Topic: Identifying Sentence Errors Chapter: Faulty Parallelism

Topic: Identifying Sentence Errors Chapter: Faulty Verb 1

Usually verbs come under Grammar and Usage but since they are important in a sentence, a separate section will focus on them. Verb tense indicate when an action takes place. They are doing words and if they are improperly stated then the meaning of the sentence is distorted. For example: The oil companies make great profits when the price of gasoline rose. Here the verb ‘make’ should be ‘made’ to match the second verb ‘rose’. The sentence is stated in simple past tense.

Practice Questions

Q1. This necklace are very costly because it is set with precious stones. No error. A B C D E

Answer: B Explanation: Since the noun is singular the corresponding verb should be singular as well. The correct verb is ‘is’.

Q2. They climb to the top of the mountain and then rested to eat lunch. No error. A B C D E

Answer: A Explanation: Since the action is in the past tense the corresponding verb should be in the simple past as well. The correct verb is ‘climbed’.

Q3. The tapeworm is an example of the kind of parasite that may infested the human body. No error. A B C D E

Answer: D Explanation: Since the sentence is in the present tense and the modal ‘may’ indicates probability, the corresponding verb should be ‘infest’. Q4. Bread and butter is eaten along with porridge at breakfast. No error. A B C D E

Answer: E Explanation: There is no error. Here ‘bread and butter’ is treated as a single food item.

Q5. Her style were old fashioned and reminiscent of the Victorian era. No error. A B C D E

Answer: B Explanation: Since the pronoun ‘her’ is singular the corresponding verb should be singular as well. The correct verb is ‘was’.

Q6. The ozone layer in the earth’s stratosphere contains a high concentration of ozone, which absorb most A B C of the ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth from the sun. No error. D E

Answer: D Explanation: Since the action is in the present tense the corresponding verb should be in the simple present as well. The correct verb is ‘absorbs’.