errors in English covers topics like subject-verb agreement, tenses, articles, prepositions, and modifiers, mastering this section can significantly improve your accuracy and score.
What Are Error Spotting Questions?
Error-spotting questions require candidates to read a sentence carefully and identify the part that contains a grammatical mistake. These errors may involve subject-verb agreement, usage of determiners, wrong verb forms, misplaced prepositions, incorrect modifiers, or redundant words. Sometimes, an option like “No Error” is also given to test whether the sentence is correct.
Importance of Error Detection in Exams
Error detection in English grammar plays a major role in exams like SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, IBPS PO, SBI Clerk, RRB NTPC, and other competitive tests. Previous year error spotting questions prove that this section frequently appears in Tier-I and Tier-II papers. Practicing these questions not only strengthens grammar but also improves speed and confidence. Since examiners often repeat error spotting rules in different forms, learning the basics thoroughly is the best strategy.
Key Rules for Spotting Errors in English
To solve error spotting questions with answers, candidates must revise the following grammar rules:
-
Subject-Verb Agreement (SVA): Ensure verbs agree with the subject in number and person.
-
Tense Consistency: A sentence must maintain proper tense usage without unnecessary shifts.
-
Articles & Determiners: Correct use of “a,” “an,” and “the” is often tested.
-
Prepositions: Wrong placement of prepositions is a common error.
-
Modifiers & Parallelism: Sentences should maintain clarity and logical structure.
By following these error spotting rules, you can eliminate wrong options quickly.
Practice Error Spotting Questions with Answers
One of the best ways to prepare is solving error detection questions with solutions. Practicing previous year error spotting questions for SSC and Bank exams helps identify repeated patterns. Many online platforms also provide free error spotting PDF with answers for revision. These PDFs compile 100+ questions from SSC, Bank, and Insurance exams for quick practice.
Tips to Solve Error Spotting Fast
-
Scan the sentence for grammar triggers like verbs, articles, and prepositions.
-
Learn to spot common traps such as misplaced modifiers or redundant words.
-
Practice through topic-wise error spotting worksheets to strengthen weak areas.
-
Attempt mock tests and quizzes regularly to improve speed and accuracy.
Error Error-spotting questions in English are high-scoring if you know the rules and practice regularly. Candidates preparing for SSC, Bank, or Insurance exams should focus on grammar basics, solve error detection questions with answers, and revise previous year error spotting questions. Downloading free error spotting PDFs and attempting quizzes daily will ensure exam readiness. Mastering these questions not only helps in competitive exams but also enhances overall English grammar skills.
Top 50 Error Spotting Questions with Answers & Explanations
Subject–Verb Agreement
Q1. He don’t know how to solve this problem.
Ans: (In-Correct) don’t ----(Correct) doesn’t
Explanation: Singular subject He takes does not (doesn’t), not don’t.
Q2. One of my friends are going to London next week.
Ans: (In-Correct) are ----(Correct) is
Explanation: “One of” is always followed by singular verb.
Q3. Neither of the boys have completed their homework.
Ans: (In-Correct) have ----(Correct) has
Explanation: “Neither” is singular ----use has.
Q4. The quality of the mangoes were not good.
Ans: (In-Correct) were ----(Correct) was
Explanation: Subject = quality (singular), so verb should be was.
Q5. Mathematics are a very difficult subject for many students.
Ans: (In-Correct) are ----(Correct) is
Explanation: Names of subjects (Mathematics, Physics) are singular.
Tenses
Q6. She has went to the market.
Ans: (In-Correct) went ----(Correct) gone
Explanation: After has/have, use V3 (past participle) ----gone.
Q7. I am living here since 2010.
Ans: (In-Correct) am living ----(Correct) have been living
Explanation: Since/for + time ----Present Perfect Continuous.
Q8. He told me that he will help me yesterday.
Ans: (In-Correct) will help ----(Correct) would help
Explanation: Past reporting verb (told) ----verb in past form (would).
Q9. When I reached the station, the train has already left.
Ans: (In-Correct) has left ----(Correct) had left
Explanation: Action completed before another past action ----Past Perfect.
Q10. They are playing cricket when it started raining.
Ans: (In-Correct) are playing ----(Correct) were playing
Explanation: Past action interrupted ----Past Continuous.
Articles & Determiners
Q11. She is a best student in the class.
Ans: (In-Correct) a best ----(Correct) the best
Explanation: Superlative degree always takes the.
Q12. The gold is a precious metal.
Ans: (In-Correct) The gold ----(Correct) Gold
Explanation: “Gold” (metal in general) ----no article.
Q13. He is appointed as a manager in the bank.
Ans: (In-Correct) as a manager ----(Correct) manager
Explanation: After appointed, “as” not needed.
Q14. This kind of problems are difficult to solve.
Ans: (In-Correct) are ----(Correct) is
Explanation: “This kind” is singular ----use is.
Q15. She gave me an one-rupee coin.
Ans: (In-Correct) an ----(Correct) a
Explanation: One starts with consonant sound /w/.
Pronouns
Q16. Each of the boys must bring their book.
Ans: (In-Correct) their ----(Correct) his
Explanation: “Each” is singular ----use his/her.
Q17. He is junior than me by three years.
Ans: (In-Correct) than ----(Correct) to
Explanation: Correct idiom ----junior/senior to.
Q18. Neither of them have completed his work.
Ans: (In-Correct) have ----(Correct) has
Explanation: “Neither” is singular.
Q19. Everyone should do their duty.
Ans: (In-Correct) their ----(Correct) his/her
Explanation: “Everyone” is singular.
Q20. He and myself went to the party.
Ans: (In-Correct) myself ----(Correct) I
Explanation: Reflexive pronoun misused; correct is I.
Adjectives & Adverbs
Q21. She sings very sweet.
Ans: (In-Correct) sweet ----(Correct) sweetly
Explanation: Verb sings needs an adverb.
Q22. He is the eldest member of the team.
Ans: (In-Correct) eldest ----(Correct) oldest
Explanation: “Eldest” is used for family relations, not groups.
Q23. Ramesh is more preferable than Suresh.
Ans: (In-Correct) more preferable ----(Correct) preferable
Explanation: “Preferable” itself shows comparison; avoid more.
Q24. She is more wiser than her sister.
Ans: (In-Correct) more wiser ----(Correct) wiser
Explanation: Double comparative not allowed.
Q25. The climate of Pune is healthier than Delhi.
Ans: (In-Correct) Delhi ----(Correct) that of Delhi
Explanation: Comparison should be parallel ----that of Delhi.
Prepositions
Q26. He is addicted with smoking.
Ans: (In-Correct) with ----(Correct) to
Explanation: Correct phrase: addicted to.
Q27. They discussed about the problem in detail.
Ans: (In-Correct) about ----(Correct) (remove)
Explanation: “Discuss” doesn’t take about.
Q28. He is senior than me by two years.
Ans: (In-Correct) than ----(Correct) to
Explanation: Correct idiom ----senior to.
Q29. I prefer coffee than tea.
Ans: (In-Correct) than ----(Correct) to
Explanation: Correct phrase ----prefer X to Y.
Q30. The train will arrive to the station at 5 p.m.
Ans: (In-Correct) to ----(Correct) (remove)
Explanation: “Arrive at”/“arrive in”, never “arrive to”.
Conjunctions & Parallelism
Q31. She is not only beautiful but also sings well.
Ans: (In-Correct) beautiful but also sings ----(Correct) beautiful but also talented / not only sings but also dances
Explanation: Both parts must be grammatically parallel.
Q32. Hardly he had reached the station when the train left.
Ans: (In-Correct) Hardly he had ----(Correct) Hardly had he
Explanation: Inversion after “hardly/scarcely/no sooner”.
Q33. Neither the teacher nor the students was present.
Ans: (In-Correct) was ----(Correct) were
Explanation: Verb agrees with nearest subject ----students (plural).
Q34. Though he is poor but he is honest.
Ans: (In-Correct) but ----(Correct) (remove)
Explanation: “Though” itself shows contrast; no need for but.
Q35. No sooner did he enter the class when the students stood up.
Ans: (In-Correct) when ----(Correct) than
Explanation: Correct phrase: No sooner… than.
Modifiers / Sentence Structure
Q36. Being a rainy day, we stayed at home.
Ans: (In-Correct) Being a rainy day ----(Correct) As it was a rainy day
Explanation: Modifier wrongly attached; day cannot “stay”.
Q37. Running fast, the gate was reached by him.
Ans: (In-Correct) the gate was reached by him ----(Correct) he reached the gate
Explanation: Subject must match modifier ----“he”.
Q38. The boy was bitten by a dog with a red shirt.
Ans: (In-Correct) with a red shirt (dog?) ----(Correct) The boy wearing a red shirt was bitten by a dog
Explanation: Misplaced modifier.
Q39. Walking down the road, a snake bit him.
Ans: (In-Correct) a snake bit him ----(Correct) he was bitten by a snake
Explanation: Subject must be the doer of action.
Q40. Having finished the work, the TV was switched on by me.
Ans: (In-Correct) the TV was switched on by me ----(Correct) I switched on the TV
Explanation: Modifier should refer to subject “I”.
Miscellaneous Errors
Q41. He is one of the best player in the team.
Ans: (In-Correct) player ----(Correct) players
Explanation: “One of the” + plural noun.
Q42. Scarcely had he left the room when the phone ringed.
Ans: (In-Correct) ringed ----(Correct) rang
Explanation: Past tense of ring = rang, not ringed.
Q43. He gave me many informations about the project.
Ans: (In-Correct) informations ----(Correct) pieces of information
Explanation: “Information” is uncountable.
Q44. Sheeps are grazing in the field.
Ans: (In-Correct) Sheeps ----(Correct) Sheep
Explanation: “Sheep” has same form in singular & plural.
Q45. The furniture in this room are very old.
Ans: (In-Correct) are ----(Correct) is
Explanation: “Furniture” is uncountable, takes singular verb.
Q46. My cousin brother lives in Delhi.
Ans: (In-Correct) cousin brother ----(Correct) cousin
Explanation: Word “cousin” already implies relation.
Q47. She is married with a doctor.
Ans: (In-Correct) with ----(Correct) to
Explanation: Correct usage ----married to.
Q48. He has completed the work yesterday.
Ans: (In-Correct) has completed ----(Correct) completed
Explanation: Past time reference (yesterday) ----Simple Past.
Q49. The sceneries of Kashmir are very beautiful.
Ans: (In-Correct) sceneries ----(Correct) scenery
Explanation: “Scenery” is uncountable, no plural form.
Q50. She gave me an advice which helped me a lot.
Ans: (In-Correct) an advice ----(Correct) a piece of advice
Explanation: “Advice” is uncountable, use “a piece of”.