Error Spotting (Superfluous Words)- SENTENCES OF COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION QUESTIONS PATTERN

                      

                                      

                           ERROR SPOTTING

              Based on Superfluous words usage in sentences

In competitive examinations there are questions of error finding. These questions also relate to use of  words which are not required in sentences.These words are superfluous or redundant. These sentences appear to be correct as these mistakes are difficult to find out. Sometimes articles are missing in sentences and  in other  the same are used where these are not required. So knowledge of proper use of words and parts of speech in sentences becomes essential to attempt such questions correctly.

Following sentences illustrate this fact.

Today he returned back from his office very late.

This sentence appears to be correct but returned back is incorrect. Returned in itself contains the meaning of back. Return means to come back. So the word back is superfluous and is not required here.

The man is mortal.

The article 'the' in this sentence is not required here because it is used for specific items whereas 'man' is used here in general terms. So the correct sentence is - Man is mortal.

SUPERFLUOUS WORDS

1 The train slowed down as it approached near the station.

2. He had to pay fine when he did not return back books to the library.

3. Supposing if you visit him pay my respects to him.

4. My book is relatively better than yours.

5. My friend has sufficient enough money to pay off his dues.

6. All were surprised when he re-entered the room again.

7. His younger son contributed equally as much money as his elder son did.

8. His father forbade him not to visit her but he did not agree.

9. Her sister is comparatively more beautiful than her.

10.The reason why he did not succeed is because he did not work hard.

11. The patient could not sleep throughout the whole night.

12. The poet has tried to describe about the beauty of nature in this poem.

13. His father enquired that whether he would accompany him to the market in the evening.

14. The visitor asked the people gathered there that what had happened there.

15. In no case the number of words should exceed more than ninety in a paragraph.   

16. The culprit went scot-free unpunished.

INCORRECT USE OF ARTICLES

1. I know man who stole your box.  

2. The selection committee will select better one.

3. He drank little water that was in the jug.

4. He gave little money he had in his pocket to the beggar.

5. Only few students came to attend the class today.

6. Only small number of students paid their fee.

7. He did not listen to me as he was in hurry.

8. Both brothers are at daggers drawn with each other.

9. This plan will benefit rich as well as poor.

10. He is better clerk than teacher.

11. This is so difficult sum that I cannot solve it.

12. She took the offence of his remarks.

SOLUTION

1 The train slowed down as it approached (approached near) the station.

The word approached means to reach near. So the word near with approach is unnecessary.

2. He had to pay fine when he did not return (return back) books to the library.

The word return itself means to go or come back. So the word back with return is superfluous.

3. If (Supposing if) you visit him pay my respects to him.

Supposing and if both words have the same meaning. It should be supposing you.... Or If you.

4. My book is better (relatively better) than yours.

The word relatively or comparatively denote comparison. The word better itself is a comparative degree. So relatively with better is superfluous. It should be ' relatively good' or ' better'.

5. My friend has sufficient (sufficient enough) money to pay off his dues.

The words sufficient means to serve the purpose and enough also means the same thing. So only one of these two word will be used.

6. All were surprised when he entered (re-entered )the room again.

The word re- entered means to enter again. The word again with reentered is superfluous.

7. His younger son contributed (equally) as much money as his elder son did.

Equally and as much as have the same meaning so only one of these is to be used here.

8. His father forbade him (not )to visit her but he did not agree.

Forbade is a negative word so not with it is superfluous.

9. Her sister is (comparatively) more beautiful than her.

More beautiful or comparatively good denote comparison of two things. Only one of these is required to be used here.

10.The reason why he did not succeed is (because) that he did not work hard.

With the word reason that instead of because is to be used.

11. The patient could not sleep throughout the (whole) night.

The word throughout denotes completeness. So with it whole is redundant.

12. The poet has tried to describe (about) the beauty of nature in this poem.

13. His father enquired (that) whether he would accompany him to the market in the evening.

14. The visitor asked the people gathered there (that) what had happened there.

15. In no case the number of words should exceed (more than) ninety in a paragraph.   

16. The culprit went scot-free. Scot-free itself means to go unpunished. Here unpunished with scot-free is superfluous.

INCORRECT USE OF ARTICLES

1. I know the man who stole your box.  

2. The selection committee will select the better one.

3. He drank the little water that was in the jug.

4. He gave the little money he had in his pocket to the beggar.

5. Only  a few students came to attend the class today.

6. Only a small number of students paid their fee.

7. He did not listen to me as he was in a hurry.

8. Both the brothers are at daggers drawn with each other.

9. This plan will benefit the rich as well as the poor.

10. He is better a clerk than teacher.

11. This is so difficult a sum that I cannot solve it.

12. She took (the) offence of his remarks.

EXERCISE

Fill in appropriate articles in blanks.

........ more I try to please him....... more he gets angry. Sometimes he says he is busy at ..........moment or something of ......... sort. He is ............officer of .........Government and ........important person, but he is ........ill-tempered fellow. He does not lend ........helping hand to ..........poor.

TWO

Fill in appropriate articles in blanks.

........ girl was playing in the street, when ......... wild bull came and frightened her. .......... girl ran hastily to ....... neighbouring house where ......... elderly man was sitting in ...... chair with ...... thick stick in his hand. ......... man took up ......... stick, ran to ......... bull and drove him out of ....... street. ........ girl  thanked .....man and again went to play in .......street.

SOLUTION

The more I try to please him the more he gets angry. Sometimes he says he is busy at the moment or something of the sort. He is an officer of the Government and an important person, but he is an ill-tempered fellow. He does not lend a helping hand to the poor.

TWO

A girl was playing in the street, when a wild bull came and frightened her. The girl ran hastily to the neighbouring house where an elderly man was sitting in a chair with a thick stick in his hand. The man took up the stick, ran to the bull and drove him out of the street. The girl  thanked the man and again went to play in the street.