English Language and Comprehension
English Language and Comprehension
This domain tests grammar, vocabulary and reading. Typical items include error spotting, sentence improvement, synonyms/antonyms, idioms, cloze and comprehension.
Core rules
- Subject-verb agreement: “one of + plural noun” takes a singular verb; each, every, either and neither are singular; collective nouns are singular unless members act separately.
- Articles: a/an depends on sound, not spelling; use the for unique things, superlatives and rivers.
- Prepositions: learn fixed collocations such as “comply with”, “averse to”, “capable of”.
- Tense: match time markers; reported speech usually backshifts.
- Modifiers: place a modifier next to the word it describes.
- Comprehension: read the question first, locate the keyword, and prefer stated or directly inferable facts.
Worked example
“One of the officers ___ awarded.” Options: was/were. The subject is “One”, not “officers”, so the verb is singular: “One of the officers was awarded.” The plural noun is inside a prepositional phrase and does not control the verb.
Traps
Since vs for; between vs among; less vs fewer; double negatives; dangling modifiers; confusing inference with direct statement; choosing a synonym with the wrong connotation; and ignoring singular/plural in “one of the...”.