Hello and welcome to exampundit. Here are some very important grammar rules you must know if you want to solve Error Correction Faster in SBI PO and IBPS PO Bank Exams.
Subject-Verb
Agreement
Agreement
The most common grammar mistake that students are tested on is
subject-verb agreement. Here is an example:
subject-verb agreement. Here is an example:
The committee, made up of several women, are
deciding on the school budget next week. No error.
deciding on the school budget next week. No error.
A B C D E
The mistake is choice
“C”.
“C”.
The subject of this sentence is “committee”, which is
singular and therefore needs a singular verb. “Is” should replace “are” in this
sentence.
singular and therefore needs a singular verb. “Is” should replace “are” in this
sentence.
This sentence contains a clause.
The clause is the fragment of the sentence between the two commas, and it
separates the subject from the verb. Therefore, you are tricked to think that
the verb (“are”) should agree with “women”. In this case, read the sentence and
eliminate the clause, so that the subject and the verb come directly after each
other. By doing this, you will be able to tell if the subject does not agree
with the verb.
The clause is the fragment of the sentence between the two commas, and it
separates the subject from the verb. Therefore, you are tricked to think that
the verb (“are”) should agree with “women”. In this case, read the sentence and
eliminate the clause, so that the subject and the verb come directly after each
other. By doing this, you will be able to tell if the subject does not agree
with the verb.
Here is a second
example:
example:
We enjoyed the brilliant sunshine of the beach
so much that day that when
so much that day that when
A B
We left there was only one couple and one lifeguard
still there. No error.
still there. No error.
C D E
The mistake is in
choice “C”.
choice “C”.
“One couple and one lifeguard” is an example of a compound
subject. A compound subject is when there is more than one person in the
subject. A compound subject must always go with a plural verb. “Was” is a
singular verb; “were” is a plural verb and should be used instead.
subject. A compound subject is when there is more than one person in the
subject. A compound subject must always go with a plural verb. “Was” is a
singular verb; “were” is a plural verb and should be used instead.
Subject-Pronoun
Agreement
Agreement
Another grammar mistake they ask about constantly is subject-pronoun
agreement. This is a lot easier to understand than it sounds. An example will
help you understand exactly what to look out for:
agreement. This is a lot easier to understand than it sounds. An example will
help you understand exactly what to look out for:
A smart tennis player
such as Samantha is someone who knows how to
such as Samantha is someone who knows how to
A
B
B
move around the
court, can hit winners at the net, and controls their emotions. No
error.
court, can hit winners at the net, and controls their emotions. No
error.
C D E
The mistake is in
choice D.
choice D.
“Their” is a plural pronoun. The antecedent, and subject in
the sentence, “player”, is singular. Instead of using “their”, the sentence
should have used “her” as the pronoun.
the sentence, “player”, is singular. Instead of using “their”, the sentence
should have used “her” as the pronoun.
Parallel
Sentence Structure
Sentence Structure
A third grammar concept that is called parallel sentence structure.
Here is an example of a sentence with a mistake in parallel sentence structure.
Here is an example of a sentence with a mistake in parallel sentence structure.
In a survey of the school’s fifth graders, playing in
gym class, painting in art
gym class, painting in art
A
class, participating in science labs and lunch time
were all mentioned repeatedly as
were all mentioned repeatedly as
B
C
C
favorite activities in school. No error.
D
E
E
In this sentence, “lunch time” should be changed to “eating
lunch.” Each of the items that the fifth graders mentioned start with an “-ing”
word. This is called parallel sentence structure. Each item in a series should
be written in the same grammatical form.
lunch.” Each of the items that the fifth graders mentioned start with an “-ing”
word. This is called parallel sentence structure. Each item in a series should
be written in the same grammatical form.
Subject/Object
of Sentence
of Sentence
This is an important grammar rule.
The teacher asked Harry and I if we could, due to
the upcoming
the upcoming
A
B
B
exams, attend her review class after school. No
error.
error.
C D E
The mistake in this
sentence is choice “A”.
sentence is choice “A”.
In this sentence, “Harry and I” is the object of the sentence,
which means “Harry and I” should be changed to “Harry and me”. If this was the
subject of the sentence, then “Harry and I” would be correct.
which means “Harry and I” should be changed to “Harry and me”. If this was the
subject of the sentence, then “Harry and I” would be correct.
Proper Verb
Tense
Tense
Here is a sentence that contains an improper verb tense:
The three coaches decided not to pick the team right
after practice
after practice
A
B
B
that day, but they do talk on the phone and made the
final
final
C
decisions that night. No error.
D E
Choice C contains the mistake because “do” is in the present
tense. “Do” should be changed to “did.” This entire sentence is written in the
past tense. For example, “decided” is a verb used when something happened in
the past.
tense. “Do” should be changed to “did.” This entire sentence is written in the
past tense. For example, “decided” is a verb used when something happened in
the past.
Incorrect
Comparisons
Comparisons
Examiner loves to test students on incorrect comparisons.
Here is an example:
Here is an example:
Sam felt extremely confident going into the
final round of interviews, because his list of credentials
final round of interviews, because his list of credentials
A B
was far more impressive than his competitor. No
error.
error.
C D E
The mistake here is in choice D because Sam’s list of
credentials is being compared to his competitor rather than his competitor’s
list of credentials. Even though we may understand the sentence, “his competitor’s”
or “his competitor’s list” needs to be used so that there is a proper
comparison.
credentials is being compared to his competitor rather than his competitor’s
list of credentials. Even though we may understand the sentence, “his competitor’s”
or “his competitor’s list” needs to be used so that there is a proper
comparison.
Comparative/Superlative
When comparing two
things, use what’s called the comparative: more
or a word that ends in –er, such
as smarter:
things, use what’s called the comparative: more
or a word that ends in –er, such
as smarter:
Example: Of the
two runners, he was the faster.
two runners, he was the faster.
When comparing three
or more than three things, use what’s called the superlative: most or a word that ends in –est, such as smartest:
or more than three things, use what’s called the superlative: most or a word that ends in –est, such as smartest:
Example: Of the
three runners, she was the fastest.
three runners, she was the fastest.
Diction
Error
Error
Another grammar concept that is called diction. Diction
basically means word choice. Here is a sentence that contains a diction error:
basically means word choice. Here is a sentence that contains a diction error:
When the opera finally came to a conclusion at nine,
we still had not eaten dinner
we still had not eaten dinner
A
and wanted to decide quick what type of food
everyone would be happy with. No error.
everyone would be happy with. No error.
B
C D
E
C D
E
The mistake here is
in choice B.
in choice B.
“Quickly” should be used instead
of “quick.” If a verb, such as decide, is used in a sentence, an adverb is
needed to describe how somebody is going to decide. “Quickly” is an adverb.
Adverbs very frequently end in “-ly.” In this example, an adjective, “quick,”
was used in a place where an adverb should have been. This is a common mistake
used that students should really look out for.
of “quick.” If a verb, such as decide, is used in a sentence, an adverb is
needed to describe how somebody is going to decide. “Quickly” is an adverb.
Adverbs very frequently end in “-ly.” In this example, an adjective, “quick,”
was used in a place where an adverb should have been. This is a common mistake
used that students should really look out for.
A second type of diction error is
when a slang type of expression is used instead of a more formal type of
expression. Since there is some gray area between what is considered slang and
what is considered formal. Here is a sentence with an error of this type:
when a slang type of expression is used instead of a more formal type of
expression. Since there is some gray area between what is considered slang and
what is considered formal. Here is a sentence with an error of this type:
The reason for the poor attendance at today’s
annual party is because the weather has been
annual party is because the weather has been
A B C
highly unpredictable all week. No error.
D E
The mistake here is
in choice C.
in choice C.
The phrase “is because” is not grammatically correct in this
sentence. The word “because” should not be used after the word “reason.”
Instead, the phrase “is that” should be used.
sentence. The word “because” should not be used after the word “reason.”
Instead, the phrase “is that” should be used.
Proper
Number Agreement
Number Agreement
This means that if a sentence has a plural subject then any
phrases that describe the subject must be plural as well. Here is an example:
phrases that describe the subject must be plural as well. Here is an example:
The travel tour through Italy is intended for
families
families
A B C
with a young child. No error.
D E
The mistake here is in choice D because the noun in the
second part of the sentence, “families,” is plural and the phrase “with a young
child” is singular. The phrase “with young children” should be used instead.
second part of the sentence, “families,” is plural and the phrase “with a young
child” is singular. The phrase “with young children” should be used instead.
Unclear
Pronouns
Pronouns
An unclear pronoun refers to a pronoun found in a sentence
where it is unclear as to what the pronoun is referring to.
where it is unclear as to what the pronoun is referring to.
Sarah and Karen were enjoying the hike up the
mountain until she felt ill and they
mountain until she felt ill and they
A B
C
C
had to turn back for home. No error.
D E
The mistake in this sentence is choice “C” because it is unclear
as to whether the pronoun “she” is referring to Sarah or Karen.
as to whether the pronoun “she” is referring to Sarah or Karen.
Words that
go together
go together
- Here are some words that always go together:
- When you use preoccupation,
you always use with: “He has
a preoccupation with something.” - When you use inconsistent,
you always use with: “His
words were inconsistent with something.” - When you use regarded,
you always use as: “She was
regarded as the best.” - When you use between,
you always use and: “She was
making a choice between this and this.” - When you use either,
you always use or. - When you use neither,
you always use nor. - When you use each,
you always use its.
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