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.
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
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.
Very useful article and helpful too. Learning English Grammar is one of the best topic I should say.
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