Question 1

Identify the error in the following sentence:
She has (A) / a talent for (B) / playing an musical instrument (C) / with great precision. (D) / No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (C). The phrase 'an musical instrument' is incorrect because 'musical' begins with a consonant sound (/m/), so it requires the article 'a', not 'an'. The rule is: use 'an' only before words beginning with a vowel sound. Correct form: 'a musical instrument'.

Question 2

Identify the error in the following sentence:
The manager asked (A) / the employee to submit (B) / a report on the (C) / project by next Monday. (D) / No error (E)

Accepted Answer

No error. The sentence correctly uses 'the' before 'manager' (specific person), 'the' before 'employee' (specific person in context), 'a' before 'report' (indefinite—any report), and 'the' before 'project' (specific project mentioned). All articles are appropriately used.

Question 3

Identify the error in the following sentence:
He is (A) / an honest man who (B) / always speaks the truth (C) / with an integrity. (D) / No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (D). The phrase 'with an integrity' is incorrect because 'integrity' is an abstract noun that is typically used without an article in this context, or it should use 'the' if referring to a specific integrity. However, 'with an integrity' is ungrammatical. The correct form is either 'with integrity' (no article) or 'with the integrity' (if referring to a specific quality). Most naturally: 'with integrity'.

Question 4

Identify the error in the following sentence:
The committee has (A) / decided to appoint (B) / a new director for (C) / the organisation next month. (D) / No error (E)

Accepted Answer

No error. The sentence correctly uses 'the' before 'committee' (specific group), 'a' before 'new director' (indefinite—any new director), and 'the' before 'organisation' (specific organisation). The present perfect 'has decided' is also correct for a recent decision. All articles and grammar are appropriate.

Question 5

In the following sentence, four parts are underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error. If there is no error, select 'No error'.

The manager asked (A) an employee to submit (B) the report by (C) the end of week. (D) No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (D). The phrase should be 'the end of the week' not 'the end of week'. The definite article 'the' must be used before 'week' when it follows the preposition 'of' in this context. The rule is: when referring to a specific period within a larger time frame, both the noun phrase and the noun following 'of' require the definite article. Correct form: 'by the end of the week.'

Question 6

Identify the error in the sentence below:

She has been working (A) / at the hospital (B) / as a nurse (C) / since five years. (D) / No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (D). The phrase 'since five years' is incorrect. When using 'since' with a duration of time, we must use 'for' instead. The correct form should be 'for five years'. The rule is: 'since' is used with a point in time (since 2019, since Monday), while 'for' is used with a duration (for five years, for two months). The sentence should read: 'She has been working at the hospital as a nurse for five years.'

Question 7

Identify the error in the sentence below:

The students were asked (A) / to read an chapter (B) / from the textbook (C) / before the class. (D) / No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). The phrase 'an chapter' is incorrect. Although 'chapter' begins with the letter 'c', it is pronounced with a consonant sound (/tʃ/), not a vowel sound. Therefore, the indefinite article 'a' (not 'an') should be used. The correct form should be 'a chapter'. The rule for choosing between 'a' and 'an' is based on the sound that follows, not the letter. Since 'chapter' starts with a consonant sound, 'a' is required.

Question 8

Identify the error in the sentence below:

The manager requested (A) / that all employees submit (B) / the attendance report (C) / by end of the month. (D) / No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (D). The phrase 'by end of the month' is incorrect. The definite article 'the' is required before 'end' in this context. The correct form should be 'by the end of the month'. The phrase 'the end of the month' is a fixed expression in English that requires the definite article. Without 'the', the phrase is grammatically incomplete and sounds unnatural.

Question 9