How to Solve Common Errors in English for SSC, Banking & Railway Exams?

Common Errors is one of the most scoring and confusing topics in the English Language section of competitive examinations like SSC CGL, CHSL, MTS, Banking Examinations( IBPS, SBI), and Railway Examinations( RRB NTPC, Group D). Numerous applicants lose easy marks not because of lack of vocabulary, but due to poor grammatical delicacy.

This composition explains the Common Errors conception, its significance, how to break questions step by step, and includes test- position exemplifications to help you master this content.

Try all quizzes to boost your exam readiness and stay ahead of the competition!

Common Errors Quiz 1

Common Errors Quiz 2

Common Errors Quiz 3

Common Errors Quiz 4

Common Errors Quiz 5

What Are Common Errors?

Common Errors questions test your ability to identify grammatical mistakes in a sentence. These errors may relate to:

• Subject–Verb Agreement

• Tenses

• Articles

• Prepositions

• Pronouns

• Adjectives & Adverbs

• Conjunctions

• Active & Passive Voice

• Direct & Indirect Speech

In most exams, you are asked to:

• Find the incorrect part of a sentence, or

• Identify a sentence that is grammatically correct

Importance of Common Errors in Competitive Exams

1. High Weightage Topic: Almost every SSC, Bank, and Railway exam includes 2–5 questions from Common Errors.

2. Easy Marks with Practice: Unlike Reading Comprehension, these questions are rule-based. Once rules are clear, accuracy improves quickly.

3. Improves Overall English Accuracy. Preparing Common Errors also helps in:

• Sentence Improvement
• Cloze Test
• Fill in the Blanks
• Error-free writing and speaking

4. Time-Saving Section: With proper concept clarity, you can solve these questions in seconds, saving time for lengthy sections.

Also Try: Reasoning Chapter-wise Quiz                               

How to Solve Common Errors in English (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Read the Sentence Carefully

Never assume the error immediately. Read the sentence slowly and completely.

Step 2: Check Core Grammar Rules

Focus on:

Subject and verb agreement

Correct tense usage

Singular vs plural nouns

Proper article usage (a, an, the)

Step 3: Look for Common Traps

Exams often test:

“Each, Everyone, Everyone of” → Singular verb

“More better”, “Most fastest” → Double comparison

Wrong prepositions (discuss about )

Step 4: Eliminate Correct Parts

If the sentence is divided into parts, first eliminate grammatically correct parts.

Step 5: Confirm with Grammar Rule

Never rely on “it sounds wrong”. Always confirm using a grammar rule.

Also Try: General English Chapter-wise Quiz                     

Example Questions

Direction: In the sentence identify the segment which contains the grammatical error.

Q) Modern man is completely engross in the mad pursuit of material pleasures and luxuries.

1. modern man is
2. material pleasures and luxuries
3. mad pursuit of
4. completely engross

Solution: 

The sentence is grammatically incorrect, and the error lies in option D.

• The error is related to verb.

• The given sentence is in the passive voice.

• The passive voice is used when we want to focus attention on the person or thing affected by the person.

• Here, the attention is on the “modern man”.

• In passive voice, the past participle form of the verb i.e. third form of the verb (V3) is used.

Thus, replace ‘engross’ with ‘engrossed’ to make the sentence grammatically correct.

 

Q) Do not leave litter or food on the towpath; discarded food can attract vermins.

1. can attract vermins
2. or food on the towpath
3. do not leave litter
4. discarded food

Solution: 

The sentence is grammatically incorrect, andthe error lies in option A.

• The error is related to noun.

• Nouns like vermin, cattle, peasantry, police, etc. are in plural form and there is no need to put ‘s’ after it.
• Thus, replace ‘vermins’ with ‘vermin’ to make the sentence grammatically correct.

The correct sentence is :- Do not leave litter or food on the towpath, discarded food can attract vermin.

 

Q. He rarely used taxis, which he regarded as extravagant.

1. he rarely used
2. taxis, which he
3. regarded as extravagant
4. No Error

Solution: 

The sentence is grammatically and contextually correct.

Hence,option Dis the correct answer.

 

Q. Juhi studied the French in her high school for four years.

1. Juhi studied the French
2. in her high
3. school for four years
4. No error

Solution: 

Option A has the grammatically incorrect part.

• We do not use the article “the” when we talk about the language “French”.
• “The French” means the people of France.
• Hence, omit the article “the” before French.

The correct sentence will be: Juhi studied French in her high school for four years.

Also Try: General Knowledge Chapter-wise Quiz

Q. Americans are accustomed with drinking coffee with their meals.

1. Americans are
2. accustomed with
3. drinking coffee
4. with their meals

Solution: 

Option B has the grammatically incorrect part. The error is in the use of the wrong preposition ‘with’ in the given sentence.

• The verb accustomed agrees with the preposition ‘to’ and not ‘with’. e.g. He was accustomed to hearing and safeguarding the secrets of others.
• Thus, replace ‘with’ with ‘to’ to make the sentence grammatically sound. 

The correct sentence will be: Americans are accustomed to drinking coffee with their meals.

 

Q. It was a windy autumn day and leaves were falling rapidly from the trees.

1. It was a
2. leaves were fallen
3. windy autumn day
4. rapidly from the trees

Solution: 

Option B has the grammatically incorrect part.

• The use of V3 is erroneous here.
• The structure “be + V3” is used in passive voice. But in the given sentence, there is no need for such a structure.
• The sentence is in the past continuous tense. 
• The structure of past continuous tense is- Subject + was/were + V-ing+ object
• Therefore, replace “fallen” with “falling” to make the sentence grammatically sound. 

The correct sentence will be: It was a windy autumn day and leaves were falling rapidly from the trees.

Also Try: Quantitative Aptitude Chapter-wise Quiz

Common Errors is a must-master topic for SSC, Banking, and Railway exams. With clear grammar rules, regular practice, and analysis of mistakes, you can turn this topic into a guaranteed scoring area. Focus on understanding why an error occurs, not just the answer.

FAQs – How to Solve Common Errors in English

Q. What are Common Errors in English for competitive exams?

Common Errors in English are grammatical mistakes in rules related to tenses, subject-verb agreement, papers, prepositions, pronouns, and modifiers. These questions are constantly asked in SSC, Banking, and Railway Job examinations to test alphabetical accuracy.

Q. How to solve Common Errors questions in English easily?

To break Common errors in questions easily, read the sentence carefully, check subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, article usage, and prepositions. Apply alphabet rules step by step rather of guessing based on sound.

Q. Why are Common Errors important for SSC, Banking, and Railway exams?

Common errors are important because they’re high- scoring & regularly asked in SSC CGL, CHSL, Bank examinations( IBPS, SBI), and Railway examinations. With proper practice, campaigners can score full marks in this section.

Q. Which grammar rules are most important for Common Errors?

The most important grammar rules for Common Errors include subject-verb agreement, tense rules, articles (a, an, the), prepositions, pronouns, adjectives vs adverbs, and conjunction usage.

Q. How many Common Errors questions are asked in SSC and Bank exams?

Usually, 2 to 5 Common Errors questions are asked in SSC, Banking, and Railway exams, depending on the exam pattern and level.