Directions: In the following question, some part of the sentence may have errors. Find out which part of the sentence has an error and select the appropriate option. If a sentence is free from error, select 'No Error'. He was smiling, (A)/ but his eyes retained (B)/ a look of solemness. (C)/ No error (D)
C
Understanding the Sentence Error
The question asks us to identify if there is a grammatical error in the given sentence and, if so, in which part. Let's break down the sentence and analyze each part.
The sentence is: "He was smiling, (A)/ but his eyes retained (B)/ a look of solemness. (C)/ No error (D)"
Analyzing Each Part of the Sentence
- Part (A): "He was smiling," - This part uses the past continuous tense correctly ("was smiling") and is grammatically sound.
- Part (B): "but his eyes retained" - This part uses the simple past tense ("retained") to describe a state or action in the past. "His eyes" is the subject, and "retained" is the verb. This part is also grammatically correct. The conjunction "but" correctly connects two contrasting ideas.
- Part (C): "a look of solemness." - This part contains a phrase describing the appearance of his eyes. The structure "a look of [noun]" is common. However, the word "solemness" is not the standard or correct noun form derived from the adjective "solemn".
Identifying the Grammatical Mistake: Noun Form
The error lies in part (C). The adjective is "solemn", meaning formal and dignified, not cheerful or smiling. To describe the quality of being solemn as a noun, the correct word is "solemnity", not "solemness". "Solemnity" is the standard noun form indicating the state or quality of being solemn.
- Adjective: Solemn (e.g., a solemn occasion)
- Noun: Solemnity (e.g., the solemnity of the event)
Therefore, the phrase should be "a look of solemnity" to correctly express the noun form of the quality implied by the adjective "solemn".
Correcting the Sentence
Replacing "solemness" with the correct noun "solemnity", the corrected sentence would be:
"He was smiling, but his eyes retained a look of solemnity."
Conclusion on the Error Location
Based on the analysis, the grammatical error is found in part (C) of the sentence, where the incorrect noun form "solemness" is used instead of "solemnity".
The final answer is that the error is in part (C).
| Part | Sentence Segment | Analysis | Error? |
|---|---|---|---|
| (A) | He was smiling, | Correct past continuous structure. | No |
| (B) | but his eyes retained | Correct conjunction and simple past tense. | No |
| (C) | a look of solemness. | Incorrect noun form used ("solemness" instead of "solemnity"). | Yes |
| (D) | No error | There is an error in part (C). | No |
Revision Table: Common Noun Forms
Understanding how to form nouns from adjectives is crucial for correct grammar. Here are a few examples:
| Adjective | Common Noun Form |
|---|---|
| Happy | Happiness |
| Sad | Sadness |
| Kind | Kindness |
| Strong | Strength |
| Wide | Width |
| Solemn | Solemnity |
| Curious | Curiosity |
Additional Information: Parts of Speech in English Grammar
Identifying the correct part of speech is fundamental to sentence construction and error detection in English grammar. Words change their form or structure when used as different parts of speech.
- Adjectives: Describe nouns (e.g., solemn man).
- Nouns: Represent a person, place, thing, or idea (e.g., solemnity of the occasion).
- Adverbs: Describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs (e.g., solemnly declared).
Choosing the wrong part of speech, as seen in the error with "solemness" (incorrect noun form) instead of "solemnity", is a common type of grammatical error tested in competitive exams. Paying attention to word forms and their appropriate usage in sentences is key to improving grammar skills and spotting errors.
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No one knows (a) why he did it, (b) or who was behind his doing it.(c) No error. (d)
