SSC Error Detection Questions with Solutions

Error detection is one of the most repeated question types in the SSC English section. You are given a sentence divided into three parts, and you have to find the part that has a mistake. If there is no mistake, you choose the fourth option, "No error".

This set has 40 questions, grouped by the grammar rule being tested: subject–verb agreement, tenses, articles, prepositions, pronouns and mixed questions. For every question you will find the answer and the corrected sentence, so you can see exactly what the mistake was.

How to use it: Read the sentence aloud in your head. Many errors can be heard before they can be seen. Then check each part against the rule you know. Attempt each group in about 8 minutes.

A Quick Checklist for Error Detection

• Check the subject and the verb first. Does the verb match the subject in number?
• Check the tense. Look for time words such as "yesterday", "since", "for" and "already".
• Check the prepositions. Many fixed phrases must be learned as they are: married to, afraid of, prefer X to Y.
• Check countable and uncountable nouns. Words like information, advice, furniture and news are uncountable.
• Do not force an error. About one in five sentences in the exam has no error at all.

Subject–Verb Agreement (Q1–Q8)

Q1. The quality of these apples (a) / are (b) / very poor. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (b) Error in part (b)
Explanation: The subject is "quality", which is singular. Correct: "The quality of these apples is very poor."

Q2. Either of the two (a) / books are (b) / suitable for you. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (b) Error in part (b)
Explanation: "Either" takes a singular verb. Correct: "Either of the two books is suitable for you."

Q3. Mathematics (a) / are (b) / my favourite subject. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (b) Error in part (b)
Explanation: Names of subjects such as mathematics, physics and economics are singular. Correct: "Mathematics is my favourite subject."

Q4. Two-thirds (a) / of the work (b) / have been completed. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (c) Error in part (c)
Explanation: "Work" is uncountable, so the verb is singular. Correct: "Two-thirds of the work has been completed."

Q5. A number of students (a) / is (b) / absent today. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (b) Error in part (b)
Explanation: "A number of" means "many" and takes a plural verb. Correct: "A number of students are absent today."

Q6. The poor (a) / is (b) / always with us. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (b) Error in part (b)
Explanation: "The + adjective" used for a group of people takes a plural verb. Correct: "The poor are always with us."

Q7. Neither Ram (a) / nor his brothers (b) / was invited. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (c) Error in part (c)
Explanation: With "neither ... nor", the verb agrees with the nearer subject, "brothers". Correct: "were invited".

Q8. Ten kilometres (a) / are (b) / a long distance. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (b) Error in part (b)
Explanation: A distance considered as a single unit takes a singular verb. Correct: "Ten kilometres is a long distance."

Tenses (Q9–Q14)

Q9. I have seen (a) / him (b) / yesterday. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (a) Error in part (a)
Explanation: "Yesterday" points to a definite past time, so the simple past is needed. Correct: "I saw him yesterday."

Q10. He said that (a) / the earth (b) / moved round the sun. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (c) Error in part (c)
Explanation: A universal truth stays in the simple present even in reported speech. Correct: "the earth moves round the sun".

Q11. She is working (a) / here since (b) / 2018. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (a) Error in part (a)
Explanation: With "since", the present perfect continuous is used. Correct: "She has been working here since 2018."

Q12. If it will rain (a) / tomorrow, (b) / we will stay at home. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (a) Error in part (a)
Explanation: In a conditional clause, the present simple is used for the future. Correct: "If it rains tomorrow".

Q13. I wish (a) / I was (b) / a bird. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (b) Error in part (b)
Explanation: After "wish", "were" is used for an imaginary situation. Correct: "I wish I were a bird."

Q14. He will (a) / call you when (b) / he will reach. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (c) Error in part (c)
Explanation: After "when" the present simple is used for a future action. Correct: "when he reaches".

Articles (Q15–Q18)

Q15. He is (a) / a honest (b) / man. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (b) Error in part (b)
Explanation: "Honest" starts with a vowel sound, so "an" is needed. Correct: "an honest man".

Q16. The Ganga (a) / is a (b) / holy river. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (d) No error
Explanation: The sentence is correct. "The" is used with names of rivers.

Q17. I saw (a) / a one-eyed man (b) / near the gate. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (d) No error
Explanation: The sentence is correct. "One" starts with a "w" sound, so "a" is used.

Q18. She plays (a) / the tennis (b) / every evening. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (b) Error in part (b)
Explanation: No article is used with the names of games. Correct: "She plays tennis every evening."

Prepositions (Q19–Q24)

Q19. She is married (a) / with (b) / a doctor. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (b) Error in part (b)
Explanation: The correct phrase is "married to". Correct: "She is married to a doctor."

Q20. He is suffering (a) / with (b) / fever. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (b) Error in part (b)
Explanation: The correct phrase is "suffering from". Correct: "He is suffering from fever."

Q21. I prefer tea (a) / than (b) / coffee. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (b) Error in part (b)
Explanation: "Prefer" is followed by "to". Correct: "I prefer tea to coffee."

Q22. The thief (a) / entered into (b) / the house. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (b) Error in part (b)
Explanation: "Enter" does not need a preposition when it means going into a place. Correct: "entered the house".

Q23. He died (a) / of (b) / an accident. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (b) Error in part (b)
Explanation: We die "of" a disease but "in" an accident. Correct: "He died in an accident."

Q24. She is (a) / afraid (b) / from dogs. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (c) Error in part (c)
Explanation: The correct phrase is "afraid of". Correct: "She is afraid of dogs."

Pronouns (Q25–Q29)

Q25. Between you and I, (a) / this plan (b) / will never work. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (a) Error in part (a)
Explanation: After a preposition, the object form is used. Correct: "Between you and me".

Q26. Him and I (a) / went (b) / to the market. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (a) Error in part (a)
Explanation: The subject form is needed. Correct: "He and I went to the market."

Q27. This is (a) / the girl (b) / whom I think is clever. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (c) Error in part (c)
Explanation: "Who" is the subject of "is clever". Correct: "who I think is clever".

Q28. The book (a) / is lying (b) / on the table. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (d) No error
Explanation: The sentence is correct.

Q29. She (a) / and I (b) / have finished my work. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (c) Error in part (c)
Explanation: The work belongs to both of them. Correct: "have finished our work".

Adjectives, Adverbs and Mixed (Q30–Q40)

Q30. He is (a) / very much (b) / tired. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (b) Error in part (b)
Explanation: "Very much" is not used before an adjective like "tired". Correct: "He is very tired."

Q31. She (a) / sings (b) / very good. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (c) Error in part (c)
Explanation: An adverb is needed to describe "sings". Correct: "sings very well".

Q32. He gave me (a) / many informations (b) / about the college. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (b) Error in part (b)
Explanation: "Information" is uncountable. Correct: "much information".

Q33. Hardly had he (a) / reached the station (b) / when the train left. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (d) No error
Explanation: The sentence is correct. "Hardly ... when" is a correct pair.

Q34. She has (a) / less friends (b) / than her sister. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (b) Error in part (b)
Explanation: Use "fewer" with countable nouns. Correct: "fewer friends".

Q35. He is (a) / elder than (b) / his friend. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (b) Error in part (b)
Explanation: "Elder" is used only for family members. Correct: "older than".

Q36. I (a) / am knowing (b) / him well. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (b) Error in part (b)
Explanation: "Know" is not used in the continuous form. Correct: "I know him well."

Q37. Let us (a) / go (b) / for a walk, will you? (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (c) Error in part (c)
Explanation: The question tag for "Let us" is "shall we". Correct: "shall we?"

Q38. She asked me (a) / that where (b) / I was going. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (b) Error in part (b)
Explanation: The word "that" is not used with a question word in reported speech. Correct: "She asked me where I was going."

Q39. No sooner did he (a) / reach home (b) / than it started raining. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (d) No error
Explanation: The sentence is correct. "No sooner ... than" is a correct pair.

Q40. The girl (a) / was so (b) / tired that she couldn't walk. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (d) No error
Explanation: The sentence is correct. "So ... that" is a correct pair.

How to Get Better at Error Detection

The fastest way to improve is to learn from every mistake. Whenever you get a question wrong, write the rule in a small notebook in one line, for example: "Uncountable nouns: information, advice, furniture, news, luggage." After a few weeks the notebook becomes your personal grammar guide, and you will find that the same rules keep coming back.

Attempt this set again after a week. If you can spot more than 34 of the 40 answers correctly, your grammar base is strong.