A sentence is divided into 4 parts, of which one has an error. Select the part from the options that has the error? I get up late/because I/did not hear/the alarm.

Appeared in: JSSH Staff Nurse - 2019

Explanation

The error is in the phrase "I get up late" because it uses the present tense ("get") while the reason provided ("did not hear") is in the past tense.
To maintain grammatical consistency when describing a specific past event, both the cause and the effect should be in the past tense.
The correct phrasing is "I got up late because I did not hear the alarm," making "I get up late" the incorrect part of the original sentence.

Option A: The phrase "Because I" is a grammatically correct combination of a subordinating conjunction ("Because") and a pronoun ("I"). It correctly introduces the clause that explains the reason for the main action.
Option B: The phrase "did not hear" is a grammatically correct verb phrase in the simple past tense. It accurately describes a completed action in the past.
Option C: The phrase "the alarm" is a simple noun phrase (article + noun) acting as the direct object of the verb "hear." It is grammatically correct and contains no error.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Grammatical Tense Consistency as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While this is a grammar question, clear and correct communication is a critical skill for nurses. Errors in documentation or patient instructions can lead to serious misunderstandings and adverse events.
Proper grammar ensures that notes, reports, and instructions are unambiguous and accurately reflect the sequence of events.
What if? If the sentence was intended to describe a recurring habit, it should be 'I get up late because I do not hear the alarm.' Changing 'did not' to 'do not' makes both clauses present tense, correcting the error in a different way by establishing a habitual context.

How to Approach the Question

First, read the entire sentence to understand its overall meaning and timeframe: "I get up late because I did not hear the alarm."
Identify the verb in each clause and determine its tense. The verb in the main clause is "get" (present tense). The verb in the subordinate clause is "did hear" (past tense).
Analyze the relationship between the clauses. The word "because" indicates a cause-and-effect relationship.
Check for tense consistency. The cause ("did not hear") is in the past. Therefore, the effect ("get up late") should also be in the past to be logical and grammatically correct.
Since "get up" is in the present tense, it creates a mismatch. This identifies "I get up late" as the part of the sentence containing the error.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full JSSH Staff Nurse - 2019

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