Important Spotting Errors Set – 49

1. Many a profound thinker believe (a) / that the march of civilisation (b) / has not coincided with real human progress (c) / No error (d)

a) Many a profound thinker believe

b) that the march of civilisation

c) has not coincided with real human progress

d) No Error

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a) Many a profound thinker believe

‘Many a profound thinker’ requires a singular verb. The present perfect continuous tense is used for actions that began in the past but are continuing to take place in the present and are expected to continue in the near future.

2. It was time that (a) / you started (b) / working (c) / No error (d)

a) It was time that

b) you started

c) working

d) No Error

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a) It was time that

‘It is time’ is the correct beginning. The correct usage is ‘it is time you’ + past tense (use of ‘that’, as in the given sentence, is incorrect). Use of ‘it was time’ would be correct in indirect speech only: ‘He said it was time I started working’

3. The eminent speaker’s speech (a) / was broadcasted over (b) / all the major radio stations (c) / No error (d)

a) The eminent speaker’s speech

b) was broadcasted over

c) all the major radio stations

d) No Error

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b) was broadcasted over

The past tense of ‘broadcast’ is ‘broadcast’.

4. The meeting adjourned abruptly (a) / by the chairman after (b) / about three hours of deliberation (c) / No error (d)

a) The meeting adjourned abruptly

b) by the chairman after

c) about three hours of deliberation

d) No Error

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a) The meeting adjourned abruptly
The singular verb in past tense, ‘was’, is missing before ‘adjourned’. ‘Adjourned’ means ‘put off’; it is used as a passive construction intransitive verb in this sentence (so, ‘was adjourned’)

5. Coffee seeds (a) / is dried and roasted (b) / before they are ground into powder (c) / No error (d)

a) Coffee seeds

b) is dried and roasted

c) before they are ground into powder

d) No Error

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b) is dried and roasted

The plural verb ‘are’ should be used to agree with ‘seeds’.

6. This small table (a) / will collapse (b) / if you will stand on it (c) / No error (d)

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a) This small table

b) will collapse

c) if you will stand on it

d) No Error

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c) if you will stand on it

‘Will’ should not be used a second time in the conditional sentence.

7. One of these days (a) / I will be going to (b) / confront you with incontrovertible evidence (c) / No error (d)

a) One of these days

b) I will be going to

c) confront you with incontrovertible evidence

d) No Error

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b) I will be going to

‘I am going to’ is the correct phrase.

8. I pleaded with him with (a) / a view to convincing him (b) / of my innocence in the matter (c) / No error (d)

a) I pleaded with him with

b) a view to convincing him

c) my innocence in the matter

d) No Error

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d) No Error

9. Twenty miles are (a) / a long way (b) / to walk (c) / No error (d)

a) Twenty miles are

b) a long way

c) to walk

d) No Error

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a) Twenty miles are

It should be ‘Twenty miles is’, not ‘are’. ‘Twenty miles’ should be taken as a unit here __ a certain distance. So a singular verb is to be used.

10. Not only the bandits robbed (a) / the traveller of his purse (b) / but they also wounded him grievously (c) / No error (d)

a) Not only the bandits robbed

b) the traveller of his purse

c) but they also wounded him grievously

d) No Error

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a) Not only the bandits robbed

Not only did the bandits rob’ is the correct first part of the sentence.

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