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English Language — Common Errors in Usage
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English Language — Common Errors in Usage

⏱
9 mins
Time
❓
12
Questions
🎓
1
Per Q

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English Language — Common Errors in Usage — Questions with Answers Open after you finish the quiz — all 12 questions, with answers and explanations.
Q1. Identify the error in the sentence: "The committee has submitted their report."
  1. The committee has submitted
  2. their report
  3. No error
  4. The committee have submitted
Show answer
Answer: B. their report
The word 'committee' acts as a collective noun. When it acts as a single unit, it takes a singular possessive pronoun. Therefore, 'their' should be 'its'.
Q2. Choose the correct sentence.
  1. She is good in English.
  2. She is good at English.
  3. She is good for English.
  4. She is good with English.
Show answer
Answer: B. She is good at English.
The correct preposition to use with 'good' when referring to proficiency in a subject or skill is 'at'.
Q3. Choose the sentence with the correct word usage.
  1. The principal reason for his absence was illness.
  2. The principle reason for his absence was illness.
  3. He always adheres to his principals.
  4. The school's principle is a kind man.
Show answer
Answer: A. The principal reason for his absence was illness.
'Principal' can be an adjective meaning 'main' or a noun meaning 'head of a school'. 'Principle' is a noun meaning a fundamental truth or rule. In option 1, 'principal' is correctly used as an adjective meaning 'main'.
Q4. Identify the part of the sentence that contains an error. "He said that he will come to the party if he finishes his work."
  1. He said that he will come
  2. to the party if he finishes
  3. his work.
  4. No error.
Show answer
Answer: A. He said that he will come
When the main clause is in the past tense ('He said'), the subordinate clause should also reflect past tense or a conditional past. 'will come' should be 'would come' to maintain the sequence of tenses.
Q5. Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?
  1. Between you and I, this is a secret.
  2. Between you and me, this is a secret.
  3. Between I and you, this is a secret.
  4. Between me and you, this is a secret.
Show answer
Answer: B. Between you and me, this is a secret.
The preposition 'between' takes objective case pronouns. Therefore, 'I' should be 'me'. The correct form is 'between you and me'.
Q6. Identify the error in the sentence: "He performed good in the exam."
  1. He performed good
  2. in the exam
  3. No error
  4. He performed well
Show answer
Answer: A. He performed good
The verb 'performed' needs to be modified by an adverb, not an adjective. 'Good' is an adjective; 'well' is the corresponding adverb.
Q7. Choose the grammatically correct sentence.
  1. My hobbies include reading, swimming, and to paint.
  2. My hobbies include reading, swimming, and painting.
  3. My hobbies include to read, to swim, and painting.
  4. My hobbies include reading, to swim, and to paint.
Show answer
Answer: B. My hobbies include reading, swimming, and painting.
When listing items in a series, they must be in parallel structure. If gerunds (like 'reading', 'swimming') are used, all items in the list should be gerunds.
Q8. Identify the redundant part in the sentence: "He returned back to his hometown after many years."
  1. He returned back
  2. to his hometown
  3. after many years
  4. No error
Show answer
Answer: A. He returned back
The word 'returned' already implies going back. Therefore, 'back' is redundant and should be omitted.
Q9. Find the error in the sentence: "Neither of the two candidates have submitted their documents yet."
  1. Neither of the two candidates
  2. have submitted
  3. their documents yet
  4. No error
Show answer
Answer: B. have submitted
'Neither' is a singular indefinite pronoun and requires a singular verb. Therefore, 'have submitted' should be 'has submitted'.
Q10. Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?
  1. If I was a bird, I would fly.
  2. If I were a bird, I would fly.
  3. If I am a bird, I would fly.
  4. If I had been a bird, I would fly.
Show answer
Answer: B. If I were a bird, I would fly.
For hypothetical or unreal conditions in the present or future, the subjunctive mood is used, which requires 'were' for all subjects in the 'if' clause, even singular ones like 'I'.
Q11. Identify the error in the sentence: "Never I have seen such a beautiful sunrise."
  1. Never I have seen
  2. such a beautiful
  3. sunrise.
  4. No error.
Show answer
Answer: A. Never I have seen
When a negative adverb like 'Never' begins a sentence, it requires inversion of the subject and auxiliary verb. The correct structure should be 'Never have I seen'.
Q12. Find the error in the sentence: "The honesty is the best policy."
  1. The honesty
  2. is the best
  3. policy.
  4. No error.
Show answer
Answer: A. The honesty
Abstract nouns like 'honesty', 'wisdom', 'love' generally do not take the definite article 'the' when used in a general sense.
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