CDS English · Spotting Errors
Articles, determiners and comparison
The 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.
Why this matters
A missing 'the' or a wrong 'much' is easy to read past, because the sentence still makes sense. That is exactly why the exam keeps setting it. Go through the sentence noun by noun: does each one have the right word in front of it, and is each comparison in the right form?
Concept 1 of 4: Degrees of comparison: 'the' + superlative, -er + than
Adjectives have three degrees: tall, taller, tallest. The comparative compares two things. The superlative picks one out of a group of three or more, and because it points to one particular member, it takes 'the'.
Definition
- Articles are a, an and the. A determiner is any word in front of a noun that tells which one or how many: the articles, this/that, my/your, some, many, every, few.
- Comparative (-er or more): compares two things and is followed by than: 'heavier than', 'more useful than'.
- Superlative (-est or most): picks one from three or more and takes the: 'the tallest', 'the most useful', 'the second largest', 'one of the most famous'.
- With of the two, use the comparative with 'the': 'the taller of the two sisters'.
- Never use two comparison markers together: 'more heavier' and 'most tallest' are wrong.
- A possessive can take the place of 'the': 'India's largest state' is correct.
| 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'.
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2019 · CDS (II) 2019 — English · Q92Easy
Example 1 · Spotting Errors · Articles, Determiners and Comparison
Directions: find the error part or no error
Mumbai is largest cotton centre in the country.
A superlative without 'the'
'India is second most populous country' reads quickly, but a superlative needs 'the': 'the second most populous country'. Check the part that holds the superlative.
Positive form before 'than'
'This box is heavy than the other' has 'than' but no comparative. 'Than' always needs -er or more before it: 'heavier than'.
Two comparison markers
'More better', 'more wider' and 'most tallest' mark the comparison twice. Use one: 'better', 'wider', 'tallest'.
Concept 2 of 4: When 'the' is needed: same, a named event, a specific noun
'The' tells the listener: you know which one I mean. Use it when the thing is the only one of its kind, when it has already been named, or when a phrase after it makes it specific.
Definition
- the same: 'same' always takes 'the': 'the same book'.
- A noun made specific by an of-phrase or a clause after it: 'the safety of the passengers', 'the book that you lent me'.
- Things that are the only one of their kind, and particular events or periods: the sun, the monsoon, the recession, the Indian economy.
- A specific singular noun, such as a particular rate or figure: 'The literacy rate in Kerala is high.'
- No 'the' with a general uncountable or plural noun: 'Water is precious', 'Books are good friends', 'Honesty pays'.
| 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'.
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2023 · CDS (I) 2023 — English · Q47Moderate
Example 2 · Spotting Errors · Articles, Determiners and Comparison
Directions: find the error in the underlined parts or no error
I played with same bat that you used.
'Same' never stands alone
Whenever you see 'same' in front of a noun, check for 'the' before it. 'At same time' and 'in same class' are both errors.
Don't add 'the' to a general idea
Abstract and general nouns take no article: 'Honesty pays', 'Nature heals', 'Water boils at 100 degrees'. 'The honesty' is wrong unless a phrase makes it specific ('the honesty of the witness').
A noun followed by 'of' usually needs 'the'
'Safety of the passengers', 'history of India', 'price of rice': each is made specific by its of-phrase, so each needs 'the' in front.
Concept 3 of 4: A singular countable noun needs a determiner; a vs an goes by sound
In English, a singular countable noun cannot stand alone. It needs a, an, the, or a word such as my, this or their in front of it. And the choice between 'a' and 'an' depends on the first sound you say, not the first letter you see.
Definition
- A singular countable noun needs a determiner: 'a guest', 'the trip', 'their favourite star', not bare 'guest' or 'trip'.
- a before a consonant sound: a book, a university (you-), a one-day match (wun-), a European (you-).
- an before a vowel sound: an apple, an hour (silent h), an honest man, an MP (em-), an X-ray (ex-).
- A/an means 'one', so it never goes before a plural noun: 'an essential mode' or 'essential modes', not 'an essential modes'.
- Plural and uncountable nouns can stand alone when they are general: 'Guests are welcome', 'Water is life'.
Worked example
Find the part with the error. (a) He waited for (b) a hour (c) outside the office. (d) No error
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2025 · CDS (II) 2025 — English · Q11Moderate
Example 3 · Spotting Errors · Articles, Determiners and Comparison
Directions: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c). Read each sentence to determine whether there is an error in any underlined part and indicate your response on the answer sheet against the above-mentioned corresponding letter. If there is no error, indicate your response as (d).
In his well-recognised stentorian yet amused voice the principal demanded an unique excuse from the student hauled up for alleged minor misdemeanour.
Sound, not spelling
Words that start with a vowel letter but a consonant sound take 'a': a university, a European, a one-rupee coin. Words that start with a silent h take 'an': an hour, an honour, an heir.
Bare singular nouns
'Guest is unwelcome when he stays too long' sounds like a proverb, but 'guest' is singular and countable, so it needs 'A guest'. Check every singular noun for a word in front of it.
'A' or 'an' before a plural noun
'An essential modes' joins 'one' to a plural. The fix is either 'an essential mode' or 'essential modes', and the error is in the part that holds the article.
Concept 4 of 4: Countable vs uncountable: few/a few, much/many, every, hundreds, furniture
Countable nouns can be counted: one book, two books. Uncountable nouns cannot: water, advice, furniture. Each quantity word goes with only one of the two kinds.
Definition
- Countable nouns have a plural: days, courses, creatures. Uncountable nouns have no plural: furniture, equipment, information, advice, luggage, news.
- A quantifier is a word of quantity: many, much, few, little, every, most.
- many / few / a few + plural countable noun. much / little / a little + uncountable noun.
- a few / a little mean 'some' (positive). few / little mean 'hardly any' (negative).
- every / each + singular noun: 'every aspect'.
- most / two / several + plural noun: 'most parks', 'two kinds'.
- hundreds of / thousands of for a vague large number, but two hundred (exact, with no -s and no 'of').
| 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.
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2017 · CDS (II) 2017 — English · Q91Moderate
Example 4 · Spotting Errors · Articles, Determiners and Comparison
Directions: find error in part a, b or c; else no error
The Department of Fine Arts has been criticised for not having much required courses scheduled for this semester.
'A few' and 'few' are not the same
'A few days' means some days (positive). 'Few days' means hardly any (negative). When the sentence means 'some', the article is required: 'except for a few days', 'walk a little faster'.
No plural for furniture, equipment, luggage, advice
These nouns never take -s, and they take a singular verb: 'The furniture was sold', 'This equipment is costly'. The bait is a plural-looking word such as 'furnitures' or 'equipments'.
'Hundred' or 'hundreds'?
An exact number takes no -s and no 'of': 'two hundred people'. A vague number takes both: 'hundreds of people'. 'Hundred of' is always wrong.
Summary — formulas & gotchas at a glance
A revision cheat-sheet for the formulas and gotchas above. Click any concept name to jump back to its full explanation.
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
Test yourself on Spotting Errors
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