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Spot the Error questions for IPMAT, with solutions

10 free Spot the Error practice questions for IPMAT Indore, Rohtak and JIPMAT, 1 from past papers, 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 Spot the Error on Learn.

1. Question 1Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayFind the erroneous part: three parts + (D) No error (Rohtak/SSC format)

   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) There is many reasons / (B) why students drop out / (C) of school early. / (D) No error

   1. A.There is many reasons
   2. B.why students drop out
   3. C.of school early.
   4. D.No error
   Show the answer and solution

   Answer: A. There is many reasons

   Answer: (A) There is many reasons

   Corrected sentence:

   There are many reasons why students drop out of school early.

   Rule: sva-there-is: After "there is / there are", the verb agrees with the noun that follows it.

   Why (A) is wrong: After "there", the verb agrees with the noun that follows: "many reasons" is plural.

   The other options:

   • (B) Correct as written.
   • (C) Correct as written.
   • (D) There is an error in part (A): There are + plural (A).

2. Question 2Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayPick the wrong underlined word or phrase (JIPMAT 2021 format)

   Four words or phrases in the sentence below are underlined (shown here in bold). One of them has a grammatical error. Choose that word or phrase.

   She is more cleverer than her brother, who is a doctor.

   1. A.than
   2. B.brother
   3. C.who
   4. D.more cleverer
   Show the answer and solution

   Answer: D. more cleverer

   Answer: (D) more cleverer

   Corrected sentence:

   She is cleverer than her brother, who is a doctor.

   Rule: double-comparative: Do not combine "more/most" with an -er/-est form, or use them with absolute adjectives (unique, perfect, ideal, preferable).

   Why (D) is wrong: "Cleverer" is already comparative.

   The other options:

   • (A) Correct as written.
   • (B) Correct as written.
   • (C) Correct as written.

3. Question 3Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayPick the wrong underlined word or phrase (JIPMAT 2021 format)

   Four words or phrases in the sentence below are underlined (shown here in bold). One of them has a grammatical error. Choose that word or phrase.

   Although it was raining, but we went out.

   1. A.Although
   2. B.raining
   3. C.went
   4. D.but
   Show the answer and solution

   Answer: D. but

   Answer: (D) but

   Corrected sentence:

   Although it was raining, we went out.

   Rule: conjunction-although-but: "Although/though" is not followed by "but" in the main clause; "yet" or nothing is used.

   Why (D) is wrong: "Although" is not followed by "but": delete "but".

   The other options:

   • (A) Correct as written.
   • (B) Correct as written.
   • (C) Correct as written.

4. Question 4Multiple choiceAsked in IPMAT Rohtak 2020Find the erroneous part: three parts + (D) No error (Rohtak/SSC format)

   Find the erroneous part of the given sentence.

   (A) To perform this experiment / (B) drop little sugar / (C) into a glass of water / (D) No error

   1. A.To perform this experiment
   2. B.drop little sugar
   3. C.into a glass of water
   4. D.No error
   Show the answer and solution

   Answer: B. drop little sugar

   Answer: (B) drop little sugar

   Corrected sentence:

   To perform this experiment drop a little sugar into a glass of water

   Rule: few-a-few: "Little" and "few" mean hardly any (negative); "a little" and "a few" mean some (positive); "the little / the few" mean all of a small amount.

   Why (B) is wrong: "Little sugar" means hardly any; an instruction to add some sugar needs "a little sugar".

   The other options:

   • (A) Correct as written.
   • (C) Correct as written.
   • (D) There is an error in part (B): "Little" = hardly any; "a little" = some → (B).

5. Question 5Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayFind the erroneous part: three parts + (D) No error (Rohtak/SSC format)

   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) Although I find chemistry hard, / (B) mathematics / (C) are my favourite subject. / (D) No error

   1. A.Although I find chemistry hard,
   2. B.mathematics
   3. C.are my favourite subject.
   4. D.No error
   Show the answer and solution

   Answer: C. are my favourite subject.

   Answer: (C) are my favourite subject.

   Corrected sentence:

   Although I find chemistry hard, mathematics is my favourite subject.

   Rule: 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 (C) is wrong: "Mathematics", as the name of a subject, is singular.

   The other options:

   • (A) Correct as written.
   • (B) Correct as written.
   • (D) There is an error in part (C): Mathematics is (C).

6. Question 6Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayFind the erroneous part: three parts + (D) No error (Rohtak/SSC format)

   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) Many rivers of north India / (B) flow into / (C) Bay of Bengal. / (D) No error

   1. A.Many rivers of north India
   2. B.flow into
   3. C.Bay of Bengal.
   4. D.No error
   Show the answer and solution

   Answer: C. Bay of Bengal.

   Answer: (C) Bay of Bengal.

   Corrected sentence:

   Many rivers of north India flow into the Bay of Bengal.

   Rule: article-the-names: Use "the" before names of holy books and epics (the Gita, the Mahabharata), rivers, seas, mountain ranges, deserts, groups of islands and newspapers; not before names of people, cities, single mountains, languages, meals or games.

   Why (C) is wrong: Names of seas and bays take "the".

   The other options:

   • (A) Correct as written.
   • (B) Correct as written.
   • (D) There is an error in part (C): The Bay of Bengal (C).

7. Question 7Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayFind the erroneous part: three parts + (D) No error (Rohtak/SSC format)

   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 airline lost / (B) two of my bags / (C) and all my luggages. / (D) No error

   1. A.The airline lost
   2. B.two of my bags
   3. C.and all my luggages.
   4. D.No error
   Show the answer and solution

   Answer: C. and all my luggages.

   Answer: (C) and all my luggages.

   Corrected sentence:

   The airline lost two of my bags and all my luggage.

   Rule: uncountable-no-plural: Uncountable nouns (information, advice, furniture, luggage, equipment, scenery, machinery) have no plural and take a singular verb.

   Why (C) is wrong: "Luggage" is uncountable.

   The other options:

   • (A) Correct as written.
   • (B) Correct as written.
   • (D) There is an error in part (C): Luggage (C).

8. Question 8Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayPick the wrong underlined word or phrase (JIPMAT 2021 format)

   Four words or phrases in the sentence below are underlined (shown here in bold). One of them has a grammatical error. Choose that word or phrase.

   The reason for his absence is because he was ill.

   1. A.is because
   2. B.reason
   3. C.absence
   4. D.was
   Show the answer and solution

   Answer: A. is because

   Answer: (A) is because

   Corrected sentence:

   The reason for his absence is that he was ill.

   Rule: redundancy: Do not say the same thing twice (revert back, return back, repeat again, the reason… is because, each and every one of them all).

   Why (A) is wrong: "The reason… is because" repeats the idea of cause.

   The other options:

   • (B) Correct as written.
   • (C) Correct as written.
   • (D) Correct as written.

9. Question 9Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayPick the wrong underlined word or phrase (JIPMAT 2021 format)

   Four words or phrases in the sentence below are underlined (shown here in bold). One of them has a grammatical error. Choose that word or phrase.

   Ganga is the holiest river in India.

   1. A.the
   2. B.Ganga
   3. C.holiest
   4. D.river
   Show the answer and solution

   Answer: B. Ganga

   Answer: (B) Ganga

   Corrected sentence:

   The Ganga is the holiest river in India.

   Rule: article-the-names: Use "the" before names of holy books and epics (the Gita, the Mahabharata), rivers, seas, mountain ranges, deserts, groups of islands and newspapers; not before names of people, cities, single mountains, languages, meals or games.

   Why (B) is wrong: Names of rivers take "the".

   The other options:

   • (A) Correct as written.
   • (C) Correct as written.
   • (D) Correct as written.

10. Question 10Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayPick the wrong underlined word or phrase (JIPMAT 2021 format)

    In the sentence below, certain parts are underlined (shown here in bold). One of them has an error. Identify that part.

    Not only the teachers but also the principal were unhappy about the decision taken without consulting them.

    1. A.Not only the teachers
    2. B.but also the principal
    3. C.were unhappy about
    4. D.the decision taken without consulting them
    Show the answer and solution

    Answer: C. were unhappy about

    Answer: were unhappy about.

    Corrected sentence: Not only the teachers but also the principal was unhappy about the decision taken without consulting them.

    When subjects are joined by "not only ... but also", the verb agrees with the subject nearest to it. The nearer subject is "the principal" (singular), so the verb must be "was". The other parts are correct: the pair is properly completed, and the reduced passive "taken" and the pronoun "them" are fine.