hamburger

Important Error Spotting Questions with Answers for SSC Exams, Download PDF

By BYJU'S Exam Prep

Updated on: September 25th, 2023

Error Spotting questions is part of every SSC exam syllabus. It is a very vast topic and a significant amount of questions are asked about this topic in almost all SSC and other govt exams. The fundamental idea behind error-spotting questions is that the applicant must choose the incorrect answer from the list to locate the phrase’s error.

This article contains all types of error spotting questions with answers. You can also find the download link for error spotting questions pdf for SSC exams such as SSC CGL, CHSL, CPO, Steno etc.

Error Spotting Questions Tricks

The majority of candidates commit grammatical mistakes in the English language portion. Although it comes naturally, learning the error-spotting section isn’t tough. To ace this section of the SSC English language syllabus, all that is needed is to study the key principles of mistake detection and practise answering questions about them.

To solve the spotting error questions in the SSC Exams, follow the simple steps given below

  • Read the entire question attentively before attempting to solve questions about finding errors. Most of the time, you’ll be able to spot the error right away. You need to pay close
  • attention to the subject-verb agreement as you read the complete text.
  • The next step is a thorough spelling check. Often, a spelling mistake might be found.
  • If you are still unable to figure out the error in the question or are unsure of the right response, you must carefully study each section of the phrase to determine whether parts contain errors.
  • You must review the set of general rules so that you can verify them as you go through problems.

Weightage of Error Spotting Questions for SSC CGL

Candidates preparing for the SSC CGL are well aware of the importance of the topic Error Spotting Questions for the SSC CGL exam. Spotting error questions are asked in Tier 1 as well as Tier 2 exams too. Around 2-3 spotting error questions are asked in the SSC CGL Tier 1 exam. The weightage of spotting error questions increases in the Tier 2 exam and candidates can expect to get around 5-6 questions from this topic. In order to ace the topic, check all the types of error-spotting questions with answers given below. 

Weightage of Error Spotting Questions for SSC CHSL

In the SSC CHSL exam, error-spotting questions are only part of the tier 1 syllabus. Out of the total 25 English questions of the SSC CHSL Tier 1 exam, around 1-2 questions are asked from the spotting error topic. Check some of the examples of Error Spotting Questions for SSC CHSL to understand the pattern.

  • My manager’s (a)/ fifteen minutes speech (b)/ was very encouraging .(c)/ no error
    Solution: Error is in ‘Part B’. Words used before nouns are treated as Adjectives whether they are nouns themselves so they can’t be in plural form. So Part B will be a ‘fifteen-minute speech’.
  • Rajesh received (a)/ the three fourth of the land (b)/ from his father.(c)/ no error
    Solution: Error is in ‘Part B’. If there is a Numerical form other than one in fraction as two, three, four etc., it takes s means it remains in plural form. So Part B will be as ‘the three-fourths of the land’. E.g. One-third part.
  • Three fourths (a)/ of the house is (b)/ (c)/ no error
    Solution: There is no error in above sentence. As fractions that indicate Amount, Distance, Measurement take singular form of verb so sentence is in correct form.
  • Half the (a)/ household items is (b)/ luxurious.(c)/ no error
    Solution: Error is in ‘Part B’ because Fractions that indicate number of things or persons take plural verb. So in part b replace is with ‘are’.

Error Spotting Questions with Answers

1. You are kindly (a)/ requested to appear in the (b)/ examination on time. (c)/ No error 

Solution: Error is in part (a) because ‘kindly’ and ‘requested’ both are not used together. ‘Kindly’ or ‘Please’ is used in the Active sentence while ‘requested’ is used in the Passive sentence.

2. His idea of going to (a)/ the picnic was universally (b)/ accepted by all. (c)/ No error 

Solution: Error is in the part (c). The use of ‘by all’ is superfluous here because universally itself means ‘विश्वव्यापी रूप से’. Hence, saying ‘universally accepted by all’ or ‘universally acknowledged by all’ is wrong.

3. I asked (a)/ my cousin brother to accompany (b)/ me to Ladakh trip. (c)/ No error

Solution: Error is in the part (b). The use of ‘brother ’ is superfluous here. Sister/ Brother is not used with ‘cousin’.

4. You are kindly requested (a)/ to complete your assignment before Monday (b)/ otherwise the project will be delayed. (c)/ No error 

Solution: Error is in part (a) because ‘kindly’ and ‘requested’ both are not used together. ‘Kindly’ or ‘Please’ is used in the Active sentence while ‘requested’ is used in the Passive sentence.

5. Supposing if you were (a)/ the president of India, what you would have (b)/ done to tackle the problem of poverty. (c)/ No error

Solution: Error is in part (a) because ‘Supposing’ and ‘if’ both are not used together. Both have the same meaning ‘मानो/यदि’. Use either ‘supposing’ or ‘if’.

Learn Rules of Solving Error Spotting Questions for SSC Exams Here

Important Spotting Error Questions on Conjunctions

1. Not only he has invested (a)/ in the share market (b)/ but also in various policies. (c)/ No error

Solution: Error is in part (a) of the sentence. The use of ‘not only’ with the subject ‘he’ is incorrect and should be used before ‘share market’. It is because here, the use of “not only…. but also’ combines the objects, which are ‘share market’ and ‘various policies’. Let’s take another example to understand it better:

The company is going (a)/ not only to sell its products on outlets (b)/ but also on its website. (c)/ No error

The above sentence must use ‘to sell its products not only on outlets’. It is because ‘to sell’ has two objects, i.e. ‘outlets’ and ‘its website’ which are to be added by ‘not only……but also’. So, ‘not only’ must be used before ‘outlets’ in part (b) of the sentence.

2. I will make the payment (a)/ either in cash (b)/ else through cheque. (c)/ No error

Solution: The error is in part (c) of the sentence. It is because ‘either’ is always followed by ‘or’. So, the word ‘else’ should be replaced by ‘or’.

3. Although Manoj (a)/ was a poor farmer (b)/ yet he was happy in his life. (c)/ No error

Solution: The sentence is correct. ‘Although’ and ‘though’ are followed by ‘yet’. In writing English, ‘yet’ is also not used in the sentences and a comma (‘) is used instead. In SSC exams, problem is given by using the words ‘but, else, or, and’ instead of ‘yet’.

4. Both Ramesh as well as (a)/ his cousin took part (b)/ in the marathon conducted in Mumbai few days back. (c)/ No error

Solution: The error is in part (a) of the sentence. ‘Both’ is always followed by ‘and’. The problem is given by using ‘as well as’ or ‘else’ in sentences.

5. I wonder (a)/ that government will (b)/ approve my project or not. (c)/ No error

Solution: The error is in part (b) of the sentence. The correct pairing is “whether….or”. So, the use of “that” is incorrect in part (b) of the sentence and must be replaced by “whether”.

Error Spotting Questions for SSC Exams on Adverb

1. He hurt himself (A)/ yesterday while running (B)/ very fastly. (C)/ No error

Solution: The error lies in part (C) of the sentence. The sentence requires an adverb to modify the verb “run”. “Fast” is an adverb as well as an adjective. It is one of the common adverbs which does not end in “ly” suffix. The correct sentence would be “He hurt himself yesterday while running very fast”.

2. It was bitter cold (A)/ yesterday due to which (B)/ we had to stay at home the whole day. (C)/ No error

Solution: The error lies in part (A) of the sentence. “Bitter” is an adjective while the sentence requires an adverb which is “bitterly”. The correct sentence would be “It was bitterly cold yesterday due to which we had to stay at home the whole day.”

3. Santosh was too glad (A)/ to meet his old friend (B)/ at the reception party. (C)/ No error

Solution: The error is in part (A) of the sentence. The use of “too” is incorrect here. “Too” is used mostly with unpleasant adjectives. For example, too sad, too tired, too wicked, too boring. The sentence mentions Santosh as being happy after seeing his old friend. So, the correct adverb here is “very”. The sentence would read as “Santosh was very glad to meet his old friend at the reception party”.

4. The child refused to go to school (A)/ as the behaviour of the teacher (B)/ was much too careless. (C)/ No error

Solution: The sentence is correct. The structures for much too and too much are:
“Much too + adjective”
Example: Much too arrogant, much too careless, much too wicked
I don’t like my boss as his attitude is much too arrogant.
“Too much + noun”
Example: too much arrogance, too much carelessness, too much insincerity
Your ignorance gives me too much pain. 

5. He boasts of having (A)/ exceptional writing skills; (B)/ however, his recent article was none too impressive. (C)/ No error

Solution: The sentence is grammatically correct. The adverb “none too” means not very and it is used with pleasant and unpleasant adjectives. See some examples:
The new method is also none too good.
The previously used method was none too bad.

6. The teacher (A)/ scolded him always (B)/ because he rarely reached school on time. (C)/ No error

Solution: The error is in part (B) of the sentence. It is because of the wrong placement of the adverb “always”. Please note that adverbs like always, seldom, never etc are used before the main verb. So, “always” should be used before the verb “scolded”.

7. It is a common misconception (A)/ that every policeman badly behaves (B)/ with the citizens. (C)/ No error

Solution: The error lies in part (B) of the sentence. It is because the adverb “badly” should be used after the verb “behaves”. The adverbs of manner are used after the main verb.
Example:
He spoke very arrogantly.
He behaves very rudely. 

8. She yesterday came (A)/ to meet you but you (B)/ were not present. (C)/ No error

Solution: The error lies in part (A) of the sentence. The adverbs of time like yesterday, today etc are used in the end of any sentence. So, the word “yesterday” should be used in part (B) of the above sentence.

9. Simran danced (A)/ in the college function (B)/ elegantly yesterday. (C)/ No error

Solution: The error is in part (C) of the sentence. It is because the adverb “elegantly” should be used after the verb “danced”. Please note that if adverb of manner, adverb of place and adverb of time are given together in a sentence, then their order should be (Adverb of manner—adverb of place—adverb of time).

10. As I had been very bad (A)/ with calculations, she asked me (B)/ to carefully solve the questions. (C)/ No error

Solution: The error is in part (C) of the sentence. The adverb “carefully should be used after the word “questions”. Please note that it is incorrect to use adverbs in between of participles. Let’s take an example: He insisted me to thoroughly read the article. The use of adverb “thoroughly” is incorrect in the sentence. It must be used in the end of the sentence. This sentence should be written as “He insisted me to read the article thoroughly.”

SSC Spotting Error Questions on Adjective

1. Two solutions were provided (A)/ in the book but (B)/ none was correct. (C)/ No error

Solution: The error is in part (C) of the sentence. Here, subject is “two solutions” so “neither” should be used instead of “none” in part (C). “None” is used for more than two choices. See some examples for both “neither” as well as “none”:

Examples :

Neither of the book is interesting.

None of the books were interesting.

2. Either citizen of a country (A)/ should have the feeling of (B)/ patriotism towards the motherland. (C)/ No error

Solution: The error lies in part (A) of the sentence. The adjective “either” is incorrect here and should be replaced by each or every. “Either” is used to select between two choices only while in the sentence the number of citizens is very large.

3. Every of the two young (A)/ boys dreamed of becoming (B)/ an IAS officer since their childhood. (C)/ No error

Solution: The error is in part (A) of the sentence. The adjective “every” should be replaced by “each”. “Each” and “every” are called distributive adjectives. “Each” is used for two or more than two entities while “every” is used only for more than two. See below example:

Two terrorists were killed in the recent encounter. Each belonged to Pakistan.
In the above sentence, we cannot replace each with every.
There are five cars. Every car needs service.

4. Each the man (A)/ who took part in the championship (B)/ was given a gift hamper. (C)/ No error

Solution: The error lies in part (A) of the sentence. The noun used after “each/either/every/neither” should never be preceded by an article. So, the use of article “the” in part (A) is

incorrect and should be omitted. See some examples:

Every a man (incorrect)

Every man (correct)

Each a boy (Incorrect)

Each boy (correct)

5. The investigation agency has (A)/ found the involvement of (B)/ certain school boy in the recent murder. (C)/ No error

Solution: The error is in part (C) of the sentence. It should be “certain school boys” not “certain school boy”. Please note that “certain/other/these/those/kinds of/sorts of” are always followed by plural noun. See some examples:

Certain methods, certain parts, kinds of men, sorts of problems

Error Spotting Questions with Answers on Verb

1. The students were nervous (a)/ as the exam did not begun (b)/ on time. (c)/ No error

Solution: The error is in part (b) of the sentence. When we use “did not” in a sentence, the verb must be in its base form. So, the verb “begun” should be replaced by “begin”.

2. The teacher was scolded the students (a)/ as none of them completed (b)/ their homework on time. (c)/ No error

Solution: The error is in part (a) of the sentence. The sentence is in active voice while the use of “was scolded” represents passive voice. Thus, “was” should be omitted in order to make the sentence correct.

3. Various species of birds (a)/can be saw during (b)/ the monsoon season in northern part of India. (c)/ No error

Solution: The error is in part (b) of the sentence. The sentence is of passive voice, so, third form of verb should be used in the sentence. Thus, replace “saw” with “seen”.

4. Been it a rainy day, (a)/ they had to cancel the plan (b)/ of going to picnic. (c)/ No error

Solution: The error is in part (a) of the sentence. The use of “been” is incorrect and should be replaced by “being”. Please note that “been” is always used in passive sentences.

5. I was got defeated (a)/ by my best friend (b)/ in the online typing speed test. (c)/ No error

Solution: The error is in part (a) of the sentence. We cannot use two verbs consecutively after the auxiliary verb. So, we can write part (a) as “I got defeated” or “I was defeated”.

Error Spotting Questions on Noun

1. The Present day (a)/ youth needs (b)/ Vivekanand to guide them (c)/ no error

Solution:  Error is in ‘Part C’. Though Proper noun doesn’t take Article but whenever it is used to present characteristics of that person not person itself, it takes ‘a, an’ Article with it. So it will be “ a Vivekanand”.

2. Kalidas (a)/ is Shakespeare (b)/ of India (c)/ no error

Solution: Error is in ‘Part B’. if there is need to indicate similarity in characteristics of two persons,    then article ‘the’ is used. So in Part B, use article ‘The’ before Shakespeare.

3. This World (a)/ is full of (b)/ Tendulkar and Chetan Bhagat(c)/ no error

Solution: Error is in ‘Part C’. Whenever we need to indicate characteristic of special persons, they are used in plural form. So here, it will be as ‘Tendulkars and Chetan Bhagats’.

4. Any Pramod (a)/ is looking (b)/ for you.(c)/ no error

Solution: Error is in ‘Part A’. If Identity of proper noun is not clear, then ‘Some’ is used before that proper noun. So here, in Part A it will be like this ‘Some Pramod’.

5. Yesterday, I went (a)/ to Sharma’s(b)/ house (c)/ no error

Solution: Error is in ‘Part B’. To indicate house of someone use plural form of surname with apostrophe sign. Correct Sentence is ” Yesterday, I went to Sharmas’ house.

6. My sister-in-laws (a)/ who live in Bangalore (b)/ have not come to visit us. (c)/ no error

Solution:  Error is in ‘Part A’. Compound nouns like this are made plural by adding s in main part of noun which is sister here.  So it will be ‘My sisters -in –law’.

7. We got to see (a)/ many beautiful sceneries (b)/ during Darjeeling trip. (c)/ no error

Solution: Error is in ‘Part B’.  As the noun ‘Scenery’ is an uncountable noun and uncountable nouns are not converted in plural form in this way. So replace ‘Sceneries’ with ‘Scenery’.

8. Cards (a)/ are (b)/ my favorite game. (c)/ no error

Solution: Error is in ‘Part B’.  There are some words which take s in their end, so seems like they are plural but they are singular in reality, this includes many Games and Diseases names and others too. Cards is one of them. So use ‘is’ in place of ‘are’ in Part B.

9. I bought (a)/ this sunglass (b)/ for rupee 2500. (c)/ no error

Solution:  Error is in ‘Part B’. There are some words which are necessarily used in the plural form, they can never be used in the singular form. Sunglasses is one of them. Hence in Part B use ‘These sunglasses’

10. The police (a)/ is investigating (b)/ the case. (c)/ no error

Solution:  Error is in ‘Part B’. There are some words which seem to be singular but in actuality, they are plural and always treated as plural. Eg. Police, Gentry, Cattle etc. So in Part B replace is with ‘are’.

Error Spotting Questions with Answers PDF for SSC Exams

To help you revise better for the upcoming SSC exams, we are providing you with a compilation of all the important error-spotting questions with answers in this PDF. You can download the PDF and read it at your convenience from the link given below.  

> Error Spotting Questions with Answers PDF

Here, we conclude the topic error spotting questions for SSC exams. If you have any queries, you can reach out to us in the comment section.

Stay Tuned

All The Best !!!

DREAM, STRIVE & SUCCEED With US!

SSC CGL

Our Apps Playstore
POPULAR EXAMS
SSC and Bank
Other Exams
GradeStack Learning Pvt. Ltd.Windsor IT Park, Tower - A, 2nd Floor, Sector 125, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201303 help@byjusexamprep.com
Home Practice Test Series Premium