Directions: Each item in this section has a sentence with four options labelled (a), (b) and (c). Read each sentence to find out whether there is any error 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) There was great deal that had to be scrapped, that must be scrapped (b) but surely India could not have been what she undoubtedly was (c) and could not have continued a cultured existence for thousands of years (d) No error
(a)
Analyzing Sentence Error Detection for Improvement
This question asks us to identify the part of the given sentence that contains an error in grammar or usage. The sentence is broken down into three parts: (a), (b), and (c). If no error is found in any part, the answer is (d).
Examining Each Part of the Sentence
Let's look at each part of the sentence carefully to detect any potential errors.
- Part (a): "There was great deal that had to be scrapped, that must be scrapped"
- Part (b): "but surely India could not have been what she undoubtedly was"
- Part (c): "and could not have continued a cultured existence for thousands of years"
Identifying the Error in Part (a)
The phrase "great deal" is used in part (a). In English grammar, when referring to a large amount or quantity in this context, the indefinite article "a" is required before "great deal". The correct idiomatic phrase is "a great deal". Without the article "a", the phrase "great deal" is grammatically incorrect here.
So, the corrected phrase should be "a great deal". The sentence part (a) should ideally read: "There was a great deal that had to be scrapped, that must be scrapped..."
Therefore, part (a) contains the error because it is missing the indefinite article "a" before "great deal".
Evaluating Parts (b) and (c) for Errors
Let's examine parts (b) and (c):
-
Part (b): "but surely India could not have been what she undoubtedly was"
This part uses the subjunctive mood with "could not have been" and refers to the state of India in the past ("what she undoubtedly was"). This structure and usage appear grammatically correct and convey the intended meaning.
-
Part (c): "and could not have continued a cultured existence for thousands of years"
This part continues the idea from (b) using "could not have continued" and refers to a historical duration ("for thousands of years"). The phrase "a cultured existence" is appropriate. This part also appears grammatically sound and fits logically with the rest of the sentence structure.
Based on this analysis, parts (b) and (c) do not seem to contain any grammatical errors.
Conclusion of Error Detection
The analysis shows that the error lies in part (a) due to the omission of the indefinite article "a" before "great deal". Parts (b) and (c) are grammatically correct. Therefore, the part of the sentence with the error is (a).
| Part | Sentence Fragment | Analysis | Error Found? |
|---|---|---|---|
| (a) | There was great deal that had to be scrapped, that must be scrapped | Missing article 'a' before 'great deal'. Should be 'a great deal'. | Yes |
| (b) | but surely India could not have been what she undoubtedly was | Grammatically correct. | No |
| (c) | and could not have continued a cultured existence for thousands of years | Grammatically correct. | No |
| (d) | No error | Not applicable as an error was found in (a). | N/A |
Revision Table: Common Article Errors
| Type of Error | Incorrect Example | Correct Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missing 'a' before singular countable noun | I saw dog. | I saw a dog. | A singular countable noun usually needs an article (a/an/the). |
| Missing 'a'/'an' before idiomatic phrases | He has good understanding. | He has a good understanding. | Phrases like 'a great deal', 'a good understanding', 'a lot of' require an article. |
| Incorrect use of 'the' with general plurals/uncountables | The dogs are loyal animals. | Dogs are loyal animals. | Use 'the' for specific things, not general categories. |
Additional Information: Understanding Articles in English
Articles are words (a, an, the) that precede a noun and indicate whether the noun is specific or unspecific. They are crucial for grammatical correctness.
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Indefinite Articles (a, an): Used for singular, countable nouns when they are general or unspecific.
- Use 'a' before consonant sounds (e.g., a car, a house, a university - 'u' sounds like 'yoo').
- Use 'an' before vowel sounds (e.g., an apple, an hour - 'h' is silent).
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Definite Article (the): Used for specific or particular nouns, whether singular or plural, countable or uncountable.
- Used when the noun has been mentioned before.
- Used when the noun is unique (e.g., the sun, the Eiffel Tower).
- Used with superlatives (e.g., the best, the tallest).
In the context of the sentence, "great deal" functions as a noun phrase referring to an unspecific large amount, making "a great deal" the correct form.
Similar Questions
In this section, each item consists of six sentences of passage. The first and sixth sentences are given in the beginning as SI and S6. The middle four-sentence in each have been jumbled up and labelled as P, Q, R and S. You are required to find the proper sequence of the four sentences.
S1: We do not know what do to with our knowledge.
S6: In the course of time they may rule over us all together.
P: For example, we are unable to manage our machines.
Q: We already find it difficult to do without machines
R: Machines should be fed properly and waited upon attentively; otherwise they refuse to work or cause destruction.
S: Science has given us superhuman powers, which we do not use properly.
Directions: Each of the following items in this section consists of a sentence, the pans of which have been jumbled. These parts have been labelled P, Q, R and S. Given below each sentence are four sequences namely (a), (b), (c) and (d). You are required to re-arrange the jumbled parts of the sentence and mark your response accordingly.
The spirit of man
P. has slowly and painfully surmounted
Q. and his growing intelligence
R. all the obstacles that have come in his way
S. has faced all kinds of dangers
Directions: Each of the following items in this section consists of a sentence, the pans of which have been jumbled. These parts have been labelled P, Q, R and S. Given below each sentence are four sequences namely (a), (b), (c) and (d). You are required to re-arrange the jumbled parts of the sentence and mark your response accordingly.
Even a leisurely game like cricket.
P. demanding grace rather than strength
Q. and over the rough tactics of the Australian team that visited England in 1921
R. as we saw in the controversy over body-line bowling
S. can cause much ill-will
Directions: Each of the following items in this section consists of a sentence, the parts of which have been jumbled. These parts have been labelled P, Q, R and S. Given below each sentence are four sequences namely (a), (b), (c) and (d). You are required to re-arrange the jumbled parts of the sentence and mark your response accordingly.
Scientists point out
P. of sunspot activity
Q. that it is an aftermath that
R. has now reached its peak
S. of the eleven-year cycle
Directions: Each of the following items in this section consists of a sentence, the parts of which have been jumbled. These parts have been labelled P, Q, R and S. Given below each sentence are four sequences namely (a), (b), (c) and (d). You are required to re-arrange the jumbled parts of the sentence and mark your response accordingly.
As the ship streams from San Diego
P. as walls of gray water from a distant storm in the North Pacific
Q. making the greener among us miserable with seasickness
R. rock and toss the ship
S. those of us aboard have a personal demonstration of powerful ocean movement
Directions: Each item in this section has a sentence with four options labelled (a), (b) and (c). Read each sentence to find out whether there is any error 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) An electrical circuit
(b) is the complete path
(c) traversed by electric current.
(d) No error
Directions: Each item in this section has a sentence with three options labelled (a), (b) and (c). Read each sentence to find out whether there is any error 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) He waved us a bye-bye
(b) as he boarded the train
(c) which disappeared into the tunnel
(d) No error
Directions: Each item in this section has a sentence with four options labelled (a), (b) and (c). Read each sentence to find out whether there is any error 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) With regard to interior decoration, it is the attention given to the less overt aspect of using space
(b) that give it life, an identity, a quality
(c) that makes it exciting and unusual
(d) No error
Directions: Each item in this section has a sentence with four options labelled (a), (b) and (c). Read each sentence to find out whether there is any error 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) A small parcel
(b) of novels is
(c) better than none
(d) No error
Direction: In the items in this section, each passage consists of six sentences. The first and the sixth sentences are given in the beginning as S1 and S6. The middle four sentences in each have been removed and jumbled up. These are labeled P, Q, R, and S. You are required to find out the proper order for the four sentences and mark accordingly on the Answer Sheet.
S1: The machines that drive modern civilisation derive their power from coal and oil.
S6: Nuclear energy may also be effectively used in this respect.
P: But they are not inexhaustible.
Q: These sources may not be exhausted very soon.
R: A time may come when some other sources have to be tapped and utilised.
S: Power may, of course, be obtained in future from forests, water, wind and withered vegetables.
The proper sequence should be
Important Questions from Para Jumbles
Each of the following items in this section consists of a sentence, the part of which have been jumbled. These parts have been labelled as P, Q, R and S. You are required to re-arrange the jumbled parts of the sentence.
P: the prize money
Q: for refusing her
R: Pepsico was ordered
S: to compensate the woman
Each of the following items in this section consists of a sentence, the part of which have been jumbled. These parts have been labelled as P, Q, R and S. You are required to re-arrange the jumbled parts of the sentence and choose the correct sequence.
P: trade operating from a colony
Q: held a meeting
R: demanding a probe into the illegal drug
S: the residents of the city
Each of the following items in this section consists of a sentence, the part of which have been jumbled. These parts have been labelled as P, Q, R and S.You are required to re-arrange the jumbled parts of the sentence.
P: the university authorities cancelled the ongoing student's union election and
Q: following student's unrest on campus
R: closed till further orders
S: declared the institution
Each of the following items in this section consists of a sentence, the part of which have been jumbled. These parts have been labelled as P, Q, R and S. You are required to re-arrange the jumbled parts of the sentence and mark your response accordingly.
P: brushed past the latter's pet dog
Q: stabbed to death by a man
R: after his vehicle accidentally
S: a cargo van driver was allegedly
Each of the following items in this section consists of a sentence, the part of which have been jumbled. These parts have been labelled as P, Q, R and S. You are required to re-arrange the jumbled parts of the sentence and mark your response accordingly.
P: an earthquake and tsunami
Q: the disaster mitigation agency
R: said that the death toll from
S: in Indonesia has crossed 1500
