Question 1

The committee (A) have decided / (B) has decided / (C) have been deciding / (D) has been deciding that the new policy will be implemented from next month. No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is (B) 'has decided'. The subject 'committee' is a collective noun that functions as a singular unit in this context, requiring the singular verb 'has'. The simple past tense 'has decided' is appropriate because the decision-making action is complete. Options (A), (C), and (D) all use plural or continuous forms that are grammatically incorrect with a singular collective noun used in singular sense.

Question 2

The committee (A) have decided / (B) has decided / (C) are deciding / (D) have been deciding that the new policy will be implemented next month. No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is (B) 'has decided'. The subject 'committee' is a collective noun that takes a singular verb in Indian English when it acts as a single unit. The verb 'has decided' (singular) is correct. Option (A) uses plural 'have', which is incorrect in this context. Options (C) and (D) use present continuous tenses, which are inappropriate for a completed decision.

Question 3

She has been working (A) at / (B) in / (C) on / (D) for the bank since 2015 and she is very satisfied with her position. No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is (A) 'at'. The preposition 'at' is used with institutions and organisations when indicating where someone works. 'Working at the bank' is the standard collocation in English. Option (B) 'in' is incorrect (we say 'in a department' but 'at an organisation'). Option (C) 'on' is used for projects/tasks, not employment. Option (D) 'for' changes the meaning to working on behalf of rather than being employed by.

Question 4

The manager asked the employees (A) to complete / (B) completing / (C) complete / (D) to completing the report by Friday. No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is (A) 'to complete'. After the verb 'ask', the infinitive form 'to + verb' is required. This is the standard structure: 'ask someone to do something'. Option (B) uses the gerund 'completing', which is grammatically incorrect after 'ask'. Option (C) omits the 'to', which is required. Option (D) combines 'to' with the gerund, which is a non-standard form.

Question 5

Neither the manager nor the employees (A) was / (B) were / (C) has been / (D) have been present at the meeting yesterday. No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is (B) 'were'. When 'neither...nor' connects two subjects, the verb agrees with the nearest subject. Here, 'employees' (plural) is nearest, so the plural verb 'were' is correct. Option (A) 'was' would be used if the nearest subject were singular. Options (C) and (D) use present perfect tense, which is incorrect because 'yesterday' indicates simple past time.

Question 6

Neither the manager nor the employees (A) was / (B) were / (C) has been / (D) have been willing to compromise on the salary issue. No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (A). When 'neither...nor' connects two subjects, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Here, 'employees' (plural) is closest, so the verb must be plural: 'were', not 'was'. The simple past tense is appropriate for the context.

Question 7

The report (A) which was submitted / (B) that was submitted / (C) being submitted / (D) which has been submitted yesterday contains several critical findings. No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (D). The adverb 'yesterday' indicates a completed action in the past, requiring simple past tense 'was submitted', not present perfect 'has been submitted'. Present perfect is used for recent actions with present relevance, not for actions explicitly marked as past.

Question 8

The director, along with the senior staff members, (A) are planning / (B) is planning / (C) have planned / (D) has been planning the annual conference for the next three months. No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (A). The phrase 'along with' is a parenthetical expression and does not create a compound subject. The main subject is 'director' (singular), so the verb must be singular: 'is planning', not 'are planning'. The present continuous tense is appropriate for an ongoing action.

Question 9

The committee (A) have decided / (B) has decided / (C) are deciding / (D) have been deciding that the new policy will be implemented from next month. No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (A). 'Committee' is a collective noun that takes a singular verb in Indian English when referring to the body as a single unit. The correct form is 'has decided', not 'have decided'. The sentence uses simple past tense appropriately for a completed decision.

Question 10

The committee, which comprise representatives from various departments, (A) have decided that the new policy (B) will be implemented gradually so that employees can adapt themselves (C) to the changes without facing any difficulty. (D) No error

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (A). The subject 'committee' is a collective noun that is singular in Indian/British English and requires a singular verb 'comprises', not the plural 'comprise'. The phrase 'which comprise' treats the committee as multiple individuals, but in formal standard English, a committee acting as a single unit takes a singular verb. The correct form is 'The committee, which comprises representatives...' Parts (B) and (C) are grammatically correct: 'will be implemented' maintains future tense consistency, and 'adapt themselves' correctly uses the reflexive pronoun with plural reference to employees.

Question 11

The director, along with his team members, (A) / are planning to launch a new initiative (B) / that will address the issues which has been (C) / plaguing the organisation for years. (D) / No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (C). The relative pronoun 'which' refers to the plural noun 'issues', so the verb should be 'have' not 'has'. Correct form: 'issues which have been plaguing the organisation for years.'

Question 12

The committee members, who was appointed last month, (A) / have already submitted their (B) / preliminary reports to the board (C) / without any delay. (D) / No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (A). The subject 'committee members' is plural, so the verb should be 'were' not 'was'. The relative clause 'who was appointed' incorrectly uses singular verb agreement. Correct form: 'The committee members, who were appointed last month, have already submitted...'

Question 13

Since the new policy has been implemented, (A) / the employees are more motivated and (B) / they have been working with greater efficiency (C) / than they was before the change. (D) / No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (D). The pronoun 'they' is plural, so the verb should be 'were' not 'was'. The sentence compares two time periods using past tense; 'they were' is the correct form. Correct: 'than they were before the change.'

Question 14

Although the report was submitted on time, (A) / the management has been reluctant (B) / to implement the recommendations that was (C) / suggested by the consultant. (D) / No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (C). The relative pronoun 'that' refers to the plural noun 'recommendations', so the verb should be 'were' not 'was'. Correct form: 'recommendations that were suggested by the consultant.'

IBPS Clerk Error Spotting

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Error Spotting — Practice Questions

60-Second Revision — Error Spotting