Grammar Check: Incorrect Sentence Identification
This question requires identifying the grammatically INCORRECT sentence among the options provided.
Sentence Analysis
Evaluating each sentence:
- Option 1: Correct. Uses "less" acceptably to mean minus or after deducting charges.
- Option 2: Correct. "Less than" is used appropriately for comparing the uncountable noun 'expenditure'.
- Option 3: Correct. "Lesser sum" is a grammatically sound construction referring to a smaller amount.
- Option 4: Contains a grammatical error related to the use of 'less'.
Grammar Rule Focus: 'Less' vs 'Little'
The error in Option 4 involves the misuse of the word 'less'.
- Rule: Generally, use 'less' for uncountable quantities and 'fewer' for countable items.
- Context: In Option 4, 'expenditure' refers to the total amount spent, which is an uncountable noun.
- Error: The phrase 'very less' is considered non-standard and grammatically incorrect in formal English. It inappropriately intensifies the comparative adjective 'less'.
- Correction: For uncountable nouns like 'expenditure', the standard and correct form when intensifying is 'very little'. For example: "This country's expenditure on educational reforms is very little."
- While 'less' is the comparative form of 'little' and relates to amount, the construction 'very less' is avoided.
Option 4 is the grammatically INCORRECT sentence due to the non-standard usage of 'very less'.
Important Questions from Error Spotting
Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is an error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
A honest mistake (a) / is no more than that; (b) / just an honest mistake. (c) / No error (d)Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is any error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
A company of five thousand soldiers , (a) / having marched tirelessly for over five days , (b) / have just moved into their cantonment . (c) / No error (d)Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is an error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
Every person who believes in principles (a) / must stand up to fight (b) / for their convictions . (c) / No error (d)Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is any error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
The Olympic Games reflects(a) / the highest spirit of (b) / human endeavour and achievement . (c) / No error (d)Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is an error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
The principal of the school (a) / stressed the need for discipline (b) / amongst the students. (c) / No error (d)
