Direction: Item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled as (a), (b) and (c). Read each sentence to find out whether there is any error in any underlined part and indicate your response on 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). Either he (a) / or I (b) / am mistaken. (c) / No error (d)
d
Understanding Sentence Structure and Grammar Errors
The question asks us to identify if there is any grammatical error in the given sentence: "Either he (a) / or I (b) / am mistaken (c) / No error (d)". This sentence uses the correlative conjunction "either...or". We need to examine the parts to see if they follow the correct English grammar rules, specifically regarding verb agreement.
Analyzing Verb Agreement with "Either...Or"
When two subjects are connected by "either...or" (or "neither...nor"), the verb agrees with the subject that is closer to it. Let's break down the sentence:
- The two subjects connected by "either...or" are "he" and "I".
- The verb is "am".
- The subject closer to the verb "am" is "I".
According to the rule, the verb must agree with "I". The correct verb form for "I" in the present tense is "am". Therefore, "I am mistaken" is grammatically correct.
Checking Each Underlined Part
Let's look at the underlined sections:
- (a) Either he: This part introduces the first subject in the "either...or" construction. Grammatically correct in this context.
- (b) or I: This part introduces the second subject, "I", and connects it to the first subject using "or". Grammatically correct.
- (c) am mistaken: This is the verb phrase. The verb "am" agrees with the closer subject "I". The phrase "am mistaken" (passive voice) is correct. Grammatically correct.
Since parts (a), (b), and (c) are all grammatically correct within the structure of the sentence, there is no error in the sentence.
Conclusion on the Sentence Error
Based on the analysis of the sentence "Either he or I am mistaken" and the rule of verb agreement with "either...or", the sentence is grammatically sound. Therefore, there is no error in any of the underlined parts (a), (b), or (c).
This means the correct identification for the error, or lack thereof, is (d) No error.
Revision Table: Key Grammar Concepts
| Grammar Rule | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Subject-Verb Agreement with "Either...Or" | The verb agrees with the subject closest to it. | Either you or he is coming. (He is) Either he or you are coming. (You are) Either he or I am coming. (I am) |
| Subject-Verb Agreement with "Neither...Nor" | Similar to "either...or", the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. | Neither she nor they are ready. (They are) Neither they nor she is ready. (She is) |
Additional Information: Correlative Conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions are pairs of conjunctions that work together to connect two equal grammatical elements in a sentence. Common correlative conjunctions include:
- Either...or
- Neither...nor
- Both...and
- Not only...but also
- Whether...or
Understanding how these pairs work is crucial for mastering sentence structure and agreement in English grammar. The rule of proximity for verb agreement (verb agreeing with the closer subject) is particularly important for "either...or" and "neither...nor".
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Important Questions from Error Spotting
The following sentence has been split into four segments. Identify the segment that contains a grammatical error.
Fortunately, / the fire did not / caused much damage / to the building.
The following sentence has been divided into parts. One of them may contain an error. Select the part that contains the error from the given options. If you don’t find any error, mark ‘No error’ as your answer.
Neither of them have / any experience / in software development.
The following sentence has been split into four segments. Identify the segment that contains a grammatical error.
Each of the students were / present for / the valedictory session / that night.
From the given options, identify the segment in the sentence which contains the grammatical error.
If you prepare well, you wouldn't have failed the exam.
Directions: Identify the segment in the sentence which contains grammatical error from the given options.
Thunderstorms develop in hot, humid tropical areas like India much to frequently.
