IBPS PO English: Error Spotting questions with solutions

Q1. In each of the following questions, a sentence with four highlighted words has been given. One of these highlighted words may or may not have been used unnecessarily in the given sentence. You are required to choose the word that is redundant and gives a superfluous meaning. If all of the highlighted words are essential for the contextual meaning of the sentence, then choose option (E) as your answer choice. Sentence: Water-conservation and water-harvesting methods (A) that do not require the construction (B) of a dam are fallacious approaches (C) that have not been adequately (D) examined in the management of water resources.

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

Answer: D

The word "adequately" is redundant because the phrase "have not been examined" already conveys the intended meaning of insufficient study in context. The other highlighted words are needed for the sentence structure and meaning.

Q2. Read the 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 letter of that part is the answer. If the given sentence is grammatically and contextually correct, then choose option “No error” as your answer response. Ignore errors of punctuation, if any. The doctor careful (A) / examined the patient (B) / and prescribed the necessary (C) / medication for a speedy recovery. (D)

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

Answer: A

The error is in part A because 'careful' is an adjective, but the sentence needs the adverb 'carefully' to modify the verb 'examined'. The corrected phrase is 'The doctor carefully examined the patient'.

Q3. Read the sentence carefully to determine if there is any grammatical or contextual error. If there is an error, it will be in one part of the sentence. Identify the incorrect part. If the sentence is entirely correct, select 'No error' as the response. The public (A) / are requested (B) / not to threw paper (C) / in the park (D).

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

Answer: C

The error is in part C because after 'to', the verb should be in the base form. The correct phrase is 'not to throw paper' rather than 'not to threw paper'.

Q4. Despite their differences, they remained close friends, always support each other through thick and thin.

1. differences
2. remained
3. friends
4. supports

Answer: supports

The subject 'they' is plural, so the verb must be 'support' instead of 'supports'. The sentence is otherwise grammatically correct.

Q5. She narrowly escaped falling into the deep trench near the cliff's edge.

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

Answer: B

The phrase should be 'escaped falling into' rather than 'escaped to fall into'. After 'escape', a gerund is used to show what was avoided. Therefore, the error is in part B.

Q6. In the following sentence, choose the part which may contain a grammatical error. Slicing a cake between pieces (A) is a fun tradition that many (B) newlyweds like to (C) incorporate into their ceremonies. (D) No Error (E)

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

Answer: A

The phrase 'between pieces' is incorrect because slicing is done 'into pieces'. The rest of the sentence is grammatically acceptable.

Q7. The escaped prisoner (A) showed compassion (B) when him assisted the wounded police officer (C). (D)

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

Answer: C

The error is in part C because 'him assisted' is ungrammatical. It should be 'he assisted' or the sentence should be restructured to use the subject pronoun correctly.

Q8. Identify the erroneous word in the sentence: The infamous painting, admired by art enthusiasts worldwide, hung majestically at the centre of the gallery, drawing the gaze of every visitor.

1. infamous
2. enthusiasts
3. majestically
4. drawing

Answer: infamous

"Infamous" means well known for a bad quality or deed, which does not fit a painting admired by art enthusiasts. The intended word should be something like "famous" or "renowned." Therefore, the erroneous word is "infamous."

Q9. It had (A) stopped raining (B) when I (C) had left the office (D).

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

Answer: D

The error is in part D because 'had left' is not the correct tense after 'when I' in this context. The sentence should be 'It had stopped raining when I left the office.'

Q10. She asked her brother to accompany her to the market so she wouldn't have to carry all the heavy bags alone.

1. asked
2. heavy
3. market
4. accompany

Answer: accompany

The incorrect word is "acompany," which should be "accompany." The rest of the sentence is grammatically correct. So the error lies in option D.

Q11. In the question given below, four words have been highlighted. These four words may not have been placed in their correct positions. The sentence is followed by options with the correct combination of words that should replace each other in order to make the sentence grammatically and contextually correct. Find the correct combination of words that should replace each other. Her determination (A) to keep her child safe was deliberate (B) when she had a evident (C) conversation (D) about looking both ways before crossing the street.

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

Answer: B-C

The sentence needs a contextually correct adjective-noun pairing. 'Deliberate conversation' is acceptable, while 'evident' does not fit the intended meaning of the mother's action; swapping B and C makes the sentence meaningful.