Error Detection Questions for SBI Clerk 2023 Exam

Error detection is quite an important concept when it comes to the English section for banking exams. In this article we will be discussing Error Detection Questions for SBI Clerk 2023 Exam. These questions and answers are not only for the SBI Clerk exam, but can be practiced for all major banking examinations. Mentioned below are some common rules of grammar that must be followed when detecting errors in such questions.

IMPORTANT CONCEPTS

Some common rules of grammar that must be followed when detecting errors in such questions:

1. Subject-verb agreement: A singular subject needs a singular verb, and a plural subject needs a plural verb.

Example 1: Jack is married to Penny.

Example 2: The horses are galloping.

2. Adjectives and adverbs: An adjective always modifies a noun or a pronoun, and an adverb always modifies a verb, adjective or another adverb.

Example 1: The girl (n.) is beautiful (adj.).

Example 2: The team performed (v.) brilliantly (adv.).

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3. Common verb constructions:

Infinitive construction:  TO + V1 (Example: She wants to play basketball.)

Modal verb construction: Modal + V1 (Example: He must visit them.)

(Note: Can, could, shall, should, must, will, would, may, might, do, did are all modal verbs).

4. Tenses:

	Simple	Continuous	Perfect	Perfect continuous
Present	Go/ goes	Is/ are going	Has/ have gone	Has/ have been going
Past	Went	Was/ were going	Had gone	Had been going
Future	Will go	Will be going	Will have gone	Will have been going

5. Common confusables:

Few/ little/ many/ much: ‘Few’ and ‘many’ are for countable nouns, and ‘little’ and ‘much’ are for uncountable nouns. 

Example 1: There were many boys present, but only a few of them knew how to dance. 

Example 2: There is much knowledge in the field of medicine, but I know only little.

Since/ for: ‘Since’ is used to refer to a point in time, while ‘for’ is used to refer to a period of time.

Example: We have lived here for five years, but it is only since Monday that we have been receiving complaints about the noise.

That/ which: ‘That’ is used for restrictive clauses, while ‘which’ is used for non-restrictive clauses that supply additional but unnecessary information.

Example 1: She got into the bus that was going to Kasol. (The sentence is specifying the bus she boarded).

Example 2: She was watching TV, which was her favourite pastime. (The sentence is giving additional information about her act of watching TV).

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Error Detection Questions for SBI Clerk 2023 Exam

Question 1: In the question below, the given sentence has been broken up into four different parts. The error, if any, will be in any one part of the sentence. Select the option which contains the part of the sentence which has an error (spelling, grammatical or contextual). If there is no error, choose option (e).

It were a unique opportunity (A)/ to prove his worth (B)/ to the management (C)/ but he failed miserably. (D)

A) It were a unique opportunity

B) to prove his worth

C) to the management

D) but he failed miserably.

E) No error

Question 2: In the question below, the given sentence has been broken up into four different parts. The error, if any, will be in any one part of the sentence. Select the option which contains the part of the sentence which has an error (spelling, grammatical or contextual). If there is no error, choose option (e).

People presumes that (A)/ scientists are loners (B)/ who are always (C)/ coming up with strange inventions. (D)

A) People presumes that

B) scientists are loners

C) who are always

D) coming up with strange inventions.

E) No error

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Question 3: In the following question, a sentence is given, divided into 5 parts. Part (1) is grammatically correct. Out of the other four parts, one part contains an error. Mark the option containing the part with the error. If none of the parts have errors, mark ‘No error’ as your answer.

Incineration is a waste (1)/ treatment process that involve (A)/ the combustion of organic (B)/ substances contained (C)/ in waste materials. (D)

A) B

B) D

C) A

D) C

E) No error

Question 4: In the following question, a sentence is given, divided into 5 parts. Part (1) is grammatically correct. Out of the other four parts, one part contains an error. Mark the option containing the part with the error. If none of the parts have errors, mark ‘No error’ as your answer.

Nine barrels have been found (1)/ to contained bones of cattle, (A)/ indicating that they contained (B)/ pieces of beef butchered (C)/ and stored as ship’s rations. (D)

A) B

B) A

C) D

D) C

E) No error

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Question 5: In the following question, a sentence is given, divided into 5 parts. Part (E) is grammatically correct. Out of the other four parts, one part contains an error. Mark the option containing the part with the error. If none of the parts have errors, mark ‘No error’ as your answer.

They had allegedly tried to (A)/ unload some of there stock to (B)/ pay themselves and other (C)/ investors a dividend even though (D)/ the company was not yet profitable. (E)

A) A

B) C

C) D

D) B

E) No error

Question 6: In the following question, a sentence is given, divided into 5 parts. Part (E) is grammatically correct. Out of the other four parts, one part contains an error. Mark the option containing the part with the error. If none of the parts have errors, mark ‘No error’ as your answer.

When historians trace back the (A)/ roots of today’s opioid epidemic, (B)/ they often find themselves returning (C)/ to the wave of addiction that swept (D)/ the U.S. in the late 19th century. (E)

A) C

B) A

C) B

D) D

E) No error

Question 7: In the question given below, a sentence is given, divided into parts. One of the parts may contain an error. Identify the part that contains the error, and mark it as the answer. Ignore errors of punctuation. In case the sentence is correct as it is, mark option (e), that is, ‘No error’. Note – The words in bold are grammatically and contextually correct.

No recent archaeological breakthrough has confound assumptions about our Neanderthal cousins more than the dating of the rock art in Spain.

A) No recent archaeological breakthrough

B) has confound assumptions

C) about our Neanderthal cousins

D) the dating of the rock art

E) No error

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Question 8: In the question given below, a sentence is given, divided into parts. One of the parts may contain an error. Identify the part that contains the error, and mark it as the answer. Ignore errors of punctuation. In case the sentence is correct as it is, mark option (e), that is, ‘No error’. Note – The words in bold are grammatically and contextually correct.

Since the two owners was not on speaking terms they would simply repost any wrongly-delivered mail in the pillar box half way down the hill.

A) two owners was not on speaking terms

B) would simply repost any wrongly-delivered

C) mail in the pillar box

D) half way down the hill.

E) No error

Question 9: Read the given sentence to find out whether there are any grammatical/ contextual errors in it. The errors, if any, will be in two of the phrases of the sentences and the combination of those parts will be the answer of that question. If no part in the sentence has an error then, mark ‘no error’ as your answer. Consider part (1) in bold as grammatically correct. (Ignore punctuation errors if any)

The enduring negative (1)/ stigma of disable in (A)/ much countries results in (B)/ children with disabilities being (C)/ even further marginalised. (D)

A) AB

B) BC

C) BD

D) CD

E) No error

Question 10: Read the given sentence to find out whether there are any grammatical/ contextual errors in it. The errors, if any, will be in two of the phrases of the sentences and the combination of those parts will be the answer of that question. If no part in the sentence has an error then, mark ‘no error’ as your answer. Consider part (1) in bold as grammatically correct. (Ignore punctuation errors if any)

Radon is a radioactive, (1)/ invisible and odourless gas (A)/ that come from the (B)/ naturally breakdown of (C)/ radium in the soil. (D)

A) AD

B) BC

C) AC

D) BD

E) No error

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ANSWER KEYS and SOLUTIONS:

1) – A)	2) – A)	3) – C)	4) – B)	5) – D)	6) – E)
7) – B)	8) – A)	9) – A)	10) – B)

Solution 1: A)

In A, replace the plural verb WERE with the singular verb WAS as the subject pronoun IT is singular. Thus, (a) is the right answer.

Solution 2: A)

In A, replace the singular verb PRESUMES with the plural PRESUME as the subject PEOPLE is plural. Thus, (a) is the right answer.

Solution 3: C)

In A, replace the plural verb INVOLVE with the singular INVOLVES as the subject PROCESS is singular. Thus, (c) is the right answer.

Solution 4: B)

In A, replace the second form verb CONTAINED with CONTAIN as the infinitive construction TO + VERB will take the base form of the verb. Thus, (b) is the right answer.

Solution 5: D)

In B, replace the adverb THERE with the possessive pronoun THEIR as the sentence tells us how they tried to unload some of the stock they owned. Since the sentence, shows possession, THEIR will be apt. Thus, (d) is the right answer.

Solution 6: E)

The sentence is grammatically correct and free of error. Thus, (e) is the right answer.

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Solution 7: B)

In B, replace the base form verb CONFOUND with the CONFOUNDED as the present perfect tense construction HAS + VERB will take the past participle form of the verb. Thus, (b) is the right answer.

Solution 8: A)

In A, replace the singular verb WAS with the plural WERE as the subject OWNERS is plural. Thus, (a) is the right answer.

Solution 9: A)

A – replace the adjective DISABLE with the noun DISABILITY as the sentence talks about a condition that is stigmatized. B – replace MUCH with MANY as the former is used to modify uncountable nouns while the latter is used to modify countable nouns. Here, MANY will be used as the countable noun COUNTRIES will be used. C, D – no error.

Solution 10: B)

A, D – no error. B – replace the plural verb COME with the singular COMES as it is being used to agree with the singular noun GAS. C – replace the adverb NATURALLY with the adjective NATURAL as it is being used to modify the noun BREAKDOWN. Thus, (b) is the right answer.