Why Editing Is Crucial for CBSE Class 8

Editing is one of the most important sections in the CBSE Class 8 English Grammar syllabus. In editing exercises, students are given a passage where each line contains an error that must be identified and corrected. This tests your understanding of grammar rules including subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, prepositions, articles, spellings, and word forms.

At Dhingra Classes Nashik, we have helped numerous students master editing through systematic practice and rule-based learning. This comprehensive guide provides 50 solved examples with detailed explanations to help you excel in your exams.

Strategy to Solve Editing Exercises

Follow these steps for error correction:

1. Read the entire passage first – Understand the context and meaning

2. Check subject-verb agreement – Singular subjects take singular verbs

3. Verify tense consistency – All verbs should agree in tense

4. Look for preposition errors – Wrong or missing prepositions

5. Check article usage – A, an, the must be used correctly

6. Identify word form errors – Noun vs adjective vs adverb

7. Spot spelling mistakes – Common misspellings

8. Check pronoun agreement – Pronouns must match their antecedents

50 Solved Examples of Editing for CBSE Class 8

Set 1: Subject-Verb Agreement Errors (Examples 1-10)

Example 1: The quality of the mangoes were not good.

Corrected Sentence: The quality of the mangoes was not good.

Explanation: The subject is “quality” (singular), not “mangoes.” The verb must agree with the main subject.

Example 2: Each of the students have submitted their assignments.

Corrected Sentence: Each of the students has submitted their assignments.

Explanation: “Each” is singular, so it takes the singular verb “has.”

Example 3: Neither the teacher nor the students was present.

Corrected Sentence: Neither the teacher nor the students were present.

Explanation: With “neither…nor,” the verb agrees with the nearer subject “students” (plural).

Example 4: One of my friends are a doctor.

Corrected Sentence: One of my friends is a doctor.

Explanation: “One” is the subject and is singular, requiring “is.”

Example 5: The news are very shocking.

Corrected Sentence: The news is very shocking.

Explanation: “News” is an uncountable noun and takes a singular verb.

Example 6: Mathematics are my favourite subject.

Corrected Sentence: Mathematics is my favourite subject.

Explanation: Subjects ending in “-ics” like mathematics, physics, economics take singular verbs.

Example 7: Ten kilometres are a long distance to walk.

Corrected Sentence: Ten kilometres is a long distance to walk.

Explanation: Distance, time, and money are treated as singular units.

Example 8: The police has arrested the thief.

Corrected Sentence: The police have arrested the thief.

Explanation: “Police” is a collective noun always used with a plural verb.

Example 9: My trousers is torn.

Corrected Sentence: My trousers are torn.

Explanation: Words like trousers, scissors, spectacles are always plural.

Example 10: Bread and butter are my favourite breakfast.

Corrected Sentence: Bread and butter is my favourite breakfast.

Explanation: When two nouns form a single idea, they take a singular verb.

Set 2: Tense Errors (Examples 11-20)

Example 11: I have seen him yesterday.

Corrected Sentence: I saw him yesterday.

Explanation: Present perfect is not used with definite past time expressions like “yesterday.”

Example 12: She is knowing the answer.

Corrected Sentence: She knows the answer.

Explanation: Stative verbs like “know” are not used in continuous tenses.

Example 13: He has been working here since five years.

Corrected Sentence: He has been working here for five years.

Explanation: “For” is used with duration; “since” is used with a point in time.

Example 14: When I reached the station, the train has already left.

Corrected Sentence: When I reached the station, the train had already left.

Explanation: Past perfect is used for the earlier action in the past.

Example 15: If I will study hard, I will pass.

Corrected Sentence: If I study hard, I will pass.

Explanation: In first conditional, the “if” clause uses present simple, not future.

Example 16: She said that she will come tomorrow.

Corrected Sentence: She said that she would come the next day.

Explanation: In reported speech, “will” changes to “would” and “tomorrow” to “the next day.”

Example 17: The Earth revolve around the Sun.

Corrected Sentence: The Earth revolves around the Sun.

Explanation: Universal truths use present simple with singular verb.

Example 18: I am living in this city since 2010.

Corrected Sentence: I have been living in this city since 2010.

Explanation: Present perfect continuous is used for actions continuing from the past.

Example 19: He was watching TV when I come home.

Corrected Sentence: He was watching TV when I came home.

Explanation: Both actions in the past require past tense verbs.

Example 20: By next year, I will complete my graduation.

Corrected Sentence: By next year, I will have completed my graduation.

Explanation: Future perfect is used for actions completed before a future time.

Set 3: Preposition Errors (Examples 21-30)

Example 21: He is suffering from fever since Monday.

Corrected Sentence: He is suffering from fever since Monday. (No error in preposition, but note “suffering from” is correct)

Explanation: “Suffer from” is the correct collocation.

Example 22: She is married with a doctor.

Corrected Sentence: She is married to a doctor.

Explanation: The correct preposition is “married to.”

Example 23: I am good in Mathematics.

Corrected Sentence: I am good at Mathematics.

Explanation: “Good at” is used for skills and subjects.

Example 24: He insisted on me to come.

Corrected Sentence: He insisted that I should come.

Explanation: “Insist” is followed by “that” clause, not “on + object + infinitive.”

Example 25: The train is running in time.

Corrected Sentence: The train is running on time.

Explanation: “On time” means punctual; “in time” means before deadline.

Example 26: He died from cancer.

Corrected Sentence: He died of cancer.

Explanation: “Die of” is used for diseases; “die from” for injuries.

Example 27: I prefer coffee than tea.

Corrected Sentence: I prefer coffee to tea.

Explanation: “Prefer” is followed by “to,” not “than.”

Example 28: She is angry on me.

Corrected Sentence: She is angry with me.

Explanation: “Angry with” is used for people; “angry at” for situations.

Example 29: He is addicted with drugs.

Corrected Sentence: He is addicted to drugs.

Explanation: “Addicted to” is the correct collocation.

Example 30: I congratulated him for his success.

Corrected Sentence: I congratulated him on his success.

Explanation: “Congratulate on” is the correct preposition.

Set 4: Article and Determiner Errors (Examples 31-40)

Example 31: He is a honest man.

Corrected Sentence: He is an honest man.

Explanation: “Honest” begins with a vowel sound, so “an” is used.

Example 32: The gold is a precious metal.

Corrected Sentence: Gold is a precious metal.

Explanation: No article is used before material nouns in general sense.

Example 33: She is best student in the class.

Corrected Sentence: She is the best student in the class.

Explanation: Superlative degree requires “the.”

Example 34: I have a little friends in this city.

Corrected Sentence: I have a few friends in this city.

Explanation: “A few” is used with countable nouns; “a little” with uncountable.

Example 35: He gave me an useful advice.

Corrected Sentence: He gave me a piece of useful advice.

Explanation: “Advice” is uncountable; “an” cannot be used directly.

Example 36: The both brothers are intelligent.

Corrected Sentence: Both brothers are intelligent.

Explanation: “Both” is not preceded by “the.”

Example 37: He is an university student.

Corrected Sentence: He is a university student.

Explanation: “University” begins with a consonant sound “yoo,” so “a” is used.

Example 38: I bought a umbrella yesterday.

Corrected Sentence: I bought an umbrella yesterday.

Explanation: “Umbrella” begins with a vowel sound, so “an” is used.

Example 39: Few people know the truth, isn’t it?

Corrected Sentence: Few people know the truth, do they?

Explanation: “Few” has negative sense, so question tag is positive.

Example 40: The India is a great country.

Corrected Sentence: India is a great country.

Explanation: No article is used before proper nouns like country names.

Set 5: Word Form and Spelling Errors (Examples 41-50)

Example 41: He is a very intelligence boy.

Corrected Sentence: He is a very intelligent boy.

Explanation: Adjective “intelligent” is needed, not noun “intelligence.”

Example 42: She sings very good.

Corrected Sentence: She sings very well.

Explanation: Adverb “well” modifies the verb “sings.”

Example 43: I am boring with this movie.

Corrected Sentence: I am bored with this movie.

Explanation: “Bored” describes how you feel; “boring” describes the movie.

Example 44: He runs very quick.

Corrected Sentence: He runs very quickly.

Explanation: Adverb “quickly” modifies the verb “runs.”

Example 45: This is a beauty painting.

Corrected Sentence: This is a beautiful painting.

Explanation: Adjective “beautiful” modifies the noun “painting.”

Example 46: I received you’re letter yesterday.

Corrected Sentence: I received your letter yesterday.

Explanation: “Your” is possessive; “you’re” means “you are.”

Example 47: Their going to the market.

Corrected Sentence: They’re going to the market.

Explanation: “They’re” means “they are”; “their” is possessive.

Example 48: I have less books than you.

Corrected Sentence: I have fewer books than you.

Explanation: “Fewer” is used with countable nouns; “less” with uncountable.

Example 49: He is more taller than his brother.

Corrected Sentence: He is taller than his brother.

Explanation: Double comparative is incorrect; use only “taller.”

Example 50: She is the most tallest girl in class.

Corrected Sentence: She is the tallest girl in class.

Explanation: Double superlative is incorrect; use only “tallest.”

Quick Revision Table: Common Editing Errors

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Editing

1. Ignoring subject-verb agreement – Always identify the true subject

2. Confusing tenses – Match tense with time expressions

3. Wrong prepositions – Learn common collocations

4. Article errors – Check vowel sounds, not just vowels

5. Word form confusion – Adjective vs adverb vs noun

6. Double comparatives – Never use “more” with “-er” adjectives

7. Homophone errors – Their/there/they’re, your/you’re

8. Countable vs uncountable – Fewer/less, many/much

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