Spot the Error in English Grammar – Rules, Examples & Practice
Spot the Error in English Grammar – Rules, Examples and Practice
Introduction
Spot the Error is an important topic in English Grammar. In this type of question, a sentence is given with a grammatical mistake. Students have to find the incorrect word or part of the sentence and correct it.
These questions help students improve their understanding of:
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- Tenses
- Articles
- Prepositions
- Pronouns
- Singular and Plural Forms
- Modal Verbs
- Adjectives and Adverbs
- Degrees of Comparison
- Conjunctions
- Common English Expressions
The best way to solve Spot the Error questions is to understand the grammar rules and practise them regularly.
What is Spot the Error?
Spot the Error means identifying the grammatical mistake in a given sentence and correcting it.
Example:
He go to school every day.
Here, He is a singular subject. Therefore, the verb should be goes, not go.
Error: go
Correction: goes
✅ He goes to school every day.
How to Solve Spot the Error Questions
When you are given a sentence, check it step by step.
Step 1 – Find the Subject
First identify who or what is doing the action.
Example:
She plays tennis.
Subject = She
Step 2 – Check the Verb
Check whether the verb agrees with the subject.
She play ❌
She plays ✅
Step 3 – Check the Tense
Look for words such as:
- yesterday
- today
- tomorrow
- every day
- since
- for
- already
- just
They can help you identify the correct tense.
Step 4 – Check Helping Verbs
Check:
is, am, are, was, were, has, have, had
Step 5 – Check Articles
Check:
a, an, the
Step 6 – Check Prepositions
Check:
in, on, at, to, from, for, with, of, by
Step 7 – Check Pronouns
Check:
I, me, he, him, she, her, they, them, etc.
Step 8 – Check Singular and Plural Forms
Check whether the noun should be singular or plural.
Step 9 – Check Adjective and Adverb
Check whether the word is describing a noun or an action.
Step 10 – Read the Sentence Again
After correcting the error, read the complete sentence once again.
1. Subject-Verb Agreement
One of the most common errors is the incorrect use of the verb according to the subject.
A singular subject generally takes a singular verb in the simple present tense.
Examples
❌ He play cricket.
✅ He plays cricket.
❌ She read a book every day.
✅ She reads a book every day.
❌ Rohan go to school every day.
✅ Rohan goes to school every day.
Plural Subject
Plural subjects generally take the base form of the verb.
❌ They plays cricket.
✅ They play cricket.
❌ The boys goes to school.
✅ The boys go to school.
Easy Rule
He / She / It + V1 + s/es
I / We / You / They + V1
Examples:
- He works hard.
- She sings well.
- It looks beautiful.
- They work hard.
- We sing songs.
- You look happy.
2. Is, Am and Are
Use of Is
Use is with:
- He
- She
- It
- Singular nouns
Examples:
❌ He are happy.
✅ He is happy.
❌ The girl are reading.
✅ The girl is reading.
Use of Am
Use am with I.
❌ I is ready.
✅ I am ready.
❌ I are a student.
✅ I am a student.
Use of Are
Use are with:
- You
- We
- They
- Plural nouns
Examples:
❌ They is ready.
✅ They are ready.
❌ We is happy.
✅ We are happy.
3. Was and Were
Use was with I, he, she, it and singular nouns.
Use were with you, we, they and plural nouns.
Examples
❌ He were absent yesterday.
✅ He was absent yesterday.
❌ They was playing cricket.
✅ They were playing cricket.
❌ We was tired.
✅ We were tired.
4. Tense Errors
The verb should agree with the time of the action.
Simple Present
❌ She go to school every day.
✅ She goes to school every day.
Simple Past
❌ She go to Mumbai yesterday.
✅ She went to Mumbai yesterday.
Simple Future
❌ She will goes to Mumbai tomorrow.
✅ She will go to Mumbai tomorrow.
5. Did + V1
After did, always use the first form of the verb.
Examples
❌ He did not went there.
✅ He did not go there.
❌ Did she came yesterday?
✅ Did she come yesterday?
❌ I did not saw him.
✅ I did not see him.
Remember
Did + V1
Examples:
- did go
- did come
- did eat
- did see
- did write
- did speak
6. Modal Verbs
Common modal verbs are:
can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must
A modal verb is followed by the base form of the verb.
Examples
❌ He can speaks English.
✅ He can speak English.
❌ She will goes there.
✅ She will go there.
❌ You should worked hard.
✅ You should work hard.
❌ We must obeyed the rules.
✅ We must obey the rules.
Formula
Modal + V1
7. Articles – A, An and The
Articles are frequently used in Spot the Error questions.
A
Use a before a consonant sound.
Examples:
- a boy
- a book
- a pen
- a teacher
- a university
- a useful book
❌ He is an boy.
✅ He is a boy.
An
Use an before a vowel sound.
Examples:
- an apple
- an orange
- an umbrella
- an honest man
- an hour
- an MBA
❌ He is a honest man.
✅ He is an honest man.
Important
The choice between a and an depends on the sound, not simply the first letter.
Examples:
- a university
- a European
- a useful book
- an hour
- an honest man
8. Use of The
The is used when we are talking about a particular or already identified person or thing.
Examples:
- The sun rises in the east.
- The Earth moves around the Sun.
- I saw a dog. The dog was very cute.
Example
❌ Sun rises in the east.
✅ The sun rises in the east.
9. Preposition Errors
Prepositions such as in, on, at, to, from, for, with, of and by are often tested.
Good at
❌ She is good in English.
✅ She is good at English.
Interested in
❌ He is interested on music.
✅ He is interested in music.
Afraid of
❌ He is afraid from dogs.
✅ He is afraid of dogs.
Depend on
❌ It depends of you.
✅ It depends on you.
10. Prepositions of Time
At
Use at for a particular time.
- at 5 o'clock
- at noon
- at night
❌ I will meet you in 5 o'clock.
✅ I will meet you at 5 o'clock.
On
Use on with days and dates.
- on Monday
- on Sunday
- on 15 August
❌ We will meet in Monday.
✅ We will meet on Monday.
In
Use in with months, years and longer periods.
- in June
- in 2026
- in winter
- in the morning
11. Prepositions of Place
In
- in the room
- in Mumbai
- in India
On
- on the table
- on the wall
- on the floor
At
- at the station
- at the bus stop
- at school
Example
❌ The book is in the table.
✅ The book is on the table.
12. Pronoun Errors
Pronouns must be used correctly according to their grammatical position.
Examples
❌ Me am a student.
✅ I am a student.
❌ Rahul gave the book to I.
✅ Rahul gave the book to me.
❌ Between you and I, this is a secret.
✅ Between you and me, this is a secret.
13. Singular and Plural Errors
Students often make mistakes while changing nouns from singular to plural.
Examples
❌ One of my friend lives in Pune.
✅ One of my friends lives in Pune.
❌ He has two book.
✅ He has two books.
❌ There are many student in the classroom.
✅ There are many students in the classroom.
14. One of + Plural Noun
After one of, a plural noun is used.
Examples
❌ He is one of the best student in the class.
✅ He is one of the best students in the class.
❌ She is one of my best friend.
✅ She is one of my best friends.
❌ Mumbai is one of the biggest city in India.
✅ Mumbai is one of the biggest cities in India.
15. Each and Every
Each and every are generally followed by a singular noun and singular verb.
Examples
❌ Each student have a book.
✅ Each student has a book.
❌ Every boy have a pen.
✅ Every boy has a pen.
❌ Each of the girls are ready.
✅ Each of the girls is ready.
16. Either and Neither
In standard English, either and neither, when referring to two choices or members, generally take a singular verb.
Examples
❌ Neither of the boys are ready.
✅ Neither of the boys is ready.
❌ Either of the answers are correct.
✅ Either of the answers is correct.
17. Much and Many
Many
Use many with countable plural nouns.
Examples:
- many books
- many students
- many apples
- many questions
Much
Use much with uncountable nouns.
Examples:
- much water
- much money
- much milk
- much information
Examples
❌ I have much books.
✅ I have many books.
❌ She has many money.
✅ She has much money.
18. Few and Little
Few
Use few with countable nouns.
- few students
- few books
- few questions
Little
Use little with uncountable nouns.
- little water
- little money
- little time
Examples
❌ I have few money.
✅ I have little money.
❌ There are little students in the class.
✅ There are few students in the class.
19. Adjective and Adverb
An adjective describes a noun or pronoun.
An adverb generally describes a verb.
Examples
❌ He runs quick.
✅ He runs quickly.
❌ She sings beautiful.
✅ She sings beautifully.
But after linking verbs such as look, seem and feel, an adjective can be used.
✅ She looks beautiful.
❌ She looks beautifully.
20. Comparative Degree
When comparing two people or things, use the comparative form.
Examples
❌ Ram is tall than Shyam.
✅ Ram is taller than Shyam.
❌ This book is more better than that one.
✅ This book is better than that one.
❌ Mumbai is more bigger than Pune.
✅ Mumbai is bigger than Pune.
Avoid Double Comparatives
Incorrect:
- more better
- more bigger
- more faster
- more easier
Correct:
- better
- bigger
- faster
- easier
21. Senior, Junior, Superior and Inferior
These words are generally followed by to, not than.
Examples
❌ He is senior than me.
✅ He is senior to me.
❌ She is junior than him.
✅ She is junior to him.
❌ This quality is superior than that one.
✅ This quality is superior to that one.
22. Since and For
Since
Use since for a particular point of time.
Examples:
- since Monday
- since 2020
- since morning
- since childhood
For
Use for for a period of time.
Examples:
- for two days
- for three years
- for five hours
- for a long time
Examples
❌ I have lived here since five years.
✅ I have lived here for five years.
❌ She has been ill for Monday.
✅ She has been ill since Monday.
23. Discuss
In standard usage, discuss is normally used directly with its object.
❌ We discussed about the problem.
✅ We discussed the problem.
❌ They discussed about the plan.
✅ They discussed the plan.
24. Enter
When enter means "go into a place", it is normally used without into.
❌ He entered into the room.
✅ He entered the room.
❌ She entered into the classroom.
✅ She entered the classroom.
25. Return Back
The verb return already expresses the idea of coming or going back.
❌ He returned back home.
✅ He returned home.
❌ She returned back to school.
✅ She returned to school.
26. Repeat Again
The word repeat already means "say or do again".
❌ Please repeat it again.
✅ Please repeat it.
27. Infinitive Errors
After to used as an infinitive marker, use the base form of the verb.
Examples
❌ I want to went there.
✅ I want to go there.
❌ She wants to dancing.
✅ She wants to dance.
❌ He decided to left early.
✅ He decided to leave early.
Formula
to + V1
28. Modal + V1
This is a very important rule.
After modal verbs, use the first form of the verb.
Examples
❌ He can speaks English.
✅ He can speak English.
❌ She may comes tomorrow.
✅ She may come tomorrow.
❌ You should works hard.
✅ You should work hard.
❌ We must obeyed the rules.
✅ We must obey the rules.
29. Has, Have and Had
Has
Use has with:
- He
- She
- It
- Singular nouns
Examples:
- He has a car.
- She has a book.
- Riya has a pen.
Have
Use have with:
- I
- We
- You
- They
- Plural nouns
Examples:
- I have a pen.
- We have books.
- They have a car.
Had
Had can be used with all subjects for the past.
Examples:
- I had a book.
- He had a car.
- They had a house.
Error Examples
❌ She have a car.
✅ She has a car.
❌ They has a car.
✅ They have a car.
30. There Is and There Are
There is
Use with a singular noun or an uncountable noun.
- There is a book on the table.
- There is some water in the glass.
There are
Use with plural nouns.
- There are two books on the table.
- There are many students in the class.
Examples
❌ There is many students.
✅ There are many students.
❌ There are a book on the table.
✅ There is a book on the table.
31. Question Formation Errors
In questions, the helping verb generally comes before the subject.
Examples
❌ Where you are going?
✅ Where are you going?
❌ What you are doing?
✅ What are you doing?
❌ Where did he went?
✅ Where did he go?
32. Negative Sentence Errors
Examples
❌ He don't like tea.
✅ He doesn't like tea.
❌ They doesn't play cricket.
✅ They don't play cricket.
❌ She didn't went there.
✅ She didn't go there.
Important Rule
Does/Doesn't + V1
Did/Didn't + V1
Examples:
- He doesn't go.
- She doesn't like.
- They didn't come.
- I didn't see.
33. Gerund and -ing Words
Not every word ending in -ing is a gerund.
A gerund is an -ing form of a verb that functions as a noun.
Gerund
Swimming is good exercise.
Here, Swimming is the subject of the sentence and works as a noun. Therefore, it is a gerund.
Not a Gerund
The boy is swimming.
Here, swimming is part of the verb phrase is swimming. Therefore, it is not a gerund.
Another Example
I enjoy reading books.
Here, reading functions as the object of the verb enjoy, so it is a gerund.
34. Common Expression Errors
Some errors occur because students translate expressions directly from their mother tongue.
Make a mistake
❌ He did a mistake.
✅ He made a mistake.
Make a decision
❌ She did a decision.
✅ She made a decision.
Pay attention
❌ Please give attention to the teacher.
✅ Please pay attention to the teacher.
35. Do, Make and Take
Some expressions should be learned as complete phrases.
Do
- do homework
- do work
- do exercise
- do business
Make
- make a mistake
- make a decision
- make a plan
- make a promise
Take
- take a break
- take a seat
- take a risk
- take an opportunity
36. Double Negative Errors
In standard English, avoid unnecessary double negatives.
Examples
❌ I don't know nothing.
✅ I don't know anything.
❌ He never says nothing.
✅ He never says anything.
37. Common Verb Forms
Students should learn the three forms of common irregular verbs.
| V1 | V2 | V3 |
|---|---|---|
| go | went | gone |
| come | came | come |
| eat | ate | eaten |
| see | saw | seen |
| write | wrote | written |
| take | took | taken |
| give | gave | given |
| speak | spoke | spoken |
| break | broke | broken |
| do | did | done |
Examples
❌ He has went home.
✅ He has gone home.
❌ She has wrote a letter.
✅ She has written a letter.
❌ They have saw the movie.
✅ They have seen the movie.
38. Spot the Error – Solved Examples
Example 1
He go to school every day.
Error: go
Correction: goes
✅ He goes to school every day.
Example 2
She don't like coffee.
Error: don't
Correction: doesn't
✅ She doesn't like coffee.
Example 3
They was playing football.
Error: was
Correction: were
✅ They were playing football.
Example 4
I did not saw him yesterday.
Error: saw
Correction: see
✅ I did not see him yesterday.
Example 5
He can speaks English.
Error: speaks
Correction: speak
✅ He can speak English.
Example 6
She is good in Mathematics.
Error: in
Correction: at
✅ She is good at Mathematics.
Example 7
One of my friend lives in Pune.
Error: friend
Correction: friends
✅ One of my friends lives in Pune.
Example 8
Each student have a notebook.
Error: have
Correction: has
✅ Each student has a notebook.
Example 9
He is senior than me.
Error: than
Correction: to
✅ He is senior to me.
Example 10
He is an university student.
Error: an
Correction: a
✅ He is a university student.
Practice Exercise 1
Find the error and correct the following sentences.
- He go to school every day.
- She are my best friend.
- They was absent yesterday.
- I has a new bag.
- She don't like tea.
- He did not went there.
- Can you speaks English?
- He is good in Mathematics.
- Each boy have a book.
- One of my friend lives here.
Answers
- go → goes
- are → is
- was → were
- has → have
- don't → doesn't
- went → go
- speaks → speak
- in → at
- have → has
- friend → friends
Practice Exercise 2
Find and correct the errors.
- I have many money.
- She has few water.
- He runs very quick.
- This book is more better than that one.
- He is senior than me.
- Neither of the boys are ready.
- We discussed about the problem.
- He entered into the room.
- She wants to went home.
- Please repeat it again.
Answers
- many → much
- few → little
- quick → quickly
- more better → better
- than → to
- are → is
- about → remove about
- into → remove into
- went → go
- again → remove again
Practice Exercise 3 – Mixed Errors
Find the error in each sentence.
- Riya have completed her homework.
- The boys is playing in the garden.
- My father go to work every day.
- We was happy yesterday.
- He can solves this problem.
- She bought an new dress.
- I am interested on music.
- He did not came to school.
- There is many books on the table.
- She is one of the best student in the class.
- He speaks English fluent.
- I have lived here since five years.
- Neither of the answers are correct.
- He is more taller than his brother.
- She wants to learns English.
Answers
- have → has
- is → are
- go → goes
- was → were
- solves → solve
- an → a
- on → in
- came → come
- is → are
- student → students
- fluent → fluently
- since → for
- are → is
- more taller → taller
- learns → learn
Quick Revision Chart
| Error Type | Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| Subject-Verb | He go | He goes |
| Helping Verb | They is | They are |
| Past Tense | He go yesterday | He went yesterday |
| Did + Verb | did went | did go |
| Modal + Verb | can speaks | can speak |
| Article | an boy | a boy |
| Article | a honest man | an honest man |
| Preposition | good in English | good at English |
| Pronoun | between you and I | between you and me |
| Countable | much books | many books |
| Uncountable | many money | much money |
| Each | Each boy have | Each boy has |
| One of | one of my friend | one of my friends |
| Comparative | more better | better |
| Senior | senior than | senior to |
| Time | since five years | for five years |
| Adverb | runs quick | runs quickly |
| Infinitive | to went | to go |
| Discuss | discuss about | discuss |
| Return | return back | return |
Easy Trick to Remember
While solving Spot the Error, remember:
S – V – T – A – P – P – N – C
S – Subject
V – Verb
T – Tense
A – Article
P – Preposition
P – Pronoun
N – Number (Singular/Plural)
C – Comparison
First check the Subject and Verb. Then check the remaining grammar points.
Important Rules at a Glance
Students should remember these important rules:
Rule 1
He/She/It + V1 + s/es
Example:
He plays cricket.
Rule 2
I/We/You/They + V1
Example:
They play cricket.
Rule 3
Did + V1
Example:
He did not go.
Rule 4
Modal + V1
Example:
She can sing.
Rule 5
One of + plural noun
Example:
One of my friends.
Rule 6
Each/Every + singular noun + singular verb
Example:
Each student has a book.
Rule 7
Many + countable plural noun
Example:
Many books.
Rule 8
Much + uncountable noun
Example:
Much water.
Rule 9
Since + point of time
Example:
Since Monday.
Rule 10
For + period of time
Example:
For five years.
Rule 11
Senior/Junior/Superior/Inferior + to
Example:
He is senior to me.
Rule 12
To + V1
Example:
I want to learn.
Conclusion
Spot the Error questions become easy when students understand the basic rules of English Grammar. Instead of guessing the answer, students should examine the sentence systematically.
The most common errors occur in Subject-Verb Agreement, Tenses, Articles, Prepositions, Pronouns, Modal Verbs, Singular-Plural Forms, Adjectives and Adverbs, and Degrees of Comparison.
Regular practice is the key to success. Students should read every sentence carefully, identify the grammatical rule involved, find the incorrect word or phrase, and replace it with the correct one.
Remember:
Find the Subject → Check the Verb → Check the Tense → Check the Article → Check the Preposition → Check the Pronoun → Check Singular/Plural → Check Comparison → Read the sentence again.
With regular practice, students can solve Spot the Error questions quickly, accurately and confidently.
Comments
Post a Comment