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’. It was by real sorrow (1)/ that I heard this morning (2)/ of your great loss. (3)/ No error
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Understanding Grammar Errors in Sentences
The question asks us to identify if there is a grammar error in any part of the given sentence: "It was by real sorrow (1)/ that I heard this morning (2)/ of your great loss. (3)/ No error". We need to examine each part carefully to check for grammatical correctness, particularly focusing on the use of prepositions, subject-verb agreement, tense, etc.
Analyzing Each Part of the Sentence
Let's break down the sentence and analyze each numbered part:
- Part (1): "It was by real sorrow"
- Part (2): "that I heard this morning"
- Part (3): "of your great loss."
- Part (4): "No error"
Detailed Analysis of Part (1): "It was by real sorrow"
This part uses the preposition "by" with the noun phrase "real sorrow". Let's consider how "by" is typically used:
- To indicate the agent in a passive sentence (e.g., The book was written by her).
- To indicate the means of transport or communication (e.g., travel by train, send by email).
- To indicate proximity (e.g., sit by the window).
- To indicate a point in time (e.g., by noon).
In the context of expressing an emotion that accompanies hearing news, the preposition "by" is not the standard or grammatically correct choice. When describing the feeling or state accompanying an action or event, prepositions like "with" or "in" are more commonly and correctly used.
For example:
- Hear something with sorrow.
- Speak with joy.
- Act in anger.
The phrase "It was by real sorrow that I heard..." attempts to express the feeling accompanying the act of hearing. The preposition "by" does not fit this usage pattern for emotions. A more appropriate phrasing would be something like "It was with real sorrow that I heard..." or "I heard with real sorrow...". Therefore, Part (1) contains a preposition error.
Analysis of Other Parts
- Part (2): "that I heard this morning". This part acts as a relative clause modifying "It was...". "I heard this morning" is grammatically correct and fits the context. The structure "It was X that Y" is a common cleft sentence structure used for emphasis.
- Part (3): "of your great loss." This phrase correctly specifies what was heard about. "Loss" is a noun here, and "great" is an adjective modifying it. The preposition "of" is correctly used to introduce the topic of the news.
Conclusion
Based on the analysis, the error lies in Part (1) due to the incorrect use of the preposition "by" with "real sorrow". The sentence should use a different preposition like "with" to correctly convey the intended meaning of the feeling accompanying the news.
Identifying the Error Part
The part of the sentence with the error is (1).
| Part | Text | Analysis | Error? |
|---|---|---|---|
| (1) | It was by real sorrow | Incorrect preposition "by" used with emotion. Should be "with". | Yes |
| (2) | that I heard this morning | Grammatically correct clause. | No |
| (3) | of your great loss. | Grammatically correct phrase introducing the topic. | No |
Revision Table: Common Preposition Errors
Understanding common errors with prepositions is key to improving grammar.
| Incorrect Usage | Correct Usage | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Agree with a thing | Agree to a proposal/plan; Agree on a matter (with someone) | "With" is usually for people you agree with. "To" for suggestions/plans. "On" for topics. |
| Different than | Different from | "From" is the standard preposition used after "different". |
| Compare to similarities | Compare with differences; Compare to illustrate similarity | Use "with" to discuss similarities AND differences. Use "to" when likening one thing to another. |
Additional Information: Prepositions and Emotions
Prepositions play a vital role in connecting words and showing relationships, including how feelings relate to actions or situations. While "with" is common for accompanying feelings ("with joy", "with difficulty", "with sorrow"), other prepositions are used depending on the context and the specific emotion or state. For instance, you might be "in love", "in despair", "out of anger". Choosing the correct preposition often depends on idiomatic usage which must be learned.
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)
