English Language & Comprehension
The English section tests grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension through error spotting, sentence improvement, fill-in-the-blanks, idioms, synonyms and antonyms, and passage-based questions.
Core rules
- Subject-verb agreement: the verb agrees with the subject, not with a noun in a prepositional phrase. In 'one of the nurses is', the subject is 'one'.
- Tenses: use 'since' with a point of time and 'for' with a duration; use the present perfect for an action continuing to now.
- Articles: use 'a/an' for indefinite singular countable nouns and 'the' for specific or unique things.
- Prepositions: learn fixed pairs such as 'comply with', 'averse to', 'capable of', and 'insist on'.
- Reading comprehension: distinguish stated facts from inferences; the answer must be supported by the passage.
Worked example
Choose the correct verb: 'One of the nurses ___ on night duty every Friday.' Options: is/are. Reasoning: the subject is 'one', which is singular. The phrase 'of the nurses' is a prepositional phrase and does not change the subject number. Therefore the singular verb 'is' is correct. Answer: is.
Traps
- Matching the verb to the nearest plural noun instead of the true subject.
- Using 'since' for a duration, as in 'since two years', instead of 'for two years'.
- Confusing 'affect', a verb, with 'effect', a noun.
- Choosing an option because it sounds formal rather than because it fits the grammar.
- In comprehension, importing outside knowledge instead of using the passage.