Sentence correction exercise 4

Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is '5'. Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any.

1. The principals of equal justice (1) / for all is one of (2) / the cornerstones of our (3) / democratic way of life. (4) / No error (5)

2. The trust has succeeded (1) / admirably in raising (2) / money for (3) / its future projects. (4) / No error (5)

3. Honesty, integrity and being intelligent (1) / are the qualities, which (2 / we look for when (3) / we interview applicants. (4) / No error (5)

4. In order to save petrol (1) / motorists must have to (2) / be very cautious (3) / while driving on the highways. (4) / No error (5)

5. If the by-stander had not been (1) / familiar with first-aid techniques (2) / the driver which had met (3) / with the accident would have died. (4) / No error (5)

6. None of the children (1) / has ever sang (2) / on any occasion (3) / in public before. (4) / No error (5)

7. Neither the heavy rains (1) / nor the storm (2) could dampen the spirit (3) / of the residents (4) / No error (5)

8. The apparently obvious solutions (1) / to most of his problems (2) / were overlook by (3) / many of his friends. (4) / No error (5)

9. The customer hardly had (1) / no money to (2) / pay for (3) / the drinks. (4) / No error (5)

10. Although Mother Teresa was a Roman Catholic, (1) / her simplicity and concern (2) / for the dying, the abandoned and the outcast (3) / would transcend boundaries of religion and nationality. (4) / No error (5)

Answers

1. Part (1): It should be 'The principle of equal justice'.

2. No error.

3. Part (1): It should be 'Honesty, integrity and intelligence'.

4. Part (2): It should be 'motorists must' or 'motorists have to'.

5. Part (3): It should be 'the driver who had met'

6. Part (2): It should be 'has ever sung'

7. Part (3): It should be 'could dampen the spirits'

8. Part (3): It should be 'were overlooked by'

9. Part (2): It should be 'any money to'

10. Part (4): It should be 'transcended boundaries of religion and nationality'

Sections in this article

Sentence agreement
Sentence agreement: plural subjects
Sentence agreement: collective nouns
Sentence agreement: indefinite pronouns