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Grammar: Voice, Narration, Tenses + Rule Bank questions for IPMAT, with solutions

10 free Grammar: Voice, Narration, Tenses + Rule Bank practice questions for IPMAT Indore, Rohtak and JIPMAT, each with the answer and a full worked solution. No sign-in. Try each one first, then open the solution. The lessons for this chapter are in Grammar: Voice, Narration, Tenses + Rule Bank on Learn.

  1. Question 1Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayArticles

    Read the sentence to find out whether there is a grammatical error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. Choose the part that has the error. If there is no error, choose (D).

    (A) Raju waited nearly a hour / (B) at the bus stop / (C) before the bus finally came. / (D) No error

    1. A.Raju waited nearly a hour
    2. B.at the bus stop
    3. C.before the bus finally came.
    4. D.No error
    Show the answer and solution

    Answer: A. Raju waited nearly a hour

    Answer: (A) Raju waited nearly a hour

    Corrected sentence:

    Raju waited nearly an hour at the bus stop before the bus finally came.

    Rule: article-a-an-sound: Choose a/an by the first sound, not the first letter (an hour, a university, an MLA).

    Why (A) is right: The h in "hour" is silent, so the word begins with a vowel sound and needs "an": "waited nearly an hour".

    Why the others are wrong:

    • (B) Correct as written.
    • (C) Correct: "the bus" is the specific bus he was waiting for.
    • (D) Part (A) has an error: "an hour".

  2. Question 2Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayConjunctions and connectors

    Read the sentence to find out whether there is a grammatical error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. Choose the part that has the error. If there is no error, choose (D).

    (A) Scarcely the guests had arrived / (B) when the lights / (C) went out. / (D) No error

    1. A.Scarcely the guests had arrived
    2. B.when the lights
    3. C.went out.
    4. D.No error
    Show the answer and solution

    Answer: A. Scarcely the guests had arrived

    Answer: (A) Scarcely the guests had arrived

    Corrected sentence:

    Scarcely had the guests arrived when the lights went out.

    Rule: conjunction-correlative-pair: Fixed pairs: no sooner…than, hardly/scarcely…when, not only…but also, both…and, either…or, neither…nor, such/so…that. inversion-negative-adverbial: After a fronted negative or limiting adverbial (not once, never, hardly, seldom, no sooner, not only, rarely), put the auxiliary before the subject.

    Why (A) is wrong: "Scarcely… when" is right, but a fronted "scarcely" needs inversion: "Scarcely had the guests arrived".

    The other options:

    • (B) Correct as written.
    • (C) Correct as written.
    • (D) There is an error in part (A): Scarcely/hardly at the front → had + subject (A).

  3. Question 3Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayDirect and Indirect Speech (Narration)

    Choose the option that correctly expresses the given sentence in indirect (reported) speech.

    The librarian said to us, “Please do not make noise.”

    1. A.The librarian requested us not to make noise.
    2. B.The librarian requested us please not to make noise.
    3. C.The librarian requested us that not make noise.
    4. D.The librarian requested us to make noise.
    Show the answer and solution

    Answer: A. The librarian requested us not to make noise.

    Answer: (A) The librarian requested us not to make noise.

    Why it is right: "Please + negative command" → "requested" + object + "not to" + verb.

    Rule: narration-command: Commands, requests and advice: told/ordered/requested/advised/begged + object + to-infinitive; a negative command becomes "not to + verb"; "please" is dropped because "requested" carries it.

    Why the other options are wrong:

    • (B) "Please" is dropped; "requested" carries the politeness.
    • (C) After "requested", use object + "not to" + verb.
    • (D) Drops the negative.

  4. Question 4Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayConditionals and subjunctive

    Read the sentence to find out whether there is a grammatical error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. Choose the part that has the error. If there is no error, choose (D).

    (A) Had the bank verified the documents, / (B) the loan would not be sanctioned / (C) to the fake company last year. / (D) No error

    1. A.Had the bank verified the documents,
    2. B.the loan would not be sanctioned
    3. C.to the fake company last year.
    4. D.No error
    Show the answer and solution

    Answer: B. the loan would not be sanctioned

    Answer: (B) the loan would not be sanctioned

    Corrected sentence:

    Had the bank verified the documents, the loan would not have been sanctioned to the fake company last year.

    Rule: conditional-third: "If + had + past participle" pairs with "would/could/might have + past participle"; "would" never goes in the if-clause.

    Why (B) is right: "Had the bank verified" is a past unreal condition (if + had + past participle, with "if" dropped and the verb moved forward). The result is also in the past (last year), so it needs "would not have been sanctioned".

    Why the others are wrong:

    • (A) Correct: "Had the bank verified" is the inverted form of "If the bank had verified".
    • (C) Correct as written.
    • (D) Part (B) has an error: "would not have been sanctioned".

  5. Question 5Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayMisplaced / dangling modifiers

    Which of the following sentences about a book fair is grammatically correct?

    1. A.Arranged neatly on the shelves, the visitors admired the new books.
    2. B.This year's fair was more bigger than last year's.
    3. C.The organisers discussed about extending the fair by two days.
    4. D.While browsing the stalls, we met our old English teacher.
    Show the answer and solution

    Answer: D. While browsing the stalls, we met our old English teacher.

    Answer: (D) While browsing the stalls, we met our old English teacher.

    Why it is right: "We" were browsing, and "we" comes right after the opening phrase.

    Rule: dangling-modifier: An opening modifier (a participle or descriptive phrase) must be followed by the noun it describes. double-comparative: Do not combine "more/most" with an -er/-est form, or use them with absolute adjectives (unique, perfect, ideal, preferable). preposition-unneeded: Some verbs take a direct object with no preposition (discuss, enter, reach, resemble, attack, order, request, approach, describe).

    Why the other options are wrong:

    • (A) Dangling: the visitors were not arranged on the shelves; "The visitors admired the new books arranged neatly on the shelves".
    • (B) Double comparative: "bigger".
    • (C) "Discuss" takes no preposition: "discussed extending".

  6. Question 6Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayParallel structure

    Which of the following sentences about a new manager is grammatically correct?

    1. A.She enjoys planning, meeting clients and to travel.
    2. B.The manager, as well as her two assistants, are joining on Monday.
    3. C.The new manager is strict, fair and approachable.
    4. D.Her job is to train staff, to check accounts and handling complaints.
    Show the answer and solution

    Answer: C. The new manager is strict, fair and approachable.

    Answer: (C) The new manager is strict, fair and approachable.

    Why it is right: Three adjectives in a list: the same form throughout.

    Rule: parallel-list: Items joined by and/or, or in a list, take the same grammatical form. sva-as-well-as: A subject followed by "as well as / along with / together with / accompanied by / in addition to / like" keeps the verb of the first subject.

    Why the other options are wrong:

    • (A) List: "planning, meeting clients and travelling".
    • (B) "As well as…" does not change the subject: "is joining".
    • (D) List: "to train…, to check… and to handle complaints".

  7. Question 7Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayAdjectives, adverbs, comparison

    Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?

    1. A.The climate of Shimla is cooler than Delhi.
    2. B.Kolkata is a more older city than Mumbai.
    3. C.Lata Mangeshkar was more popular than any other singer of her generation.
    4. D.Of the two plans, the second is the best.
    Show the answer and solution

    Answer: C. Lata Mangeshkar was more popular than any other singer of her generation.

    Answer: (C) Lata Mangeshkar was more popular than any other singer of her generation.

    Rule: comparison-any-other: When comparing one member with the rest of its own group, use "than any other + singular noun". comparison-like-with-like: Compare like with like; use "that of / those of" to avoid comparing a thing with a person. double-comparative: Do not combine "more/most" with an -er/-est form, or use them with absolute adjectives (unique, perfect, ideal, preferable). comparative-two-superlative-three: Use the comparative for two people or things and the superlative for three or more.

    Why (C) is right: Lata Mangeshkar was herself a singer of her generation, so she is compared with "any other singer". The comparison is complete and correct.

    Why the others are wrong:

    • (A) Compares a climate with a city: "than that of Delhi".
    • (B) Double comparative: "older", not "more older".
    • (D) Two things take the comparative: "the better".

  8. Question 8Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayNouns: number, countability, possessives

    Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?

    1. A.He gave me many useful advices before the interview.
    2. B.The cattle are grazing in the field near the canal.
    3. C.She bought two dozens eggs and a five-kilos bag of rice.
    4. D.Mathematics are my favourite subject this year.
    Show the answer and solution

    Answer: B. The cattle are grazing in the field near the canal.

    Answer: (B) The cattle are grazing in the field near the canal.

    Rule: always-plural-nouns: Some nouns are always plural and take a plural verb: scissors, trousers, spectacles, cattle, police, people, clergy (but "a pair of scissors is"). uncountable-no-plural: Uncountable nouns (information, advice, furniture, luggage, equipment, scenery, machinery) have no plural and take a singular verb. compound-adjective-singular: A number + noun used before another noun stays singular and is hyphenated (a five-rupee note, a ten-year-old boy); dozen, hundred, thousand after a number stay singular (two dozen eggs). sva-plural-form-singular: Nouns plural in form but singular in meaning (news, mathematics, economics as a subject, physics, measles) take a singular verb.

    Why (B) is right: "Cattle" has no singular form and always takes a plural verb, so "the cattle are grazing" is right.

    Why the others are wrong:

    • (A) "Advice" is uncountable: "much useful advice" or "many useful pieces of advice".
    • (C) After a number, "dozen" stays singular (two dozen eggs), and a number + noun before a noun is singular (a five-kilo bag).
    • (D) "Mathematics" is plural in form but singular in meaning: "Mathematics is".

  9. Question 9Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayPrepositions and dependent prepositions

    Read the sentence to find out whether there is a grammatical error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. Choose the part that has the error. If there is no error, choose (D).

    (A) The villagers were angry with / (B) the contractor and demanded / (C) a probe into the collapse of the bridge. / (D) No error

    1. A.The villagers were angry with
    2. B.the contractor and demanded
    3. C.a probe into the collapse of the bridge.
    4. D.No error
    Show the answer and solution

    Answer: D. No error

    Answer: (D) No error

    Rule: preposition-fixed: Many words take a fixed preposition (consist of, comply with, capable of, accused of, different from, interested in, insist on, similar to). preposition-unneeded: Some verbs take a direct object with no preposition (discuss, enter, reach, resemble, attack, order, request, approach, describe).

    Why (D) is right: "Angry with" is used for a person, "demand" takes a direct object (no "for"), and one holds a "probe into" something. The sentence has no error.

    Why the others are wrong:

    • (A) "Angry with" is right before a person ("angry at" is used for a thing or situation).
    • (B) "Demand" as a verb takes no "for": "demanded a probe".
    • (C) "A probe into" is the fixed phrase.

  10. Question 10Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayPronoun agreement / ambiguity / case

    Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?

    1. A.Neither of the girls has finished her project.
    2. B.The prize was shared between my friend and I.
    3. C.Whom do you think is the best candidate?
    4. D.The committee has submitted their report to the board.
    Show the answer and solution

    Answer: A. Neither of the girls has finished her project.

    Answer: (A) Neither of the girls has finished her project.

    Rule: pronoun-antecedent-number: A pronoun agrees in number and gender with the noun it stands for (a city → its; the students → their). pronoun-case-object: Use the object form (me, him, her, us, them) after a verb or a preposition, also when it is one of a pair. who-whom: Use who/whoever as the subject of its own clause and whom/whomever as the object of a verb or preposition in that clause.

    Why (A) is right: "Neither" is singular, so the verb is "has" and the pronoun is "her"; the girls are female, so "her" is right.

    Why the others are wrong:

    • (B) After the preposition "between", use the object form: "my friend and me".
    • (C) "Who" is the subject of "is" ("do you think" is extra): "Who do you think is".
    • (D) "Has submitted" treats the committee as one unit, so the pronoun must be "its".