SPI English · Free notes

Spotting Errors: SPI English

Spotting Errors has 33 questions in the SPI bank, and five of them are from the 2022 paper. Eleven are EASY and twenty-two MODERATE, and every one splits a sentence into parts with a last choice of No error. Most errors are a single wrong word, so the way to score is to run the same checks, in the same order, on every sentence. Seven of the 33 keys are No error, so a sentence that passes every check is marked that way without fear.

The handout has every subtopic, worked example, formula and trap with answers shown. The formula sheet is the chapter’s formulas and traps alone, on one page.

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Subtopic notes

Formula & revision sheet

0 formulas · 10 reference tables · 25 gotchas across all subtopics — the exam-eve cheat-sheet

Agreement and Verb Forms

Reference tables (2)

The verb agrees with its subject5 rows

Subject	Verb form	Correct example
he, she, it, or one name	singular: adds -s (believes, has, is)	My sister speaks three languages.
a plural (many people, the boys, they)	plural: no -s (want, have, are)	The boys want a new ball.
an -ing word for one activity	singular	Swimming keeps you fit.
A as well as B, A along with B	agrees with A	The captain, along with his players, was praised. The words after 'as well as' do not change the verb.
each, every, everyone, one of the	singular	Each of the girls has a bag.

Find the true subject first. The noun just before the verb is often a trap.

The form after a word: to, -ing or the third form5 rows

After this word	Use	Correct example
refuse, agree, decide, hope, want	to + verb	She agreed to help us.
enjoy, finish, avoid, mind, keep	-ing	He enjoys swimming.
look forward to, be used to, object to	-ing	I am used to waking early. Here 'to' is a preposition, so the verb after it takes -ing.
can, must, should, will, may	plain verb, no to	You must sit down.
a noun the action is done to	third form before the noun	a broken window, a trusted friend

If you are not sure, say the pair aloud: 'decided joining' and 'must to go' sound wrong because they are.

Watch out for (6)

The nearest noun is not always the subject
→ The verb agrees with its subject
An activity is one thing
→ The verb agrees with its subject
'Had' alone is not a full verb here
→ Every clause needs a full verb, and a passive needs be
A thing that is acted on needs 'been'
→ Every clause needs a full verb, and a passive needs be
Not every 'to' is followed by a plain verb
→ The form after a word: to, -ing or the third form
Something done to a noun takes the third form
→ The form after a word: to, -ing or the third form

Tenses

Reference tables (2)

Time words choose the tense5 rows

Clue in the sentence	Tense	Correct example
yesterday, last week, ago, in 2010	simple past	We visited Agra last week.
just, already, yet, ever, so far	present perfect	I have already eaten.
for or since, and still going on	present perfect continuous	She has been waiting since noon. Not 'is waiting since noon'.
now, at the moment, Look!	present continuous	Look! The baby is sleeping.
every day, always, usually	simple present	He walks to school every day.

A named finished time (yesterday, in 1990) never goes with have or has.

If sentences and reported questions5 rows

Sentence type	Pattern	Correct example
if, real	If + present, will + verb	If it rains, we will stay in.
if, imagined now	If + past, would + verb	If I were rich, I would travel.
if, imagined past	If + had + third form, would have + third form	If you had asked, I would have helped. Not 'If you would have asked'.
reported wh-question	asked + wh-word + statement order	She asked me where I lived.
reported yes or no question	asked + if or whether + statement order	He asked if I was ready.

The 'if' part never carries will or would; a reported question never carries did.

Watch out for (4)

A named past time never takes have or has
→ Time words choose the tense
'For' and 'since' with an action still going on
→ Time words choose the tense
No 'would' in the 'if' part
→ If sentences and reported questions
A reported question is not a question
→ If sentences and reported questions

Prepositions and Fixed Phrases

Reference tables (2)

The preposition a word takes9 rows

Word	Takes	Correct example
different	from	This bag is different from that one.
senior, junior, superior, inferior	to	He is senior to me.
consist	of	The kit consists of a bat and pads.
comprise	nothing	The kit comprises a bat and pads. Never 'comprises of'.
discuss	nothing	We discussed the plan.
comment	on or upon	She commented on the film.
employed, works (a job)	as	He works as a driver.
employed, works (a place)	at or in	He works at a hotel.
time, money, leisure (a purpose)	for	We need money for books.

When a word you know well appears with an unfamiliar preposition, test the pair before anything else.

Fixed phrases with one right preposition7 rows

Wrong	Right	Meaning
taken with surprise	taken by surprise	surprised suddenly
owed to the rain	owing to the rain	because of the rain 'Owed to' means a debt is due to someone.
at his absence	in his absence	while he was away
stay clear from	stay clear of	keep away from
by foot	on foot	walking
in mistake	by mistake	without meaning to
learn on heart	learn by heart	learn word for word

These are fixed by use, not by a rule. Learn the whole phrase.

Watch out for (5)

Comprise and discuss take no preposition
→ The preposition a word takes
As for a job, at for a place
→ The preposition a word takes
Senior and junior do not take than
→ The preposition a word takes
Owing to, not owed to
→ Fixed phrases with one right preposition
Absence and presence take in
→ Fixed phrases with one right preposition

Pronouns, Comparisons and Connectors

Reference tables (3)

Who or whom, and one comparing form8 rows

Point	Wrong	Right
one superlative only	the most kindest	the kindest
one comparative only	more taller	taller
than after a comparative	better from	better than
two things take the -er form	the tallest of the two	the taller of the two
who does the next verb	whom is coming?	who is coming?
whom after a preposition	to who I spoke	to whom I spoke
whoever when it does the next verb	give it to whomever wants it	give it to whoever wants it The pronoun is the doer of 'wants', so it is whoever.
object form after between	between you and I	between you and me

To choose who or whom, find the verb right after it. If the pronoun does that verb, it is who.

Joining words that come in pairs7 rows

First word	Partner	Correct example
no sooner	than	No sooner did the bell ring than the boys ran out.
hardly, scarcely	when	Hardly had we sat down when the lights went out.
though, although	no but (yet is allowed)	Though it was late, we kept working. 'Although he was tired, but he went on' is wrong.
not only	but also	She is not only clever but also kind.
either	or	Either you or I must go.
neither	nor	Neither the bat nor the ball was found.
both	and	Both Raj and Anu came.

No sooner goes with than; hardly and scarcely go with when. Swapping them is the usual error.

Words that must make sense7 rows

Word	Means	Correct example
a pair	two	a pair of shoes A pair can never be three or more.
a dozen	twelve	a dozen eggs
a pack	a group of wolves or wild dogs	a pack of wolves
a herd	a group of cattle or elephants	a herd of elephants
a flock	a group of sheep or birds	a flock of sheep
too	also, or more than enough	I am hungry too. The tea is too hot.
to	towards, or before a verb	I went to school to learn.

If a part says something that cannot be true, that part holds the error.

Watch out for (6)

Two comparing words in a row
→ Who or whom, and one comparing form
The verb after the pronoun decides who or whoever
→ Who or whom, and one comparing form
No sooner takes than, hardly takes when
→ Joining words that come in pairs
Though needs no but
→ Joining words that come in pairs
Read for meaning, not only for grammar
→ Words that must make sense
To and too
→ Words that must make sense

Sentences with No Error

Reference tables (1)

Correct English that looks wrong5 rows

Correct form	Why it is right	Example
double possessive	standard English	She is a friend of my father's.
a phrase set off by commas	the commas mark extra information	She went out and, holding an umbrella, crossed the road.
someone, everyone, nobody	singular, so the verb takes -s	Nobody knows the answer.
feet of clay	an idiom: a hidden weakness in an admired person	The hero turned out to have feet of clay.
it is well to	formal for 'it is wise to'	It is well to check the map first.

If an unusual form appears in an otherwise clean sentence, ask whether it is one of these before you mark it.

Watch out for (4)

No error is a real answer
→ Run the checks in order, then trust the result
Different is not wrong
→ Run the checks in order, then trust the result
A long sentence is not a wrong sentence
→ Correct English that looks wrong
Someone and everyone are singular
→ Correct English that looks wrong

Question weightage by concept

12 concepts · 33 questions — where the marks actually sit, so you know what to drill first

Agreement and Verb Forms9 questions · 27%

Concept	Qs	Share
The verb agrees with its subject	4	12%
The form after a word: to, -ing or the third form	3	9%
Every clause needs a full verb, and a passive needs be	2	6%

Tenses5 questions · 15%

Concept	Qs	Share
Time words choose the tense	3	9%
If sentences and reported questions	2	6%

Prepositions and Fixed Phrases8 questions · 24%

Concept	Qs	Share
The preposition a word takes	5	15%
Fixed phrases with one right preposition	3	9%

Pronouns, Comparisons and Connectors6 questions · 18%

Concept	Qs	Share
Who or whom, and one comparing form	2	6%
Joining words that come in pairs	2	6%
Words that must make sense	2	6%

Sentences with No Error5 questions · 15%

Concept	Qs	Share
Correct English that looks wrong	3	9%
Run the checks in order, then trust the result	2	6%

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