English Language
English Language
The English section tests reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary and sentence construction. Indian Bank LBO papers typically include RC, cloze test, error detection, sentence rearrangement/para jumbles, fillers and word usage. The goal is to identify the option that is grammatically correct and contextually precise.
Core rules
- Reading comprehension: Read the passage once for the main idea, then locate answers. Do not import outside knowledge. For inference questions, choose what must follow from the text, not what is merely plausible.
- Subject-verb agreement: A singular subject takes a singular verb. 'One of + plural noun' is singular: 'One of the officers was promoted.' 'The number of' is singular; 'a number of' is plural.
- Tenses: Match the time marker. 'Since 2019' takes present perfect or past perfect, not simple present.
- Prepositions: Learn verb-preposition pairs (comply with, insist on, deprived of, capable of).
- Para jumbles: Find the opening sentence (often independent, no pronoun reference) and mandatory pairs.
Worked example
Choose the correct sentence: 'The number of applicants have increased sharply this year.'
'The number' is the subject, not 'applicants,' so the verb must be singular: 'has increased.' If the sentence began 'A number of applicants,' the verb would be plural: 'have increased.' This distinction is a frequent LBO trap.
Traps
- Choosing a grammatically correct option that does not fit the passage's tone.
- Missing 'no error' when all parts are correct.
- Confusing similar words: affect/effect, principal/principle, complement/compliment.
- Ignoring the article before a noun in error spotting.