SPOTTING ERRORS EA 13

Directions: Read each sentences to find out whether there is any grammatical or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any,
will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (e) (Ignore the
errors of punctuation, if any).

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C
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C
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 CONJUNCTION

Rule : No sooner is followed by than, not by but.

Incorrect : No sooner had we reached the station but the train left.
Note that this is a case of correlative conjunctions. We are given a structure: “No sooner…but”. You should not have any difficulty in
remembering this rule because sooner is in the comparative degree, and should therefore be followed by than. Simple, isn’t it? So, let
us remember the structure: “No sooner…than.”
Correct : No sooner had we reached the station than the train left.
Note : “No sooner A than B” is very similar to “Scarcely A when B” and has almost the same meaning.

Rule : Do not use seldom or ever in place of seldom or never.

Incorrect : The national network seldom or ever telecasts good programes. What does seldom mean? It means almost never.
Are you aware of the frequency words – words that denote how often a thing happens? Well, let us see the frequency-chart :
never
rarely/hardly ever/seldom
occasionally/sometimes
often/frequently
usually/nearly always
ever/always
(The frequency increases as you move from top to bottom.)
Obviously, a doubt will arise only between two things that are very close to each other. As the frequency-chart shows, seldom is very
close to never and far from ever (always). So, seldom or never.
Correct : The national network seldom or never telecasts good programmes.

Rule : Correlative conjunctions should be followed by the same part of speech.

Incorrect : He neither agreed to my proposal nor to his.
In the above sentence neither… nor are correlative conjunctions. What is neither followed by? Agreed, a verb. Then nor should also
be followed by a verb. But we have only one verb. What do we do? Well, if we place neither after agreed, both the conjunctions are
followed by the same part of speech – preposition (to). So,
Correct : He agreed neither to my proposal nor to his.

Rule : Neither is followed by nor, not by or.

Incorrect : The phone neither went dead or worked properly.
Neither mean n(ot) either. Similarly, nor means n(ot) or. So, when we use the positives, we use the either…or pair. And for negatives,
the neither….nor pair. So,
Correct : The phone neither went dead nor worked properly.

Rule : Conjunction that is not used before

(i) a sentence in direct narration.
(ii) an interrogative adverb or interrogative pronoun in the indirect narration.
Incorrect : He said that, “It is none of my business.”
Note that the inverted commas denote direct speech (see “Direct and Indirect Speech”). The words within inverted commas (“ ”) is
what he said. So, there is no need of that in between.
Correct : He said, “It is none of my business.”

Rule : Although goes with yet or a comma (,) in the other clause.
Incorrect : Although Manohar is hardworking, but he does not get a job. This is again a case of correlative conjunctions. The
correct pair is although…yet, not although…but. So,
Correct : Although Manohar is hardworking, yet he does not get a job.

Rule : Nothing else should be followed by but, not by than.

Incorrect : Mr. Bureaucrat! This is nothing else than red-tapism.
You have to bear in mind that though else has the same meaning as other, there is a difference in terms of their usage. Other than is
correct but nothing else should be followed by but(meaning except).
Correct : Mr. Bureaucrat! This is nothing else but red-tapism.
Rule : The correlative conjunctions indeed…but are used to emphasise the contrast between the first and the second parts of the
statement.
Incorrect : I am indeed happy with my school but it produces famous men. Something is wrong somewhere. What are the
two parts? (i) I am indeed happy with my school; and (ii) it produces famous men. We find that the two parts are in harmony. That it
produces famous men makes me happy. Since the two parts are in harmony, we replace but (which shows contrast) by that. So,
Correct : I am indeed happy with my school that it produces famous men. Alternatively, if we want to retain the correlatives
indeed…but, we must change one of the two parts into its negative so that a contrast is brought about and the use of but is justified.
 Correct : I am indeed happy with my school but it does not produce famous men.

Rule : In a “not only…but also…” sentence, the verb should agree with the noun or pronoun mentioned second, that is, the one
after but also, because this is the part being emphasized.
Incorrect : Not only the students but also the teacher were responsible for what happened in the class.
The verb must agree with the teacher because the emphasis of the sentence is on this part since it is placed after but also. Because
teacher is in the singular number,
Correct : Not only the students but also the teacher was responsible for what happened in the class.

Rule : Such…as is used to denote a category whereas such….that emphasizes the degree of something by mentioning its
consequence.
Incorrect : Each member of the alliance agrees to take such action that it deems necessary.
Here “it deems necessary” is not a consequence of “such action”. The sentence wants to imply that the action belongs to the category:
“as it deems necessary”. In other words, what kind of action? Such action as it deems necessary. So,
Correct : Each member of the alliance agrees to take such action as it deems necessary.

12. India seldom or ever wins a medal at the Olympics.

Correct the following sentences:
1. They had hardly finished their meals that at once they
resumed their duty.
2. She asked me that I could answer her question.
3. He is not honest and not truthful.
4. I have not only looked after my children but also my
sister’s.
5. It is nothing else than a trick being played upon you.
6. It is nothing else than a wicked desire.
7. No sooner had I reached the office when I got the news of
your arrival.
8. He will return on either Saturday or Monday.
9. Both he and as well as I footed the bill.
10. He has no other business but to play with computers.
11. Scarcely had I completed the paragraph than the lights
went off.
13. He has no choice than to start his own business.
14. I don’t know whether Ramakant is equally good as Vijay.
15. Neither Sanjay or Rahul loves his work.
16. Such was his pronunciation as I could not understand him.
17. He said that, “Word is a four-letter word.”
18. He treats us as slaves.
19. It is difficult to know whether you have been selected.
20. Most of the girls are doing their post-graduation because
that may get good husbands.
21. I am interested in such books which are interesting.
22. He does not interfere without he is compelled.
23. He asked me that who I was.
24. Although they listen to me, but their actions prove
otherwise.
25. This film is interesting and the previous one was boring.

SPOTTING ERROR
01. The king of Iran resigned his throne.
02. She resigned her claim over her uncle’s property.
03. You should refrain from drugs.
04. The doctors advised him to refrain from wine and beer.
05. The accused admitted his guilt in the court.
06. He died ten years before.
07. I have always found her a most amicable girl.
08. Triveni impressed everyone by the aptitude of her
comments.
09. He is an arduous supporter of the local football team.
10. The reason of the fire is still unknown to us so far.
11. Gita was most graceful to everyone, smiling and thanking
them.
12. There was an incredible look on her face as she listened to
the story.
13. It is legal on the part of a citizen to preach his religion
throughout India.
14. The obnoxious gases are very harmful to us.
15. We are tired of being pushed around by official civil
servants.
16. Army personal are not allowed to leave the base.
17. It was wartime and food was rare.
18. He is a social kind of person.
19. I am waiting a reply from her.
20. She is the proprietor of this shop.
21. I tried my best to alley her fears.
22. The officer acted with the full ascent of the Prime
Minister.
23. I can swear upon her as she is my old confidant.
24. He became deadly pale when he saw his enemy.
25. The police interrogators could not illicit any valuable
information from the dacoit.
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