Error Spotting • Topic 4 of 4

Article & Modifier Errors

Use 'a' before a consonant sound and 'an' before a vowel sound (by SOUND, not letter). Use 'the' for something specific/unique. Avoid double comparatives/superlatives; comparatives need 'than'.

a / an goes by SOUND, not spelling

Use "a"Use "an"
a university (y-sound)an hour (silent h)
a one-rupee note (w-sound)an honest man (silent h)
a European (y-sound)an MP (em-sound)
Other traps. Use the for unique things ("the sun", "the Ganga"). No double comparatives: "more better" → better; "most cleverest" → cleverest. Absolute words like "unique" take no "more/most".

✅ Solved examples

1. Find the error: "He waited for a hour."
"a hour" is wrong — silent h, vowel sound → "an hour".
2. Find the error: "She is the more better singer."
"more better" is a double comparative → "the better".
3. Find the error: "He is an university student."
"an university" is wrong — "university" begins with a "y" sound → "a university".
4. Find the error: "This is most unique design."
"most unique" is wrong — "unique" is absolute (no degrees).

✏️ Practice — try these, take hints as needed

1. Error: "Sun rises in the east."
Unique object.
—
—
add "The" → The sun
2. Error: "She sings more sweeter than him."
Double comparative.
—
—
"more sweeter" → sweeter
3. Error: "He is a honest man."
Silent h.
—
—
"a honest" → an honest
4. Error: "It is the most cleverest plan."
Double superlative.
—
—
"most cleverest" → cleverest
5. Error: "I bought a useful umbrella and a apple."
Vowel sound.
—
—
"a apple" → an apple

📝 Topic test — 8 questions

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