English Grammar for Bank Exams 2026: Most Important Error Detection Questions

English Grammar Error Detection questions explore crucial grammar rules for error detection, vital for competitive exams like Bank Exams 2026. Mastering these concepts helps identify and correct common grammatical errors, enhancing sentence construction skills. We focus on frequently tested patterns related to adjectives, comparative forms, and logical comparisons, providing clear rules and corrections for each.

Error Detection: Question Analysis and Rules

1. Adjectives with Fixed Prepositions (Latin Comparatives)

Certain adjectives, often derived from Latin, always use the preposition to for comparison instead of than.

Sentence Example: "He was a contemporary of Socrates and Democritus but senior than them and was probably some junior to Empedocles."

Error Analysis: The error lies in using than with "senior." "Senior" belongs to a group of adjectives that demand to.

Rule: The following adjectives always take the preposition to for comparison, not than:

• senior

• junior

• anterior

• posterior

• prefer

• preferable

• elder

• younger

• inferior

Correction: "…but senior to them…"

2. Absolute (Non-Gradable) Adjectives

Absolute adjectives describe qualities that are either present or absent; they cannot be made "more" or "less."

Sentence Example: "As it stands in these the ancient laws, the Sabbath is not at all the most unique thing but it was made to be by the scribes."

Error Analysis: Using a superlative modifier (most) with "unique" is incorrect. "Unique" means one of a kind; something cannot be "more unique."

Rule: Absolute adjectives cannot be used in comparative (-er/more) or superlative (-est/most) forms. Common absolute adjectives include:

• unique

• prime

• supreme

• universal

• complete

• whole

• entire

• first / last

• possible / impossible

• chief

• ideal

Correction: "…the Sabbath is not at all a unique thing…"

3. Parallelism and Order of Superlative Adjectives

When using multiple adjectives, especially in comparative or superlative forms, maintain parallelism and follow conventional ordering rules.

Sentence Example: "She is the most active and clever worker of my company who is going to be promoted."

Error Analysis:

1. Parallelism: The conjunction and connects two adjectives. Since "active" is in the superlative (most active), "clever" must also be in its superlative form (cleverest) for parallel structure.

2. Order of Adjectives: When combining a superlative with an -est form and one with most, the shorter -est form typically comes first.

Correction: "She is the cleverest and most active worker of my company…"

4. Comparing One vs. Many in a Group

When comparing one item to all other items within the same group, the item being compared must be logically excluded from the group.

Sentence Example: "Tokyo is known for its impeccable cleanliness, making it cleaner than any city I have ever visited."

Error Analysis: The phrase "any city" incorrectly includes Tokyo itself in the comparison group.

Rule: When comparing one entity against many using a comparative degree (-er):

• Use than any **other** + Singular Noun (e.g., any other city)

• Use than all **other** + Plural Noun (e.g., all other cities)

When using a superlative degree:

• Use of all the + Plural Noun (e.g., the cleanest of all the cities)

Correction: "…cleaner than any other city I have ever visited."

5. Order of Ordinal and Cardinal Numbers

When both an ordinal number (indicating rank) and a cardinal number (indicating quantity) modify the same noun, their order is specific.

Sentence Example: "It comes over me that in the three last pages of this chapter, I have used figures which will turn the laugh against me."

Error Analysis: The cardinal number (three) precedes the ordinal number (last).

Rule: When an ordinal number (e.g., first, second, last, next) and a cardinal number (e.g., one, two, three) modify the same noun, the ordinal number must come first.

Correction: "…in the last three pages of this chapter…"

6. Superfluity with "Times" in Comparisons

Using a comparative adjective after a multiplier phrase like "X times" creates redundancy.

Sentence Example: "Their house is five times bigger than yours."

Error Analysis: The phrase "five times" already expresses a comparative magnitude. Adding bigger is unnecessary.

Rule: When using a multiplier phrase (e.g., two times, five times), use the positive (base) form of the adjective, not the comparative form.

Correction: "Their house is five times big than yours."

7. Double Comparatives

An adjective cannot be made comparative using both "more" and the -er suffix simultaneously.

Sentence Example: "However, as the benefits have increased, card firms have also become more cleverer at weeding money out of customers."

Error Analysis: "Cleverer" is already the comparative form of "clever." Adding "more" is redundant.

Rule: An adjective can be made comparative by using either more or the -er suffix, but never both simultaneously.

Correction: "…have also become cleverer at weeding money…"

8. Much vs. Many

These quantifiers are used with different types of nouns.

Sentence Example: "My hands felt every object and observed every motion, and in this way I learned to know much things."

Error Analysis: "Things" is a countable plural noun, but "much" is used.

Rule:

• Use many with countable plural nouns.

• Use much with uncountable singular nouns.

Correction: "…I learned to know many things."

9. Expressing Continuous Change

A specific structure is used to indicate a continuous, progressive change in a quality.

Sentence Example: "As time passes by, I can't help but notice that my parents are getting old and old with each passing day…"

Error Analysis: The structure old and old is incorrect for expressing continuous change.

Rule: To describe a continuous increase or decrease in a quality, use a double comparative structure: comparative adjective + and + comparative adjective. This is often paired with the present continuous tense (e.g., is/are getting).

Correction: "…my parents are getting older and older…"

10. Complex Superlatives with Parallelism

Complex superlative constructions require attention to articles, proper superlative forms, and parallel structure.

Sentence Example: "Largest or more widest rings need to be slightly bigger than thin rings…"

Error Analysis: This phrase has multiple errors:

1. Missing Article: Superlatives often require the definite article the.

2. Double Superlative: more widest is incorrect.

3. Parallelism: For a combined superlative, both adjectives should be in their superlative forms, linked appropriately.

Correction: "Remember that the largest and widest rings need to be…"

The Use of that of and those of

The structures that of and those of are crucial for making clear, logical, and grammatically correct comparisons by avoiding noun phrase repetition.

Fundamental Principle: Comparisons must be between similar entities. If a noun phrase is explicitly stated for the first subject in a comparison, its equivalent must be represented for the second subject to prevent a faulty comparison.

Condition for Use: These structures are used when the basis of comparison is complex, typically including a prepositional phrase (e.g., "the students of this class," "the features of this phone").

Comparative Structure:

• that of: Used when the basis of comparison is a singular noun.

• those of: Used when the basis of comparison is a plural noun.

Examples:

1. Plural Basis:

• Incorrect: The days in December are cooler than August. (Compares days to August).

• Correct: The days in December are cooler than those of August. (those refers back to the days).

2. Singular Basis:

• Incorrect: The AQI of Delhi is far worse than Lucknow. (Compares AQI to Lucknow).

• Correct: The AQI of Delhi is far worse than that of Lucknow. (that refers back to the AQI).

Error Detection: Further Questions

11. Logical Correction with Absolute Adjectives

Even when an absolute adjective is present, the logical intent of the comparison must be preserved.

Sentence Example: "Mr. Winning was a more perfect stranger to me than Mr. John…"

Error Analysis: "Perfect" is an absolute adjective, so "more perfect" is grammatically incorrect. However, the sentence intends to compare the degree of being a stranger.

Rule: When an absolute adjective is involved in a comparative context, remove the absolute adjective and apply the comparison to the gradable concept if the sentence's logic requires it.

Correction: "Mr. Winning was more of a stranger to me than Mr. John…"

12. Superlatives with of all and Superfluity

Superlative constructions involving "of all" and phrases like "but only" often contain redundancies.

Sentence Example: "…while the holiest of all other may not be trodden even by the priest but only by the angel who accompanies him."

Error Analysis:

1. of all other: The correct superlative structure requires of all the others or of all followed by a plural noun/pronoun.

2. but only: The word but already implies an exception, making only redundant here.

Correction: "…while the holiest of all the others may not be trodden even by the priest but by the angel…"

13. Using Some and Any

The choice between some and any depends on whether the sentence is affirmative, negative, or a question.

Sentence Example: "The neighbors couldn't see into some of their windows…"

Error Analysis: The sentence is negative (couldn't), but it uses some.

Rule:

• Use some primarily in affirmative (positive) sentences.

• Use any in negative sentences and in questions.

Correction: "The neighbors couldn't see into any of their windows…"

14. The Order of Adjectives

English adjectives generally follow a specific order when modifying a noun.

Sentence Example: "She adorned her slender fingers with round long golden rings…"

Error Analysis: The adjectives round, long, and golden are not in the standard order.

Rule: Adjectives typically follow an order before a noun. A common sequence includes Opinion, Size, Age, Shape, Color, Origin, Material. (Memory Tip: A helpful mnemonic for adjective order is NoSASC-om for Number, Opinion, Size, Age, Shape, Color, Origin, Material.) Applying this, Size (long) should come before Shape (round).

Correction: "…with long round golden rings…"

15. Logical Degree: Comparative vs. Superlative

The context of a sentence often dictates whether a comparative or superlative degree is more logically appropriate.

Sentence Example: "In today’s fast-paced world… it is more important than ever to be more efficient in our daily tasks…"

Error Analysis: While "more efficient" is grammatically correct in isolation, the context ("fast-paced world," "cut-throat competition") implies the need for the highest level of efficiency, not just a higher one.

Rule: The choice between comparative and superlative can depend on the logical intent conveyed by the sentence's context. Here, the context suggests the need for maximum efficiency.

Correction: "…it is more important than ever to be the most efficient in our daily tasks…"