In the following question the given sentence has been divided in three parts. Select the part that has an error. If there is no error, select option "No error". The snakes in the pit/ were not highly active/ but poisonous also/ No error

1. A

   The snakes in the pit

2. B

   But poisonous also

3. C

   Were not highly active

4. D

   No error

Appeared in: AIIMS BHOPAL NO- 2018( Shift-2nd)

Explanation

• The error is in the phrase "but poisonous also" due to the incorrect use of correlative conjunctions.
• The sentence uses the structure "not... but also", which is grammatically incorrect.
• The correct conjunction pair to show contrast after a negative statement ("not highly active") is simply "not... but".
• The word "also" is redundant and should be removed to make the sentence correct: "...were not highly active but poisonous.".

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: This is a grammatically correct noun phrase acting as the subject of the sentence. The plural noun 'snakes' is correctly modified by the prepositional phrase 'in the pit'.
• Option C: This part of the sentence is grammatically correct. The plural verb 'were' correctly agrees with the plural subject 'snakes'. 'Highly' is an adverb that properly modifies the adjective 'active'.
• Option D: This option is incorrect because there is a clear grammatical error in the sentence related to the use of correlative conjunctions.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Error spotting in sentences using correlative conjunctions as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
• Clear, precise, and grammatically correct language is crucial in all forms of nursing communication, including patient charting, handover reports, and incident reporting.
• An ambiguous or grammatically incorrect sentence can lead to misinterpretation and potential medical errors. For example, 'Patient is not in pain but anxious also' is incorrect and less clear than 'Patient is not in pain but is anxious'.
• What if? If a nurse wrote in a patient's chart, 'Wound is not red but draining also,' it could cause confusion. The correct phrasing, 'Wound is not red but is draining,' clearly separates two distinct observations, ensuring the next caregiver understands the wound's status accurately.

How to Approach the Question

• First, read the entire sentence to understand its overall meaning and structure.
• Examine each part of the sentence for grammatical errors. Pay attention to subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, and correct use of articles and prepositions.
• Specifically look for paired words or conjunctions (like 'not only...but also', 'either...or', 'not...but'). Ensure they are used correctly as a pair.
• In this sentence, the word 'not' appears in the second part. This should signal you to check for a corresponding 'but' or 'nor' later in the sentence.
• Identify that 'not... but also' is an incorrect combination. The correct structure for contrast is 'not... but'. The word 'also' is redundant, making that part of the sentence erroneous.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Error spotting in sentences using correlative conjunctions.
• Stem keywords: error, sentence parts, The snakes in the pit, were not highly active, but poisonous also
• Lead-in keywords: Select the part that has an error

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QXxHYS1ZKalD2pAVDx9_Kd

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