SSC GD Constable – English Language
Topic: Error Spotting
Why it matters
In the SSC GD Constable exam the English Language paper (Section‑2) contains a dedicated Error Spotting section.
- 10 questions (2 marks each) – 20 marks total
- Each question presents a sentence or a short paragraph containing a single grammatical, lexical or punctuation error.
- The correct answer is the best alternative from the options.
A strong grasp of the rules and the ability to scan quickly for errors is the key to scoring high.
1. General Strategy for Error Spotting
| Step | What to Do | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Read carefully | Read the sentence/paragraph twice. | First read for meaning, second for form. |
| 2. Identify the “problem area” | Look for the odd‑man‑out: a word that feels out of place, a missing comma, or a verb that seems wrong. | Focus on the subject, verb, object and punctuation. |
| 3. Recall the rule | Match the suspect part to the appropriate grammatical rule. | Keep a quick “cheat sheet” of rules handy (see Section 2). |
| 4. Check the options | Evaluate each choice – does it correct the error without introducing a new one? | The best choice is the one that fixes the error and keeps the sentence natural. |
| 5. Decide | Pick the option that fully resolves the problem. | If multiple options seem right, re‑evaluate the rule—there’s usually a subtle nuance. |
Quick Heuristic – If the sentence can be read as a single, coherent thought after the change, you’re likely correct.
2. Core Rules & Common Pitfalls
2.1 Subject‑Verb Agreement
| Rule | Example | Tricky Point |
|---|---|---|
| Singular subject → singular verb | The team is ready. | Collective nouns (team, committee) are singular. |
| Plural subject → plural verb | The members are ready. | Follow the closest subject when a prepositional phrase intervenes. |
| Compound subject separated by and → plural verb | The teacher and the students are present. | If the compound subject is joined by or / nor, verb agrees with the nearest subject. |
| Indefinite pronouns (e.g., each, every) → singular verb | Each of the candidates has a chance. | Do not use plural verbs with each, every, either, neither. |
2.2 Verb Tense Consistency
| Rule | Example | Common Error |
|---|---|---|
| Use the same tense in a clause when depicting simultaneous actions | She walks to the office and smiles at everyone. | Changing tense mid‑sentence unless a time shift is intended. |
| Past‑perfect for actions completed before another past action | He had finished the report before the meeting. | Using simple past instead of past‑perfect for earlier events. |
2.3 Pronoun‑Antecedent Agreement
| Rule | Example | Common Pitfall |
|---|---|---|
| Pronoun must agree in number and gender with its antecedent | Every student should submit his or her assignment. | Using their for a singular antecedent when the gender is unknown is acceptable in modern usage but may be considered informal. |
| Pronoun cannot refer to a non‑specific antecedent | The manager asked for their report. | The manager is singular; their should be his or her. |
2.4 Dangling / Misplaced Modifiers
| Issue | Corrected Example | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Modifier does not clearly point to the intended noun | Walking to the station, the rain started. | Sounds like the rain was walking. |
| Use which/that correctly with non‑restrictive vs. restrictive clauses | The book, which was long, was fascinating. | Non‑restrictive clauses are set off by commas. |
2.5 Parallel Structure
| Rule | Example | Common Error |
|---|---|---|
| Items in a list should have the same grammatical form | She likes reading, writing, and to dance. | Mixing gerund and infinitive. |
| Parallelism in comparisons | He is as tall as his brother, and as his cousin. | Missing the second as. |
2.6 Comma Usage
| Rule | Example | Misuse |
|---|---|---|
| Comma before a coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence | I wanted to go, but it rained. | Omit comma when clauses are very short or closely related. |
| Commas with non‑essential clauses | My brother, who lives in Mumbai, visited. | Omit commas if the clause is essential for identification. |
| Comma with introductory phrases | After the meeting, we went home. | No comma after after the meeting if the clause is short? Actually a comma is required. |
2.7 Word Usage & Lexical Choice
| Incorrect | Correct | Why It’s Wrong |
|---|---|---|
| *“I will attend the |