Parts of the following sentence have been given as options. Select the option that contains an error.
He bought strange vintage car on auction from the customs department.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is option 3 i.e. strange vintage car.
Error concept: Incorrect use of article before a singular countable noun.
What is wrong: In the phrase “strange vintage car”, there is no article before the singular countable noun car. In English grammar, singular countable nouns always need an article (a/an/the) before them unless preceded by another determiner.
Grammatical concept:
Articles (“a”, “an”, “the”) are used to specify nouns.
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“A” is used before consonant sounds.
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“An” is used before vowel sounds.
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“The” is used for something specific or already known.
Since “car” starts with a consonant sound and is being mentioned for the first time, “a” is required.
Incorrectness of the concept in context: Without “a,” the phrase “strange vintage car” is grammatically incomplete. It should be “a strange vintage car.”
How to correct: Add the article “a” before “strange vintage car.”
Correct phrase / correction: a strange vintage car
Final sentence: He bought a strange vintage car on auction from the customs department.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.