Find the part of the sentence that contains an error:
They were discussing (1) / the issue seriously (2) / when I am called (3) / for the meeting(4).
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
when I am called (3)
Explanation
The sentence describes two actions occurring in the past: a continuous background action interrupted by a sudden, completed action. To solve this quickly for an exam, check for tense consistency across the clauses.
The main clause utilizes the past continuous tense ("They were discussing"), establishing that the entire event took place in the past. When an ongoing past action is interrupted by a new event introduced by "when," that interrupting event must also be written in the simple past tense.
In part (3), the phrase "I am called" uses the present tense auxiliary verb "am," which breaks the grammatical rule of tense agreement. To make the sentence correct, the present tense "am" must be replaced with the past tense passive construction "was" ("when I was called").
Therefore, part (3) contains the structural error, making Option 3 the correct choice.
Key Points
Spotting errors in complex sentences requires verifying that the subordinate clause matches the historical timeline established by the principal past-tense verb.
An ongoing action in the past continuous tense (were discussing) is traditionally paired with a short, interrupting action in the simple past passive tense (was called).