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 shall leave school-(a), as soon as-(b), I shall find a job-(c), No error-(d)
c
Spotting Errors in English Sentences
The question asks us to identify the part of the sentence that contains a grammatical error. The sentence is: I shall leave school-(a), as soon as-(b), I shall find a job-(c), No error-(d).
Analyzing the Sentence Structure
Let's break down the sentence into its underlined parts:
- (a) I shall leave school
- (b) as soon as
- (c) I shall find a job
- (d) No error
The sentence uses the conjunction "as soon as" to connect two clauses. "I shall leave school" is the main clause, describing an action that will happen in the future. "as soon as I shall find a job" is a subordinate clause of time, indicating when the action in the main clause will occur.
Identifying the Grammar Rule and Error
A common rule in English grammar is that in time clauses introduced by conjunctions like "as soon as", "when", "while", "before", "after", "until", etc., we use the simple present tense to refer to a future action, even though the main clause is in the future tense. The simple present tense in the time clause indicates the condition or event that must happen before the future action in the main clause can take place.
Let's look at the parts again:
- (a) I shall leave school: This part is in the future tense, which is appropriate for the main clause describing a future action. There is no error here.
- (b) as soon as: This is the conjunction connecting the two clauses. It is correctly used to introduce a time clause. There is no error here.
- (c) I shall find a job: This is the time clause introduced by "as soon as". According to the rule mentioned above, the future tense ("shall find") should not be used in this time clause when referring to a future event. Instead, the simple present tense should be used. The correct form should be "I find a job". This part contains the error.
Conclusion
The error lies in part (c) where the future tense "I shall find" is used instead of the simple present tense "I find" in the time clause introduced by "as soon as".
The correct sentence should be: "I shall leave school as soon as I find a job."
Revision Table: Time Clauses
| Conjunction | Main Clause (Future) | Time Clause (Simple Present) |
|---|---|---|
| As soon as | I will call you | as soon as I arrive. |
| When | She will be happy | when she hears the news. |
| Before | We will finish the work | before it gets dark. |
| After | He will go home | after he completes the task. |
Additional Information: Verb Tenses in Subordinate Clauses
Understanding verb tenses in subordinate clauses is crucial for spotting errors in English grammar. While the future tense is used in the main clause to describe a future action, time clauses and certain conditional clauses referring to the future typically use the simple present tense.
- Time Clauses: Use simple present after conjunctions like when, while, as soon as, before, after, until, by the time, etc., when talking about the future.
- Conditional Clauses (Type 1): Use simple present in the 'if' clause to talk about a possible future condition. Example: If it rains tomorrow, we will stay inside.
- Purpose Clauses: Can use future tense or present tense depending on the structure, but often involve modal verbs or infinitives.
Always check the conjunction and the context to determine the correct tense in a subordinate clause.
Important Questions from Error Spotting
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).
A honest mistake (a) / is no more than that; (b) / just an honest mistake. (c) / No error (d)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)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)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).
The Olympic Games reflects(a) / the highest spirit of (b) / human endeavour and achievement . (c) / No error (d)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 principal of the school (a) / stressed the need for discipline (b) / amongst the students. (c) / No error (d)
