IBPS PO English: Grammar and Usage questions with solutions

Q1. Which phrase correctly replaces the bolded part in the sentence: 'The new policy is very different than the old one'?

1. is very different to
2. differs from
3. is differing than
4. is very different from

Answer: is very different from

The correct collocation is 'different from,' not 'different than' in standard usage. So the sentence should read: 'The new policy is very different from the old one.'

Q2. In each of the following questions, a sentence contains a highlighted phrase that may be grammatically incorrect. Choose the most appropriate option from the given alternatives to replace the highlighted phrase and correct the sentence. If the highlighted phrase is correct as it is, then choose "No replacement required" as the correct answer. She carefully put the antique vase on the wooden shelf, ensuring it wouldn't tip over.

1. refused
2. placed
3. misplaced
4. returned

Answer: placed

The sentence describes putting the vase on the shelf carefully. 'Placed' is the correct verb because it means to put something in a particular position. The other options do not fit the meaning.

Q3. She started working on her novel last year and has already completed three chapters.

1. started
2. novel
3. All are correct
4. chapters

Answer: All are correct

The sentence is grammatically correct. The tense sequence is proper: 'started' and 'last year' fit the past action, and 'has already completed' correctly indicates present perfect. No word needs correction.

Q4. In the following question, sentences are given with a part in bold. The given phrase in bold may or may not contain an error. The options following can replace the incorrect phrase. If the sentence is correct, select 'No improvement required' as your answer. Although most places will stay dry for the weekend, but there is the possibility of a shower at some point.

1. but there is the possibility for a shower
2. but there are the possibility of a shower
3. there is the possibility of a shower
4. there is the possibility for a shower

Answer: there is the possibility of a shower

The sentence already begins with 'Although', so adding 'but' creates redundancy. Removing 'but' gives the grammatically correct sentence: 'Although most places will stay dry for the weekend, there is the possibility of a shower at some point.'

Q5. In each question, the highlighted part may or may not be in the correct form. Choose the correct alternative that will replace the section without altering the meaning. Although the government claims the unemployment rate is decreasing, there is still a paucity of jobs available.

1. No replacement required
2. decreasing, their is still a
3. are decreasing, there is a
4. are decreased, there is still a

Answer: No replacement required

The sentence is grammatically correct as given. The subject-verb agreement and tense usage are proper, and no correction is needed.

Q6. Find out the error, if any. If there is no error, the answer is (e), i.e. No error. Ignore punctuation errors, if any. Despite of their best efforts / they failed to retain / the contract due to / unwanted political interference.

1. Despite of their best efforts
2. they failed to retain
3. the contract due to
4. unwanted political interference.

Answer: Despite of their best efforts

The phrase "despite of" is incorrect because "despite" does not take "of" after it. The correct expression is "despite their best efforts".

Q7. 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. The Congress has questioned the need for a five-phase election.
2. Rooting an Android phone enables one to get privileged user (root) access, thus allowing the spyware to monitor various activities.
3. Kids are pure, they are naïve, they are learning and the one thing they have in them is honestness.
4. In his 2005 bestselling novel, Matthew Syed talks about the power of practice and sacrifice that yields high performance.

Answer: Kids are pure, they are naïve, they are learning and the one thing they have in them is honestness.

The sentence contains the word "honestness," which is not the correct standard form in this context; "honesty" would be appropriate. The other sentences are grammatically acceptable.

Q8. Horrified passengers saw Olive stumble and fall off a platform as an express roared in.

1. Horrified
2. stumble
3. fall of
4. roared

Answer: fall of

The correct phrase is "fall off a platform," not "fall of a platform." The other underlined words are grammatically acceptable in the sentence.

Q9. The Delhi Environment Minister has asked various departments to provide data on trees transplanted by them in the Capital and their health status.

1. No improvement required
2. has asking various departments to providing data from
3. has asked various departments in provide data through
4. has to asked various departments from provide data on

Answer: No improvement required

The sentence is grammatically correct as written. The structure "has asked various departments to provide data" is proper, and the rest of the sentence is clear and idiomatic.

Q10. In each of the questions given below, four words are given in bold. These four words may or may not be in their correct position. The sentence is then 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 replace each other. If the sentence is correct as it is, then select option 'No correction required' as your choice. With a target of developing 1) India into a developed country by 2047, there are some lessons 2) we should learn from our eastern 3) friend, Japan, the world's fourth largest 4) economy.

1. No correction required
2. Only 2 and 4
3. Only 3 and 4
4. 1-4 and 2-3

Answer: No correction required

The sentence is grammatically correct and contextually meaningful as written. No word replacement is needed.

Q11. Find the grammatical error in the sentence: (A) Neither of the two candidates / (B) have submitted / (C) their application forms / (D) before the deadline.

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

Answer: B

'Neither of the two candidates' is a singular subject, so it should take a singular verb. Therefore, 'have submitted' is incorrect; it should be 'has submitted'.

Q12. In the following question, a part of the sentence is given in bold. The given phrase in bold may or may not contain an error. The options following can replace the incorrect phrase. If the sentence is correct, select “No improvement required” as your answer. Global economic growth is slowing more then was forecast a few months ago.

1. more then were forecast
2. more than was forecasts
3. more than was forecast
4. more than have been forecast

Answer: more than was forecast

The correct comparative word is “than,” not “then.” Also, “growth” is singular, so the verb should remain singular: “was forecast.” Therefore, “more than was forecast” is correct.

Q13. Ravi was sent to Taloja Jail, where some of his co-accused have now spent more than three years without bail or trial.

1. have now spent more than three year
2. have now spend more then three years
3. have now spent more then three years
4. have now spent more than three years

Answer: have now spent more than three years

The sentence refers to an action continuing up to the present, so 'have now spent' is correct. Also, 'than' is the correct comparative word, not 'then'.

Q14. In each of the following questions, two independent sentences are given, each containing six words highlighted in bold. These words may or may not be in their correct positions. The sentences are followed by certain instructions. Read the instructions and answer the following question: (1) The concert was sold out, so we had to obtain tickets from a scalper. (II) The tickets turned out to be spurious, so we had to find a way to get our money back. Q91. Find the correct option to connect the two sentences given above without changing the intended meaning.

1. and
2. but
3. even
4. also

Answer: but

The first sentence says the concert was sold out, so tickets were bought from a scalper. The second sentence says those tickets were spurious, which creates a contrast with the expectation of valid tickets. Therefore, the correct connector is 'but'.

Q15. 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 alphabet corresponding to that part is your answer. If the sentence is grammatically and contextually correct, then choose option 'No error' as your answer. Ignore errors of punctuation, if any. The book, which was (A) recommended by my friend (B) turned in to be an engaging (C) and thought-provoking read (D).

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

Answer: C

The error is in part C. The phrase should be 'turned out to be', not 'turned in to be'. 'Turned out to be' is the correct idiomatic expression meaning 'proved to be'.