Understanding Grammatical Errors in Sentences

This question asks us to identify a grammatical error within a sentence that is divided into three parts. We need to examine each part carefully to spot any issues related to grammar, usage, or structure.

The sentence is:

a) The meeting adjourned abruptly

b) by the Chairman after

c) about three hours of deliberation.

d) No error

Analyzing Each Part for Grammatical Errors

Part a) The meeting adjourned abruptly

The verb here is 'adjourned'. 'Adjourn' can be used both transitively (requiring an object) and intransitively (not requiring an object). It means to break off a meeting, parliament, or trial for a period.

• Intransitive use: The meeting adjourned at 3 PM. (The meeting itself ended)
• Transitive use: The Chairman adjourned the meeting. (Someone adjourned the meeting)

In part a), "The meeting adjourned abruptly" can stand alone as a grammatically correct sentence using 'adjourned' intransitively. However, we must look at the subsequent parts of the sentence.

Part b) by the Chairman after

This part introduces the phrase "by the Chairman". In grammar, a "by" phrase followed by an agent (like "the Chairman") typically indicates who performed the action in a passive voice construction. For example, "The decision was made by the Chairman." or "The ball was hit by the player."

Part c) about three hours of deliberation.

This part specifies the duration after which the adjournment happened. This part is grammatically correct in itself and describes the context of the adjournment.

Identifying the Error

Now let's look at the sentence as a whole: "The meeting adjourned abruptly by the Chairman after about three hours of deliberation."

The structure "The meeting adjourned... by the Chairman" is problematic.

• If 'adjourned' is used intransitively ("The meeting adjourned"), it means the meeting ended on its own or as scheduled, and you wouldn't follow it with "by the Chairman" indicating who caused it.
• If the Chairman caused the meeting to end, the sentence should be in the passive voice: "The meeting was adjourned abruptly by the Chairman..."
• Alternatively, it could be in the active voice focusing on the Chairman: "The Chairman adjourned the meeting abruptly after..."

The sentence as written incorrectly mixes the structure. "The meeting adjourned abruptly" suggests an intransitive or active use, but it is immediately followed by "by the Chairman," which is characteristic of a passive construction where "the meeting" is the recipient of the action (being adjourned). The verb form "adjourned" in part (a) is incompatible with the "by the Chairman" phrase in part (b) in this context.

The error lies in the initial verb phrase structure in part (a) which sets up the incorrect grammatical relationship with the agent introduced in part (b). Therefore, the error is in part a).

To correct the sentence, it should be either:

• "The meeting was adjourned abruptly by the Chairman after about three hours of deliberation." (Passive)
• "The Chairman adjourned the meeting abruptly after about three hours of deliberation." (Active)

Since the original sentence attempts a structure starting with "The meeting adjourned," the necessary correction involves changing "adjourned" to "was adjourned" to properly accommodate the agent "by the Chairman." This highlights the error in the original phrasing in part a).

Conclusion

The error is in part a) where the verb "adjourned" is used in a way that conflicts with the agent phrase "by the Chairman" in part b). The correct form in conjunction with the agent phrase should be in the passive voice, i.e., "was adjourned".

Revision Table: Spotting Sentence Errors

Additional Information: Active vs. Passive Voice in Error Spotting

Understanding the difference between active and passive voice is crucial for spotting grammatical errors related to verb forms and sentence structure, especially when agent phrases are involved.

• Active Voice: The subject of the sentence performs the action. This voice is generally more direct and vigorous.
  • Example: The dog chased the cat. (Dog is the subject, performs the action 'chased').
• Passive Voice: The subject of the sentence receives the action. The agent performing the action may be mentioned in a "by" phrase or omitted if unimportant or unknown. It is formed using a form of the verb 'be' followed by the past participle of the main verb.
  • Example: The cat was chased by the dog. (Cat is the subject, receives the action 'was chased').
  • Example (agent omitted): The decision was made yesterday.

In the original sentence, "The meeting adjourned abruptly by the Chairman," the subject "The meeting" is presented as performing the action "adjourned" (intransitive/active form), but the phrase "by the Chairman" clearly indicates that "The meeting" is receiving the action of being adjourned by the Chairman. This mismatch signals a grammatical error requiring the passive voice form ("was adjourned") to correctly link the subject to the action and the agent.

When spotting errors, always check if a 'by' phrase introducing an agent aligns correctly with the verb form used for the subject of the sentence. If the subject is the one performing the action, active voice is typically used without a 'by' agent phrase (unless the agent is being contrasted). If the subject is receiving the action caused by an agent in a 'by' phrase, the passive voice is required.