This page covers SSC CPO Find the Error (underlined parts) with complete concept notes, 5 graded practice MCQs, key points and exam-specific tips. Free to study.
Find the Error (underlined parts)— Rules & Concept
Core ConceptRead this first — the foundation of the topic
Core Concept
You must analyze each underlined part for grammar violations including subject-verb disagreement, tense errors, preposition mistakes, article errors, and word usage problems. Only one part contains the error, or sometimes no error exists
Subject-Verb Agreement
Singular subjects need singular verbs, plural subjects need plural verbs
2
Tense Consistency
Past, present, future must align logically
3
Preposition Errors
Wrong preposition usage (in/on/at/by/with)
4
Article Mistakes
Incorrect use of a/an/the
5
Pronoun Errors
Wrong pronoun forms or unclear references
6
Comparison Errors
Faulty comparative/superlative forms
7
Parallelism
Elements in series must have same grammatical form
Exam PatternsWhat examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs
SSC CGL typically asks 2-3 error spotting questions. Most errors (60%) involve subject-verb disagreement or tense mistakes. Preposition errors account for 25%, while article and pronoun errors make up 15%.
Shortcut Formula 1 - PASTA Method:
P - Preposition check (in/on/at/by)
A - Article verification (a/an/the)
S - Subject-verb agreement
T - Tense consistency
A - Adjective/Adverb usage
Worked ExampleSolve this step-by-step before moving on
1
Step 1
Check subject-verb agreement in part A
2
Step 2
'Committee' is collective noun, treated as singular
3
Step 3
'Have' is plural verb, should be 'has'
4
Step 4
Parts B, C, D are grammatically correct
Answer: A (Error in subject-verb agreement)
Shortcut Formula 2 - Time Signal Method:
Identify time signals (yesterday/tomorrow/since/for) to catch tense errors quickly. If you see 'since 2010' with simple past, it's wrong - needs present perfect.
Worked Example 2:
Sentence: (A) She is working (B) in this company (C) since five years (D) without any break.
1
Step 1
Spot time signal 'since five years' in part C
2
Step 2
'Since' indicates starting point, needs present perfect tense
3
Step 3
'Is working' should be 'has been working'
4
Step 4
Also 'since five years' should be 'for five years'
Answer: A (Tense error with time signal)
Shortcut Formula 3 - Elimination Strategy:
Read options A and B first. 70% errors occur in first two parts. If both seem correct, check C and D. This saves 30-40 seconds per question.
Common Trap - The #1 Mistake: Students often choose 'No Error' when they can't spot obvious mistakes. In SSC CGL, only 15-20% questions have no error. Always re-examine using PASTA method before selecting option E. Many students miss subtle preposition errors like 'different than' (wrong) vs 'different from' (correct).
Another major trap involves collective nouns. Words like team, family, committee, class can be singular or plural depending on context. When acting as unit = singular verb. When emphasizing individual members = plural verb.
Practice tip: Read each underlined part separately, not as flowing sentence. This helps identify grammatical violations that sound correct in context but are technically wrong.
Key Points to Remember
PASTA Method: Check Preposition-Article-Subject/Verb-Tense-Adjective/Adverb in sequence
70% of errors occur in first two underlined parts (options A and B)
Time signals 'since/for/by' are major tense error indicators in SSC CGL
Collective nouns (team/committee/family) take singular verbs when acting as unit
Only 15-20% of error spotting questions have 'No Error' as correct answer
Subject-verb disagreement accounts for 60% of all error spotting questions
Different FROM (correct) vs Different THAN (incorrect) - common preposition trap
Present perfect tense required with 'since/for' duration expressions
Eliminate options A-B first, then check C-D to save time
Read underlined parts separately, not as flowing sentence for better accuracy
Exam-Specific Tips
SSC CGL contains 2-3 error spotting questions worth 2-6 marks total
Subject-verb agreement errors appear in 60% of error spotting questions
Preposition errors constitute 25% of all grammatical mistakes tested
The government have announced (A) that it will provide (B) financial assistance to the flood-affected (C) families in the coming weeks (D). Find the error.
Practice 2easy
Neither the manager nor the employees (A) was (B) present at the meeting (C) yesterday evening (D). Find the error.
Practice 3easy
The committee (A) have decided (B) to implement the new policy (C) across all departments next month (D). Find the error.
Practice 4easy
She has been working (A) in this organisation (B) since five years (C) and she is very dedicated (D). Find the error.
Practice 5hard
The committee, which comprises of senior officials and external experts, (A) have decided that the new policy (B) will be implemented in phases, although many stakeholders (C) has objected to the timeline that was proposed. (D) No error
60-Second Revision — Find the Error (underlined parts)