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. Once the responses were received, / the data collected / was tabulated for analysis.
No error
Analyzing the Sentence for Grammatical Errors
The question asks us to identify a potential error in the sentence: "Once the responses were received, the data collected was tabulated for analysis." We need to examine each part of the sentence carefully to determine if there is any grammatical issue.
Examining Each Part of the Sentence
Let's break down the sentence into the provided parts and analyze them individually:
- Part 1: Once the responses were received,
This part functions as a subordinate clause. It uses the conjunction 'Once' to introduce a time relationship. The subject 'the responses' is plural, and the passive verb form 'were received' correctly agrees with the plural subject and is in the past tense, suitable for an action completed before the main clause.
- Part 2: the data collected
This is the subject phrase of the main clause. 'data' is a noun. While historically 'data' is the plural of 'datum', it is very commonly treated as a singular mass noun in modern English, especially in computing and statistics. 'collected' is a past participle modifying 'data', functioning like an adjective or part of a reduced relative clause (e.g., 'the data which was collected'). This structure is grammatically sound.
- Part 3: was tabulated for analysis.
This is the predicate of the main clause. The verb is 'was tabulated', which is the passive voice of 'tabulate' in the past tense. This verb agrees with the subject 'the data collected'. Since 'data' can be treated as singular, the singular verb 'was' is appropriate here. The phrase 'for analysis' is a prepositional phrase indicating purpose, which is correctly formed.
Putting the Parts Together
When combined, the sentence reads: "Once the responses were received, the data collected was tabulated for analysis." The subordinate clause sets the context for the main clause. The subject of the main clause, 'the data collected', is followed by the passive verb 'was tabulated'. The sentence flows logically and grammatically, assuming 'data' is treated as a singular noun, which is acceptable modern usage.
Conclusion on Sentence Correctness
Considering the common treatment of 'data' as a singular noun, the subject 'the data collected' takes the singular verb 'was tabulated'. All parts of the sentence are grammatically correct in this context. There are no apparent errors in verb tense, subject-verb agreement, or sentence structure.
Analyzing the Options
Based on our analysis, let's look at the given options:
Once the responses were received
- This part is grammatically correct.No error
- Our analysis suggests the sentence is correct.the data collected
- This is the subject phrase, correctly formed.was tabulated for analysis
- This is the predicate, and 'was tabulated' correctly agrees with 'data' if treated singularly.
Since no grammatical error was found in any part of the sentence, the correct option is 'No error'.
| Part | Text | Analysis | Error? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Once the responses were received, | Correct subordinate clause, plural subject & verb agreement. | No |
| Part 2 | the data collected | Subject phrase, 'data' treated as singular, 'collected' as modifier. | No |
| Part 3 | was tabulated for analysis. | Predicate, singular verb 'was tabulated' agrees with singular 'data'. | No |
Revision Table: Key Grammar Concepts
| Concept | Explanation | Example from Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Subordinate Clause | A clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence; often introduced by conjunctions like 'once', 'when', 'if', 'because'. | Once the responses were received, |
| Passive Voice | The subject receives the action of the verb (be + past participle). | were received, was tabulated |
| Subject-Verb Agreement | The verb must agree in number (singular/plural) with its subject. | responses (plural) + were received (plural verb) data (singular) + was tabulated (singular verb) |
| Modifier (Participle) | A verb form used as an adjective. Past participles often end in -ed or -en. | collected (modifies 'data') |
Additional Information: 'Data' Usage
The word 'data' is Latin plural of 'datum'. Historically, it was treated strictly as plural, requiring plural verbs and pronouns (e.g., "The data are being collected. They show..."). However, in modern English, especially in technical, statistical, and everyday contexts, 'data' is frequently used and treated as a singular mass noun, similar to words like 'information' or 'furniture' (e.g., "The data is reliable. It shows...").
Both singular and plural usages of 'data' are widely accepted today, although using it as a singular noun is more common in many fields. In academic or formal writing, it's sometimes preferred to use 'data' as plural, but treating it as singular is not considered an error in most contexts, including the sentence provided.
The sentence "the data collected was tabulated" correctly uses 'was' which agrees with 'data' treated as a singular noun, making the sentence grammatically correct according to modern usage.
Similar Questions
Direction: In the sentence, identify the segment that contains the grammatical error.
If you walk fastly, you can manage to reach your destination in forty minutes.
Directions: Identify the segment in the sentence which contains the grammatical error.
Is there anything else you want to knew?
Directions: Identify the segment in the sentence which contains the grammatical error.
Rohit, who did not submit his essay on time, is penalize and had to lose marks.
Directions: Identify the segment in the sentence which contains the grammatical error.
This writing task are quite easy and interesting.
Identify the segment in the sentence which contains the grammatical error .
Later in the day, my father tell us about his promotion.
Directions: Identify the segment in the sentence which contains the grammatical error.
We is not going to take any action against him as it is his first mistake.
Direction: The following sentence has been split into four segments. Identify the segment that contains a grammatical error.
Niyati will reached / the conference / venue / by now.
Direction: 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.
By the time / we will reach the station, / the train will have already left.
Direction: 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.
She seems to be / exhausted after talking for / a couple of hours to the public.
Direction: 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.
Eva’s business module / allowed people’s money / to grow steadily.
Important Questions from Error Spotting
The following question 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 response against the corresponding letter i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
It is identification with the audience(a)that makes one come home from the play so much more(b)satisfied than one ever is after merely passive enjoyment of the show.(c) No error.(d)
The following question has a sentence with four parts labelled (a), (b), (c), and (d). Read each sentence to find out whether there is an error in any part and indicate your response against the corresponding letter i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
CV Raman was one of the greatest sons of India (a) who has earned everlasting fame (b) for scientific researches. (c) No error. (d)
The following question 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 response against the corresponding letter i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
This box(a)is heavy than(b) the other one.(c) No error. (d)
The following question 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 response against the corresponding letter i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
Thewriter does not have the freedom (a) to choose his own themes, (b) society thrusts them on him (c) No error. (d)
The following question has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c). Read each sentence to find out whether there is an error in any underlined part and indicate your response against the corresponding letter i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
No one knows (a) why he did it, (b) or who was behind his doing it.(c) No error. (d)
