Question

Choose the erroneous underlying segment or option D if no error:

The corpse (a) had been dead (b) for five days (c).

• A. A
• B. B
• C. C
• D. D

Hint:

Avoid redundant expressions where the adjective is already part of the noun’s inherent meaning (e.g., “dead corpse,” “round circle”).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Meaning and tense logic.
The word “corpse” already means “a dead body.” Therefore, saying “corpse had been dead” is redundant and illogical — it’s tautological because by definition a corpse is dead.

Step 2: Correct expression.
We can say: “The body had been lying there for five days” or “The corpse had been there for five days” — without “dead,” since that’s implied.

Step 3: Error identification.
The segment (b) “had been dead” is faulty in this context; it should be replaced with an expression that describes the state of the corpse (e.g., “had been lying”).

Answer: (B) had been dead — incorrect usage here.