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’. Implicit in the Satyagraha was Gandhi’s assumption that (1)/ all rulers are dependent on their position and power (2)/ upon the obedience and cooperation of the ruled (3)/ No error (4)
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Understanding Grammar Errors: Preposition Usage
This question asks us to identify the part of the sentence that contains a grammatical error. Let's break down the sentence and examine each part carefully.
The sentence is:
Implicit in the Satyagraha was Gandhi’s assumption that (1)/ all rulers are dependent on their position and power (2)/ upon the obedience and cooperation of the ruled (3)/ No error (4)
Analyzing Each Part of the Sentence
We need to check each segment for any issues with grammar, usage, or structure.
- Part (1): "Implicit in the Satyagraha was Gandhi’s assumption that"
- This part uses an inverted structure, which is grammatically correct. "Implicit in the Satyagraha" acts as an adverbial phrase modifying the verb "was". The subject "Gandhi's assumption" follows the verb. This part appears correct.
- Part (2): "all rulers are dependent on their position and power"
- This part introduces the idea of rulers being "dependent on" something. The phrase is "dependent on their position and power". However, the sentence continues into part (3) which specifies *what* they are dependent *upon*. This suggests the prepositional structure needs to connect parts (2) and (3) correctly.
- Part (3): "upon the obedience and cooperation of the ruled"
- This part specifies the source of dependence: "upon the obedience and cooperation of the ruled".
Identifying the Grammatical Error
The phrase "dependent on/upon" is a common construction. However, the structure in the sentence is "dependent on [something] upon [something else]". This is not the standard or correct usage.
The correct idiom is usually "dependent upon X for Y" or "dependent on X for Y", meaning Y depends on X for something. Alternatively, you can be "dependent upon X", meaning you rely on X.
In this sentence, Gandhi's assumption is that rulers are dependent. They are dependent upon "the obedience and cooperation of the ruled" (this is X) for "their position and power" (this is Y).
So, the correct structure should be: "all rulers are dependent upon the obedience and cooperation of the ruled for their position and power."
Looking at the sentence as given:
- Part (2) says: "...dependent on their position and power..."
- Part (3) says: "...upon the obedience and cooperation..."
The structure "dependent on X upon Y" where X and Y are the elements of dependence is incorrect. The dependence is upon obedience (part 3) for position and power (part 2). Therefore, part (2) incorrectly states "dependent on their position and power" when it should be integrated into the correct "dependent upon X for Y" structure. The error lies in how part (2) is phrased in relation to the dependence described in part (3).
The error is in part (2) because it uses the wrong preposition ("on") and structure for the intended meaning, which is completed by the phrase in part (3).
Correcting the Sentence
A corrected version of the sentence fragment would be:
"...all rulers are dependent upon the obedience and cooperation of the ruled for their position and power."
Since the sentence is split and the word 'upon' appears in part (3), the phrasing of part (2) "dependent on their position and power" is where the error exists as it sets up an incorrect prepositional phrase structure with part (3).
Conclusion
The error is in part (2) due to the incorrect use of the preposition 'on' and the structure of the dependent phrase which clashes with the intended meaning completed in part (3).
| Part | Sentence Segment | Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| (1) | Implicit in the Satyagraha was Gandhi’s assumption that | Correct inverted structure. |
| (2) | all rulers are dependent on their position and power | Incorrect preposition and structure in the dependent phrase. Should lead into "upon X for Y". |
| (3) | upon the obedience and cooperation of the ruled | Contains the correct source of dependence, but follows the incorrectly structured part (2). |
| (4) | No error | Incorrect, as there is an error. |
Therefore, the part of the sentence with the error is (2).
Revision Table: Common Dependent Prepositions
Some verbs, adjectives, and nouns are followed by specific prepositions. These are often called dependent prepositions. It's important to learn these phrases.
| Word | Common Dependent Preposition(s) | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Dependent | on / upon | He is dependent on his parents for money. |
| Aware | of | She was aware of the problem. |
| Fond | of | They are fond of classical music. |
| Responsible | for | Who is responsible for this mess? |
| Believe | in | Do you believe in ghosts? |
Additional Information: Prepositions and Idioms
Prepositions often combine with other words to form idiomatic expressions. The meaning of these expressions is not always clear from the individual words. Learning these fixed phrases is crucial for mastering English grammar.
- The phrase "dependent on/upon" means relying on someone or something for support, existence, or supply.
- When stating what the dependence is for, the preposition 'for' is commonly used after 'dependent on/upon'. For example, "dependent upon rain for their crops."
- In the given sentence, the rulers depend *upon* obedience *for* power. The structure in the original sentence incorrectly mixed these elements across parts (2) and (3).
- Error spotting questions often test knowledge of such idiomatic phrases and correct preposition usage.
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)
