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Error Spotting: Practice Questions with Answers

94 practice questions on Error Spotting, with answers; most also have an explanation or a worked solution. Try each one before you open its answer.

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1. Q.51

   Spot the error: A) After dinner, we had / B) a delicious desert / C) of ice cream / D) No error

   1. A (B)
   2. B (A)
   3. C (C)
   4. D No error
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   Correct answer: (A) (B)

   "Dessert" is the sweet course after a meal; "desert" refers to an arid region or means to abandon.

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2. Q.52

   Spot the error: (A) He is suffering from fever / (B) since / (C) three days / (D) No error

   1. A (B)
   2. B (A)
   3. C (C)
   4. D No error
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   Correct answer: (A) (B)

   'Since' is used with a point in time, not a duration; a duration needs 'for': 'for three days.'

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3. Q.53

   Spot the error: A) Thousands of skilled professionals / B) emigrate to Canada / C) every year for better job prospects / D) No error

   1. A (A)
   2. B (B)
   3. C (C)
   4. D No error
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   Correct answer: (B) (B)

   "Immigrate" means to move into a country to settle there; "emigrate" means to leave one's own country. Since Canada is the destination, the sentence needs "immigrate to Canada".

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4. Q.54

   Spot the error: A) The results of the survey / B) were comprised by / C) data from five different states / D) No error

   1. A (A)
   2. B (B)
   3. C (C)
   4. D No error
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   Correct answer: (B) (B)

   "Comprise" is not used with "by" in the passive; the correct forms are "comprised data from..." (active) or "were composed of data from..." (passive), not "were comprised by".

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5. Q.55

   Spot the error: A) She decided to lay / B) on the sofa / C) and rest for a while / D) No error

   1. A (A)
   2. B (B)
   3. C (C)
   4. D No error
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   Correct answer: (A) (A)

   "Lie" (to recline) is intransitive; "lay" requires an object (to place something down).

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6. Q.56

   Spot the error: A) The problem was / B) all together different / C) from what we expected / D) No error

   1. A (B)
   2. B (A)
   3. C (C)
   4. D No error
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   Correct answer: (A) (B)

   "Altogether" means completely; "all together" means everyone/everything in one place.

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7. Q.57

   Spot the error: (A) He is the tallest / (B) of the two / (C) brothers in the family / (D) No error

   1. A (A)
   2. B (B)
   3. C (C)
   4. D No error
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   Correct answer: (A) (A)

   When comparing exactly two people, the comparative form is used, not the superlative: "the taller of the two," not "the tallest of the two."

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8. Q.58

   Spot the error: A) The coach's pep talk / B) boosted the team's moral / C) before the final match / D) No error

   1. A (A)
   2. B (B)
   3. C (C)
   4. D No error
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   Correct answer: (B) (B)

   "Morale" refers to a group's confidence or spirit; "moral" relates to right and wrong behaviour. The sentence needs "boosted the team's morale".

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9. Q.59

   Spot the error: A) Having finished the homework / B) the television was switched on / C) by the children / D) No error

   1. A (B)
   2. B (A)
   3. C (C)
   4. D No error
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   Correct answer: (A) (B)

   The opening participle must modify the subject that performed the action; it was the children, not the television, who finished the homework - a dangling modifier.

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10. Q.60

    Spot the error: A) We need to discuss this / B) farther / C) before making a decision / D) No error

    1. A (B)
    2. B (A)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
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    Correct answer: (A) (B)

    "Further" is used for figurative or additional extent; "farther" is reserved for physical distance.

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11. Q.61

    Spot the error: (A) Each of the boys / (B) have brought / (C) their own lunch / (D) No error

    1. A (B)
    2. B (A)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
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    Correct answer: (A) (B)

    "Each of" takes a singular verb, so it should be "has brought," not "have brought."

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12. Q.62

    Spot the error: A) Please return back / B) the documents / C) to the office by Friday / D) No error

    1. A (A)
    2. B (B)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
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    Correct answer: (A) (A)

    "Return" already means to go or come back, so adding "back" is redundant. The sentence needs simply "Please return the documents".

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13. Q.63

    Spot the error: (A) I want to lay down / (B) for a while / (C) after lunch / (D) No error

    1. A (A)
    2. B (B)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
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    Correct answer: (A) (A)

    'Lie down' means to recline oneself; 'lay' requires a direct object (to lay something down). It should be 'lie down.'

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14. Q.64

    Spot the error: A) They congratulated him / B) for winning / C) the championship / D) No error

    1. A (B)
    2. B (A)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
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    Correct answer: (A) (B)

    The correct idiom is "congratulate someone on" an achievement, not "for": "congratulated him on winning".

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15. Q.65

    Spot the error: A) Remember to / B) breath deeply / C) during the exercise / D) No error

    1. A (B)
    2. B (A)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
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    Correct answer: (A) (B)

    "Breathe" is the verb; "breath" is the noun. The sentence needs "breathe deeply".

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16. Q.66

    Spot the error: A) This smartphone is more / B) superior to / C) the previous model in every way / D) No error

    1. A (A)
    2. B (B)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
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    Correct answer: (A) (A)

    "Superior" is already a comparative form, so adding "more" before it is redundant. The sentence needs simply "is superior to".

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17. Q.67

    Spot the error: (A) The committee have / (B) decided to postpone / (C) the annual meeting / (D) No error

    1. A (A)
    2. B (B)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
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    Correct answer: (A) (A)

    "Committee" is treated as a singular collective noun here, so it should be "has decided," not "have decided."

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18. Q.68

    Spot the error: (A) Without know the facts / (B) he commented / (C) on the issue immediately / (D) No error

    1. A (A)
    2. B (B)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
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    Correct answer: (A) (A)

    After the preposition 'without,' a gerund is required: 'without knowing,' not 'without know.'

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19. Q.69

    Spot the error: A) The judge remained / B) completely uninterested / C) throughout the entire trial / D) No error

    1. A (B)
    2. B (A)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
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    Correct answer: (A) (B)

    "Disinterested" means impartial, which fits a judge; "uninterested" means not interested at all.

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20. Q.70

    Spot the error: (A) I am knowing / (B) the answer to / (C) this question / (D) No error

    1. A (A)
    2. B (B)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
    Show answer

    Correct answer: (A) (A)

    "Know" is a stative verb (a mental state, not an action) and is not normally used in the continuous form: "I know," not "I am knowing."

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21. Q.71

    Spot the error: (A) The number of accidents / (B) have increased / (C) drastically this year / (D) No error

    1. A (B)
    2. B (A)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
    Show answer

    Correct answer: (A) (B)

    'The number of' is treated as singular, so it should be 'has increased,' not 'have increased.'

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22. Q.72

    Spot the error: (A) I wish I was / (B) taller so I / (C) could reach the shelf / (D) No error

    1. A (A)
    2. B (B)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
    Show answer

    Correct answer: (A) (A)

    In a wish about something unreal, the subjunctive "were" is used for all subjects: "I wish I were," not "I wish I was."

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23. Q.73

    Spot the error: (A) Please help myself / (B) to some tea / (C) whenever you like / (D) No error

    1. A (A)
    2. B (B)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
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    Correct answer: (A) (A)

    Since the sentence addresses 'you,' the reflexive pronoun must match: it should be 'help yourself,' not 'help myself.'

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24. Q.74

    Spot the error: A) Not only she is talented / B) but also extremely / C) hardworking in her field / D) No error

    1. A (A)
    2. B (B)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
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    Correct answer: (A) (A)

    "Not only" at the start of a sentence triggers inversion of the subject and verb, so it should be "Not only is she talented", not "Not only she is talented".

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25. Q.75

    Spot the error: A) She gave me a good / B) advise about / C) choosing a career / D) No error

    1. A (B)
    2. B (A)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
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    Correct answer: (A) (B)

    "Advice" is the noun; "advise" is the verb. The sentence needs the noun: "a good advice".

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26. Q.76

    Spot the error: A) The bank agreed to / B) wave the processing fee / C) for loyal customers / D) No error

    1. A (A)
    2. B (B)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
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    Correct answer: (B) (B)

    "Waive" means to voluntarily give up a right or charge; "wave" means to move one's hand. The sentence needs "waive the processing fee".

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27. Q.77

    Spot the error: A) The three friends helped / B) each other / C) throughout the project / D) No error

    1. A (B)
    2. B (A)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
    Show answer

    Correct answer: (A) (B)

    "Each other" is traditionally used for two people; "one another" is used for more than two.

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28. Q.78

    Spot the error: (A) Each of the students / (B) have submitted / (C) their assignment / (D) No error

    1. A (B)
    2. B (A)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
    Show answer

    Correct answer: (A) (B)

    "Each of + plural noun" is a singular subject, so the verb must be singular: "has submitted", not "have submitted".

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29. Q.79

    Spot the error: A) Of the two options, / B) I prefer the later / C) one discussed today / D) No error

    1. A (B)
    2. B (A)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
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    Correct answer: (A) (B)

    "Latter" refers to the second of two things just mentioned; "later" relates to time. The sentence needs "the latter one".

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30. Q.80

    Spot the error: A) He paid her a nice / B) complement on / C) her new dress / D) No error

    1. A (B)
    2. B (A)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
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    Correct answer: (A) (B)

    A "compliment" is praise; a "complement" is something that completes another thing.

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31. Q.81

    Spot the error: (A) No sooner he saw the police / (B) than he ran away / (C) into the alley / (D) No error

    1. A (A)
    2. B (B)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
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    Correct answer: (A) (A)

    'No sooner' requires inversion: it should be 'No sooner had he seen (or did he see) the police.'

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32. Q.82

    Spot the error: A) The museum displayed / B) several historic documents / C) about ancient civilizations / D) No error

    1. A (B)
    2. B (A)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
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    Correct answer: (A) (B)

    "Historical" means relating to history in general; "historic" means famous or significant in history. The sentence needs "historical documents".

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33. Q.83

    Spot the error: A) Beside being intelligent / B) he is also very hardworking / C) and disciplined / D) No error

    1. A (A)
    2. B (B)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
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    Correct answer: (A) (A)

    "Besides" means "in addition to"; "beside" means "next to". The sentence needs "Besides".

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34. Q.84

    Spot the error: (A) He along with his friends / (B) are going / (C) to the cinema tonight / (D) No error

    1. A (B)
    2. B (A)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
    Show answer

    Correct answer: (A) (B)

    "Along with" does not make the subject plural — the verb agrees with "he" alone, so it should be "is going," not "are going."

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35. Q.85

    Spot the error: A) She is an honest / B) and an sincere / C) employee who never complains / D) No error

    1. A (A)
    2. B (B)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
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    Correct answer: (B) (B)

    The article "a" is used before words beginning with a consonant sound, so it should be "and a sincere employee", not "an sincere".

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36. Q.86

    Spot the error: A) The company decided to / B) adapt a new strategy / C) to boost sales / D) No error

    1. A (A)
    2. B (B)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
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    Correct answer: (B) (B)

    "Adopt" means to take up or start using something new; "adapt" means to adjust to new conditions. The sentence needs "to adopt a new strategy".

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37. Q.87

    Spot the error: A) The storm's arrival / B) was eminent / C) according to the forecast / D) No error

    1. A (B)
    2. B (A)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
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    Correct answer: (A) (B)

    "Imminent" means about to happen; "eminent" means famous or distinguished. The sentence needs "was imminent".

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38. Q.88

    Spot the error: A) The prize was shared equally / B) between him and I / C) after the competition ended / D) No error

    1. A (A)
    2. B (B)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
    Show answer

    Correct answer: (B) (B)

    A preposition ("between") must be followed by an object pronoun, so it should be "between him and me", not "him and I".

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39. Q.89

    Spot the error: (A) The teacher explained the students / (B) about the new rule / (C) in detail / (D) No error

    1. A (A)
    2. B (B)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
    Show answer

    Correct answer: (A) (A)

    'Explain' takes an indirect object with 'to': it should be 'explained to the students,' not 'explained the students.'

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40. Q.90

    Spot the error: (A) Hardly he had reached the station / (B) when / (C) the train left / (D) No error

    1. A (A)
    2. B (B)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
    Show answer

    Correct answer: (A) (A)

    After 'hardly,' the auxiliary must come before the subject: 'Hardly had he reached,' not 'Hardly he had reached.'

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41. Q.91

    Spot the error: A) By the time the firefighters arrived, / B) the flames already spread / C) to the neighbouring building / D) No error

    1. A (A)
    2. B (B)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
    Show answer

    Correct answer: (B) (B)

    An action completed before another past event ("arrived") needs the past perfect: "had already spread", not the simple past "spread".

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42. Q.92

    Spot the error: A) The teacher tried to / B) illicit a response / C) from the shy student / D) No error

    1. A (B)
    2. B (A)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
    Show answer

    Correct answer: (A) (B)

    "Elicit" means to draw out a response; "illicit" means illegal. The sentence needs "elicit a response".

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43. Q.93

    Spot the error: (A) He along with his friends / (B) have gone / (C) to the market / (D) No error

    1. A (B)
    2. B (A)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
    Show answer

    Correct answer: (A) (B)

    The subject is 'he' (singular) — 'along with' does not change the verb's number, so it should be 'has gone.'

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44. Q.94

    Spot the error: (A) He prevented me / (B) to attend / (C) the meeting yesterday / (D) No error

    1. A (B)
    2. B (A)
    3. C (C)
    4. D No error
    Show answer

    Correct answer: (A) (B)

    "Prevent" is followed by "from" plus a gerund, not a "to" infinitive: "prevented me from attending."

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