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Question

The following sentence has been split into four segments. Identify the segment that contains a grammatical error.

Whenever he is / on a holiday, / he travels by foot / to the temple nearby.

The correct answer is

he travels by foot

Analysing the Sentence Segments for Grammatical Errors

The question asks us to identify the segment that contains a grammatical error in the given sentence: "Whenever he is / on a holiday, / he travels by foot / to the temple nearby." The sentence is split into four parts, and we need to examine each part for any issues related to grammar, usage, or structure.

Examining Each Sentence Segment

Let's look at each segment carefully:

  • Segment 1: Whenever he is

    This segment introduces a dependent clause indicating a condition or time frame. "Whenever" is correctly used as a conjunction here, and "he is" is a standard subject-verb structure. This segment appears grammatically correct.

  • Segment 2: on a holiday,

    This segment uses the phrase "on a holiday," which is a common and correct idiom in English to indicate being on vacation or time away from work/school. The comma after the phrase is also appropriate, separating the introductory clause from the main clause. This segment is grammatically correct.

  • Segment 3: he travels by foot

    This segment describes the method of travel. It contains the phrase "by foot". While "by" is used with modes of transport (like "by car", "by train", "by plane"), the correct preposition used with "foot" to indicate walking is "on". The standard idiom is "on foot". Therefore, "by foot" contains a grammatical error.

  • Segment 4: to the temple nearby.

    This segment indicates the destination and location of the temple. "To the temple" correctly uses the preposition "to" for direction towards a destination. "Nearby" is correctly used as an adjective or adverb modifying "temple" or the implied location. This segment is grammatically correct.

Identifying the Grammatical Error

Based on the analysis, the error lies in the third segment, "he travels by foot". The common and grammatically correct way to express travelling by walking is to use the phrase "on foot".

Correcting the Grammatical Error

To correct the grammatical error, the segment "he travels by foot" should be changed to "he travels on foot".

The corrected sentence would be: "Whenever he is on a holiday, he travels on foot to the temple nearby."

Therefore, the segment containing the grammatical error is "he travels by foot".

Revision Table: Prepositions with Modes of Transport

Understanding how to use prepositions correctly with different modes of transport is crucial for avoiding grammatical errors.

Mode of Transport Correct Preposition Example Usage
Walking on Go on foot
Bike, Motorcycle on Ride on a bike
Bus, Train, Plane, Ship, Boat (Public/Large) by / on Travel by bus / on the bus
Travel by train / on the train
Car, Taxi by / in Travel by car / in a car
Travel by taxi / in a taxi

Additional Information: Idiomatic Expressions

Some phrases in English are idiomatic, meaning their meaning is not directly obvious from the individual words, and their structure is fixed. "On foot" is one such idiomatic expression for travelling by walking. Using a different preposition like "by" in this context, while logical based on other modes of transport, is not the accepted or correct form in standard English.

Paying attention to these fixed phrases and idioms is important for mastering English grammar and usage.

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Important Questions from Error Spotting

  1. The following sentence has been split into four segments. Identify the segment that contains a grammatical error.

    Fortunately, / the fire did not / caused much damage / to the building.

  2. 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.

    Neither of them have / any experience / in software development.

  3. The following sentence has been split into four segments. Identify the segment that contains a grammatical error.

    Each of the students were / present for / the valedictory session / that night.

  4. From the given options, identify the segment in the sentence which contains the grammatical error.

    If you prepare well, you wouldn't have failed the exam.

  5. Directions: Identify the segment in the sentence which contains grammatical error from the given options.

    Thunderstorms develop in hot, humid tropical areas like India much to frequently.

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