Spot the Error in Passages (Advanced): HSC 12th Board PYQs
Welcome to one of the most challenging grammar topics for your 12th Board Exams (HSC / ISC)! While finding an error in a single sentence is easy, spotting errors in a Paragraph or Passage requires you to understand the context. Examiners often hide mistakes in tense consistency (shifting from past to present), pronoun mismatches, and article progressions. Master our advanced passage cheat sheet below, practice the top 20 Previous Year Questions (PYQs), and challenge yourself with the interactive Self-Test!
🔥 Exam Tip & The Advanced Passage Cheat Sheet:
- 1. Tense Harmony (The #1 Passage Trap): Read the whole paragraph. If the story starts in the Past Tense, ALL following verbs must remain in the Past Tense (unless stating a universal truth).
- 2. Article Progression (A → The): When a noun is introduced for the first time, use 'a' or 'an'. When the same noun is mentioned again in the next sentence, you MUST use 'the'.
Example: I saw a beggar. The beggar was crying.- 3. Pronoun Consistency: Ensure pronouns match their subjects throughout the passage.
Example: One should respect one's (not his) country.- 4. Hidden Subject-Verb Agreement: In long sentences, ignore the extra words between the subject and the verb.
Example: The quality of these apples is (not are) good. (Subject is 'quality', not 'apples').
Top 20 Board Exam Questions: Passage Error Spotting
Part 1: Tense Consistency in Paragraphs
Check if the verbs align with the time context of the entire passage!
- Question: Once upon a time, there is a powerful king. He rules a vast empire and has a beautiful daughter. (HSC March 2019)
Answer: Once upon a time, there was a powerful king. He ruled a vast empire and had a beautiful daughter. - Question: Yesterday, I go to the market to buy some fruits. While returning, I meet my old friend.
Answer: Yesterday, I went to the market to buy some fruits. While returning, I met my old friend. - Question: He is working in this multinational company since 2015. He knows everyone here. (HSC July 2022)
Answer: He has been working in this multinational company since 2015. He knows everyone here. - Question: The scientist conducted experiments and discovered that water boiled at 100 degrees Celsius.
Answer: The scientist conducted experiments and discovered that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. (Universal truth remains in present tense). - Question: When we reached the railway station, the train already left. We had to wait for the next one.
Answer: When we reached the railway station, the train had already left. We had to wait for the next one.
Part 2: Hidden Subject-Verb Agreement
Don't get tricked by the words placed right next to the verb!
- Question: The list of selected candidates for the scholarship have been pinned on the notice board. (HSC March 2022)
Answer: The list of selected candidates for the scholarship has been pinned on the notice board. (Subject is 'The list', which is singular). - Question: Neither the principal nor the teachers was aware of the sudden inspection.
Answer: Neither the principal nor the teachers were aware of the sudden inspection. (Verb agrees with the closest subject 'teachers'). - Question: A beautiful bouquet of yellow roses lend color and fragrance to the room. (HSC March 2020)
Answer: A beautiful bouquet of yellow roses lends color and fragrance to the room. (Subject is 'A beautiful bouquet'). - Question: Ten kilometers are a very long distance to walk in this scorching heat.
Answer: Ten kilometers is a very long distance to walk in this scorching heat. (Distance/Amount is treated as a singular unit). - Question: The committee have unanimously submitted their final report to the chairman.
Answer: The committee has unanimously submitted its final report to the chairman. (Committee acting as a single unit).
Part 3: Article Progression & Pronoun Mismatches
- Question: I saw a old man yesterday. A man was holding a umbrella. (HSC March 2023)
Answer: I saw an old man yesterday. The man was holding an umbrella. - Question: Every student must bring their textbook to the class tomorrow.
Answer: Every student must bring his or her textbook to the class tomorrow. (Every student is singular). - Question: One must always respect his parents and elders in the society. (HSC March 2024 Pattern)
Answer: One must always respect one's parents and elders in the society. - Question: The stray dog wagged it's tail when the little girl offered it some biscuits.
Answer: The stray dog wagged its tail when the little girl offered it some biscuits. (it's = it is. 'its' shows possession). - Question: He is a honest man who always speaks a truth.
Answer: He is an honest man who always speaks the truth.
Part 4: Redundancy & Prepositions in Context
- Question: After the meeting, the board members discussed about the budget and returned back to their cabins.
Answer: After the meeting, the board members discussed the budget and returned to their cabins. (Removed 'about' and 'back'). - Question: Despite of his poverty, he donated a large sum of money to the orphanage.
Answer: Despite his poverty, he donated a large sum of money to the orphanage. (Despite never takes 'of'). - Question: The new syllabus is very tough, but we must cope up with it.
Answer: The new syllabus is very tough, but we must cope with it. (There is no such phrase as 'cope up with'). - Question: The angry customer entered into the manager's office without permission.
Answer: The angry customer entered the manager's office without permission. (Enter doesn't take 'into' when meaning physical entry). - Question: She has been suffering with viral fever since last Monday.
Answer: She has been suffering from viral fever since last Monday.
📝 Test Yourself: Guess the Errors!
Have you mastered contextual error spotting? Try finding the hidden mistakes in these 5 tricky 12th board-level passages. Click on "Show Answer" to check your accuracy!
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Question: Spot the Error: My friend is a MLA. He works very hard for the welfare of the people.
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Answer: My friend is an MLA. (MLA starts with the vowel sound 'em').
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Question: Spot the Error: He asked me what was my name. I replied politely.
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Answer: He asked me what my name was. (In indirect questions, the subject comes before the verb).
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Question: Spot the Error: The scenery of Kashmir are enchanting. It attracts tourists globally.
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Answer: The scenery of Kashmir is enchanting. ('Scenery' is an uncountable noun and takes a singular verb).
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Question: Spot the Error: He prefers drinking coffee than tea in the morning.
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Answer: He prefers drinking coffee to tea in the morning. ('Prefer' is always followed by 'to').
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Question: Spot the Error: I told him that I will meet him the next day.
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Answer: I told him that I would meet him the next day. (Past tense 'told' requires the past form 'would').
When correcting a paragraph in the board exam, read the entire passage first to grasp the timeline (Past, Present, or Future). Watch out for redundancy (words that mean the same thing used together). Bookmark this page, practice well, and secure full marks in your HSC / ISC English paper!