Important Error Detection/Spotting Rules Questions For SBI Clerk 2024 Prelims

Questions on Error Detection/Spotting Rules make their way into SBI Clerk 2024 Prelims exam every year. This is an important topic in the English section. It must be mastered to make sure you score maximum marks in this section to increase your overall score and clear the Prelims exam. In this blog, we’ll give you some of the most important questions on this topic along with the top rules to master to improve your Error Spotting skills.

Important Error Detection/Spotting Questions For SBI Clerk 2024 Prelims

The SBI Clerk Prelims 2024 exam is expected to include 4 to 5 questions Error Detection/Spotting Rules Questions. Check out the table below to know the weightage based on previous years:

Exam Stage	Total Marks for English Section	Weightage of Error Spotting/Spotting Rules Questions
SBI Clerk Prelims	30 marks	4-5 questions

Important Rules and Concepts of Error Detection

Given below are some of the best concepts and rules that you need to master to score full marks in this topic:

Important Concepts of Error Detection	Tips to Spot Errors	Examples
Subject-Verb Agreement	Ensure subjects and verbs match in number.	She runs (singular) vs. They run (plural).
Tense Consistency	Keep the same tense throughout.	He walks to school and ate lunch. (Error: should be eats.)
Pronoun Usage	Match pronouns with their nouns.	Everyone should bring their own book.
Preposition Accuracy	Use the right prepositions.	Interested in (not on).
Article Usage	Use articles correctly (“a,” “an,” “the”).	She is a engineer (Error: should be an engineer).
Modifiers	Place modifiers next to what they describe.	He only runs (means he doesn’t walk) vs. Only he runs (means he is the only one).
Parallel Structure	Keep lists and phrases balanced.	I like swimming, biking, and to run (Error: should be running).
Conjunctions	Use the right conjunctions for connections.	Either you come or stay (not or you stay).
Avoiding Redundancy	Remove unnecessary repetitions.	Free gift (just gift is enough).
Clarity and Conciseness	Keep sentences clear and to the point.	Due to the fact that it was raining, we canceled the picnic (can be simplified to We canceled the picnic because it was raining).

Most Expected Error Detection/Spotting Rules Questions

In the following question, one part of the sentence may have an error. Find out which part of the sentence has an error and select the appropriate option. If the sentence is free from error, select ‘No Error’.

(1) The boat came over the horizon like a ghost,
(2) which sinked during the battle,
(3) in which more than 1,000 U.S.
(4) service members were killed.
(5) No error

Ans: 2

Solution: Option (b) is the correct answer. The sentence talks about the past. So, we need to use ‘SANK’ instead of ‘SINKED’, as the second form of the verb ‘SINK’ is ‘SANK’ not ‘SINKED’. The sentence talks about sinking a boat (in a battle) in which more than 1,000 U.S. service members were killed, but the boat came over the horizon out of nowhere like a ghost.

(1) Brando won the best actor Oscar in 1973
(2) for his role in the Godfather but did not
(3) attended the ceremony, protesting
(4) in support of Native American rights.
(5) No error

Ans: 3

Solution: Option (c) is the correct answer. The sentence is framed in the simple past tense, so we need to replace the second form of the verb ‘ATTENDED’ with ‘ATTEND’, as the helping verb ‘DID’ takes the base form of a verb with it. The sentence tells us that Brando won the Oscar but was not present at the ceremony as he was protesting in support of Native American rights.

(1) Young people today are facing unique
(2) challenges, which will threaten the future
(3) and aspirations of an entire
(4) generation if we don’t acted.
(5) No error

Ans: 4

Solution: Option (d) is the correct answer. Replace the second form of the verb ‘ACTED’ with the base form ‘ACT’. The sentence is framed in the present tense, and the helping verb ‘DO’ takes the base form of a verb with it. All the other parts of the sentence are correct.

(1) North Korea has increase security on its
(2) northern border with China, constructing new
(3) fences guard towers under the pretext of stopping
(4) anyone with the coronavirus from entering the country.
(5) No error

Ans: 0

Solution: In A, replace the base form verb REPLACE with the past participle form to fit in HAS + VERB present perfect tense construction. Thus, A is the right answer.

(1) We frequently neglected to
(2) show ourselves the same
(3) level of affection and love
(4) that we do for others.
(5) No error

Ans: 1

Solution: In A, replace the second for verb NEGLECTED with base form NEGLECT as the sentence talks about a habitual action. Thus, A is the right answer.

After the Roman Empire fell (A)/ in the fifth century A.D., separate (B)/ barbarian states begin to emerge (C)/ on its territory. (D)
(1) A
(2) B
(3) C
(4) D
(5) No error

Ans: 3

Solution: In C, replace the base form verb BEGIN with the second form verb BEGAN as the sentence describes a past event. Thus, C is the right answer.

(1) The industrial revolution that happen in
(2) the 18th century is seen as a landmark event
(3) that broke the historical relationship between
(4) human population and living standards.
(5) No error

Ans: 1

Solution: (a) is the right answer. In A, replace the base form verb HAPPEN with second form HAPPENED as the sentence is in simple past tense, and talks about an event that took place in the past (the 18th century).

a.) Science cannot solve the ultimate
b.) mystery of nature because we ourselves
c.) were part of nature and therefore part
d.) of the mystery that we are trying to solve.
e.) No error

Ans: C

Solution: (c) is the right answer. In C, replace the past tense plural verb WERE with present tense verb ARE as the sentence states an universal truth – us being part of nature.

a) I felt as if I lost a dear friend when
b) I got the news that the cashew tree
c) in the compound of our home
d) had fell in a storm.
e) No error

Ans: (d)

Solution: In D, replace the past verb form FELL with its past participle verb form FALLEN to fit the past perfect construction HAD+VERB. So, D is the correct answer.

a) It is possible that if we don’t regularly
b) engaging in social discussion, our use of
c) language and other cognitive processes, such
d) as attention and memory, will diminish.
e) No error

Ans: (b)

Solution: In B, replace the present participle form verb ENGAGING with ENGAGE as we need a base form verb to fit in the present tense construction DO + NOT + VERB. Thus, (b) is the right answer.

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