Choose the part of the sentence which has an error. That Brutus, who was his trusted friend (A)/had attached (B)/on him caused (C)/ heart break to Julius Caesar (D).

Appeared in: NVS Staff Nurse - 2019

Explanation

The error is in Part (C) of the sentence, which contains the phrase 'on him'.
The verb 'attack' (misspelled as 'attached') is a transitive verb. This means it acts directly on its object and does not require a preposition like 'on'.
The correct grammatical construction is '...had attacked him...'. The inclusion of 'on' is redundant and incorrect.
While 'attached' is a typo for 'attacked', the fundamental grammatical error being tested is the superfluous preposition.

Option B: Part (D), 'heart break to Julius Caesar', correctly functions as the object of the main verb 'caused'. It contains no grammatical error.
Option C: Part (A), 'That Brutus, who was his trusted friend', is a grammatically sound noun clause. It serves as the subject of the main verb 'caused'.
Option D: Part (B), 'had attached', contains a spelling error for 'attacked'. However, the primary grammatical error tested in sentence-correction questions is typically structural. The incorrect preposition in Part (C) is a more significant grammatical violation than the typo in Part (B).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Grammar: Use of prepositions with transitive verbs as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This question tests English grammar, a non-nursing subject often included in nursing entrance and recruitment exams to evaluate general aptitude and communication proficiency.
Clear, precise, and grammatically correct communication is a critical skill in nursing for writing accurate patient documentation, ensuring safe patient handovers, and effectively communicating with patients and their families.
What if? If the sentence used the noun form, the preposition 'on' would be correct. For example: 'The attack on him by Brutus caused heartbreak...'. Recognizing the part of speech (verb vs. noun) is essential for correct preposition usage.

How to Approach the Question

First, read the entire sentence to grasp its overall meaning and structure.
Break the sentence down into the marked parts: (A), (B), (C), and (D).
Examine each part individually for potential grammatical mistakes, focusing on verb tense, subject-verb agreement, pronoun usage, and prepositions.
In Part (C), identify the phrase 'on him' and the verb that precedes it, 'attacked' (correcting the typo 'attached').
Recall the rule for the verb 'attack'. It is a transitive verb that takes a direct object without a preposition.
Conclude that the use of 'on' is incorrect, making Part (C) the segment with the grammatical error.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Qh7Nx7SBR0w0aAneT1DQiO

Practise the full NVS Staff Nurse - 2019

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.