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IBPS ENGLISH · Error spotting

Find the rule. Spot the error.

Check sentence structure in a reliable order and recognise when a sentence needs no correction.

Learn the method ↓Try 8 questions

Worked examples · 8 original questions · Answers explained

BUILD A REPEATABLE METHOD

Four steps to a better answer.

Find the sentence backbone

Identify the subject and main verb. Set aside phrases such as of the applicants while checking agreement.

Check the verb pattern

Look at auxiliaries and surrounding verbs: does + base form, has + past participle, and ask someone to + base form.

Check time and connections

Check duration versus starting point, fixed prepositions, comparisons and the structure after each connector.

Test the complete sentence

Make the smallest required correction. If every part works in standard written English, choose No error instead of inventing a fault.

SEE THE THINKING

Two worked examples.

The nearby noun can distract you

The quality of the products are improving.

Which word should change?

Are → is. “The quality of the products is improving.”

The subject is quality, which is singular. Products is inside an of-phrase; its plural form does not control the main verb.

A duration needs for

He has lived here since two years.

How should the time expression change?

Since → for. “He has lived here for two years.”

Two years is a duration. Since introduces a starting point, as in “since 2024”. The present perfect can describe a situation that began earlier and continues now.

Common mistakes to avoid
Changing a correct sentence

No error is a genuine answer. Unfamiliar wording is not automatically ungrammatical.

Correcting style instead of grammar

This exercise targets a definite grammatical error, not a personal preference for shorter or more formal wording.

Using the nearest noun for agreement

Find the head of the subject phrase before choosing the verb.

Only naming a letter

Read the corrected sentence aloud and explain the rule. That is what makes the practice reusable.

PUT THE METHOD TO WORK

Try eight original questions.

Each sentence is divided into A–D. Choose the part containing the grammatical error, or choose No error. Ignore the option-label letters when reading the sentence itself.

Untimed learning practice, not an official paper or full mock exam. One point per correct answer; no negative marking here. Show answer earns no point. Your score lasts for this page visit and does not predict an exam result.

Read the full questions below and expand each answer explanation. The interactive version needs JavaScript.

All 8 questions & answer explanations

  1. Find the error: (A) The list of applicants / (B) are displayed / (C) near the entrance / (D) to the office.

    1. The list of applicants
    2. are displayed
    3. near the entrance
    4. to the office
    5. No error
    Answer 1 & explanation

    B. are displayed

    Use “is displayed”: The list of applicants is displayed near the entrance to the office. List is the singular head of the subject; applicants is part of the of-phrase.

  2. Find the error: (A) She does not / (B) usually / (C) carries cash / (D) when she travels.

    1. She does not
    2. usually
    3. carries cash
    4. when she travels
    5. No error
    Answer 2 & explanation

    C. carries cash

    Use “carry cash”: She does not usually carry cash when she travels. Does already marks third-person singular, so the main verb after does not stays in its base form.

  3. Find the error: (A) The officer / (B) explained the process / (C) clearly / (D) to the visitors.

    1. The officer
    2. explained the process
    3. clearly
    4. to the visitors
    5. No error
    Answer 3 & explanation

    E. No error

    There is no error. “Explain something to someone” is the correct pattern: explained the process to the visitors. Clearly is an appropriate adverb describing explained.

  4. Find the error: (A) The workshop / (B) will begin / (C) on / (D) nine o’clock.

    1. The workshop
    2. will begin
    3. on
    4. nine o’clock
    5. No error
    Answer 4 & explanation

    C. on

    Change on to at: The workshop will begin at nine o’clock. Use at for a clock time. On is used with days and dates, such as on Monday.

  5. Find the error: (A) Despite the heavy rain, / (B) the team / (C) reached / (D) to the venue on time.

    1. Despite the heavy rain,
    2. the team
    3. reached
    4. to the venue on time
    5. No error
    Answer 5 & explanation

    D. to the venue on time

    Remove to from part D: Despite the heavy rain, the team reached the venue on time. Reach takes its destination as a direct object in this use. Compare “arrived at the venue”.

  6. Find the error: (A) I have / (B) already / (C) submitted / (D) the required documents.

    1. I have
    2. already
    3. submitted
    4. the required documents
    5. No error
    Answer 6 & explanation

    E. No error

    There is no error. Have + past participle submitted forms the present perfect, and already fits naturally between the auxiliary and the participle.

  7. Find the error: (A) He is / (B) more taller / (C) than his brother / (D) by several centimetres.

    1. He is
    2. more taller
    3. than his brother
    4. by several centimetres
    5. No error
    Answer 7 & explanation

    B. more taller

    Use “taller”, not “more taller”: He is taller than his brother by several centimetres. Taller already marks the comparative; adding more creates a double comparative.

  8. Find the error: (A) The new employees / (B) must attends / (C) the safety session / (D) before starting work.

    1. The new employees
    2. must attends
    3. the safety session
    4. before starting work
    5. No error
    Answer 8 & explanation

    B. must attends

    Use “must attend”: The new employees must attend the safety session before starting work. A modal such as must is followed by the base form of the main verb, so attends is incorrect here.

MAKE THE LEARNING STICK

Review before moving on.

  1. Write the full corrected sentence for each error.
  2. Keep a short error log: your choice, the rule and one fresh example.
  3. Revisit No error items and explain why their structures are correct.

Use the IBPS exam routes and official sources for the current pattern, timings and marking rules. These lessons develop shared English skills; question types and requirements differ by exam and stage.

KEEP BUILDING YOUR SKILLS

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