Verbal Ability - Spotting Errors - Discussion

Correct Answer is Option D – No error.

Sentence given:
*“The long-awaited moment at last came, and we set out for the station as merry a band of children as I have ever seen before or since.”*

Explanation:
- The phrase *“as merry a band of children as I have ever seen before or since” is grammatically correct.
- The structure *“as + adjective + a + noun + as …”* is a standard idiomatic form in English.
Example: as fine a day as I have ever known.
- The placement of before or since* is also acceptable—it emphasises that at no time before or after had the speaker seen such a merry group.

Tense:
- came → simple past tense (the moment arrived).
- set out → simple past tense (the action of leaving).
- have ever seen→ present perfect tense (used to connect past experience with the present).

So the sentence is already correct, and the answer is Option D: No error.

Please explain the answer for me in detail.

Here "The long-awaited moment came at last" is the correct form.

@Vishal Choudhary.

You answer is absolutely correct.

This is because "ever since" and "never before" are phrases themselves and hence, can't be altered. "Ever since" is used to express something after the occurrence of an event and "never before" is used to express something before the occurrence of an event. So, before is appended after "ever since" and since is appended after "never before" and not in between the phrases.

Why not?

As merry 'as' a band of children I have ever seen before or since.

Why a long awaited, why not awaited?

Only isn't superfluous.

Its never before or since, so the answer given is incorrect.

>> "Since or before" Its a phrase. We use it like this.

No, the set phrase is "before or since".

You are right, thanks @Vertika.

Can anyone explain the answer with a logic?