Direction: In this section, a number of sentences are given. The sentences are underlined in three separate parts and each one is labeled a), b), c). Read each sentence to find out whether there is an error in any underlined part. No sentence has more than one error. When you find an error in any one of the underlined parts a), b) or c), indicate your response on the Answer Sheet at the appropriate space. You may feel that there is no error in a sentence. In that case, letter ‘d)’ will signify a ‘No error’ response. a) The meeting adjourned abruptly b)/ by the Chairman after c)/ about three hours of deliberation. d)/ No error
a
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).
| Part | Text | Analysis | Error? |
|---|---|---|---|
| a) | The meeting adjourned abruptly | Sets up the verb structure. When followed by "by the Chairman," requires passive voice ("was adjourned"). | Yes |
| b) | by the Chairman after | Introduces the agent. Correct structure for passive voice, but incompatible with the verb form in (a). | No (in isolation) |
| c) | about three hours of deliberation. | Provides context (time). Grammatically correct. | No |
| d) | No error | Not applicable as there is an error. | N/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
| Concept | Key Point | How it Applies Here |
|---|---|---|
| Active Voice | Subject performs the action (e.g., Chairman adjourned). | Possible structure: "The Chairman adjourned..." |
| Passive Voice | Subject receives the action (e.g., Meeting was adjourned). Uses 'be' + past participle, often with 'by' + agent. | Required structure with "by the Chairman": "The meeting was adjourned by the Chairman..." |
| Verb Usage (Adjourn) | Can be transitive or intransitive. Requires correct voice/structure depending on context. | Used incorrectly in active/intransitive form ('adjourned') when a passive structure ('was adjourned') is needed due to the 'by' phrase. |
| Sentence Structure | Subject-verb agreement, correct placement of phrases. | The phrase "by the Chairman" indicates an agent, demanding a passive verb form for "The meeting" as the subject. |
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.
Similar Questions
Some parts of the sentence have an error and some parts are correct. Find out which part of the sentence has an error. If a sentence is free from error, choose 'No error' as the answer.
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Important Questions from Error Spotting
The following question has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c). Read each sentence to find out whether there is any error in any underlined part and indicate your response against the corresponding letter i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
It is identification with the audience(a)that makes one come home from the play so much more(b)satisfied than one ever is after merely passive enjoyment of the show.(c) No error.(d)
The following question has a sentence with four parts labelled (a), (b), (c), and (d). Read each sentence to find out whether there is an error in any part and indicate your response against the corresponding letter i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
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Thewriter does not have the freedom (a) to choose his own themes, (b) society thrusts them on him (c) No error. (d)
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No one knows (a) why he did it, (b) or who was behind his doing it.(c) No error. (d)
