Error Detection - (2) Sentence Structure : Verb Tenses , Logical Errors

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Verb Tenses

The choice of verb tenses in a correctly written sentence reflects the sequence of events described. Some questions contain errors involving choice of verb tenses. For example,

( a ) The teacher began to 1)/ discuss the homework assignment 2)/ when he will be interrupted 3)/ by the sound of the fire alarm. 4)/ No error 5)

Explanation :

The answer to the above question is either (1) or (3). The sentence reads The teacher began....and will be interrupted. One or the other verb tense is wrong. The sentence is corrected by changing either ‘ began ’ to ‘ begins ’ or ‘ will be interrupted ’ to ‘ was interrupted ’.

( b ) The conductor announced that 1)/ the concert woul d resume 2)/ as soon as t he soloist replaces 3)/ the broken string on her violin. 4)/ No error 5)

Explanation :

The answer to the above question is (3). There is a mismatch between the verbs ‘ would resume ’ and ‘ replaces ’. The sentence reads the concert would resume as soon as the soloist replaces . Therefore the verb ‘ replaces’ should be changed to ‘ replaced’. The sentence should read the concert would resume as soon as the soloist replaced.

( a ) Many patients begin 1)/ to show symptoms again 2)/ after they stopped 3)/ taking the drug. 4)/ No error 5)

Explanation :

The answer to the above question is (3). The sentence reads patients....show symptoms again after they stopped. The sentence can be corrected by changing ‘ stopped ’ to ‘ stop ’.

Logical Errors

Sometimes a sentence will “want” to say one thing but end up saying something completely illogical. For example,

( a ) The great pianist Vladimir Horowitz 1)/ plays the music 2)/ of the romantic era better than 3)/ any pianist in history. 4)/ No error 5)

Explanation :

The answer to the above question is (4). As written, the sentence asserts that Vladimir Horowitz is better than anyone — including himself. But that is a logical impossibility. The sentence should read better than any other pianist in history. Hence, the sentence is corrected by adding ‘ other ’ after ‘ any ’.

( b ) Educators are now 1)/ expressing their concern 2)/ that Indian school children prefer watching 3)/ television to books. 4)/ No error 5)

Explanation :

The answer to the above example is (4). The sentence makes an illogical comparison between ‘ watching television ’ and ‘ books ’, ‘ watching television ’ is an activity; ‘ books ’ are objects. The sentence should read prefer watching television to reading books.

( c ) The novels of Amitav Ghosh contain characters 1) / which are every bit 2) / as sinister and frightening 3)/ as the master of cinematic suspense, Leela Bhansali. 4)/ No error 5)

Explanation :

The answer to the above example is (4), and it, too, commits the error just discussed. The se ntence literally compares the characters in the novels of Amitav Ghosh to Leela Bhansali, the person. The sentence should read ‘ .....as sinister and frightening as those of the master of ...... ’.

( d ) A Japanese firm has 1)/ developed a computer so 2)/ small that users can carry it 3)/ in their briefcase. 4)/ No error 5)

Explanation :

Answer to the above example is (4). As written, the sentence asserts that all of the users have but a single, jointly owned briefcase. What the sentence means to say is that users can carry the new computer in their briefcase . (plural)