Important Error Detection/ Spotting Rules for English Language Section

SBI Clerk 2021 Prelims is just around the corner. With the Prelims exam scheduled to take place on May 29, 2021, you have got a little more than a month for your preparation. The vacancies of SBI Clerk this year is the same when compared with those of the previous years which states the fact that the competition for these vacancies is going to be tougher. Each year that goes by, attracts relatively more banking aspirants. You should make use of these 17 remaining days properly so that you can clear the Prelims exam and get 1 step closer to your dream job. In this article, we have come up with important error detection rules that are definitely going to be useful in your preparation.

Error Spotting Questions in English Language Section

Very often we see questions related to error spotting in the English language section. In these questions, you need to find out if there is an error in the given sentence and answer accordingly. Some aspirants find these questions difficult to answer as one needs to have the proper knowledge of grammar rules. Now, it is for sure a bit difficult to memorize all the grammatical rules but for your convenience, we are providing you with the most important error detection rules (with examples wherever applicable).

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Revising these rules time and again will strengthen your English language skills and will help you score some extra marks in this section. We also suggest you practice a lot of questions by referring to these rules. As you practice more questions, you will slowly start recalling these rules and you don’t necessarily need to memorize them. Also, check the detailed solution of the questions and observe which grammatical rule has been applied. Let’s now have a look at those error-spotting rules based on which questions have been asked in past years’ banking exams.

Important Error Detection Rules

1. Subject-Verb Agreement

From our experience with past banking exams, we can safely conclude that a majority of the questions are based on subject-very agreement. You should practice a lot of questions on this rule and keep the different applications of this rule etched in your mind. Consider the tenses, verbs, nouns, subject, etc. when answering the questions related to subject-verb agreement.

2. Correct Form of Verb

Sometimes, it is a task to detect the verb in a sentence. In these kinds of questions, not only do you have to detect it but you also have to identify its error. Don’t get confused with words that are similar in spelling but have different meanings and ensure that only the right form of a verb is used. Sometimes, words given in an option are not even the correct word.

For eg.: 

• Blowed away by the wind, the twig continued to fall. (Incorrect)
• Blown away by the wind, the twig continued to fall. (Incorrect)

3. Errors related to Conjunctions

You should be familiar with the usage of different conjunctions. Sometimes, you can use the same conjunctions twice in a sentence if the format is correct. For eg. As far as my spendings are concerned, I’m a miser.

At times, the specific format of conjunctions is used. For eg.

• India’s banking sector is stagnant and faces neither increase or decrease in growth. (Incorrect)
• India’s banking sector is stagnant and faces neither increase nor decrease in growth. (Correct)

4. Keep Your Vocabulary Updated

Keep working on your vocabulary; many times there will be words in the question which you wouldn’t be able to comprehend. Sometimes some particular words have an affinity with some verbs, conjunctions etc. For eg.

• The growing severity and frequency of extreme-weather events suggests that climatic scientists’ nightmare scenarios must be taken seriously. (Incorrect)
• The growing severity and frequency of extreme-weather events suggests that climate scientists’ nightmare scenarios must be taken seriously. (Correct)

5. Errors related to preposition

Remember which preposition is used with which word. This skill only comes with practice and reading. For eg.

• Dumping of nuclear and hazardous waste in developing countries and the shifting with polluting industries to developing countries impose heavy social costs. (Incorrect)
• Dumping of nuclear and hazardous waste in developing countries and the shifting of polluting industries to developing countries impose heavy social costs. (Correct).

6. Errors related to Collective Nouns

Singular and plural nouns should be given special importance when dealing with error detection questions. This is also one of the topics where a number of questions are asked.

• By wearing glass, Ritwik sports a trendy look which is quite uncommon in his batch. (Incorrect)
• By wearing glasses, Ritwik sports a trendy look which is quite uncommon in his batch. (Correct)

7. No sooner is followed by than

No sooner is always followed by than. For eg.

• No sooner did I enter the railway station when the train started moving. (Incorrect)
• No sooner did I enter the railway station than the train started moving. (Correct)

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8. More than one rule

Generally more than one indicates a plural sense but it is treated as a compound of one. Therefore it takes a singular verb. For eg.

• More than 1 dog were followed by the dog-catching people. (Incorrect)
• More than 1 dog was followed by the dog-catching people. (Correct)

9. Making a Statement & Asking for Confirmation

At times, people make a statement and then ask for confirmation. The point which should be noted here is that if the initial statement is positive, the confirmation will be negative. For eg.

• The market is going to open today, Is it? (Incorrect)
• The market is going to open today, Isn’t it? (Correct)

On the other hand, if the initial statement is negative, the confirmation will be positive. For eg.

• You will not be joining me at the party tomorrow, wouldn’t you? (Incorrect)
• You will not be joining me at the party tomorrow, would you? (Correct)

10. Placement of ‘Only’

Only should be placed immediately before the word it qualifies, otherwise, it may change the meaning of the entire sentence. For eg.

• My only friend bought 1 chocolate pack for the party. (Incorrect)
• My friend bought only 1 chocolate pack for the party. (Incorrect)

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11. Splitting the infinitive verb

An infinitive verb should not be split.

• May I please ask you to kindly put the pen on the study table? (Incorrect)
• May I please ask you kindly to put the pen on the study table? (Correct)

12. Usage of Scarcely

Scarcely should be followed by when. It should not be followed by than. For eg.

• Scarcely did I submit the test than I started feeling uncomfortable. (Incorrect)
• Scarcely did I submit the test when I started feeling uncomfortable. (Correct)

Things to keep in mind while answering error-spotting questions

1. Often error detection questions are given in the form of a sentence different parts of which are separated by slashes (/). When you read such a question, don’t read the different parts separately. Read the complete sentence in one go. This will help you in identifying what is wrong in the sentence. Also reading the sentence with slashes takes more time and you definitely wouldn’t like to waste time unnecessarily.
2. Try thinking from the examiner’s point of view and use the elimination method. This should be done when you are not sure whether the answer you are going to get from the conventional method is correct or not.
3. Please bear in mind that if these questions relate to error spotting and not error correction, figure out the error and move to the next question. You don’t need to unnecessarily spend your time correcting the error. Just spot the error, mark your answer and that’s it.
4. Don’t ignore errors related to spelling checks. Sometimes, there will be errors related to spelling which may lead to confusion.

This is all we have in this article. We hope that you learnt some rules and their usage. Implement these rules and increase your score in the English Language section. If you think we have missed any important rule, please mention in the comments section below.

Wishing you good luck with your preparation!