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Question

Directions: Identify the segment in the sentence which contains the grammatical error.

Rohit, who did not submit his essay on time, is penalize and had to lose marks.

This question was previously asked in
SSC Stenographer 2019 Previous Year Paper (24-Dec-2020) (Shift 2)
The correct answer is

is penalize

Identifying Grammatical Errors in English Sentences

The question asks us to identify the segment in the given sentence that contains a grammatical error. Let's look at the sentence provided:

Rohit, who did not submit his essay on time, is penalize and had to lose marks.

We need to examine each segment presented in the options to find the error.

Analyzing the Sentence Segments

Let's break down the sentence and analyze the potential errors in the highlighted parts:

  1. on time: This phrase is an adverbial phrase modifying when the essay was submitted. "On time" is a standard and grammatically correct phrase meaning punctually. There is no error here.
  2. who did not submit: This is a relative clause modifying "Rohit". The past tense "did not submit" is correct because the action happened in the past. The structure "who + verb" is correct for a relative clause modifying a person. There is no error here.
  3. had to lose marks: This part of the sentence indicates a consequence for Rohit. "Had to" is used to express a past obligation or necessity, which fits the context of being penalized. "Lose marks" is a standard phrase. The verb "had" is consistent with the past action mentioned earlier (not submitting on time). There is no error here.
  4. is penalize: This segment describes what happened to Rohit. Let's look closely at the verb "penalize". The structure used is "is" followed by the base form of the verb "penalize". This structure is incorrect in standard English grammar, especially in the context of passive voice which seems intended here (Rohit is being subjected to penalty). For passive voice in the present tense, the structure should be be verb + past participle. The past participle of "penalize" is "penalized". Therefore, the correct form should be "is penalized". This clearly indicates a grammatical error.

Explanation of the Grammatical Error

The error lies in the segment "is penalize". The sentence describes Rohit being subjected to a penalty. This requires the use of the passive voice. The passive voice is formed using a form of the verb 'to be' followed by the past participle of the main verb.

  • Verb: penalize
  • Past Participle: penalized
  • Correct Passive Voice (Present Tense): is penalized

The sentence uses "is penalize" which incorrectly pairs the present tense form of 'to be' ("is") with the base form of the verb ("penalize"). The correct phrasing in passive voice should be "is penalized".

The corrected sentence would be: Rohit, who did not submit his essay on time, is penalized and had to lose marks.

Concluding the Grammatical Error Analysis

Based on the analysis, the segment "is penalize" contains the grammatical error due to the incorrect formation of the passive voice. The verb "penalize" should be in its past participle form "penalized" when used with "is" to indicate a state or consequence in the passive voice.

Segment Analysis Error?
on time Standard correct phrase. No
who did not submit Correct relative clause with past tense. No
had to lose marks Correct expression of past necessity/consequence. No
is penalize Incorrect passive voice formation (needs past participle). Yes

Revision Table: Understanding Passive Voice

Concept Explanation Example
Active Voice The subject performs the action. Structure: Subject + Verb + Object. The teacher penalized Rohit.
Passive Voice The subject receives the action. Structure: Object (becomes subject) + Be Verb + Past Participle + (optional: by + original subject). Rohit is penalized by the teacher.
Forming Passive (Present) Use 'am', 'is', or 'are' + Past Participle of the main verb. I am helped. He is seen. They are asked.

Additional Information on Verb Forms and Passive Voice

Understanding verb forms, especially base form, simple past, and past participle, is crucial for correctly forming tenses and voices in English. The base form (like 'penalize') is used with modals, in infinitive phrases, and in the simple present tense (with agreement). The simple past (like 'penalized' in 'He penalized...') is used for actions completed in the past.

The past participle (like 'penalized') has several uses:

  • With 'have', 'has', 'had' to form perfect tenses (e.g., He has penalized).
  • With forms of 'be' to form the passive voice (e.g., He is penalized).
  • As an adjective (e.g., a penalized student).

In the sentence "Rohit... is penalize", the structure indicates an attempt to use passive voice, but it incorrectly uses the base form "penalize" instead of the past participle "penalized". This is a common error and highlights the importance of knowing the correct verb forms for passive constructions.

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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)

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