English Language
English Language in the IBPS SO prelims (25 questions for most posts) tests reading comprehension, grammar, usage and vocabulary. Typical items are reading comprehension, cloze test, error detection, sentence improvement, para jumbles, single and double fillers, word usage/swap and idioms.
Core rules
- In reading comprehension, separate main idea, tone and purpose from detail. Answer detail questions only from the passage, and reject options with extreme words such as "always" or "never" unless the passage says so.
- For para jumbles, find the opening sentence first: it introduces the topic and has few pronouns. Then link sentences by pronouns, conjunctions and chronology.
- In error detection, check subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, prepositions, articles, parallelism and misplaced modifiers.
- For fillers, use collocations and the grammar of the whole sentence; in double fillers, both words must fit.
- In cloze, read the full passage before choosing; the correct word often depends on a later clause.
Worked example
Sentence: "The number of candidates applying for the post have increased." Reasoning: The subject is "the number", a singular noun phrase, not "candidates". The prepositional phrase "of candidates" does not change the number of the subject. Therefore the verb must be "has": "The number ... has increased." A plural verb would be correct with "A number of candidates have increased", where "a number of" means "many".
Traps
- Choosing "No error" too quickly in error-spotting.
- Confusing "affect" (verb) and "effect" (noun), or "principal" and "principle".
- In para jumbles, starting with a sentence that begins with "This" or "He" without a referent.
- Negative marking: a wrong answer costs one-fourth of the marks.