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). His written statement (a) / defers in several important respects (b) / from his oral statement. (c) / No error (d)
b
Understanding Error Detection in Sentences
This question asks us to find a grammatical error in one of the underlined parts of the given sentence. We need to examine each part carefully to identify if there is any issue with grammar, usage, or phrasing.
The sentence provided is:
His written statement (a) / defers in several important respects (b) / from his oral statement. (c) / No error (d)
Analyzing Each Part of the Sentence
Part (a): His written statement
This part introduces the subject of the sentence, "His written statement". The phrasing is grammatically correct and makes sense in this context. There appears to be no error here.
Part (b): defers in several important respects
This part contains the main verb "defers" and a phrase indicating the manner ("in several important respects"). The verb "defer" means to postpone or to yield respectfully to another's opinion or wishes. For example, "He decided to defer his decision until tomorrow," or "She will defer to her manager's judgment."
However, the context of the sentence is comparing two statements and highlighting their differences ("from his oral statement"). When we talk about things being different from each other, the correct verb to use is "differ", typically followed by the preposition "from". The verb "differ" means to be different or distinct. The correct idiom is "differ from".
Therefore, using "defers in" is incorrect in this context. The intended meaning requires the verb "differs" and the preposition "from".
Part (c): from his oral statement.
This part completes the comparison. As discussed in part (b), the verb "differ" (or "differs" for a singular subject like "statement") correctly takes the preposition "from" when showing a distinction between two things. The phrase "from his oral statement" is appropriate when comparing the written statement to the oral statement.
Part (d): No error
This option would be correct only if none of the underlined parts contained an error.
Identifying the Error
Based on our analysis, the verb "defers" in part (b) is incorrectly used in this context. The correct verb should be "differs" to indicate that the written statement is different from the oral statement. The correct phrase would be "differs from". While part (c) uses "from" correctly in relation to the comparison, the error lies in the choice of the verb "defers" in part (b).
The erroneous part is (b): "defers in several important respects". It should be "differs in several important respects from his oral statement" or more commonly, "differs from his oral statement in several important respects". However, the error is specifically in the underlined part (b) regarding the verb choice and the immediate preposition "in" in that phrase fragment when it should be "differs from".
The correct sentence would be: "His written statement differs in several important respects from his oral statement."
Conclusion on the Error
The error is located in part (b) due to the incorrect use of the verb "defers" instead of "differs" when indicating a difference or distinction.
| Part | Content | Analysis | Error? |
|---|---|---|---|
| (a) | His written statement | Subject of the sentence. Grammatically correct. | No |
| (b) | defers in several important respects | Verb usage is incorrect. Should be "differs from". | Yes |
| (c) | from his oral statement. | Correct preposition "from" is used for comparison with "differ". However, the error is in part (b). | No |
| (d) | No error | Incorrect, as there is an error in part (b). | No |
Revision Table: Common Confusions
| Word | Meaning | Correct Usage Example |
|---|---|---|
| Differ | To be different or distinct; to disagree (followed by 'with'). | Your opinion differs from mine. I differ with you on that point. |
| Defer | To postpone; to yield respectfully to another's opinion or wishes. | We must defer the meeting. She decided to defer to his expertise. |
Additional Information: Verb-Preposition Collocations
Certain verbs naturally pair with specific prepositions to convey particular meanings. These pairings are called collocations and are important for correct English usage. For example:
- Differ from (to be different)
- Differ with (to disagree)
- Agree with (a person)
- Agree on/about (a topic)
- Depend on
- Rely on
- Account for
- Belong to
Mastering these collocations helps avoid common errors in sentence construction, like the confusion between "differ from" and "defer in". Pay close attention to the verb and the preposition that follows it, especially in error detection exercises.
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)
