Lakshadweep PSC – English Language
Topic: Error Spotting
Goal – Identify and correct grammatical, punctuation, and style errors in sentences.
1. Simple Explanation
Error spotting tests your ability to read a sentence carefully and spot any of the following types of mistakes:
| Type | What it looks like | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Subject‑verb agreement | The list are on the table. | Keeps the sentence logically correct. |
| Pronoun‑antecedent agreement | Everyone in the room left their coats behind. | Avoids ambiguity. |
| Verb tense consistency | She runs to the market yesterday. | Maintains temporal clarity. |
| Punctuation (commas, semicolons, apostrophes) | Its a wonderful place. | Prevents misreading. |
| Comma splice / run‑on | I like tea, I drink it daily. | Separates independent clauses properly. |
| Dangling modifier | Running down the street, the accident happened. | Keeps modifier attached to the correct subject. |
| Double negative | I don’t need no help. | Creates confusion. |
| Incorrect word choice | He effort in the project. | Uses the right lexical form. |
| Misplaced modifiers | She almost finished the exam quickly. | Avoids awkward meaning. |
2. Key Points to Remember
| Category | Checklist |
|---|---|
| Subject‑verb | 1. Count the subject: singular or plural. 2. Use the appropriate verb form. |
| Pronouns | 1. Match number, gender, and person. 2. Use who for people, which for things. |
| Tenses | 1. Keep tense consistent unless a time shift is explicit. 2. Past, present, future forms must match the context. |
| Punctuation | 1. Apostrophes: possessives vs. contractions. 2. Commas: separate clauses, items, introductory phrases. 3. Semicolons: link closely related independent clauses. |
| Modifiers | 1. Keep modifiers near the words they describe. 2. Avoid dangling or misplaced modifiers. |
| Negatives | 1. One negative is enough. |
| Spelling / Word Choice | 1. Use the correct form: effect vs affect, their vs there vs they’re, etc. |
3. Worked Example
| Original Sentence | Error Identified | Corrected Version | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. The students, who studied hard, is ready for the exam. | Subject‑verb agreement | The students, who studied hard, are ready for the exam. | “Students” is plural → verb are. |
| 2. She has visited many countries, but she didn’t learn much from them because of the language barrier. | Run‑on / comma splice | She has visited many countries; however, she didn’t learn much from them because of the language barrier. | Semicolon + conjunction fixes run‑on. |
| 3. Neither the manager nor the employees was present at the meeting. | Subject‑verb agreement (plural subject) | Neither the manager nor the employees were present at the meeting. | Plural “employees” forces plural verb. |
| 4. He’s a very good player, but his performance was lackluster. | Wrong word choice | He’s a very good player, but his performance was lacking. | “Lackluster” is an adjective; “lacking” fits the verb phrase. |
| 5. Running through the park, the accident happened. | Dangling modifier | While running through the park, the accident happened. | Modifier now clearly modifies “the accident”. |
| 6. I didn’t see no sign of trouble. | Double negative | I didn’t see any sign of trouble. | One negative suffices. |
| 7. Their are many reasons to visit. | Pronoun‑antecedent agreement | There are many reasons to visit. | “Their” → “There” for existence. |
| 8. He will finish the report tomorrow, and I will be waiting for it. | Comma splice | He will finish the report tomorrow, and I will be waiting for it. (This is actually correct; but if you want a semicolon) Alternative: He will finish the report tomorrow; I will be waiting for it. | Use semicolon to join independent clauses. |
4. Quick Revision Summary
- Subject‑Verb Agreement – Singular subject → singular verb; plural subject → plural verb.
- Pronouns – Match number, gender, and person; use who for people, which for things.
- Tense Consistency – Keep the tense uniform unless a time shift is clearly indicated.
- Punctuation – Apostrophes for possessives & contractions; commas to separate clauses & items; semicolons link closely related clauses.
- Modifiers – Place them next to the word they modify; avoid dangling or misplaced modifiers.
- Negatives – One negative is enough; avoid double negatives.
- Word Choice – Use the correct lexical form: affect vs effect, their vs there vs they’re, effect vs affect, etc.
- Run‑On / Comma Splice – Use a semicolon or a coordinating conjunction with a comma.
- Subject‑Verb Agreement with Compound Subjects – If subjects are joined by and, use plural verb; if joined by or/nor, verb agrees with the nearer subject.
- Pronoun Antecedent – Ensure the pronoun refers clearly to its antecedent.
- Spelling – Watch homophones: their/there/they’re, to/too/two, affect/effect, etc.
Quick Practice (Try these before the exam)
- The committee, who decided to postpone the meeting, have announced a new date.
- *She will meet us at the station