CDS English · Teaching notes
Spotting Errors — CDS English
Spotting Errors has 298 past-year questions in CDS English and appears in all 20 sittings from 2017 to 2026. A sentence is split into parts and you mark the part with the mistake, or 'No error'; that last choice is right in roughly one item in eight, so it should be your conclusion after testing every part, never your first guess. The errors repeat by type: agreement, tense, verb form, articles, pronouns, fixed prepositions and confused words, and each page drills one of them.
Every subtopic, worked example, formula and trap in one printable document — answers shown, ready to share.
Subtopic notes
Subject-verb agreement: find the real subject
33 PYQsHow a spotting-errors item works, how to read one, and the first check to run on every sentence: a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.
Tenses: match the verb to the time
26 PYQsThe second check on every sentence: does each verb show the right time? A time word or another verb in the same sentence nearly always tells you which tense is correct.
Verb forms: the right shape after every helper
26 PYQsOnce the tense is right, check the shape of the verb: the correct past form, the plain form after a modal, be + past participle in the passive, and -ing or to + verb where each belongs.
Articles, determiners and comparison
26 PYQsThe fourth check: look at the small word in front of each noun (a, an, the, few, much, every) and at the form of each adjective in a comparison.
Pronouns: case and agreement
18 PYQsThe fifth check: test every pronoun twice. Is it the right form for its job (I or me, who or whom), and does it match the noun it stands for?
Prepositions fixed by the word before them
28 PYQsMany verbs, adjectives and nouns take one fixed preposition: prefer to, listen to, abide by, the reason for. The paper swaps in the wrong one, and you must know the right partner.
Extra, missing and place-time prepositions
18 PYQsSome verbs take their object with no preposition at all (discuss the matter, order coffee), a few need one the sentence left out, and place and time words need the right one of in, on, at, to, since and for.
Word choice and word form
27 PYQsErrors where the grammar looks fine but one word is wrong: a look-alike (besides for beside), a near-synonym with the wrong sense (pleasant for pleasing), or the right word in the wrong form (lowed for low).
Redundancy, comparison, connectors and idioms
23 PYQsFour smaller error types: saying the same thing twice, comparing the wrong way, joining clauses with the wrong linker or none, and changing a fixed expression.
No error: proving a sentence is correct
39 PYQsHow to choose option (d) No error with confidence: run every part of the sentence through a fixed checklist, and pick (d) only when every check passes.
Sentence improvement: test each option in the sentence
14 PYQsA sentence with one part underlined and three possible replacements: put each option into the sentence, read it whole, and keep the original (No improvement) when it is already right.
Word improvement: the right word for the sentence
20 PYQsOne underlined word is always wrong, and four words are offered in its place: find the right one from the look of the word, the tone of the sentence, and the exact sense it needs.
Formula & revision sheet
0 formulas · 19 reference tables · 146 gotchas across all subtopics — the exam-eve cheat-sheet
Formula & revision sheet
0 formulas · 19 reference tables · 146 gotchas across all subtopics — the exam-eve cheat-sheet
Subject-verb agreement: find the real subject
Reference tables (2)
Subjects that hide their number: uncountables, clauses, fractions, 'there'6 rows
| Subject type | Verb | Correct example | Tested in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncountable noun: news | Singular | The news about the floods is worrying. | 2024 (I)Q |
| A 'to' phrase joined by 'and' | Singular | To love one art and appreciate another is a gift. | 2019 (I)Q |
| All that + clause | Singular | All that glitters is not gold. | 2021 (I)Q |
| Fraction + singular noun | Singular | Two thirds of the book was rubbish. | 2018 (I)Q |
| There + singular noun | Singular | There has been a storm warning for tonight. | 2018 (I)Q |
| There + singular noun | Singular | There comes a time when you must choose. | 2019 (II)Q |
The same 'there' rule gives a plural verb when a plural noun follows: 'There are many reasons.'
Each, every, either, neither, none, many a: singular7 rows
| Word or pattern | Verb | Correct example | Tested in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Each + singular noun | Singular | Each new player gets a kit. | 2017 (II), 2024 (I)Q |
| Each one of + plural noun | Singular | Each one of these bulbs is fused. | 2019 (I)Q |
| Each and every + noun | Singular | He loves each and every thing that is connected with drama. | 2018 (I)Q |
| Every + noun | Singular | While every care has been taken, errors may remain. | 2019 (II)Q |
| Neither of + plural noun | Singular | Neither of the two answers is correct. | 2026 (II)Q |
| Many a + singular noun | Singular | Full many a flower is born to blush unseen. | 2022 (I)Q |
| None of + plural noun | Singular, by this exam's rule | None of these problems is more serious than that one. | 2017 (I)Q Everyday English often says 'none are'. This paper has marked 'none are' as the error. |
Each of these words is tested with a plural noun close to the verb. The plural noun is the bait.
Watch out for (16)
- The nearest noun is a decoy→ The verb agrees with the head noun, not the nearest noun
- Mark the wrong word, not the cause→ The verb agrees with the head noun, not the nearest noun
- A name or a single idea is singular→ The verb agrees with the head noun, not the nearest noun
- Choosing No error too fast→ The verb agrees with the head noun, not the nearest noun
- 'There' is not the subject→ Subjects that hide their number: uncountables, clauses, fractions, 'there'
- A fraction borrows its number→ Subjects that hide their number: uncountables, clauses, fractions, 'there'
- 'And' inside a 'to' phrase does not make it plural→ Subjects that hide their number: uncountables, clauses, fractions, 'there'
- The plural noun after 'of' does not decide→ Each, every, either, neither, none, many a: singular
- 'Many a' looks plural→ Each, every, either, neither, none, many a: singular
- 'None': follow the exam's rule→ Each, every, either, neither, none, many a: singular
- The two rules point in opposite directions→ Joined subjects: either/or, neither/nor, as well as
- The same frame can need 'is' or 'are'→ Joined subjects: either/or, neither/nor, as well as
- Only 'and' makes a plural→ Joined subjects: either/or, neither/nor, as well as
- Two verbs, two different subjects→ 'One of the + plural noun' and the relative clause after it
- 'The only one' flips the rule→ 'One of the + plural noun' and the relative clause after it
- Missing 'of' or a singular noun→ 'One of the + plural noun' and the relative clause after it
Tenses: match the verb to the time
Reference tables (2)
Simple vs continuous, and stative verbs (own, think, know)5 rows
| Clue in the sentence | Tense needed | Correct example | Tested in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look! or Listen! | Present continuous | Look! The bus is coming. | 2021 (II)Q |
| A change happening as you speak | Present continuous | It is getting cold; shall I close the window? | 2021 (II)Q |
| for + a length of time, still going on | Present perfect continuous | She has been studying for two hours. | 2021 (II)Q |
| think meaning 'believe' | Simple present | My father thinks I work too hard. | 2022 (I)Q |
| own, possess, belong | Simple present | This land belongs to the state. | 2024 (II)Q |
Other stative verbs to watch: know, understand, believe, prefer, mean, consist, contain, seem.
Conditionals and the subjunctive (If I were, had + V3, recommend that he go)3 rows
| Pattern | Correct form | Wrong forms the exam prints | Tested in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unreal past (third conditional) | If you had checked, you would have known. | If you have checked ... / If you would have checked ... | 2017 (II), 2020 (I)Q |
| Unreal present with 'be' | If I were in his place, I would refuse. | If I was in his place ... / If I am in his place ... | 2017 (II), 2022 (I)Q |
| recommend / suggest / insist + that | The doctor suggested that she rest. | that she would rest / that she rests | 2026 (II)Q |
Read both halves before you judge the 'if' part: the result clause tells you which pair you need.
Watch out for (13)
- 'Think' has two meanings→ Simple vs continuous, and stative verbs (own, think, know)
- A duration still running needs 'have been + -ing'→ Simple vs continuous, and stative verbs (own, think, know)
- Simple present is not for 'right now'→ Simple vs continuous, and stative verbs (own, think, know)
- Mark the verb, not the time word→ Present perfect vs simple past: the time marker decides
- 'Today' can take more than one tense→ Present perfect vs simple past: the time marker decides
- A past 'when' clause is a finished time→ Present perfect vs simple past: the time marker decides
- Universal truths do not shift→ Sequence of tenses: past perfect, reported clauses, keeping one time frame
- 'Had' needs a second past action→ Sequence of tenses: past perfect, reported clauses, keeping one time frame
- Match the helper in a contrast→ Sequence of tenses: past perfect, reported clauses, keeping one time frame
- A general statement keeps every verb in the present→ Sequence of tenses: past perfect, reported clauses, keeping one time frame
- No 'would' in the if-clause→ Conditionals and the subjunctive (If I were, had + V3, recommend that he go)
- 'Were' for every person→ Conditionals and the subjunctive (If I were, had + V3, recommend that he go)
- Match the two halves→ Conditionals and the subjunctive (If I were, had + V3, recommend that he go)
Verb forms: the right shape after every helper
Reference tables (2)
Irregular verbs: past and past participle4 rows
| Base (V1) | Past (V2) | Past participle (V3) | Tested in |
|---|---|---|---|
| sweep | swept | swept | 2017 (I)Q |
| run | ran | run | 2019 (II)Q |
| spring (jump up) | sprang | sprung | 2025 (I)Q |
| hang (an object) | hung | hung | 2025 (I)Q 'Hanged' is only for putting a person to death. A shirt or a picture is hung. |
Also learn: begin, began, begun; drink, drank, drunk; swim, swam, swum; ring, rang, rung; lie, lay, lain; lay, laid, laid; seek, sought, sought.
Gerund, infinitive, participle: worth doing, parallel lists, dangling participles5 rows
| Word or pattern | What follows | Correct example | Tested in |
|---|---|---|---|
| worth | -ing form | This book is worth reading twice. | 2017 (I)Q |
| anxious about (a preposition) | -ing form | She was nervous about having to speak first. | 2018 (I)Q |
| lead to ('to' is a preposition) | a noun or -ing form | Hard work can lead to success. | 2019 (I)Q |
| a list of duties | one form all through | His duties are to take notes, to answer calls and to file letters. | 2017 (II)Q |
| an opening participle phrase | the subject that does the action | It being a rainy day, we stayed indoors. | 2017 (I)Q |
Other words that take -ing: avoid, enjoy, finish, mind, can't help, insist on, succeed in, interested in.
Watch out for (16)
- V2 after 'has' or 'have'→ Irregular verbs: past and past participle
- Adding -ed to an irregular verb→ Irregular verbs: past and past participle
- 'Sprung' is not the past→ Irregular verbs: past and past participle
- The helper takes the ending, not the main verb→ Base form after do/did, modals and 'to'
- 'No sooner' still uses did + base form→ Base form after do/did, modals and 'to'
- Not every 'to' takes the base form→ Base form after do/did, modals and 'to'
- A passive needs both parts→ Passive voice: be + past participle, and when not to use it
- 'Was been' is never right→ Passive voice: be + past participle, and when not to use it
- Don't make an active verb passive→ Passive voice: be + past participle, and when not to use it
- 'Has' before an adjective→ Passive voice: be + past participle, and when not to use it
- 'To' is sometimes a preposition→ Gerund, infinitive, participle: worth doing, parallel lists, dangling participles
- A list breaks at the point where the form changes→ Gerund, infinitive, participle: worth doing, parallel lists, dangling participles
- Dangling opener: ask who is doing it→ Gerund, infinitive, participle: worth doing, parallel lists, dangling participles
- 'Isn't it?' is not a tag for every sentence→ Word order in questions, reported questions and question tags
- Reported questions do not invert→ Word order in questions, reported questions and question tags
- The tag takes the opposite sign→ Word order in questions, reported questions and question tags
Articles, determiners and comparison
Reference tables (3)
Degrees of comparison: 'the' + superlative, -er + than4 rows
| Pattern | Correct example | Tested in |
|---|---|---|
| the + superlative | Rajasthan is the largest state in India. | 2019 (II)Q |
| the + second / third + superlative | K2 is the second highest peak in the world. | 2019 (I)Q |
| one of the + superlative + plural noun | It is one of the most famous poems in Hindi. | 2024 (I)Q |
| comparative + than | This bag is lighter than that one. | 2017 (II)Q |
Senior, junior, superior, inferior and prior take 'to', not 'than': 'superior to', 'senior to'.
When 'the' is needed: same, a named event, a specific noun4 rows
| Use 'the' with | Correct example | Tested in |
|---|---|---|
| same | We stayed in the same hotel as last year. | 2023 (I)Q |
| a particular rate or figure | The literacy rate in Kerala is high. | 2019 (I)Q |
| the monsoon | The monsoon arrived early this year. | 2021 (I)Q |
| a particular period or event | Many small shops closed during the lockdown. | 2024 (I)Q |
Ask: which one? If the sentence answers that question, the noun needs 'the'.
Countable vs uncountable: few/a few, much/many, every, hundreds, furniture10 rows
| Word | Goes with | Correct example | Tested in |
|---|---|---|---|
| many | a plural countable noun | We do not have many options. | 2017 (II)Q |
| a few | a plural countable noun; means 'some' | Except for a few minutes, the class was quiet. | 2019 (I)Q |
| few | a plural countable noun; means 'hardly any' | Few students knew the answer. | 2019 (I)Q |
| a little | an uncountable noun, or a comparative | Please speak a little louder. | 2017 (II)Q |
| every | a singular noun | Every corner of the room was clean. | 2020 (II)Q |
| hundreds of | a plural noun, for a vague large number | Hundreds of people came to the fair. | 2019 (I)Q |
| two, several | a plural noun | There are two types of clouds here. | 2022 (II)Q |
| most | a plural countable noun | Most schools are closed today. | 2022 (I)Q |
| furniture | no plural; a singular verb | The old furniture was sold. | 2017 (II)Q |
| equipment | no plural; a singular verb | This equipment is new. | 2024 (I)Q |
Also uncountable, so never with -s: advice, information, luggage, baggage, scenery, poetry, machinery.
Watch out for (12)
- A superlative without 'the'→ Degrees of comparison: 'the' + superlative, -er + than
- Positive form before 'than'→ Degrees of comparison: 'the' + superlative, -er + than
- Two comparison markers→ Degrees of comparison: 'the' + superlative, -er + than
- 'Same' never stands alone→ When 'the' is needed: same, a named event, a specific noun
- Don't add 'the' to a general idea→ When 'the' is needed: same, a named event, a specific noun
- A noun followed by 'of' usually needs 'the'→ When 'the' is needed: same, a named event, a specific noun
- Sound, not spelling→ A singular countable noun needs a determiner; a vs an goes by sound
- Bare singular nouns→ A singular countable noun needs a determiner; a vs an goes by sound
- 'A' or 'an' before a plural noun→ A singular countable noun needs a determiner; a vs an goes by sound
- 'A few' and 'few' are not the same→ Countable vs uncountable: few/a few, much/many, every, hundreds, furniture
- No plural for furniture, equipment, luggage, advice→ Countable vs uncountable: few/a few, much/many, every, hundreds, furniture
- 'Hundred' or 'hundreds'?→ Countable vs uncountable: few/a few, much/many, every, hundreds, furniture
Pronouns: case and agreement
Watch out for (8)
- A side phrase hides the pronoun's job→ Pronoun case: who/whom, I/me, whose, your, its being
- 'And me' as a subject→ Pronoun case: who/whom, I/me, whose, your, its being
- Contraction or possessive?→ Pronoun case: who/whom, I/me, whose, your, its being
- 'Everything what'→ Pronoun case: who/whom, I/me, whose, your, its being
- 'Their' after every or each→ A pronoun matches its antecedent in number and person
- Check person, not only number→ A pronoun matches its antecedent in number and person
- Each other is for two→ A pronoun matches its antecedent in number and person
- The antecedent may sit in another part→ A pronoun matches its antecedent in number and person
Prepositions fixed by the word before them
Reference tables (2)
Verbs and the preposition they demand12 rows
| Verb | Correct use | Wrong form in the paper | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| abide by | He did not abide by my decision. | abide with | 2017 (I)Q |
| apprise of | Being apprised of our approach, ... | apprised with | 2019 (I)Q |
| centre on | Their attention was centred on the craftwork. | centred around | 2024 (II), 2025 (II)Q Both sittings treated 'centred around' as the error. Write 'centred on' or 'centred upon'. |
| dispense with | Your services are dispensed with. (= no longer needed) | dispensed for | 2017 (I)Q |
| due to | They parted ways due to ideological differences. | due towards | 2024 (I)Q |
| hold under (a law) | He was held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. | held in | 2018 (I)Q |
| listen to | I like to listen to the song of the nightingale. | listen the song | 2017 (II)Q |
| live on (an income) | He was living on remittances from his sons. | living in remittances | 2017 (II)Q |
| look for | He is now looking for a job. | looking about | 2017 (I)Q |
| make into | The fruit can be made into jam. | made to jam | 2018 (I)Q |
| oust from | The party was ousted from power. | ousted in power | 2018 (I)Q |
| trickle down to | The effects are trickling down to the next generation. | trickling at | 2019 (I)Q |
Verbs that take NO preposition at all (discuss, consider, order, emphasise) are taught under extra, missing and place-time prepositions.
Adjectives and nouns and the preposition they demand9 rows
| Word | Correct use | Wrong form in the paper | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| angry | angry with a person; angry at or about a thing | angry at me | 2017 (I) |
| answerable | answerable to the court for any lies | answerable for the court with | 2018 (I)Q |
| between / among | bad blood between the two of them | among the two of them | 2025 (II)Q Two people take 'between'. Use 'among' only for three or more. |
| contemporary (noun) | Patanjali was a contemporary of Pushyamitra Sunga. | a contemporary to | 2019 (I)Q |
| engrossed | India is fully engrossed in the discussion. | engrossed with | 2017 (II)Q |
| ignorant | I am ignorant of many things. | ignorant in | 2017 (II)Q |
| liberalization | the liberalization of her economy | liberalization to | 2020 (II)Q |
| reason | the reason for my absence | the reason of | 2026 (II)Q |
| superlative + group | Iron is the most useful of all metals. | the most useful against all metals | 2019 (II)Q |
In the 2026 (II) item, 'insisted on knowing' was correct: 'insist' takes 'on' + -ing.
Watch out for (12)
- 'Prefer' never takes 'than'→ Prefer X to Y: 'to' as a preposition takes a noun or -ing
- 'Look forward to' + a bare verb→ Prefer X to Y: 'to' as a preposition takes a noun or -ing
- 'Used to' has two meanings→ Prefer X to Y: 'to' as a preposition takes a noun or -ing
- Changing the preposition, not just the verb→ Prefer X to Y: 'to' as a preposition takes a noun or -ing
- 'Centred around' sounds natural→ Verbs and the preposition they demand
- Hear and listen are not twins→ Verbs and the preposition they demand
- One verb, several partners→ Verbs and the preposition they demand
- 'Due' takes only 'to'→ Verbs and the preposition they demand
- 'The two of them' still means two→ Adjectives and nouns and the preposition they demand
- Angry with a person, at a thing→ Adjectives and nouns and the preposition they demand
- Translating word for word→ Adjectives and nouns and the preposition they demand
- A superlative never takes 'against' or 'than'→ Adjectives and nouns and the preposition they demand
Extra, missing and place-time prepositions
Reference tables (1)
Prepositions of place and time: in, on, at, to; since and for8 rows
| Correct use | Wrong form in the paper | Rule | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| For the last five days it has been raining. | From the last five days | for + a duration | 2017 (I)Q |
| For the fifteen minutes that she drives, ... | Since the 15 minutes | for (or during) + a duration; since needs a point | 2019 (I)Q |
| whims and fancies in public places | on public places | in = within an area | 2020 (II)Q |
| Food is converted in the body into glucose. | converted on the body | in = inside | 2022 (II)Q |
| after five hours at the office | five hours of office | at = a place of activity | 2022 (II)Q |
| A species is at a very high risk of extinction. | in a very high risk | fixed phrase: at risk | 2021 (I)Q |
| The boy was taken to hospital. | taken onto hospital | to = movement to a destination | 2024 (II)Q |
| baggage discovered in the luggage compartment | on the luggage compartment | in = inside a closed space | 2025 (I)Q |
Watch out for (8)
- The noun takes a preposition, the verb does not→ One preposition too many (or too few): the drop test
- 'Called as' versus 'regarded as'→ One preposition too many (or too few): the drop test
- Not every bare verb is an error→ One preposition too many (or too few): the drop test
- 'Met' in the sense of 'received'→ One preposition too many (or too few): the drop test
- 'From' needs an end point→ Prepositions of place and time: in, on, at, to; since and for
- Since + point, for + length→ Prepositions of place and time: in, on, at, to; since and for
- In a car, but on a bus→ Prepositions of place and time: in, on, at, to; since and for
- Onto is only for surfaces→ Prepositions of place and time: in, on, at, to; since and for
Word choice and word form
Reference tables (2)
Look-alike and sound-alike words12 rows
| Word in the paper | Right word | Meaning of each | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| is besides the lake | beside | beside = next to; besides = in addition to | 2017 (II)Q |
| working hardly | hard | hard = with effort; hardly = almost not | 2017 (I) |
| laid in the shade | lay | lay = past of lie (rest); laid = past of lay (put) | 2017 (I)Q |
| hardly won liberty | hard-won | hard-won = gained with great effort; hardly = scarcely | 2019 (I)Q |
| scrolling thorough | through | through = from one end to the other; thorough = complete, careful | 2020 (I)Q |
| a case were | where | where = in which place or case; were = past of 'are' | 2020 (I)Q |
| LIC was found | founded | found, founded, founded = establish; found = past of find | 2022 (I)Q |
| defers from | differs | differ from = be unlike; defer = put off, or give way | 2023 (I)Q |
| Trucked neatly under the clothes | Tucked | tuck = push into a snug place; truck = carry by lorry | 2023 (II)Q |
| abatement to the crime | abetment | abetment = helping someone commit a crime; abatement = reduction | 2025 (I)Q |
| the imperial stokes he played | strokes | stroke = a shot in cricket; stoke = feed a fire | 2025 (I)Q |
| distribution was iniquitous | inequitable | inequitable = unfair, unequal; iniquitous = wicked | 2025 (I)Q |
Right idea, wrong word8 rows
| Word in the paper | Right word | Why | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| test results were pleasant | pleasing | pleasant = enjoyable (a pleasant day); pleasing = satisfying (pleasing results) | 2018 (I)Q |
| will not leave you give blood | let | let + base verb = allow; leave = go away from | 2018 (I) |
| the form of the Great Lakes was slow | formation | formation = the process; form = the shape | 2018 (I)Q |
| the foundational director | founding | founding = who helped start it; foundational = forming a base | 2019 (I)Q |
| Anywhere in the world | Everywhere | everywhere = in every place (a general truth); anywhere = in any one place | 2019 (I) |
| expunging revenue opportunities | exploring | explore = look into; expunge = erase | 2023 (II)Q |
| an uninterested participant | a disinterested | disinterested = neutral, with nothing to gain; uninterested = not interested | 2024 (II) |
| defied the purpose | defeated | defeat the purpose = work against it; defy = openly refuse to obey | 2025 (I)Q |
Watch out for (11)
- Every look-alike is a real word→ Look-alike and sound-alike words
- Hard and hardly mean opposite things→ Look-alike and sound-alike words
- Lie, lay and lied→ Look-alike and sound-alike words
- Found and founded→ Look-alike and sound-alike words
- Disinterested does not mean bored→ Right idea, wrong word
- The wrong word can be perfectly grammatical→ Right idea, wrong word
- A shape is not a process→ Right idea, wrong word
- Not every -ed word is an adjective→ Wrong word form: what part of speech the slot needs
- Uncountable nouns have no plural→ Wrong word form: what part of speech the slot needs
- A modal takes the base verb, always→ Wrong word form: what part of speech the slot needs
- Fixed phrases keep their exact form→ Wrong word form: what part of speech the slot needs
Redundancy, comparison, connectors and idioms
Reference tables (1)
Fixed expressions that cannot be changed7 rows
| Expression | Meaning | Wrong form in the paper | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| there is no trouble | 'there is' + noun says that something exists | no trouble is there | 2017 (I) |
| if not impossible | perhaps even impossible | in case impossible | 2017 (II)Q |
| day and night | all the time, without stopping | days and nights | 2018 (I)Q |
| tonight | this night | today night | 2018 (II)Q |
| come out (in support) | openly show support | coming in | 2019 (I) |
| far from done | not nearly finished | from done | 2023 (II)Q |
| break out in hives | suddenly develop an itchy rash | break in hives | 2024 (II) |
The same family: 'last night' and 'yesterday evening', never 'yesterday night'.
Watch out for (15)
- Look inside the verb→ Saying it twice: redundant words and double negatives
- 'Unless' is already negative→ Saying it twice: redundant words and double negatives
- 'That' with a reported question→ Saying it twice: redundant words and double negatives
- A proverb is quoted exactly→ Saying it twice: redundant words and double negatives
- Less with money, fewer with people→ Comparison: twice as much as, fewer, absolute adjectives
- 'Most favourite' sounds natural, but is wrong→ Comparison: twice as much as, fewer, absolute adjectives
- 'Twice more than'→ Comparison: twice as much as, fewer, absolute adjectives
- A comma cannot join two sentences→ Joining clauses: conjunctions, pairs and punctuation
- Between ... to→ Joining clauses: conjunctions, pairs and punctuation
- A linker with the wrong meaning→ Joining clauses: conjunctions, pairs and punctuation
- An apostrophe is not a plural→ Joining clauses: conjunctions, pairs and punctuation
- A fixed expression keeps its number→ Fixed expressions that cannot be changed
- One small word missing→ Fixed expressions that cannot be changed
- Today night, yesterday night→ Fixed expressions that cannot be changed
- 'There is' comes first→ Fixed expressions that cannot be changed
No error: proving a sentence is correct
Reference tables (1)
Word, idiom and determiner checks10 rows
| Correct expression | Why it is correct | Sitting |
|---|---|---|
| It was raining cats and dogs. | A standard idiom: raining very heavily | 2017 (I)Q |
| Tell him to take another photograph of the group. | 'another' + a singular noun | 2017 (I)Q |
| He couldn't find an answer. | A modal takes the base verb; 'an' before a vowel sound | 2017 (I)Q |
| Are you through with that newspaper? | 'through with' = finished with | 2017 (II)Q |
| It's no secret that the President wants a second term. | 'It's no secret that' = everyone knows that | 2018 (I)Q |
| The legendary hero laid down his precious life for our country. | 'lay down one's life' = die for a cause; past: laid down | 2018 (II)Q |
| India won by an innings and three runs. | The standard cricket result phrase | 2019 (I)Q |
| One must not boast of one's own success. | 'one' is followed by 'one's'; 'boast of' is the fixed partner | 2023 (I)Q |
| She forced herself to eat. | Reflexive pronoun: she acts on herself | 2024 (I)Q |
| In your quotidian life you wouldn't find an elephant in the supermarket. | 'quotidian' = everyday, ordinary | 2026 (II)Q |
Every sentence in this table was a 'No error' item: the right answer was (d).
Watch out for (14)
- A sentence can sound odd and still be right→ Agreement and pronoun checks
- 'Which' for a person→ Agreement and pronoun checks
- A subject said twice→ Agreement and pronoun checks
- Short sentences invite over-thinking→ Agreement and pronoun checks
- 'Today' with a past verb→ Tense checks against the time marker
- Simple past for a state that was going on→ Tense checks against the time marker
- Where do you come from?→ Tense checks against the time marker
- Past perfect with nothing after it→ Tense checks against the time marker
- A silly-sounding idiom is still correct→ Word, idiom and determiner checks
- Laid down his life is right→ Word, idiom and determiner checks
- A rare word is not a wrong word→ Word, idiom and determiner checks
- A correct preposition can look wrong→ Preposition, connector and comparison checks
- 'Unless' with a positive verb is correct→ Preposition, connector and comparison checks
- 'Emphasise the need for' has no extra preposition→ Preposition, connector and comparison checks
Sentence improvement: test each option in the sentence
Watch out for (8)
- A synonym is not an improvement→ When the underlined part is already right
- Read the option inside the sentence→ When the underlined part is already right
- Look-alike forms are the usual decoys→ When the underlined part is already right
- Check the words outside the underline→ When the underlined part is already right
- No 'will' after till, when or before→ Improving the verb: tense and agreement
- 'Ought to have' is not a conditional result→ Improving the verb: tense and agreement
- Stative verbs reject the -ing form→ Improving the verb: tense and agreement
- 'Along with' does not make a plural→ Improving the verb: tense and agreement
Word improvement: the right word for the sentence
Reference tables (3)
Words for feeling, attitude and manner5 rows
| Printed word | Right word | Meaning | Decoys | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tumult (noisy disorder) | merriment | cheerful fun and laughter | trepidation (fear), upheaval (violent change), uproar (loud protest) | 2025 (I)Q |
| antipathy (strong dislike) | animus | strong hostility, ill will | sympathy, empathy (sharing feelings), indifference (no interest) | 2025 (II) |
| impassioned (full of emotion) | dispassionate | calm, not moved by strong feeling | perfunctory (careless), devolved (handed down), disambiguated (made clear) | 2025 (II)Q |
| paternal (fatherly) | paternalistic | controlling people 'for their own good' | prim (stiffly proper), petulant (sulky), presumptuous (over-bold) | 2025 (II)Q |
| reflective (thoughtful) | perfunctory | done quickly, without care or interest | precise, engaging (charming), egregious (shockingly bad) | 2025 (II)Q |
Words for praise, blame and justification3 rows
| Printed word | Right word | Meaning | Decoys | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| scurrilous (abusive, insulting) | laudatory | full of praise | reviling, scathing, upbraiding (all words of blame) | 2025 (I)Q |
| plaudits (praise) | opprobrium | harsh public criticism, disgrace | sanctimoniousness (smug moral superiority), triumph, banter (playful teasing) | 2025 (I)Q |
| salutary (having a good effect) | gratuitous | done without good reason, uncalled for | ingratiated (won favour by flattery), grating (irritating), gargantuan (huge) | 2025 (II)Q |
Exact terms for procedures, politics and documents5 rows
| Printed word | Right word | Meaning | Decoys | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| instruction (teaching) | induction | formal introduction and training for new members | immersion (deep involvement), intimation (notice, hint), unction (anointing with oil) | 2025 (I)Q |
| minimise (bring to the smallest) | reduce | make smaller by some amount | supervise, surmise (guess), lower | 2025 (I) |
| bilateral (between two countries) | bipartisan | supported by two opposing parties | impartial (fair), intermittent (stopping and starting), perilous (dangerous) | 2025 (II)Q |
| postscript (a note added at the end of a letter) | palimpsest | a manuscript whose earlier writing was erased and written over | parchment (writing material made of skin), pastiche (an imitation of a style), montage (a combined set of images) | 2025 (II)Q |
| simulism (not an English word) | plagiarism | copying another's work without credit | sensationalism, institutionalism, spoonerism (swapping the first sounds of two words) | 2025 (II)Q |
Watch out for (13)
- There is no 'No improvement'→ Reading the clue: look-alike, charge and exact sense
- Shared letters are the decoy→ Reading the clue: look-alike, charge and exact sense
- Enormity does not mean great size→ Reading the clue: look-alike, charge and exact sense
- Read the charge of the whole sentence→ Reading the clue: look-alike, charge and exact sense
- -istic adds a judgement→ Words for feeling, attitude and manner
- Tumult is noise and disorder, not joy→ Words for feeling, attitude and manner
- 'No more than a glance' signals carelessness→ Words for feeling, attitude and manner
- Three options with the same charge→ Words for praise, blame and justification
- Salutary is not about saluting, gratuitous is not grateful→ Words for praise, blame and justification
- Fulsome praise is too much praise→ Words for praise, blame and justification
- Bilateral is between countries→ Exact terms for procedures, politics and documents
- Minimise is not 'cut a bit'→ Exact terms for procedures, politics and documents
- Teaching is not induction→ Exact terms for procedures, politics and documents
PYQ weightage by concept
42 concepts · 298 PYQs — where the marks actually sit, so you know what to drill first
PYQ weightage by concept
42 concepts · 298 PYQs — where the marks actually sit, so you know what to drill first
Subject-verb agreement: find the real subject33 PYQs · 11%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| The verb agrees with the head noun, not the nearest noun | 10 | 3% |
| Each, every, either, neither, none, many a: singular | 9 | 3% |
| Subjects that hide their number: uncountables, clauses, fractions, 'there' | 6 | 2% |
| 'One of the + plural noun' and the relative clause after it | 5 | 2% |
| Joined subjects: either/or, neither/nor, as well as | 3 | 1% |
Tenses: match the verb to the time26 PYQs · 9%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Sequence of tenses: past perfect, reported clauses, keeping one time frame | 9 | 3% |
| Simple vs continuous, and stative verbs (own, think, know) | 7 | 2% |
| Present perfect vs simple past: the time marker decides | 5 | 2% |
| Conditionals and the subjunctive (If I were, had + V3, recommend that he go) | 5 | 2% |
Verb forms: the right shape after every helper26 PYQs · 9%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Passive voice: be + past participle, and when not to use it | 7 | 2% |
| Base form after do/did, modals and 'to' | 5 | 2% |
| Gerund, infinitive, participle: worth doing, parallel lists, dangling participles | 5 | 2% |
| Word order in questions, reported questions and question tags | 5 | 2% |
| Irregular verbs: past and past participle | 4 | 1% |
Articles, determiners and comparison26 PYQs · 9%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Countable vs uncountable: few/a few, much/many, every, hundreds, furniture | 10 | 3% |
| A singular countable noun needs a determiner; a vs an goes by sound | 7 | 2% |
| When 'the' is needed: same, a named event, a specific noun | 5 | 2% |
| Degrees of comparison: 'the' + superlative, -er + than | 4 | 1% |
Pronouns: case and agreement18 PYQs · 6%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| A pronoun matches its antecedent in number and person | 10 | 3% |
| Pronoun case: who/whom, I/me, whose, your, its being | 8 | 3% |
Prepositions fixed by the word before them28 PYQs · 9%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Verbs and the preposition they demand | 13 | 4% |
| Adjectives and nouns and the preposition they demand | 9 | 3% |
| Prefer X to Y: 'to' as a preposition takes a noun or -ing | 6 | 2% |
Extra, missing and place-time prepositions18 PYQs · 6%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| One preposition too many (or too few): the drop test | 10 | 3% |
| Prepositions of place and time: in, on, at, to; since and for | 8 | 3% |
Word choice and word form27 PYQs · 9%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Look-alike and sound-alike words | 12 | 4% |
| Right idea, wrong word | 8 | 3% |
| Wrong word form: what part of speech the slot needs | 7 | 2% |
Redundancy, comparison, connectors and idioms23 PYQs · 8%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Joining clauses: conjunctions, pairs and punctuation | 8 | 3% |
| Fixed expressions that cannot be changed | 7 | 2% |
| Saying it twice: redundant words and double negatives | 5 | 2% |
| Comparison: twice as much as, fewer, absolute adjectives | 3 | 1% |
No error: proving a sentence is correct39 PYQs · 13%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Agreement and pronoun checks | 11 | 4% |
| Preposition, connector and comparison checks | 11 | 4% |
| Word, idiom and determiner checks | 10 | 3% |
| Tense checks against the time marker | 7 | 2% |
Sentence improvement: test each option in the sentence14 PYQs · 5%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Improving the verb: tense and agreement | 8 | 3% |
| When the underlined part is already right | 6 | 2% |
Word improvement: the right word for the sentence20 PYQs · 7%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reading the clue: look-alike, charge and exact sense | 7 | 2% |
| Words for feeling, attitude and manner | 5 | 2% |
| Exact terms for procedures, politics and documents | 5 | 2% |
| Words for praise, blame and justification | 3 | 1% |
Test yourself on Spotting Errors
25 past CDS questions from this chapter, timed at 25 minutes and marked the way the exam marks it. You see your score and every answer the moment you finish. Free to start.