All Exams Test series for 1 year @ ₹349 only
Question

Direction :Read each sentence to find out 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).

He refused to change (a)/ his decision; (b)/ he refused it point out (c). (d) No error.

This question was previously asked in
NDA I 2021 GAT Previous Year Paper (18-Apr-2021)
The correct answer is

(c)

Understanding the Grammar Error in the Sentence

The question asks us to identify the part of the sentence that contains a grammatical error. The sentence is broken into four parts: (a) "He refused to change", (b) "his decision;", (c) "he refused it point out", and (d) "No error". We need to examine each underlined part carefully.

Analyzing Each Part of the Sentence

  • Part (a): "He refused to change"
    This part seems grammatically correct. "Refused" is followed by the infinitive "to change", which is a standard construction for the verb "refuse" when followed by an action.
  • Part (b): "his decision;"
    This part is also grammatically sound. "His decision" is a noun phrase serving as the object of "to change". The semicolon (;) correctly separates two closely related independent clauses.
  • Part (c): "he refused it point out"
    This is where the grammatical error lies. The phrase "refused it point out" is not a correct structure in English. The verb "refuse" when followed by an action typically takes an infinitive (to + verb). If "it" refers to the decision, the intended meaning is likely that he refused to explain or point out the decision. The correct structure would involve "to point out".

Identifying the Error and Correcting It

The error is in part (c). The construction "refused it point out" is grammatically incorrect. The verb "refuse" is usually followed by a 'to-infinitive' to indicate the action being refused.

If the intention is to say he refused to explain or highlight his decision, the correct phrasing would be:

  • He refused to point it out.

The structure "refuse + object + base verb" is not standard English. The correct form for refusing an action related to "it" is "refuse to + verb + it".

The Corrected Sentence

Based on the analysis, the corrected sentence would likely be:

"He refused to change his decision; he refused to point it out."

Conclusion on the Grammar Error

The grammatical error is found in part (c), "he refused it point out", due to the incorrect verb phrase construction following "refused".

Revision Table: Understanding 'Refuse'

Correct Usage Example
Refuse + to-infinitive He refused to help.
Refuse + Noun/Pronoun (less common for actions) He refused the offer.

Additional Information on Verb Complements

Verbs in English are often followed by other words or phrases to complete their meaning. These are called complements. The type of complement a verb takes is part of its grammatical profile. Some common complements include:

  • Direct Objects: A noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb (e.g., He ate the apple).
  • Indirect Objects: A noun or pronoun that receives the direct object (e.g., She gave him a gift).
  • Subject Complements: Describes the subject, often following linking verbs like 'be', 'seem', 'become' (e.g., He is happy).
  • Object Complements: Describes the direct object (e.g., They elected him president).
  • Infinitives: The 'to + verb' form (e.g., He wants to leave).
  • Gerunds: The '-ing' form used as a noun (e.g., She enjoys reading).
  • Prepositional Phrases: A phrase starting with a preposition (e.g., They waited at the station).

The verb "refuse" commonly takes an infinitive complement when referring to the refusal of an action, as seen in the error from the original sentence part (c).

Was this answer helpful?

Similar Questions

  1. 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.

    The practical uses of astrology (a) / have seldom been seriously (b) / studied outside India. (c) / No error (d)
  2. 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)
  3. 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)
  4. 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).

    Failure is the stepping stone to success;  (a) / however, successive failures are not (b) / successive stepping stones to success. (c) / No error (d)
  5. 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).

    India's strengths are  (a) / its diversity of culture and (b) / the spirit of tolerance in it's people.(c) / No error (d)
  6. 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).

    Once considered ninth planet of the solar system, (a) / Pluto is today listed as the (b) / largest dwarf planet of the solar system. (c) / No error (d)

  7. 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 greatest glory in life  (a) / is to be able to realize ones dreams and ambitions (b) / without trampling on those of others. (c) / No error (d)
  8. 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).

    To be able to manage one's (a) / anger is a reflection of an individual's (b) / psychological maturity. (c) /  No error (d)
  9. Direction :Read each sentence to find out 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).

    You don't have a (a)/ monopoly on suffering; (b)/ other people don't have problems too. (c)/ No error (d)

  10. Direction :Read each sentence to find out 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).

    If you say that someone (a)/ you admire has feet of clay (b)/ you mean that he or she has hidden faults. (c)/ No error.(d)


Important Questions from Error Spotting

  1. 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)

  2. 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).

    CV Raman was one of the greatest sons of India (a) who has earned everlasting fame (b) for scientific researches. (c) No error. (d)

  3. 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).

    This box(a)is heavy than(b) the other one.(c) No error. (d)

  4. 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).

    Thewriter does not have the freedom (a) to choose his own themes, (b) society thrusts them on him (c) No error. (d)

  5. The following question has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c). Read each sentence to find out whether there is an 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).

    No one knows (a) why he did it, (b) or who was behind his doing it.(c) No error. (d)

Need Expert Advice?
Upcoming Exams
NDA
September 13, 2026
CDS
September 13, 2026
Test Series
NDA img
Defence
NDA 2026 Mock Test Series (Latest Pattern)
501 Tests 1 Tests Free
770 Attempts
4.7(129)
English, Hindi

Start Your Preparation with Prepp Mobile App

Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Prepp Mobile App