English - Comprehension, Grammar, Précis and Legal Usage
The DJS English paper tests usable accuracy: comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, précis and essay writing, with legal English usage woven in. It rewards precision, not decorative prose.
Core rules
- Grammar: A verb agrees with its nearest subject after “either…or” and “neither…nor”. Keep tense sequence consistent in reported speech. Avoid dangling modifiers: the implied subject of an introductory participle must be the main subject.
- Comprehension: Answer only what the passage supports. Distinguish stated fact from inference; a true statement outside the passage is still wrong.
- Précis: Capture the central idea in about one-third of the original, in your own words, without examples, comments or quotation.
- Legal writing: Prefer “the plaintiff filed the suit” to “the plaintiff has been pleased to file the suit”. Use consistent defined terms and avoid double negatives.
Worked example
“Neither the plaintiff nor the defendants ___ filed a written statement.” The correct verb is “have”, because with “neither…nor” the verb agrees with the nearer subject, “defendants”. If the order were reversed-“Neither the defendants nor the plaintiff has”-the singular “has” would be correct. The reasoning is grammatical proximity, not the total number of parties.
Traps
Do not change the author’s tone in a précis. Do not answer comprehension questions with outside knowledge. Watch “which” for non-defining clauses and “that” for defining clauses. In essays, clear structure and correct sentences beat rare vocabulary.