SPOTTING ERRORS Each item in this section 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 answer 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).
I am told-(a), John is ill-(b), since Monday-(c), No error-(d)
b
Spotting Grammatical Errors in English Sentences
This question asks us to find a grammatical error in one of the underlined parts of the given sentence. The sentence is divided into three parts labeled (a), (b), and (c). If there is no error, we should choose option (d).
Analyzing the Sentence Parts
The sentence provided is: "I am told-(a), John is ill-(b), since Monday-(c), No error-(d)".
Let's break down the underlined sections:
- (a) I am told
- (b) John is ill
- (c) since Monday
Detailed Analysis of Each Underlined Section
We will now analyze each part to determine its grammatical correctness, especially in relation to the other parts of the sentence.
Analysis of Part (a): I am told
This phrase uses the passive voice ("am told"). It is a grammatically correct construction and functions as a clause that introduces information that was conveyed to the speaker by someone else. This part of the sentence is correct.
Analysis of Part (b): John is ill
This part uses the simple present tense form of the verb 'to be' ("is"). "John is ill" describes John's current state. However, when this phrase is used with a time expression indicating duration from a past point up to the present, such as "since Monday" (part c), the simple present tense is generally not appropriate. The simple present is used for things happening now, routines, or facts, but not for actions or states that started in the past and continue into the present.
To express a state that began in the past and is still true in the present, the present perfect tense (has/have + past participle) or sometimes the present perfect continuous tense is used. The correct form here should indicate that John's illness started on Monday and continues now.
Analysis of Part (c): since Monday
This is a time phrase that specifies the starting point of a duration that extends up to the present moment. The word "since" is used with a specific point in time (like Monday, 1990, last week) to indicate when something began. Time phrases starting with "since" or durations introduced by "for" typically require the verb in the main clause to be in a perfect tense to correctly show the continuation from the past to the present.
Identifying the Grammatical Error
Considering the entire sentence, "since Monday" tells us that John's state of being ill started on Monday and is still ongoing. The simple present tense "is ill" in part (b) is incorrect for describing a state that has continued since a past point in time. The correct tense to use with "since Monday" for a state that started then and continues now is the present perfect tense.
The correct phrasing for part (b) should be "John has been ill". The verb "has been" is the present perfect tense of "to be".
Therefore, the grammatical error is found in part (b) because the simple present tense "is ill" does not correctly combine with the duration indicated by "since Monday".
| Part | Text | Analysis | Error? |
|---|---|---|---|
| (a) | I am told | Passive voice, grammatically correct introductory clause. | No |
| (b) | John is ill | Simple present tense. Incorrect when used with 'since Monday' to show ongoing state from the past. Requires present perfect ('has been ill'). | Yes |
| (c) | since Monday | Time phrase indicating start of duration up to present. Requires a perfect tense verb. Correct in itself. | No |
The analysis confirms that the error is in part (b).
Revision Table: Understanding Tense Usage for Spotting Errors
| Concept | Explanation | How it Applies Here |
|---|---|---|
| Verb Tenses with 'Since' and 'For' | When talking about something that started in the past and continues to the present, perfect tenses (like Present Perfect or Present Perfect Continuous) are used with 'since' (start point) or 'for' (duration). | 'since Monday' indicates the start point of John's illness, which continues. The simple present 'is ill' is incorrect for this duration. |
| Present Perfect Tense Structure | Formed with has/have + the past participle of the main verb. E.g., 'has been', 'have worked', 'has lived'. | The correct form for 'is ill' with 'since Monday' is the present perfect of 'to be', which is 'has been'. So, 'John has been ill since Monday'. |
| Simple Present Tense Usage | Used for facts, habits, routines, or actions happening at the moment of speaking (less common for states). Not used for states/actions continuing from the past to the present. | 'John is ill' is correct if just describing his state now, but not if describing a state that started on Monday and is ongoing. |
Additional Information: Using 'Since' and 'For' Correctly
Correctly using 'since' and 'for' is a common point tested in spotting error questions related to verb tenses. Here's a bit more detail:
- 'Since' + Point in Time: Use 'since' followed by a specific moment in the past (e.g., since morning, since 5 o'clock, since 2020, since Christmas, since he left home). It tells us when the action or state began.
- 'For' + Period of Time: Use 'for' followed by a duration (e.g., for two hours, for three days, for a week, for many years, for a long time). It tells us how long the action or state has lasted.
Both 'since' and 'for' are typically used with perfect tenses when referring to actions or states that started in the past and continue into the present or have an effect on the present.
Common Error: Using simple present or simple past tense with 'since' or 'for' to indicate duration up to the present.
- Incorrect: I live here since 2015.
- Correct: I have lived here since 2015.
- Incorrect: She worked for five hours now.
- Correct: She has worked / has been working for five hours now.
In our question, the state of being ill has continued from Monday until now, making the simple present "is ill" incorrect. The present perfect "has been ill" is the appropriate tense.
Similar Questions
Directions: Each item in this section 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. 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) She wouldn't have (b) has an accident, (c) if she had driven carefully. (d) No Error
Directions: Each item in this section 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. 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) Columbus made his (b) first voyage from Europe to America (c) on 1492. (d) No Error
Directions: Each item in this section 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. 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) I will watch film (b) if I finish the work (c) in time. (d) No Error
Directions: Each item in this section 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. 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) In 1989, the government (b) did an about-face and Iran restored (c) it's family planning program. (d) No Error
Directions: Each item in this section 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. 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) If you want (b) to know the news (c) you can read a newspaper. (d) No Error
Directions: Each item in this section 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. 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) Over long periods of time, (b) layers of sediments builds up (c) to a height of a few kilometers. (d) No Error
Directions: Each item in this section 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. 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) I'm not working tomorrow, (b) so I don't had to (c) get up early. (d) No Error
Directions: Each item in this section 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. 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) She didn't (b) tell anybody (c) about her plans. (d) No Error
Directions: Each item in this section 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. 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) When a gas is (b) cooled down it turns into a liquid (c) from a process called condensation. (d) No Error
Directions: Each item in this section 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. 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) Whenever the sky is (b) clear, you can see (c) the stars in the night. (d) No Error
Important Questions from Error Spotting
The following sentence has been split into four segments. Identify the segment that contains a grammatical error.
Fortunately, / the fire did not / caused much damage / to the building.
The following sentence has been divided into parts. One of them may contain an error. Select the part that contains the error from the given options. If you don’t find any error, mark ‘No error’ as your answer.
Neither of them have / any experience / in software development.
The following sentence has been split into four segments. Identify the segment that contains a grammatical error.
Each of the students were / present for / the valedictory session / that night.
From the given options, identify the segment in the sentence which contains the grammatical error.
If you prepare well, you wouldn't have failed the exam.
Directions: Identify the segment in the sentence which contains grammatical error from the given options.
Thunderstorms develop in hot, humid tropical areas like India much to frequently.
