SPI English · Spotting Errors
Pronouns, Comparisons and Connectors
After the verb and the preposition, check the smaller words: the pronoun's form, the comparing word, the pairs of joining words, and whether each word makes sense.
Why this matters
Six questions in the bank test these words, one of them from the 2022 paper. Two are EASY and four MODERATE. Each rule is short, so these are quick marks once the rule is known.
Concept 1 of 3: Who or whom, and one comparing form
A pronoun changes its form with its job. 'Who' does the action; 'whom' has the action done to it. A comparing word also has fixed forms: tall, taller, tallest. Adding 'more' or 'most' to a word that already ends in -er or -est uses the comparison twice.
Definition
Pronouns:
- who and whoever do the action of the next verb: 'Whoever comes first wins.'
- whom and whomever receive it: 'The girl whom we met was kind.'
- After a preposition, use the object form: 'between you and me', 'to whom I spoke'.
- When a preposition stands before a whole clause, the pronoun takes its job from the clause: 'Give it to whoever wants it' (whoever wants).
Comparisons:
- Short words add -er and -est: taller, tallest. Long words use more and most: more careful, most careful.
- Never both: 'more taller' and 'most kindest' are wrong.
- Use the -er form for two things and the -est form for three or more.
| 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.
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a practice question:
Practice questionEasy
Example 1 · Spotting Errors · Pronouns, Comparisons and Connectors
She cracked the most funniest joke at the party.
Two comparing words in a row
'More' and '-er' do the same job, and so do 'most' and '-est'. Use one of them: 'the brightest star', never 'the most brightest star'.
The verb after the pronoun decides who or whoever
A preposition before the pronoun does not force 'whom'. In 'Speak to whoever is in charge', the pronoun is the doer of 'is', so it stays whoever.
Concept 2 of 3: Joining words that come in pairs
Some joining words always come with a fixed partner later in the sentence. If the first word is printed, check that its partner is the right one. Some words go the other way: 'though' already joins two ideas, so a 'but' after it is one joining word too many.
Definition
The pairs:
- No sooner ... than: 'No sooner did the bell ring than the boys ran out.'
- Hardly or scarcely ... when: 'Hardly had we sat down when the lights went out.'
- Though or although ... no but (a 'yet' is allowed): 'Though it was late, we kept working.'
- Not only ... but also, either ... or, neither ... nor, both ... and.
| 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.
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a practice question:
Practice questionEasy
Example 2 · Spotting Errors · Pronouns, Comparisons and Connectors
"Spotting error". Directions. In the following questions a sentence is divided into four parts, a - b - c and d. You have to mark the part in which there is an error.
No sooner had he begun / to speak when the opposition / members started shouting slogans. / No error.
No sooner takes than, hardly takes when
The two look alike in meaning, so their partners get swapped. 'No sooner ... when' and 'hardly ... than' are both errors.
Though needs no but
'Though' and 'but' both join two opposite ideas, so using both doubles the joining word. Keep one: 'Though he is poor, he is honest' or 'He is poor, but he is honest'.
Concept 3 of 3: Words that must make sense
Some errors are not grammar at all. The sentence is built correctly but one word says something impossible, or a look-alike word has taken the place of the right one. Read each part for its meaning as well as its grammar.
Definition
Check these:
- A word for a number must fit the number: a pair is two, a dozen is twelve.
- Group words are fixed: a pack of wolves or wild dogs, a herd of cattle or elephants, a flock of sheep or birds.
- Look-alike words: too means also or more than enough; to means towards or comes before a verb.
| 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.
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
SPI · 2022 · SPI Entrance Examination 2022 · Q137Moderate
Example 3 · Spotting Errors · Pronouns, Comparisons and Connectors
Spot the error in the given sentence in each of the next five questions. The sentence is divided into three parts. These are indicated by [a], [b] and [c]. One of these three parts may contain an error. You need to identify that particular part and mark your answer accordingly. If there is no error then mark [d].
[a] At the time Harkwar and Kunthi and their two children took up their
[b] residence in the hut, there were in that forest , to my knowledge
[c] five tigers, eight leopards, a family of four sloth bears, two Himalayan black bears, a number of hyenas, a pair of three wild dogs, numerous jackals and foxes and pythons.
Read for meaning, not only for grammar
A part can be grammatical and still be the error because it says something impossible, such as 'a herd of parrots'. Ask whether each part can be true.
To and too
'Too' means also or more than enough; 'to' does not. 'The road is to narrow' is wrong; write 'too narrow'.
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)
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
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