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. He promised them / that he would sure repay / the loan urgently.
that he would sure repay
Analyzing the Sentence for Grammatical Errors
The question asks us to identify the part of the given sentence that contains a grammatical error. The sentence is divided into three parts:
- He promised them
- that he would sure repay
- the loan urgently.
Step-by-Step Analysis of Each Part
Let's examine each part of the sentence carefully:
Part 1: "He promised them"
This part acts as the main clause. "He" is the subject, "promised" is the verb in the simple past tense, and "them" is the direct object. This structure is grammatically correct.
Part 2: "that he would sure repay"
This is a subordinate clause introduced by "that". "He" is the subject, "would repay" is the verb phrase (modal verb + base verb). The word "sure" is placed between the modal "would" and the base verb "repay". The word "sure" is primarily used as an adjective, meaning certain or confident. However, here it is intended to modify the verb "repay" or the action of repaying, indicating the manner or certainty of the repayment. Verbs are typically modified by adverbs.
The correct adverb form of "sure" is "surely". Therefore, "sure" should be replaced with "surely" to grammatically modify the verb "repay". The phrase should be "that he would surely repay".
Part 3: "the loan urgently"
In this part, "the loan" is the object of the verb "repay" (from the previous part). "Urgently" is an adverb modifying the verb "repay", indicating the manner or urgency of the repayment. This usage is grammatically correct.
Identifying the Part with the Error
Based on the analysis, the error lies in Part 2, specifically the use of the adjective "sure" instead of the adverb "surely" to modify the verb phrase "would repay".
The sentence with the correction would be: "He promised them that he would surely repay the loan urgently."
Conclusion
The part that contains the error is "that he would sure repay". This corresponds to one of the given options.
| Part of Sentence | Analysis | Error Found? |
|---|---|---|
| He promised them | Subject-verb-object structure, past tense. Grammatically sound. | No |
| that he would sure repay | "sure" (adjective) incorrectly used to modify the verb "repay". Needs an adverb ("surely"). | Yes |
| the loan urgently. | "urgently" (adverb) correctly modifies the verb "repay". | No |
Revision Table: Key Grammatical Concepts
| Concept | Definition/Rule | Example (Correct Usage) |
|---|---|---|
| Adjective | Describes a noun or pronoun. | He is a sure winner. |
| Adverb | Modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, providing information about manner, place, time, frequency, or degree. Often ends in -ly. | He will surely win the race. |
| Modifying Verbs | Use adverbs to describe how an action is performed. | She sings beautifully. (Not "beautiful") |
Additional Information: Adjectives vs. Adverbs
Understanding the difference between adjectives and adverbs is crucial for correct sentence construction, especially when determining which word form is needed to modify a verb or an adjective.
- Adjectives tell us what kind or how many about a noun. Examples: happy child, three apples.
- Adverbs tell us how, when, where, or to what extent about a verb, adjective, or another adverb. Examples: ran quickly, arrived yesterday, stood here, very happy.
In the case of "sure" vs. "surely":
- "Sure" is primarily an adjective: I am sure about the answer. (Sure describes 'I')
- "Surely" is an adverb: The sun will surely rise tomorrow. (Surely modifies 'will rise')
While "sure" can sometimes function as an adverb in informal contexts (e.g., "I sure hope so"), in standard English and formal writing, "surely" is required when modifying a verb like "repay".
Similar Questions
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.
The availability of funds will be / ensured if they all tried to / submit the proposals on time.
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.
Karan call the restaurant / to ask if he could / reserve a table for the next day.
- Select the INCORRECTLY spelt word.
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The following sentence has been split into four segments. Identify the segment that contains a grammatical error.
She always / invite me / to / dinner.
- Select the INCORRECTLY spelt word.
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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.
Sajni had / interfere in / this matter.
- Select the INCORRECTLY spelt word.
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)
