Direction: In the following question, a part of the sentence may have an error. Find out which part among the sentences has an error and click the option corresponding to it. If the sentence is free from error, click option 4 i.e. 'No error'. It is most essential for us (a) / to reach the station before noon (b) / lest we should miss the train. (c) / No error (d)
(d)
Understanding Sentence Structure and Error Detection
The question asks us to identify if there is any grammatical error in the provided sentence. The sentence is broken down into three parts, and the fourth option is 'No error'. Let's examine each part carefully.
Analyzing Part (a): "It is most essential for us"
This part of the sentence uses the phrase "most essential". The word "essential" means absolutely necessary or extremely important. While "essential" itself implies a high degree of necessity, it is grammatically acceptable to use intensifiers like "most" or "very" with it for emphasis, meaning 'of utmost importance'. Therefore, "most essential" is considered correct in standard English usage to convey a very high degree of necessity.
Analyzing Part (b): "to reach the station before noon"
This is an infinitive phrase ("to reach") acting as the subject complement, explaining what is "most essential". The phrase "before noon" is a standard prepositional phrase indicating a time limit. This part is grammatically sound and fits correctly with the rest of the sentence structure.
Analyzing Part (c): "lest we should miss the train."
This part uses the conjunction "lest". "Lest" is used to introduce a clause indicating a negative purpose or the fear that something will happen. The structure that follows "lest" is typically the simple present subjunctive or, more commonly in modern English, "should" followed by the base form of the verb. The structure "lest we should miss the train" means "for fear that we might miss the train" or "in order that we do not miss the train". This usage of "lest + subject + should + verb" is grammatically correct.
Conclusion on Error Detection
Based on the analysis of each part, no grammatical error is found in any of the parts (a), (b), or (c). The sentence "It is most essential for us to reach the station before noon lest we should miss the train" is grammatically correct. Therefore, the error lies in none of the parts.
Since no error is found in any part of the sentence, the correct option is (d), which indicates 'No error'.
Final Answer is Option (d).
| Part | Sentence Fragment | Analysis | Error? |
|---|---|---|---|
| (a) | It is most essential for us | "most essential" is a valid emphatic phrase. | No |
| (b) | to reach the station before noon | Standard infinitive phrase and time expression. | No |
| (c) | lest we should miss the train. | Correct usage of "lest + should + verb". | No |
Revision Table: Key Grammatical Concepts
- Usage of 'most essential': While 'essential' means important, 'most essential' is used for emphasis, meaning extremely important.
- Usage of 'lest': 'Lest' means 'for fear that' or 'in order that... not'. It is typically followed by 'should' + verb or the subjunctive form of the verb.
- Infinitive Phrases: A phrase starting with 'to' + base verb, often used to express purpose or as a subject/object/complement.
Additional Information on Conjunctions and Structure
Understanding conjunctions like 'lest' is crucial for constructing grammatically correct complex sentences. 'Lest' is a subordinating conjunction that introduces an adverbial clause of negative purpose. The construction 'lest + subject + should + base verb' is a common and correct way to express this purpose. Other conjunctions expressing purpose include 'so that' or 'in order that', which are followed by clauses with modals like 'can', 'could', 'will', 'would', 'may', or 'might', depending on the context and tense.
For example:
- We ran quickly so that we would not miss the train. (Using 'so that')
- We ran quickly lest we should miss the train. (Using 'lest')
Both sentences convey a similar meaning of taking action to avoid missing the train, but they use different grammatical structures with different conjunctions.
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)
