Identify the underlined segment that contains a grammatical error:
'The visiting archaeologist [A: from] the university [B: have discovered] a [C: remarkably] preserved Nabataean inscription in the canyon, [D: which dates] back to the first century CE.'
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. have discovered
- Step 1: Identify the grammatical subject of the sentence: The singular collective noun 'The archaeological team'.
- Step 2: Analyze the finite verb: '[B: have discovered]' is a plural present perfect auxiliary verb.
- Step 3: Identify the error: The singular subject 'team' requires the singular auxiliary verb 'has discovered' in formal academic English.
Answer
have discovered.
Why not the others: 'from' correctly indicates origin; 'remarkably' is an adverb correctly modifying the participle adjective 'preserved'; 'which dates' is a correct relative clause with singular agreement.
Practise more Error Identification and Written Expression.
Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed University of Jordan English Proficiency Test (JU-EPT) mock tests.
More Error Identification and Written Expression questions
- Identify the underlined segment that contains a grammatical error:
'Despite the solar power plant in Ma'an [A: generates] vast amounts of cl… - Identify the underlined segment that contains a grammatical error:
'The research paper [A: offers] an in-depth [B: analysis of] water conser… - Identify the underlined segment that contains a grammatical error:
'Neither the primary investigator [A: nor] her research assistants [B: wa… - Identify the underlined segment that contains a grammatical error:
'The newly appointed professor [A: is known] for [B: her dedication to] s… - Identify the underlined segment that contains a grammatical error:
'Because the groundwater reserves [A: in the Azraq basin] have been deple… - Identify the underlined segment that contains a grammatical error:
'The dean requested that all department chairs [A: attends] the [B: extra…