IBPS PO English: English Grammar questions with solutions

Q1. One of the students in the advanced mathematics class consistently outperforms their peers, showcasing exceptional problem-solving skills. Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical or idiomatic error in it. In the following sentence, a part is highlighted in each sentence; if there is an error, it will be in one of the parts. The letter of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (e). Ignore errors of punctuation, if any.

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D

Answer: A

The error is in 'One of the student'; it should be 'One of the students'. The phrase 'one of the' must be followed by a plural noun.

Q2. Identify the part of the sentence that contains an error: 'The blunder or mistake in calculation led to huge financial loss.'

1. The blunder or mistake
2. in calculation
3. led to huge financial loss.
4. No error

Answer: The blunder or mistake

The phrase 'blunder or mistake' is awkward because 'blunder' already means a mistake, making the combination redundant. A better expression would be 'The blunder in calculation' or 'The mistake in calculation.' The rest of the sentence is grammatically acceptable.

Q3. 'He has prepared to go' should be:

1. has been preparing
2. was prepared
3. is preparing
4. had prepared

Answer: was prepared

The sentence 'He has prepared to go' is awkward and is typically corrected by changing it into a passive or more natural form. Among the given options, 'was prepared' best fits the intended meaning of being ready.

Q4. In the question below, four sentences are given. Out of the four sentences, one sentence is error-free. Find the error-free sentence. If all the given sentences have errors, choose option 'None is correct' as the answer choice.

1. The ecosystem is deeply depended in human activities that disrupt its balance.
2. Amidst the sunny park, the friends settled under a tree for a cheerful picnic filled with snacks and laughter.
3. The warrior called of his sword instead of striking the enemy when he had the chance.
4. Never the adventurers had faced such cunning enemies lurking beneath the ruins.

Answer: Amidst the sunny park, the friends settled under a tree for a cheerful picnic filled with snacks and laughter.

Option B is grammatically correct and conveys a clear meaning. The other sentences contain errors such as incorrect prepositions, wrong word forms, or awkward word order.

Q5. Direction (96-100): Given below are a few sentences where parts of the sentence have been jumbled. Rearrange the parts in the proper sequence to form a meaningful statement and then answer the question. Confessions of a Shopaholic sold three (A) / million copies and was even (B) / turned into a Hollywood blockbuster (C) / published in 2000, the novel (D) What will be the correct sequence of rearrangement of parts of the statement [I]?

1. ACBD
2. CADB
3. DABC
4. BACD

Answer: DABC

The sentence begins with the time-setting clause 'published in 2000, the novel'. This is followed by 'sold three million copies and was even turned into a Hollywood blockbuster', giving the correct sequence DABC.

Q6. Identify the part of the sentence that contains an error: 'He is watching television and lived in Mumbai for ten years but has never created any social media account.'

1. He is watching television
2. and lived in Mumbai for ten years
3. but has never created
4. any social media account.

Answer: and lived in Mumbai for ten years

The sentence mixes present continuous tense with a past tense verb phrase without proper parallel structure. It should be something like: 'He has been watching television and has lived in Mumbai for ten years...' or 'He watched television and lived in Mumbai for ten years...'.

Q7. The global carbon budget for a given temperature limit is a global resource, common to the entire world, but is exhaustible and limited. Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical or idiomatic error in it. In the following sentence, a part is highlighted. If there is no error, the answer is (e). Ignore errors of punctuation, if any.

1. No error
2. B
3. C
4. D

Answer: No error

The sentence is grammatically correct. The subject, verb, and modifiers are properly matched, and the phrase 'common to the entire world' is idiomatic and acceptable. Hence, there is no error.

Q8. A sentence is given with a blank in it. Following each sentence, some words are suggested. Choose the option that can fit the blank both contextually and grammatically as your answer. She took every ______ the storm arrived. (I) ambition, (II) restriction, (III) precaution

1. Only (I)
2. Only (III)
3. Both (II) and (III)
4. Both (I) and (II)

Answer: Only (III)

The sentence needs a word that makes sense with taking action before the storm arrived. 'Precaution' fits this context, while 'ambition' and 'restriction' do not.

Q9. Students feel autonomous when they are able to willingly engage time and energy in their studies. Which phrase/word from the options given below should replace the bold phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (E) No replacement required as the answer.

1. Readily devoted
2. full assign
3. willingly devote
4. cooperate willingly

Answer: willingly devote

The phrase "are able to willingly engage" is ungrammatical in this context. The intended meaning is that students voluntarily devote time and energy, so "willingly devote" is the best replacement.

Q10. Sheela will have (A) reached her (B) grandparents' house (C) by this time next week. (D)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. No error

Answer: No error

The sentence is grammatically correct. "Will have reached" is the future perfect tense, which is appropriate for an action completed by a specified future time.

Q11. In each of the questions given below, a statement with a highlighted phrase is given. Choose the most appropriate replacement from the given options which could replace the highlighted phrase to make the statement grammatically and contextually correct. If the highlighted phrase is already correct, then choose option "No replacement required" as your response. Since the prisoner couldn't coexist by another convicts, he spent a lot of time in solitary confinement.

1. coexists with other convict, he
2. coexisted among other convicts, he
3. coexist with other convicts, he
4. coexist within other convicts, it

Answer: coexist with other convicts, he

After the modal verb "couldn't," the base form of the verb is needed, so "coexist" is correct. The phrase should also use "with other convicts" for proper grammar and meaning.

Q12. In each of the questions given below, four words have been highlighted which may or may not be in their correct positions. Pick the most suitable option to interchange the words so that the statement becomes grammatically correct and contextually meaningful. The MNM's promise to directly pay women a monthly amount may be competitive (A) as a landscape (B) to grab attention in an over-crowded, highly viewed (C) electoral strategy (D).

1. CABD
2. No rearrangement required
3. BDCA
4. ADCB

Answer: CABD

The original sentence is ungrammatical because the highlighted words are misplaced. Swapping them as CABD restores the intended meaning and structure, making the phrase read naturally as an electoral strategy that may be competitive in a landscape designed to grab attention.

Q13. Arrange the following parts in the correct order to form a meaningful sentence: (A) the cheerful toddler (B) building blocks (C) giggled joyfully while (D) playing with colorful

1. ACDB
2. ACBD
3. BACD
4. BADC

Answer: ACDB

The sentence begins with the subject, 'the cheerful toddler,' followed by the verb phrase 'giggled joyfully while,' and then the activity 'playing with colorful building blocks.' This makes ACDB the correct order.

Q14. Identify the correct sentence from the options given below.

1. The flight departs from the international terminal on noon.
2. The telescope captured an stunning image of a distant galaxy.
3. He reads a novel before going too bed every night.
4. The bakery sells freshly baked bread every morning.

Answer: The bakery sells freshly baked bread every morning.

Option D is grammatically correct and natural. The other options contain errors such as incorrect preposition, article usage, or spelling.

Q15. In the following sentence, some parts have been printed in bold. One of the bold parts is incorrectly spelt. Choose the incorrectly spelt word. If there is no error in the bold parts, choose option 5 - no error as the answer. The world as we know it has come to a degenerating(A) and loathsume(B) standstill, rotting(C) away into the far reaches(D) of debauchery.

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D

Answer: B

The incorrectly spelt word is 'loathsume'; the correct spelling is 'loathsome'. The other bold words are correctly spelt in the sentence.

Q16. Read each sentence to find out if there is any error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (e). Yesterday I met (a) / an old friend (b) / when I am going (c) / to the market. (d) / No error (e).

1. Yesterday I met
2. an old friend
3. when I am going
4. to the market.

Answer: when I am going

The sentence refers to a past event, so the clause should also be in the past tense. 'When I am going' is incorrect; it should be 'when I was going' or 'when I was on my way'. Therefore, the error is in part (c).

Q17. 'Because' is followed by:

1. Clause
2. Noun
3. Adjective
4. Adverb

Answer: Clause

'Because' is a subordinating conjunction, and it introduces a subordinate clause. Therefore, it is followed by a clause, not a single word like a noun or adjective.

Q18. Due to climate change, deserts are expanding, while heat waves are becoming more common. No error.

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D

Answer: D

The error is in the phrase 'more commons.' The correct expression is 'more common,' since 'common' is an adjective and does not take a plural form here.

Q19. Which option demonstrates the correct sentence structure?

1. B-G-I
2. C-E-L
3. D-H-J
4. A-F-K

Answer: A-F-K

A-F-K forms a coherent sentence: "Despite the heavy downpour that lasted throughout the night, the children were excited to go on their long-awaited school trip early in the morning." The other combinations do not produce a complete or natural sentence.

Q20. Shah Rukh Khan has expressed his disappointment at being detained by US authorities at Los Angeles International Airport.

1. at being detained
2. for detaining
3. because of detaining
4. owing to be detained

Answer: at being detained

The correct phrase is 'disappointed at being detained' because 'disappointed' is commonly followed by 'at' or 'with' and the action is in passive gerund form. The other options are grammatically incorrect or change the meaning.

Q21. A federal government climate-change report released last year shows the Pacific Northwest is already seeing damage from rising temperatures.

1. seen damages for rising temperatures
2. seeing damaging rising temperatures
3. No correction required
4. seeing damages for rising temperatures

Answer: No correction required

The sentence is grammatically correct as written. 'Is already seeing damage from rising temperatures' is a valid construction, and no correction is needed.

Q22. Each of the following questions consists of a paragraph, which may contain one or more grammatical errors. Read the given paragraph carefully and decide how many errors it contains. Mindfulness meditation is a practice that involves focus one's attention on the present moment and cultivating a non-judgmental awareness of one's thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations. Studies shown that regular practice of mindfulness meditation can reduce stress, improve mood, boost immune function, and enhance cognitive performance.

1. Only one error
2. Two errors
3. Three errors
4. Four errors

Answer: Two errors

The paragraph contains two clear errors: ‘involves focus’ should be ‘involves focusing’, and ‘Studies shown’ should be ‘Studies have shown’. Hence, there are two errors.

Q23. Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is "No error", the answer is "No error". Ignore errors of punctuation, if any. Tree transplantation for development projects are undertaken the last three years.

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D

Answer: C

The phrase "Tree transplantation for development projects" is a singular subject in meaning, so it should take a singular verb. The verb phrase "are undertaken" is incorrect here; it should be "is undertaken" or a similar singular construction. Hence, part C contains the error.

Q24. Directions: Select the phrase from the options below that should replace the underlined phrase in the sentence to make it grammatically correct. If the sentence is already correct, select 'No correction required' as your answer. As a whole, the Malays are, however, remarkably healthy people, and deformity and hereditary diseases is rare between them.

1. Is rare among them
2. Was rare between them
3. Was rare among them
4. Are rare among them

Answer: Are rare among them

The compound subject 'deformity and hereditary diseases' is plural, so the verb should be 'are' instead of 'is'. Also, 'among' is the correct preposition for a group of people. Hence, 'are rare among them' is grammatically correct.

Q25. Seldom if ever was there any training or instruction in such tactics for either the tank crews or the infantry formations.

1. Seldom or never
2. Seldom if never
3. Seldom or ever
4. Seldom has ever

Answer: Seldom or never

The phrase 'seldom or never' is the correct idiomatic expression. The original wording 'seldom if ever' is not the best replacement here because the sentence needs a standard, grammatically sound idiom.

Q26. In the question given below, three sentences are given and are named I, II, and III. You have to determine which sentence(s) contains an error and mark the appropriate option. If there is no error, then mark 'No error' as your answer. I. If Bangladesh follows the Paris Climate Agreement, the country may not implement other projects such as Rampal Power Plant and Rooppur nuclear power plant. II. Had he completed the assignment on time, he will join us on the trip to Goa. III. If he applied for the job, he would receive a confirmation mail from the company regarding the same.

1. Only I
2. Both I and II
3. Only III
4. Both II and III

Answer: Both I and II

Sentence I is incorrect because after 'may not' the verb should be in base form, not 'implemented'. Sentence II is incorrect because 'Had he completed...' should be followed by 'he would join', not 'he will join'. Sentence III is grammatically acceptable.

Q27. In each of the questions given below, a statement with a highlighted phrase is given. Choose the most appropriate replacement from the given options that could replace the highlighted phrase to make the statement grammatically and contextually correct. If the highlighted phrase is already correct, choose "No replacement required" as your response. When the king was accompany with his stalwart bodyguards, he felt safe walking among his people.

1. is accompany with his
2. were accompanied by his
3. was accompanied by their
4. was accompanied by his

Answer: was accompanied by his

The phrase needs passive voice: 'was accompanied' is the correct form. Since 'king' is singular and male, 'his' is the correct possessive pronoun. Therefore, the correct replacement is 'was accompanied by his'.

Q28. Which sentence is correct?

1. He are going
2. He is going
3. He be going
4. He were going

Answer: He is going

The subject 'He' is singular, so it takes the singular auxiliary verb 'is' in the present continuous tense. Therefore, 'He is going' is grammatically correct.

Q29. In the following questions, a few sentences are given. Choose the sentence which contains a grammatical or contextual error. If all the sentences are grammatically and contextually correct, mark the "all are correct" option as the answer choice.

1. Supernatural star Jared Padalecki is speaking out for the for his Oct. 27 arrest in Austin, Texas.
2. The plea seeking reallocation of the land was rejected by a Division Bench of the court.
3. The lawyer questioned the statistics in the report and said the calculations were flawed.
4. U.S. aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin unveiled an F-21 fighter, an upgraded variant of the F-16 fighter jet.

Answer: Supernatural star Jared Padalecki is speaking out for the for his Oct. 27 arrest in Austin, Texas.

Sentence A contains the repeated phrase "for the for," which is a clear grammatical error. The other sentences are grammatically and contextually correct. Hence, sentence A is the incorrect one.

Q30. In the given question, a sentence is divided into four parts. There are errors in three parts. Choose the part which doesn't have an error. If all the four parts are correct, mark E, i.e. ‘All are correct’ as the answer. Surely, she must feel bitter on (A)/ that fact, and yet neither her voice or (B)/ her expression gave any indication (C)/ that she felt antipathetic. (D)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D

Answer: C

Part C is correct: 'her expression gave any indication' is grammatically sound. The other parts contain errors such as 'on that fact' and 'neither...or' instead of 'neither...nor'.

Q31. Which of the phrases given below should replace the underlined phrase in the sentence to make it grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, choose "No Correction required". Maurice has been pacing in the lobby of the hotel from 8 o'clock in the morning.

1. past 8 o'clock in the morning
2. since 8 o'clock in the morning
3. for 8 o'clock in the morning
4. from 8 o'clock of the morning

Answer: since 8 o'clock in the morning

With present perfect continuous tense, we use "since" to indicate the starting point of an action that continues to the present. Therefore, "since 8 o'clock in the morning" is correct.

Q32. Which of the following phrases should replace the phrase in bold to make the sentence grammatically correct? The balloon exploded the loud noise, causing a brief panic among the children.

1. exploded to the loud noise
2. explodes into the loud noise
3. explode in the loud noise
4. exploded with a loud noise

Answer: exploded with a loud noise

The correct collocation is "exploded with a loud noise," which properly describes the manner of explosion. The other options are ungrammatical or unnatural in this context.

Q33. In the question, a section is given in bold, which may or may not be grammatically correct. Choose the correct alternative for the highlighted part to make a grammatically correct and meaningful statement. The local school is frequent criticized for maintaining poor educational standards.

1. is high criticised for maintained
2. is high criticism for maintaining
3. is high criticised by maintaining
4. is highly criticised for maintaining

Answer: is highly criticised for maintaining

The correct phrase is 'is highly criticised for maintaining'. 'Highly' is the correct adverb, and 'maintaining' correctly follows 'for'. The other options are grammatically incorrect.

Q34. Which phrase correctly completes the sentence: "He was ______ to the outburst against injustice."

1. Indifferent
2. Hostile
3. Accommodating
4. Opposed

Answer: Accommodating

"Accommodating" means helpful, cooperative, or willing to adjust, which fits the context best. The other options do not match the intended positive response to injustice.