Identifying simple errors while going through related questions in Verbal Ability section is one of the keys to boost your CAT percentile. Some of the major concepts which will help you solve error correction questions in VA include ‘Time & Tense’. This article will bring you some problem solving tips in this section of VA.
CAT aspirants are expected to understand that Perfect tenses express the idea that we are not interested in the action but in the completed fact and its relationship to a given general time aspect.
You must take great care that the Present Perfect tense belongs to Present time and may not under any circumstances be used on an occasion notionally defined or implied as Past. ‘Since’ and ‘For’ are also used with Present Perfect Tense to denote ‘from some definite time (Since)/from some indefinite time (for) in the past till now’
Look at the following sentences where more than one word has been used, followed by the answers
- For(A)/Since(B) the last two years, clothes have been very dear
- Nobody has climbed that mountain for(A)/since(B) I went to Australia
The right answers should be- 1.A 2.B Why? Because the last two years is not a definite time period-hence use ‘for’ -2. It was the fixed/definite time when I went to Australia – hence ‘since’
You may find such petty errors in CAT examination. In your flow of reading, you tend to skip such small errors which result in marking an incorrect option and thereby attracting penalty leading to reduced percentile.
Avoid usage of contractions in question forms
We may write contracted forms in affirmative and negative as follows –
You’ve seen or You have seen that movie many times. (both are correct)
You’ve not seen or You have not seen that movie many times. (Both are correct)
But, Have you seen that movie many times? ( Will remain like this- you can not write ‘Ve you seen’ – it is a wrong structure
Avoid usage with specific time expressions
You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc
We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important. We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.
Examples: There have been many earthquakes in California.
I think I have met him once before.
But, you can not say or write – There have been many riotous incidents one year ago/when I was a child/last year/last week – (All of these usage will be wrong).
Mark the difference “Last year” and “the last year”
"Last year" and "in the last year" are very different in meaning. "Last year" means the year before now, and it is considered a specific time which requires Simple Past. "In the last year" means from 365 days ago until now. It is not considered a specific time, so it requires Present Perfect.
Examples: I visited Goa last year- Correct
I have visited Goa last year – Incorrect
(Means - I visited Goa in the calendar year before this one)
I have been to Goa in the last year – correct
I went to Goa in the last year- incorrect.
(Means – I have been to Goa at least once at some point between 365 days ago and now)
Avoid errors in following usage –
- Change over time - We often use the Present Perfect to talk about change that has happened over a period of time.
Examples: You have grown since the last time I saw you. - Correct
You grew/had grown/will grow since the last time I saw you- Incorrect
ii) Accomplishments-We often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity. You cannot mention a specific time.
Examples: Our son has learned how to read. – correct
Our son learned how to read – Incorrect (But, our son learned how to read when he was in 2nd standard -correct)
iii) An Uncompleted Action you are expecting-We often use the Present Perfect to say that an action which we expected has not happened. Using the Present Perfect suggests that we are still waiting for the action to happen.
Examples: The budget is supposed to be presented tomorrow but the Minister has not finished his homework yet - Correct
The budget is supposed to be presented tomorrow but the Minister did not finish/is not finishing/had not finished/will not finish his homework yet. - Incorrect
Tips on Error corrections – Look at the following questions – how to pick out the errors
Below are given the sentences in which a part or the complete sentences have been underlined. Five options labelled A,B,C,D,E follow each question. The first (A) of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is the best, choose option A, else pick out the most appropriate option which, in your view expresses the best way of writing Standard English.
Question - The Minister hasn’t in. He has gone to the home town again although he has gone there twice already this week.
A. The Minister hasn’t in. He has gone to the home town again although he has gone there twice already this week.
B. The Minister hasn’t been in. He goes to the home town again although he has gone there twice already this week.
C. The Minister isn’t in. He has gone to the home town again although he has been there twice already this week.
D. The Minister hasn’t been in. He went to the home town again although he has gone there twice already this week.
E. The Minister isn’t in. He has gone to the home town again although he went there twice already this week.
1. A 2.B 3.C 4.D 5.E
Ans.3.C. The Minister isn’t in. He has gone to the home town again although he has been there twice already this week.
Question - Ever since the ‘Operation Blustar’, there have been much resentment and opposition from they who are of the opinion that it was not a unauthorised and unjustified use of force.
A. Ever since the ‘Operation Blustar’, there have been much resentment and opposition from they who are of the opinion that it was not a unauthorised and unjustified use of force.
B. Ever since the ‘Operation Blustar’, there has been much resentment and opposition from they who are of the opinion that it was not an unauthorised and unjustified use of force.
C. Ever since the ‘Operation Blustar’, there have been much resentment and opposition from they who are of the opinion that it was an unauthorised and unjustified use of force.
D. Ever since the ‘Operation Blustar’, there have been much resentment and opposition from those who are of the opinion that it was an unauthorised and unjustified use of force.
E. Ever since the ‘Operation Blustar’, there has been being much resentment and opposition from the ones who are of the opinion that it was not unauthorised and unjustified use of force.
1.A 2.B 3.C 4.D 5.E
Ans. 4.D. Ever since the ‘Operation Blustar’, there have been much resentment and opposition from those who are of the opinion that it was an unauthorised and unjustified use of force.
