Question 1

The data (A) shows / (B) show / (C) are showing / (D) have shown that the majority of students prefer online learning over classroom instruction. No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (A). 'Data' is the plural form of 'datum' and takes a plural verb in modern Indian English. The correct form is 'show' (option B). Although 'data' is sometimes treated as singular in informal usage, the standard formal usage requires a plural verb.

Question 2

The committee (A) have decided / (B) has decided / (C) are deciding / (D) have been deciding that the new policy will be implemented next month. No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (A). 'Committee' is a collective noun that takes a singular verb in Indian English when referring to the group as a single unit. The correct form is 'has decided,' not 'have decided.' Parts B, C, and D are grammatically incorrect for different reasons: B is correct but not the original sentence; C uses present continuous inappropriately; D uses present perfect continuous without justification.

Question 3

The principal, along with the teachers, (A) have planned / (B) has planned / (C) are planning / (D) have been planning a special assembly to honour the distinguished alumni. No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (A). The phrase 'along with the teachers' is a modifying phrase, not part of the compound subject. The main subject is 'principal' (singular), so the singular verb 'has planned' (option B) is correct. The modifying phrase does not affect subject-verb agreement.

Question 4

The principal, along with the teachers, (A) have planned / (B) has planned / (C) are planning / (D) have been planning the annual school event for the past three weeks. No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (A). When a singular subject is followed by a prepositional phrase like 'along with the teachers,' the verb agrees with the main subject 'principal' (singular), not the object of the preposition. The correct form is 'has planned,' not 'have planned.' Parts C and D use continuous tenses inappropriately.

Question 5

She has been working in this office (A) since / (B) for / (C) during / (D) while five years and has earned considerable experience. No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (A). The preposition 'since' is incorrect here. 'For' should be used because the sentence refers to a duration of time (five years), not a point in time. 'Since' is used with specific points in time (since 2019, since Monday).

Question 6

Neither the manager nor the employees (A) was / (B) were / (C) have been / (D) has been willing to compromise on the issue. No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (A). With 'neither...nor,' the verb agrees with the nearest subject. Here, 'employees' (plural) is nearest, so the verb should be 'were' (option B). The sentence requires simple past tense for a completed state.

Question 7

The committee (A) have decided / (B) has decided / (C) are deciding / (D) have been deciding that the new policy will be implemented next month. No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (A). 'Committee' is a collective noun that takes a singular verb in Indian English. The correct form is 'has decided' (option B). The sentence uses simple past tense appropriately for a completed decision.

Question 8

Neither the principal nor the teachers was present at the assembly, which disappointed the students greatly. No error

Accepted Answer

The error is in part B. When 'neither...nor' connects two subjects, the verb agrees with the subject nearest to it. Here, 'teachers' (plural) is nearest, so the verb should be 'were', not 'was'. The correct form is: 'Neither the principal nor the teachers were present at the assembly, which disappointed the students greatly.'

Question 9

The data shows that the number of students enrolling in online courses have increased significantly over the past year. No error

Accepted Answer

The error is in part C. 'The number of' is a singular noun phrase and requires a singular verb 'has', not 'have'. Although 'students' is plural, the subject of the sentence is 'the number' (singular). The correct form is: 'The data shows that the number of students enrolling in online courses has increased significantly over the past year.'

Question 10

She has been working in this organisation for five years and have contributed significantly to its growth. No error

Accepted Answer

The error is in part C. The subject 'She' is singular and requires the singular auxiliary verb 'has', not 'have'. The sentence uses 'has been working' (correct) in the first clause, but then incorrectly switches to 'have contributed' in the second clause. The correct form is: 'She has been working in this organisation for five years and has contributed significantly to its growth.'

Question 11

The manager insisted that every employee should submit their reports by Friday without any delay. No error

Accepted Answer

The error is in part C. 'Every employee' is a singular collective expression and requires the singular pronoun 'his or her' or 'their' (modern singular usage), but the sentence structure creates ambiguity. However, in modern Indian English, 'their' is increasingly accepted as singular. The most technically correct form for formal SSC exams would be: 'The manager insisted that every employee should submit his or her report by Friday.' But given current standards, this may be marked as 'No error'. The safest answer here is 'No error' as 'their' is now widely accepted in formal English.

Question 12

Neither the manager nor the employees (A) was / (B) were / (C) has been / (D) have been willing to compromise on the salary issue. No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (A). When using 'neither...nor,' the verb agrees with the nearest subject. Here, 'employees' (plural) is nearest, so the plural verb 'were' is correct, not the singular 'was.' Parts C and D introduce tense changes that are unnecessary and incorrect in this context.

Question 13

The principal along with the teachers (A) have planned / (B) has planned / (C) are planning / (D) have been planning the annual function for next month. No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (A). The phrase 'along with' does not create a compound subject; the main subject remains 'principal' (singular). The correct verb is 'has planned' (option B). The simple past tense is appropriate for a completed planning action.

Question 14

The data (A) shows / (B) show / (C) have shown / (D) are showing that the sales have increased significantly this quarter. No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (A). 'Data' is the plural form of 'datum' and takes a plural verb. The correct form is 'show' (option B). In modern usage, 'data' is treated as plural in formal Indian English.

Question 15

She is one of the few employees (A) who has / (B) who have / (C) which have / (D) that has completed the project on time. No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (A). The relative pronoun 'who' refers to 'employees' (plural), not 'one', so the verb must be plural: 'have'. The correct answer is option (B). Part (C) uses 'which' (incorrect for people) and part (D) uses singular 'has' (incorrect agreement).

Question 16

She has been working on this project (A) / for the last three years (B) / and have completed (C) / more than half of the assigned tasks (D). No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (C). The subject 'She' is singular, but the verb 'have' is plural. It should be 'has completed' to maintain subject-verb agreement. The conjunction 'and' joins two clauses with the same subject 'She', which requires singular verb agreement.

Question 17

The data (A) shows that / (B) the majority of students / (C) prefers / (D) online learning over traditional methods. No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (C). 'Majority' is a collective noun that, when followed by 'of + plural noun,' takes a plural verb. Since 'majority of students' refers to multiple students, the verb should be 'prefer,' not 'prefers.' The correct form is 'prefer online learning.'

Question 18

The committee have decided that each of the members are responsible for submitting their reports by Friday. No error

Accepted Answer

Part B contains the error. 'Each of the members' is a singular noun phrase and requires the singular verb 'is', not the plural 'are'. Although 'committee' can take a plural verb in British English when emphasising individual members, 'each of' always triggers singular agreement. The correct form is: 'each of the members is responsible for submitting their report.'

Question 19

The committee (A) have decided / (B) has decided / (C) are deciding / (D) have been deciding that the new policy will be implemented from next month. No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (A). 'Committee' is a collective noun that takes a singular verb in Indian/British English when treated as a single unit. The correct form is 'has decided,' not 'have decided.' The sentence refers to a single decision made by the committee as one body.

Question 20

The committee (A) / have reached (B) / a unanimous decision (C) / on the matter. (D) / No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The word 'committee' is a collective noun. In standard formal/Indian English (following British convention), collective nouns acting as a single unified body take a singular verb. Since the committee acted as one unit in reaching a unanimous decision, the verb should be 'has reached', not 'have reached'. Hence, the error is in Part B.

RPF Sub-Inspector Error Spotting

Error Spotting— Rules & Concept

Key Points to Remember

Exam-Specific Tips

Error Spotting — Practice Questions

60-Second Revision — Error Spotting