Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical or idiomatic…
2023
Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The letter of that part is the answer. If there is ‘No error’, the answer is (e). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any).
Spunky and full of spirit (A)/, the little girl is known (B)/ for always doing things that (C)/ others are afraid to does (D)/.
Answer: D. D — ConceptWhen a verb follows the infinitive marker “to”, it must appear in its base (first) form — “to + base verb” (to go, to do, to see). The base form never…
- A.
A
- B.
B
- C.
C
- D.
D
- E.
No Error
Attempted by 52 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Concept
When a verb follows the infinitive marker “to”, it must appear in its base (first) form — “to + base verb” (to go, to do, to see). The base form never takes the third-person singular ‑s/‑es ending; subject–verb agreement is carried by the finite verb of the clause, not by an infinitive. Adjectives such as “afraid”, “willing”, and “able” are completed by a to-infinitive, so the same rule applies.
Application
Split the sentence into its marked parts and locate every verb form.
In the part “others are afraid to does”, the adjective “afraid” is followed by the to-infinitive “to + verb”.
The verb after “to” must be the base form “do”. The inflected “does” is the third-person singular present, which an infinitive can never take.
Correct it to “others are afraid to do”. This single change makes the sentence grammatical.
Cross-check (the other parts)
“Spunky and full of spirit” — a correct introductory participial/adjectival phrase describing the subject.
“the little girl is known” — correct singular subject with the passive “is known”.
“for always doing things that” — correct: the preposition “for” is properly followed by the gerund “doing”.
Hence the grammatical error lies in the part “others are afraid to does” (“to does” → “to do”).