Find the part of the sentence that contains an error:
The baby sleep (1) / quietly through (2) / the loud thunderstorm (3) / which amazed us(4).
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Correct Answer
The baby sleep (1)
Explanation
The first part of the sentence contains a grammatical error involving subject-verb agreement and tense consistency.
"The baby" is a singular noun. In the present tense, a singular subject requires a singular verb ending in "-s" or "-es" (the baby sleeps).
However, looking at the rest of the sentence, the final clause uses the past tense verb "amazed" (part 4). To maintain proper tense consistency throughout the entire statement, the main action must also be in the past tense. The past tense of sleep is slept.
Therefore, part 1 is incorrect because "sleep" is a base form verb that fits neither the singular subject nor the established past tense timeline. It should be corrected to "The baby slept".
Key Points
When spotting errors on competitive exams, always check for tense consistency. A past tense verb later in a sentence (like amazed) is a massive clue that the preceding main verbs must also be in the past tense (like slept).