Tuesday 13 July 2021

Error Spotting (Subject Verb Agreement -- 2)- SENTENCES OF COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION QUESTIONS PATTERN


 ERROR SPOTTING


As subject and verb agreement is necessary for a proper meaning of the sentence similarly proximity of the relative pronoun or clause to Subject is also necessary for conveying proper meaning and sense of the sentence.

For example: 

I saw a child in the garden who was playing with a ball.

This sentence gives the sense that the garden was playing with a ball whereas it should be  the child was playing with a ball. 
The sentence should be

In the garden, I saw a child who was playing with a ball.

In competition examinations there are sentences with inappropriate arrangement of Subject or object with the relative pronoun or the relative clause which describe them. The error is required to be located and rectified.

Here follow some sentences which elaborate the point.

Walking on the road a bull hit him.

This sentence gives the sense that the bull was walking on the road whereas it should be he was walking on the road. It is because clause containing the word walking is close to bull. Instead it should be close to he.

Sometimes passive voice instead of active voice is required to be used. As in this sentence-

Walking on the road, he was hit by a bull. OR
While he was walking on the road, a bull hit him. 


EXERCISE

1. Having paid his all dues, the authorities released the orders of John's membership renewal.  

2. Being the eldest son his parents expected him to extend help in the business of the family.

3. Going by the roadside, a speeding car hit him, he fell down on the ground and got injured.

4. All of a sudden a young lady appeared on the stage, with long hair and black complexions and she started addressing the audience sitting there.

5. Being a rainy day both the teams decided to abandon the match of the day.




ANSWERS

1. This sentence means that John paid his dues and as a consequence of that the authorities released the orders. But it gives impression that the authorities paid his dues. 

Subject 'the authorities' has its verb released. The verb 'Having  paid' has no subject.

 So it should be--
John having paid his dues, the authorities...
OR
It can be changed as....
Having received his dues, the authorities released.....


2.  In this sentence the clause 'being the eldest son' has no subject. 'His parents' is subject and 'expected' is verb This subject cannot be common for the clause because it gives a wrong meaning. According to 'him' the subject here should be 'He'. The sentence will be-
He being the eldest son, his parents expected him to extend help in the business of the family.


3. In this sentence active voice gives an incorrect meaning for a proper sense and meaning it should be in passive form. 
Going by the roadside, he was hit by a speeding car, he fell down on the ground and got injured.


4.This sentence the clause 'with long hair and black complexions' is wrongly placed. It should be with  which it describes. As it describes the young lady so it should be with this part. The sentence can be changed as follows-

All of a sudden appeared on the stage, a young lady with long hair and black complexions and she started addressing the audience sitting there.
OR  it can be -
All of a sudden a young lady with long hair and black complexions appeared on the stage, and she started addressing the audience sitting there.


5. In this sentence the clause 'being a rainy day' requires a subject. In case of sentences relating to weather the subject 'it' is used. The sentence will be -
It being a rainy day both the teams decided to abandon the match of the day.

EXERCISE

1. Having broken down, the driver decided to get the car repaired and discontinue the journey.

2. Being the beginning of the year, the chairman of the company decided to enhance the production of goods so that customers' demand is met with.

3. Gratitude is an essential virtue for real inner prosperity and happiness which connects us with the divine.

4. The culprit pleaded for mercy to the judge who was accused of theft and murder charges.



 






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