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
Analyzing the Sentence for Grammatical Errors
The question asks us to identify any error in the given sentence, which is divided into three parts labeled (a), (b), and (c). We need to examine each part carefully to find any grammatical mistake. If no error is found, the answer is (d).
Let's look at the sentence parts:
- (a) A honest mistake
- (b) is no more than that;
- (c) just an honest mistake.
Examining Part (a): "A honest mistake"
This part contains the phrase "A honest mistake". We need to consider the article used before the word "honest". The article 'a' is typically used before words that start with a consonant sound, while 'an' is used before words that start with a vowel sound.
Although the word "honest" begins with the consonant letter 'h', the 'h' is silent. The word is pronounced starting with the vowel sound /ɒ/ (like the 'o' in 'hot').
Therefore, according to the rules of English grammar, the article used before "honest" should be 'an', not 'a'.
The correct phrase should be "An honest mistake".
Examining Part (b): "is no more than that;"
This part of the sentence is "is no more than that;". This phrase seems grammatically correct and fits the context, suggesting that an honest mistake is simply what it is and nothing more complicated. The semicolon is used to connect clauses or phrases that are closely related, which is acceptable here.
Examining Part (c): "just an honest mistake."
This part is "just an honest mistake." This phrase serves as a restatement or emphasis of the idea presented earlier. Crucially, it uses the article "an" before "honest mistake", which is the correct usage based on the vowel sound of "honest". This part is grammatically correct in itself.
Conclusion of the Analysis
Upon analyzing all parts, we find an error in part (a). The article 'a' should be 'an' because the word "honest" begins with a vowel sound.
Part (a): A honest mistake → Should be An honest mistake.
Part (b): is no more than that; → Grammatically correct.
Part (c): just an honest mistake. → Grammatically correct.
Since there is an error in part (a), that is the identified error location.
| Part | Text | Analysis | Error? |
|---|---|---|---|
| (a) | A honest mistake | Incorrect article 'A' before vowel sound. | Yes |
| (b) | is no more than that; | Grammatically sound. | No |
| (c) | just an honest mistake. | Correct article 'an' used. | No |
Revision Table: Article Usage with Silent 'h'
| Word (starts with 'h') | Starts with Sound | Correct Article | Example Phrase |
|---|---|---|---|
| honest | Vowel sound (/ɒ/) | an | an honest person |
| hour | Vowel sound (/aʊ/) | an | an hour long |
| heir | Vowel sound (/ɛər/) | an | an heir to the throne |
| history | Consonant sound (/h/) | a | a history book |
| house | Consonant sound (/h/) | a | a house on the hill |
Additional Information on Articles (a/an)
Articles 'a' and 'an' are indefinite articles in English. They are used before singular countable nouns when the noun is general or when it is mentioned for the first time.
- Use 'a' before words that begin with a consonant sound. This includes words starting with consonant letters (like b, c, d, f, g, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y, z) and words starting with vowel letters but pronounced with a consonant sound (e.g., a university /juːnɪˈvɜːrsəti/, a European /ˌjʊərəˈpiːən/).
- Use 'an' before words that begin with a vowel sound. This includes words starting with vowel letters (a, e, i, o, u) and words starting with silent consonant letters followed by a vowel sound (e.g., an honest man, an hour).
The key is the *sound* the word starts with, not just the letter it starts with.
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 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)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).
Failure is the stepping stone to success; (a) / however, successive failures are not (b) / successive stepping stones to success. (c) / No error (d)
