Question

A number of trainees who take this course every year find that their knowledge of mathematics is inadequate.
Choose the option that indicates the error in the sentence.
A) Who
B) Find
C) Their
D) Is
E) No error

Answer 1

Hint: The above question asks us to find the error in the given statement. Obviously, the given sentence is two sentences combined together by an adjective clause. In such complex sentences, the errors will be the adjective clause used or incorrect tense usage or plural and singular numbers usage.

Complete answer:
A complex sentence is a sentence that consists of an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. Even though an independent clause can stand alone as a sentence, a dependent clause having a subject and a verb cannot stand alone.

Option A) Who: The above option is incorrect as ‘who’ describes the number of trainees taking the course every year in a plural sense perfectly. Thus, there is no error with this word usage.
Option B) Find: The above option is incorrect as the word ‘find’ here refers to the inadequate knowledge of trainees in the mathematics subject which makes sense. Thus, there is no error with this word usage.
Option C) Their: The above option is incorrect as the word ‘their’ here is in a plural possessive case referring to the number of trainees’ knowledge in mathematics subject, which obviously is the correct usage. Thus, there is no error with this word usage.
Option D) Is: The above option is incorrect as the verb ‘is’ here refers to the knowledge of a number of trainees in the mathematics subject and knowledge is not plural, thus, ‘is’ is the correct usage instead of ‘are’ and ‘am’. Thus, there is no error with this word usage.
Option E) No error: The above option is correct as here, the adjective clause is ‘their knowledge of mathematics is inadequate’, which is perfectly constructed using the relative pronoun ’that’. And ‘who’ describes the number of trainees in a plural sense. The whole sentence structure is in present tense as the statement states a fact. Thus, proving that there is no grammatical error in the sentence, we can say that the above option is the right answer.

Therefore the correct answer is option ‘E’.

Note: Editing is the process of improving a draft by correcting errors and making words and sentences clearer, more precise, and as effective as possible. While editing, one needs to be aware of rules regarding:

- Use of determiners
- Overuse of passive voice
- Correct use of prepositions and conjunctions
- Misplaced Modifiers
- Subject-verb agreement
- Tense forms
- Parts of speech
- Clauses