In error spotting, a sentence is cut into parts (A, B, C, D) and exactly one part has a grammar mistake — you pick that part. In sentence improvement, you choose the correct replacement. The mistake is almost always one of a few types: subject-verb agreement, prepositions, tenses, articles, comparatives, adjective vs adverb and pronouns. Learn these few types and you can clear most questions. Every quiz below is a real Punjab Police SI or Constable question.
39
Past questions on this page
Punjab Police SI & Constable
1
part has the error
6-7
error types cover most
The error types that come again and again
Check these in order. The first match is usually the answer.
Error type
Watch for
Example (wrong → right)
Subject-verb agreement
singular subject → singular verb
people prefers → prefer; minutes are → is
Preposition
the fixed word after a verb/adjective
agree to you → agree with you
Tense
time words like yesterday, when, past
she can already read → could
Article (a/an/the)
country/person names take no 'the'
The India → India
Comparative
'than' needs -er / more
healthy than → healthier than
Adjective vs adverb
a verb is described by an adverb (-ly)
assessed very nice → very nicely
Between / Among
between = 2, among = 3+
between six children → among
Most Punjab Police error questions are one of these seven.
KEY TERM
Subject-verb agreement
A singular subject takes a singular verb, a plural subject a plural verb. Traps: 'A lot of people' is plural; 'Sixty minutes' as one block of time is singular; with 'as well as' / 'along with' the verb follows the first subject only.
QUICK CHECK
The following sentence has been split into four segments. Identify the segment that contains a grammatical error.
Sixty minutes / are / enough time / to finish this task.
Tap an option to answer
Answer: B — are
Punjab Police Sub Inspector 2022. 'Sixty minutes' is treated as one single amount of time, so it takes a singular verb: is enough time, not 'are'.
QUICK CHECK
Read the following sentence and identify the part that has an error. A lot of people / in my country / prefers / tea to coffee.
Tap an option to answer
Answer: C — prefers
Punjab Police Constable 2021. The subject 'A lot of people' is plural, so the verb must be prefer, not 'prefers'.
QUICK CHECK
The given sentence is divided into four segments. Select the option that has the segment with the grammatical error.
The headmaster, / as well as his staff, / were there for / the inaugural session.
Tap an option to answer
Answer: C — were there for
Punjab Police Sub Inspector 2023. With 'as well as', the verb agrees with the first subject 'The headmaster' (singular): was there, not 'were'.
KEY TERM
Prepositions
Some verbs/adjectives take a fixed preposition: agree with a person, agree to a plan, answerable to someone, married to, superior to. Learn the pair, not a rule.
QUICK CHECK
Identify the segment in the sentence which contains a grammatical error. I do not / agree to / you in / this matter.
Tap an option to answer
Answer: B — agree to
Punjab Police Constable 2021. You agree with a person (and agree to a plan). So 'agree to you' is wrong — it should be agree with you.
QUICK CHECK
The following sentence has been split into four segments. Identify the segment that contains a grammatical error. The grandfather bought/ a dozen bananas/ and distributed them/ between his six grandchildren.
Tap an option to answer
Answer: C — between his six grandchildren
Punjab Police Sub Inspector 2023.Between is for two; for more than two use among. Six grandchildren → among, not 'between'.
KEY TERM
Tense (time)
Keep the whole sentence in one time. A past clue like 'When my niece was three' forces could, not 'can'. After to, use the base verb: to bring, not 'to brought'.
QUICK CHECK
The following sentence has been split into four segments. Identify the segment that contains a grammatical error. When my niece / was three, / she can already / read very well.
Tap an option to answer
Answer: B — she can already
Punjab Police Sub Inspector 2023. The sentence is in the past ('was three'), so could already read, not 'can'.
QUICK CHECK
Select the part that contains an error: All the students are working / to brought about the / changes in their results.
Tap an option to answer
Answer: A — to brought about the
Punjab Police Constable 2024. After to, use the base form: to bring about, not 'to brought about'.
KEY TERM
Articles (a / an / the)
Most country and person names take no 'the': India, Punjab, Gandhi. (Exceptions: the USA, the UK, the Netherlands.) Use a before a consonant sound, an before a vowel sound.
QUICK CHECK
Select the part that contains an error: The India is a country / where we find / unity in diversity.
Tap an option to answer
Answer: A — The India is a country
Punjab Police Constable 2024. Country names take no article: India is a country, not 'The India'.
KEY TERM
Comparatives and adjective vs adverb
With than, the word must be comparative: healthier than, better than. An adjective describes a noun (a strong supporter); an adverb describes a verb (assessed nicely).
QUICK CHECK
Read the following sentence and identify the part that has an error: It is healthy / to eat / a bowl of fresh, green salad / than a packet of chips.
Tap an option to answer
Answer: A — It is healthy
Punjab Police Constable 2021. 'than' needs a comparative, so 'It is healthy ... than' should be It is healthier ... than.
QUICK CHECK
In the sentence given, identify the part that contains an error. The examiner/ has assessed/ the answers/ very nice.
Tap an option to answer
Answer: B — very nice
Punjab Police Sub Inspector 2021. A verb (assessed) is described by an adverb: 'assessed very nicely', not 'very nice'.
QUICK CHECK
The following sentence has been split into four segments. Identify the segment that contains a grammatical error. Mahatma Gandhi, who is revered / as the father of Indian nation, / was a strongly supporter / of non-violence.
Tap an option to answer
Answer: D — was a strongly supporter
Punjab Police Sub Inspector 2023. A noun (supporter) needs an adjective: 'a strong supporter', not 'a strongly supporter'.
QUICK CHECK
The following sentence is divided into four parts. Identify the part that has an error in it. Joanna, my dear friend and benefactor, / have finally fulfilled / her dream of becoming / a children’s nurse.
Tap an option to answer
Answer: D — have finally fulfilled
Punjab Police Sub Inspector 2021. The subject 'Joanna' is singular, so has finally fulfilled, not 'have'.
COMMON TRAPS
as well as / along with / with → verb follows the FIRST subject only.
between = 2, among = 3+.
agree with a person, agree to a plan.
After to, base verb (to go, to bring) — never past.
Country/person names take no 'the' (India, not The India).
-ly word describes a verb; plain word describes a noun.
CHECK YOURSELF
Find the error: 'Neither of the two boys / have / finished / their homework.'
Show answer
'have' is the error. Neither is singular, so the verb is has: 'Neither of the two boys has finished…'.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is error spotting in English?
A sentence is split into parts and you pick the one part that has a grammar mistake (or 'No error').
Which error type comes most in Punjab Police?
Subject-verb agreement and prepositions are the most common, then tenses and articles.
Agree 'to' or agree 'with'?
Agree with a person; agree to a plan or proposal.
Between or among?
Between for two things, among for three or more.
Does 'as well as' make the verb plural?
No. The verb agrees with the first subject only: 'The boy, as well as his friends, is here.'
When do we use 'the' before country names?
Only for a few: the USA, the UK, the UAE, the Netherlands. Most take no 'the'.
'To' is followed by which verb form?
The base form: to go, to eat, to bring — never the past form.
Adjective or adverb after a verb like 'assessed'?
An adverb (usually -ly): 'assessed nicely', 'ran quickly'.
Is 'No error' ever the answer?
Yes, sometimes the sentence is correct — but check the common error types first.
How to improve a sentence quickly?
Read it in your head, find the type (verb, preposition, tense…), then fix only that.