Identify sentence errors II - a grammar exercise worksheet with 17 sentences containing underlined errors to be corrected.
Worksheet titled "Identify sentence errors II" with 17 numbered sentences, each containing underlined errors to be identified.
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Step-by-step solution for: Identify sentence errors II - ESL worksheet by syasa
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Identify sentence errors II - ESL worksheet by syasa
To solve this problem, we need to carefully check each sentence for grammatical errors. The underlined parts are labeled A, B, C, and D. We need to find which one is incorrect. If there is no error, the answer is "No error".
Let's go through them one by one:
1. A number of trainees who take this course every year finds that their knowledge of mathematics is inadequate.
* Analysis: The phrase "A number of" means "many" or "several." Therefore, it takes a plural verb. The subject is "trainees" (plural). The verb used is "finds" (singular). It should be "find".
* Error: Part B ("finds") is incorrect. It should be "find".
2. Either of the solutions you have proposed are acceptable to the union, whose members are willing to compromise.
* Analysis: The subject is "Either," which is singular. It refers to one or the other, but not both together as a group in this context. Therefore, the verb should be singular. The verb used is "are" (plural). It should be "is".
* Error: Part B ("are") is incorrect. It should be "is".
3. The last man on earth will abandon his ruined house for a cave, and his woven clothes for an animal's skin.
* Analysis: This sentence structure is parallel: "abandon [object 1] for [replacement 1], and [object 2] for [replacement 2]." The grammar looks correct. "Animal's skin" is possessive, which is fine.
* Result: No error.
4. The station was a hive of bustling activity; the arrival of the train was the most important event of the day in that remote place.
* Analysis: Two independent clauses are joined by a semicolon. This is correct usage. The rest of the sentence structure is standard.
* Result: No error.
5. My grandmother's legacy is substantial, especially if the value of the rare stamps are taken into consideration.
* Analysis: Look at the clause "if the value of the rare stamps are taken...". The subject of this clause is "value" (singular), not "stamps". "Of the rare stamps" is just a prepositional phrase describing the value. Therefore, the verb should be singular ("is"), not plural ("are").
* Error: Part C ("are") is incorrect. It should be "is".
6. Neither Bradley, nor more recent critics who have written on Shakespeare's tragedies, has been able to give a convincing explanation for the timing of events in Othello.
* Analysis: With "Neither... nor...", the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. The closest subject is "critics" (plural). Therefore, the verb should be plural ("have"), not singular ("has").
* Error: Part C ("has") is incorrect. It should be "have".
7. The bridal gown was most unique; the bridegroom designed it, and his mother provided the lace fabric.
* Analysis: The word "unique" means "one of a kind." Something cannot be "more" or "most" unique because it is either unique or it isn't. However, in common usage, this is often debated. Let's look closer. Actually, strict grammar rules say "unique" is an absolute adjective and shouldn't be modified by "most". But let's check the other options first. Wait, looking at part A "most unique". This is technically an error in formal grammar. Let's keep looking. Is there a clearer error?
* Let's re-read carefully. "The bridal gown was most unique..." -> Error in A.
* Let's check the rest. "...the bridegroom designed it, and his mother provided..." -> This is a comma splice if the semicolon wasn't there, but the semicolon separates the two main ideas correctly.
* So, A is the likely error. "Unique" should not take "most".
8. For a successful career as a beautician, one must be prepared to dissemble; you must not tell your client the unvarnished truth about his or her appearance.
* Analysis: "Dissemble" means to conceal the truth or pretend. The second half explains this. The pronoun "one" is used first, then "you". While shifting from "one" to "you" is sometimes considered stylistically weak, it's not always a hard grammatical error in all contexts. However, let's look for a harder error.
* Actually, usually, consistency is key. If you start with "one", you should stick with "one". Or start with "you" and stick with "you".
* Let's check other sentences to see if there are obvious grammatical mistakes elsewhere. If not, this might be the intended error due to pronoun inconsistency.
* Let's hold on this. Let's look at #9.
9. When Russell Wallace and Darwin independently proposed similar theories, Darwin had already accumulated extensive evidence with which to support his ideas.
* Analysis: Past perfect tense ("had accumulated") is used correctly to show an action completed before another past action ("proposed").
* Result: No error.
10. Everyone who visits Singapore is impressed by its cleanliness, which is mainly a result of rigorous implementation of their strict laws.
* Analysis: "Everyone" is singular. "Its" refers to Singapore (singular). "Which" refers to cleanliness. "Their" refers to... whom? The laws belong to Singapore (or its government). Since "Singapore" is singular, using "their" is incorrect. It should be "its".
* Error: Part D ("their") is incorrect. It should be "its".
11. She wondered whether the city had changed a lot since she had left to go to university.
* Analysis: Tense sequence. "Wondered" (past). "Had changed" (past perfect) - okay, change happened before wondering. "Since she had left" - leaving happened before the change? Or simultaneous? Usually, "since she left" (simple past) is preferred after "since" when referring to a specific point in time in the past relative to the main past tense verb. However, "had left" emphasizes completion. Let's look closer.
* Standard rule: After "since", we often use simple past if the main clause is past. "She wondered... since she left
Let's go through them one by one:
1. A number of trainees who take this course every year finds that their knowledge of mathematics is inadequate.
* Analysis: The phrase "A number of" means "many" or "several." Therefore, it takes a plural verb. The subject is "trainees" (plural). The verb used is "finds" (singular). It should be "find".
* Error: Part B ("finds") is incorrect. It should be "find".
2. Either of the solutions you have proposed are acceptable to the union, whose members are willing to compromise.
* Analysis: The subject is "Either," which is singular. It refers to one or the other, but not both together as a group in this context. Therefore, the verb should be singular. The verb used is "are" (plural). It should be "is".
* Error: Part B ("are") is incorrect. It should be "is".
3. The last man on earth will abandon his ruined house for a cave, and his woven clothes for an animal's skin.
* Analysis: This sentence structure is parallel: "abandon [object 1] for [replacement 1], and [object 2] for [replacement 2]." The grammar looks correct. "Animal's skin" is possessive, which is fine.
* Result: No error.
4. The station was a hive of bustling activity; the arrival of the train was the most important event of the day in that remote place.
* Analysis: Two independent clauses are joined by a semicolon. This is correct usage. The rest of the sentence structure is standard.
* Result: No error.
5. My grandmother's legacy is substantial, especially if the value of the rare stamps are taken into consideration.
* Analysis: Look at the clause "if the value of the rare stamps are taken...". The subject of this clause is "value" (singular), not "stamps". "Of the rare stamps" is just a prepositional phrase describing the value. Therefore, the verb should be singular ("is"), not plural ("are").
* Error: Part C ("are") is incorrect. It should be "is".
6. Neither Bradley, nor more recent critics who have written on Shakespeare's tragedies, has been able to give a convincing explanation for the timing of events in Othello.
* Analysis: With "Neither... nor...", the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. The closest subject is "critics" (plural). Therefore, the verb should be plural ("have"), not singular ("has").
* Error: Part C ("has") is incorrect. It should be "have".
7. The bridal gown was most unique; the bridegroom designed it, and his mother provided the lace fabric.
* Analysis: The word "unique" means "one of a kind." Something cannot be "more" or "most" unique because it is either unique or it isn't. However, in common usage, this is often debated. Let's look closer. Actually, strict grammar rules say "unique" is an absolute adjective and shouldn't be modified by "most". But let's check the other options first. Wait, looking at part A "most unique". This is technically an error in formal grammar. Let's keep looking. Is there a clearer error?
* Let's re-read carefully. "The bridal gown was most unique..." -> Error in A.
* Let's check the rest. "...the bridegroom designed it, and his mother provided..." -> This is a comma splice if the semicolon wasn't there, but the semicolon separates the two main ideas correctly.
* So, A is the likely error. "Unique" should not take "most".
8. For a successful career as a beautician, one must be prepared to dissemble; you must not tell your client the unvarnished truth about his or her appearance.
* Analysis: "Dissemble" means to conceal the truth or pretend. The second half explains this. The pronoun "one" is used first, then "you". While shifting from "one" to "you" is sometimes considered stylistically weak, it's not always a hard grammatical error in all contexts. However, let's look for a harder error.
* Actually, usually, consistency is key. If you start with "one", you should stick with "one". Or start with "you" and stick with "you".
* Let's check other sentences to see if there are obvious grammatical mistakes elsewhere. If not, this might be the intended error due to pronoun inconsistency.
* Let's hold on this. Let's look at #9.
9. When Russell Wallace and Darwin independently proposed similar theories, Darwin had already accumulated extensive evidence with which to support his ideas.
* Analysis: Past perfect tense ("had accumulated") is used correctly to show an action completed before another past action ("proposed").
* Result: No error.
10. Everyone who visits Singapore is impressed by its cleanliness, which is mainly a result of rigorous implementation of their strict laws.
* Analysis: "Everyone" is singular. "Its" refers to Singapore (singular). "Which" refers to cleanliness. "Their" refers to... whom? The laws belong to Singapore (or its government). Since "Singapore" is singular, using "their" is incorrect. It should be "its".
* Error: Part D ("their") is incorrect. It should be "its".
11. She wondered whether the city had changed a lot since she had left to go to university.
* Analysis: Tense sequence. "Wondered" (past). "Had changed" (past perfect) - okay, change happened before wondering. "Since she had left" - leaving happened before the change? Or simultaneous? Usually, "since she left" (simple past) is preferred after "since" when referring to a specific point in time in the past relative to the main past tense verb. However, "had left" emphasizes completion. Let's look closer.
* Standard rule: After "since", we often use simple past if the main clause is past. "She wondered... since she left
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of sentence corrections worksheet.
