08/08/2019 26 Tips for Spotting Errors in English for SBI PO (Part I) - Testbook Blog

Home (https://testbook.com/) » SBI PO (https://testbook.com/sbi-po)

26 Tips for Spotting Errors in English for SBI PO (Part I)
Save 1 year ago .

post banner top

(https://testbook.com/referrals)

State Bank of India is recruiting Probationary O cers for the branches located all over India. Prelims exam is scheduled to

be conducted on 1st, 7th & 8th of July 2018. You must have started your preparation and must be in search of various

materials and ideas for each and every subject of SBI PO Prelims. Most of you nd it di cult to tackle the English Language

section. It is comparatively tougher to clear the sectional cut off for English. However, proper guidance and preparation can

help you to achieve good marks in this section as well. Spotting Errors in English is one of the important topics. Therefore,

we are here to give you General Tips for Spotting Errors in English for SBI PO Exam 2018.

Spotting Errors in English – Tips for SBI PO

LIVE
3
Even those of you who are well-versed with English end up making the silliest of errors in grammar. It is a very natural
TESTS
tendency but error-spotting is not an art that one can’t master. It is just a matter of swearing by some guidelines and 1

practice! Here are 26 tips for error spotting in English: CLASSES

QUIZZES

Testbook Logo

IBPS PO 2019
45 Total Tests Free Tests Available

Get Test Pass

1. Certain nouns possess a singular form but still represent plurality and thus, take a plural verb when used in a

sentence.

E.g. Cattle, peasantry, people, clergy, police.

Thus,

The Police has come (Incorrect)

The Police have come (Correct)

https://testbook.com/blog/26-tips-for-spotting-errors-in-english-for-sbi-po/ 1/11
08/08/2019 26 Tips for Spotting Errors in English for SBI PO (Part I) - Testbook Blog

2. Certain nouns always take the plural verb because their form is always plural.

E.g. Scissors, trousers, spectacles, thanks, premises.

Thus,

The scissors is kept on the table. (Incorrect)

The scissors are kept on the table. (Correct)

499 999

Complete Analytical Reasoning |

Target 2019 Banking

View Course
LIVE
3

3. When a number is followed by a noun denoting measure, length, money, number or weight, the form of the nouns does
TESTS
1
not change so long as they are followed by another noun or pronoun.
CLASSES
E.g. Million, pair, metre, year, dozen, foot, head.
5

Thus,
QUIZZES

This is a nine-metres cloth. (Incorrect)

This is a nine-metre cloth. (Correct)

4. When a number is followed by a noun denoting measure, length, money, number or weight, but these are not followed

by another noun or pronoun, then they take the plural form.

E.g. Million, pair, metre, year, dozen, foot, head.

Thus,

This sari is nine yard long. (Incorrect)

This sari is nine yards long. (Correct)

5. Certain nouns, especially of the collective category, are used as singular when they specify a unit.

E.g. Public, team, committee, government, audience, orchestra, company, jury.

Thus,

The public were unanimous in their opinion. (Incorrect)

The public was unanimous in its opinion. (Correct)

https://testbook.com/blog/26-tips-for-spotting-errors-in-english-for-sbi-po/ 2/11
08/08/2019 26 Tips for Spotting Errors in English for SBI PO (Part I) - Testbook Blog

6. Certain nouns, especially of the collective category, are used in plural when they specify a difference of opinion or

class.

E.g. Public, team, committee, government, audience, orchestra, company, jury.

Thus,

The jury was divided in its opinion. (Incorrect)

The jury were divided in their opinion. (Correct)

7. If the pronoun ‘one’ is used, it must be maintained throughout the sentence.

Thus,

One must respect his elders.  (Incorrect)

One must respect one’s elders. (Correct)

8. The word ‘whose’is used for living people and ‘which’ is used for non-living things or ideas.

Thus,

Which box is kept on the table? (Incorrect) LIVE

3
Whose box is kept on the table?  (Correct)
TESTS
1
9. ‘Less’ is used to denote quantity while ‘fewer’ is used to denote number.
CLASSES
Thus, 5

QUIZZES

No less than twenty people were (Incorrect)

No fewer than twenty people were (Correct)

10. ‘One of’is always followed by noun in the plural form.

Thus,

She is one of the least important person in the o ce. (Incorrect)

She is one of the least important people in the o ce. (Correct)

11. Only ‘than’ should be used after ‘no other’

Thus,

I like no other movie but Titanic. (Incorrect)

I like no other movie than Titanic. (Correct)

12. After the word ‘Know’, ‘how, ‘what’ or ‘when’ should be used before using the in nitive.

Thus,

I know to speak English. (Incorrect)

https://testbook.com/blog/26-tips-for-spotting-errors-in-english-for-sbi-po/ 3/11
08/08/2019 26 Tips for Spotting Errors in English for SBI PO (Part I) - Testbook Blog

I know how to speak English. (Correct)

13. If the verb indicates a purpose, an in nitive must be used and if the verb indicates a cause, a gerund must be used.

Thus,

He went to the mall for watching a movie. (Incorrect)

He went to the mall to watch a movie. (Correct)

He was suspended to show indiscipline. (Incorrect)

He was suspended for showing indiscipline.(Correct)

14. ‘As’ is not used with verbs like ‘appointed’, ‘elected’ , ‘considered’, ‘called’ but it is used with the word ‘regard’.

Thus,

post banner middle

(https://testbook.com/referrals)

He was elected as Secretary of the organisation. (Incorrect)

He was elected Secretary of the organisation. (Correct) LIVE

3
I regard Sahil my best friend. (Incorrect)
TESTS
1
I regard Sahil as my best friend. (Correct)
CLASSES

5
15. Adverbs should not be confused with adjectives. An adjective describes the characteristic of the subject while an
QUIZZES
adverb describes the action of the verb.

Thus,

The horse looked beautifully. (Incorrect)

The horse looked beautiful. (Correct)

16. Question tags are always the opposite of the sentence which means that if the sentence is positive, the question tag

is negative and vice versa.

Thus,

You were dancing, were you? (Incorrect)

You were dancing, weren’t you? (Correct)

17. An in nitive verb should never be split.

Thus,

I request you to kindly tell me. (Incorrect)

I request you kindly to tell me. (Correct)

https://testbook.com/blog/26-tips-for-spotting-errors-in-english-for-sbi-po/ 4/11
08/08/2019 26 Tips for Spotting Errors in English for SBI PO (Part I) - Testbook Blog

18. A pronoun after ‘like’, ‘unlike’ and ‘let’ takes an objective case.

Thus,

You will never nd a woman like she. (Incorrect)

You will never nd a woman like her. (Correct)

Let I do it. (Incorrect)

Let me do it. (Correct)

19. The relative pronoun ‘that’is used instead of ‘who’ or ‘which’ after adjectives in the superlative degree.

Thus,

This is the best which she could do. (Incorrect)

This is the best that she could do. (Correct)

20. To show equality ‘as’ is used both before and after the adjective.

Thus,

LIVE
I can run as fast, if not faster than you. (Incorrect) 3

TESTS
I can run as fast as, if not faster than you. (Correct) 1

CLASSES
21. Even though more than one’indicates a plural sense, it agrees with a singular noun and takes a singular verb.
5
Thus,
QUIZZES

More than one students completed their project. (Incorrect)

More than one student completed his project. (Correct)

22. ‘Scarcely’and ‘hardly’ are followed by ‘when’ and not by ‘than’.

Thus,

Hardly had the teacher left the room than the pupils started enjoying. (Incorrect)

Hardly had the teacher left the room when the pupils started enjoying. (Correct)

23. ‘Though’ is followed by ‘yet’and not by ‘but’.

Thus,

Though he is poor but he is honest. (Incorrect)

Though he is poor, yet he is honest. (Correct)

24. ‘Lest’must be followed by ‘should’ or by nothing at all and ‘Such’ must be followed by ‘as’.

Thus,

https://testbook.com/blog/26-tips-for-spotting-errors-in-english-for-sbi-po/ 5/11
08/08/2019 26 Tips for Spotting Errors in English for SBI PO (Part I) - Testbook Blog

Work hard lest you will fail. (Incorrect)

Work hard lest you should fail. (Correct)

Work hard lest you fail. (Correct)

He is such a writer that everybody should read his books. (Incorrect)

He is such a writer as everybody should read his books. (Correct)

25. ‘Unless’ expresses a condition and is always used in the negative sense. Thus ‘not’ is never used with ‘unless’.

Thus,

Unless you do not work hard, you will not excel in the examination. (Incorrect)

Unless you work hard, you will not excel in the examination. (Correct)

26. ‘When’denotes a general sense and ‘while’ implies a time duration of doing something.

Thus,

When learning how to sing, technique is of utmost importance. (Incorrect)

LIVE
While learning how to sing, technique is of utmost importance. (Correct) 3

TESTS
Liked this article on Spotting Errors in English? Let us know in the comments section! 1

CLASSES
Now that you know spotting errors in English, you can now practice some exercises on the same to get a good grip on the 5

topic. Keep looking this space as we would be coming up with more related articles to make your preparation journey easy.
QUIZZES

Don’t forget to look at Part 2 of this article – More tips for error spotting (https://testbook.com/blog/26-tips-for-spotting-

errors-in-english-for-sbi-po-part-ii/)!

After you read these General Tips for Spotting Errors in English, get to know more about exam pattern, syllabus, books,

study material etc. for SBI PO Exam (https://testbook.com/bank-po) 2018,

Complete SBI PO Exam Pattern (https://testbook.com/blog/sbi-po-exam-pattern/)

Complete SBI PO Syllabus (https://testbook.com/blog/sbi-po-syllabus-guide-prelims/)

Books and Online Study Material for SBI PO 2018 (https://testbook.com/blog/books-for-sbi-

po-online-study-material/)

Practice free questions on Spotting Errors in English and more for various other Government Recruitment Exams.

Practice Qs for Exam Preparation (https://testbook.com/u/practice)

In case of any doubts regarding Spotting Errors in English, you can always talk to our experts and your fellow aspirants at

Testbook discuss.

Go to Testbook Discuss (https://testbook.com/discuss/)

https://testbook.com/blog/26-tips-for-spotting-errors-in-english-for-sbi-po/ 6/11
08/08/2019 26 Tips for Spotting Errors in English for SBI PO (Part I) - Testbook Blog

(/#whatsapp) (/#facebook) (/#copy_link) (/#twitter)

(https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Ftestbook.com%2Fblog%2F26-tips-for-

spotting-errors-in-english-for-sbi-

po%2F&title=26%20Tips%20for%20Spotting%20Errors%20in%20English%20for%20SBI%20PO%20(Part%20I))

Next Post

About the author: Narendra Agrawal

Co-founder, Testbook.com

   
299

LIVE
Suggested Posts Top Posts
3

TESTS
1

CLASSES
SSC MTS Exam Questions Asked 8th August 2019 (https://testbook.com/blog/ssc-mts-exam- 5

questions-asked-8th-august-2019/)
QUIZZES

SSC MTS Exam Questions Asked 8th August 2019 ̵...

(https://testbook.com/blog/ssc-mts-exam-questions-asked-8th-
august-2019/)
RRB NTPC Questions and Answers (https://testbook.com/blog/rrb-ntpc-questions-and-answers/)
3 hours ago

RRB NTPC Questions and Answers Video 2019 – ...

(https://testbook.com/blog/rrb-ntpc-questions-and-answers/)
Agricultural Revolution - Testbook (https://testbook.com/blog/agricultural-revolution-in-india/)
3 hours ago

Agricultural Revolution In India – Notes for...

(https://testbook.com/blog/agricultural-revolution-in-india/)
ESIC UDC Cut Off - Testbook (https://testbook.com/blog/esic-udc-cut-off/)
4 hours ago

ESIC UDC Cut Off 2019 – O cial Cut Off Rel...

(https://testbook.com/blog/esic-udc-cut-off/)
5 hours ago

https://testbook.com/blog/26-tips-for-spotting-errors-in-english-for-sbi-po/ 7/11
08/08/2019 26 Tips for Spotting Errors in English for SBI PO (Part I) - Testbook Blog

51
Comments Testbook
blog  Login


Recommend 23 t Tweet f Share Sort
by
Best

Join the discussion…

LOG
IN
WITH OR
SIGN
UP
WITH
DISQUS ?

Testbook Blog Name

Email
Password
Please access our Privacy Policy to learn what personal data Disqus collects and your
choices about how it is used. All users of our service are also subject to our Terms of
Service.

LIVE
3

TESTS
1
Load more comments
CLASSES
5

✉ Subscribe d Add
Disqus
to
your
siteAdd
DisqusAdd Disqus'
Privacy
PolicyPrivacy
PolicyPrivacy
QUIZZES

Search for... Search

Trending Posts

ESIC UDC Cut Off 2019 – O cial Cut Off Released for ESIC UDC & Steno! (https://testbook.com/blog/esic-udc-cut-
off/)
5 hours ago

ESIC UDC Result 2019 Out- Get the Direct Link To Check ESIC UDC Result! (https://testbook.com/blog/esic-udc-
result/)
7 hours ago

RRB JE Result 2019 Expected Today – Get The Direct Link to Download Result Here! (https://testbook.com/blog/rrb-
je-result/)
1 day ago

EPFO Assistant Cut Off 2019 – Check Expected and Previous Year Cut Off Here! (https://testbook.com/blog/epfo-
assistant-cut-off/)

https://testbook.com/blog/26-tips-for-spotting-errors-in-english-for-sbi-po/ 8/11
08/08/2019 26 Tips for Spotting Errors in English for SBI PO (Part I) - Testbook Blog
1 week ago

RRB JE CBT 2 Exam Dates 2019 Out – Check RRB JE Exam Dates for CBT 2 Here! (https://testbook.com/blog/rrb-je-
exam-dates/)
1 week ago

Recent Posts

SSC MTS Exam Questions Asked 8th August 2019 – Tier 1 (All Shifts) (https://testbook.com/blog/ssc-mts-exam-
questions-asked-8th-august-2019/)

RRB NTPC Questions and Answers Video 2019 – Boost Up With Live Quiz! (https://testbook.com/blog/rrb-ntpc-
questions-and-answers/)

Agricultural Revolution In India – Notes for Railway and SSC You Should Not Miss!
(https://testbook.com/blog/agricultural-revolution-in-india/)

ESIC UDC Cut Off 2019 – O cial Cut Off Released for ESIC UDC & Steno! (https://testbook.com/blog/esic-udc-cut-
off/)
LIVE
3
SSC Selection Post Eligibility Criteria for Multiple Posts 2019 – Check Now! (https://testbook.com/blog/ssc-
selection-post-eligibility/) TESTS
1

CLASSES
5

QUIZZES

RRB JE EC CBT 2
53 Total Tests Free Tests Available

Get Test Pass

Exam Categories

Bank PO (/bank-po) PSPCL (/pspcl)

Bank SO (/bank-so) ISRO (/isro)
Bank Clerk (/bank-clerk) NABARD (/nabard)
SSC (/ssc) TET (/tet)
Railways RRB (/railways-rrb) UPPRPB (/upprpb)
https://testbook.com/blog/26-tips-for-spotting-errors-in-english-for-sbi-po/ 9/11
08/08/2019
Insurance (/insurance)
RBI (/rbi)
ECIL (/ecil)
Aptitude (/aptitude)
GK & Current Affairs (/gk-and-current-affairs)
BSNL TTA (/bsnl-tta)
Delhi Police (/delhi-police)
GATE (/gate)
SSC JE (/ssc-je)
CIL (/cil)
PNRD ASSAM (/pnrd-assam)
EXAMS
Online SBI PO (https://testbook.com/sbi-po)
Bank of Baroda Recruitment (https://testbook.com/bob…
Stenographer (https://testbook.com/ssc-stenographer)
SSC CPO (https://testbook.com/ssc-cpo)
RRB ALP (https://testbook.com/rrb-alp)
SSC JE Electrical (https://testbook.com/ssc-je-ee)
GATE Electronics (https://testbook.com/gate-ec)
OICL AO (https://testbook.com/oicl-ao)
RBI O ce Attendant (https://testbook.com/rbi-o ce-at…
General Insurance Corporation (https://testbook.com/gi…
UP Police Recruitment (https://testbook.com/up-police-…
AFCAT (https://testbook.com/afcat)
RRB ASM (https://testbook.com/rrb-asm)
IBPS RRB OFFICER SCALE 1 (https://testbook.com/rrb-…
SBI Clerk 2018 (https://testbook.com/sbi-clerk)
SSC MTS (https://testbook.com/ssc-mts)
Delhi Police (https://testbook.com/delhi-police)
CIL Mechanical (https://testbook.com/cil-me)
GATE Civil (https://testbook.com/gate-ce)
GATE Mechanical (https://testbook.com/gate-me)
RBI Assistant (https://testbook.com/rbi-assistant)
LIC AAO 2018 (https://testbook.com/lic-aao)
NABARD Grade B (https://testbook.com/nabard-grade-a)
Syndicate Bank Recruitment 2018 (https://testbook.co…
RRB Group D (https://testbook.com/rrc-group-d)
SSC CGL (https://testbook.com/ssc-cgl-exam/)
Blog
RRB NTPC Recruitment Noti cation (https://testbook.c…
Today Current Affairs (https://testbook.com/blog/curre…
SSC CGL Admit Card (https://testbook.com/blog/ssc-c…
SBI Clerk Vacancy (https://testbook.com/blog/sbi-clerk…
SBI Clerk Recruitment (https://testbook.com/blog/sbi-c…
RRB NTPC Exam Pattern (https://testbook.com/blog/rr…
SSC CPO Syllabus (https://testbook.com/blog/ssc-cpo-…
SSC gd Constable Syllabus (https://testbook.com/blog/…
SBI Clerk Syllabus (https://testbook.com/blog/sbi-clerk…
https://testbook.com/blog/26-tips-for-spotting-errors-in-english-for-sbi-po/
26 Tips for Spotting Errors in English for SBI PO (Part I) - Testbook Blog
Defence (/defence-exams)
AAI (/aai)
APPSC (/appsc)
DMRC (/dmrc)
LMRC (/lmrc-lucknow-metro)
HSSC (/hssc)
TSLPRB (/tslprb)
CSBC (/csbc)
BSPHCL (/bsphcl)
Vizag Steel (/vizag-steel)
UPPCL (/uppcl)
IBPS PO 2018 (https://testbook.com/ibps-po)
IBPS Clerk (https://testbook.com/ibps-clerk)
Intelligence Bureau Recruitment 2017 (https://testbook.…
SSC Scienti c Assistant (https://testbook.com/scienti …
CIL Civil (https://testbook.com/cil-ce)
SSC JE Mechanical (https://testbook.com/ssc-je-me)
GATE Electrical (https://testbook.com/gate-ee)
NICL AO (https://testbook.com/nicl-ao)
LIVE
ECIL (https://testbook.com/ecil)
3
NABARD Grade A (https://testbook.com/nabard-grade-a)
Union Bank of India SO Recruitment (https://testbook.c…TESTS
1
Canara Bank PO (https://testbook.com/canara-bank-po)
CLASSES
Dena Bank PO (https://testbook.com/dena-bank-po)
5
IBPS Specialist O cer 2018 (https://testbook.com/ibps…
IBPS RRB O ce Assistant (https://testbook.com/rrb-o…QUIZZES
SSC CHSL (https://testbook.com/ssc-chsl)
Rajasthan Police (https://testbook.com/rajasthan-police)
SSC JE Civil (https://testbook.com/ssc-je-ce)
GATE Computer Science (https://testbook.com/gate-cs)
UIIC (https://testbook.com/uiic-assistant)
RBI Grade b (https://testbook.com/rbi-grade-b)
NIACL (https://testbook.com/niacl-ao)
South Indian Bank Recruitment 2018 (https://testbook.…
PSPCL Recruitment 2018 (https://testbook.com/pspcl)
LMRC Lucknow Metro (https://testbook.com/lmrc-luck…
RRB NTPC Syllabus (https://testbook.com/blog/rrb-ntp…
SSC CGL Syllabus (https://testbook.com/blog/ssc-cgl-s…
Central Warehousing Corporation Recruitment (https://t…
RPF Admit Card (https://testbook.com/blog/rpf-admit-c…
SBI PO Exam Dates (https://testbook.com/blog/sbi-po-…
RPF Recruitment (https://testbook.com/blog/rpf-recruit…
SSC CGL Recruitment (https://testbook.com/blog/ssc-…
SSC Constable Admit Card (https://testbook.com/blog/…
SSC CHSL Apply Online (https://testbook.com/blog/ssc…
10/11
08/08/2019 26 Tips for Spotting Errors in English for SBI PO (Part I) - Testbook Blog
SBI Clerk Exam Dates 2019 (https://testbook.com/blog…

Testbook Logo

Testbook Edu Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

#803-805, The Landmark Building,
(Above Croma), Sector 7, Kharghar,
Navi Mumbai - 410210
support@testbook.com
+91-8080-433-233
O ce hours: 10 AM to 8 PM
(Sunday Closed)

Company Products

About us (/about-us) Test Series (/online-test-series)

Careers (/careers) Testbook Pass (/pass)
Franchise (/promos/franchise.html) Online Courses (/courses)
Partners (/partners) Online Videos (/videos)
Media (/news) Practice (/courses-practice) LIVE
3
Sitemap (/sitemap) Learning Centers (/centers)
Blog (/blog) TESTS
1
Discuss (/discuss)
Refer & Earn (/referrals) CLASSES
5
Promo (/ecards)
Our Apps Follow us on QUIZZES

Testbook App (// (// (// (// (// (//

app Download now (//bit.ly/2ny4F0b)

Current Affairs
app Download now (//bit.ly/2TDT1gq)

© Testbook Privacy (/privacy-policy) Terms (/terms-of-service) User Policy (/acceptable-use-policy)

https://testbook.com/blog/26-tips-for-spotting-errors-in-english-for-sbi-po/ 11/11