English Language
English Language checks grammar, vocabulary and comprehension. Questions are usually error spotting, fill in the blanks, synonyms and antonyms, idioms, one-word substitution, sentence rearrangement and a short passage.
Grammar anchors
- Subject-verb agreement: 'The number of students is...' but 'A number of students are...'.
- One of + plural noun + singular verb: 'One of the boys is here.'
- Articles: 'a' before a consonant sound, 'an' before a vowel sound, 'the' for something definite.
- Tenses: since and for are used with perfect forms; reported speech usually backshifts.
- Active to passive and direct to indirect conversion.
Vocabulary
- Learn idioms as units: 'to let the cat out of the bag' means to reveal a secret.
- Use sentence context for synonyms and antonyms rather than the most familiar meaning.
Worked example
Spot the error: 'The number of applicants are increasing every year.' The subject is 'The number', which is singular, so the verb should be 'is'. 'Applicants' is the object of 'of' and does not control the verb. Correct: 'The number of applicants is increasing every year.'
Traps
- 'A number of' takes a plural verb; 'the number of' takes a singular verb.
- Guessing an idiom literally.
- In comprehension, choosing an option that is true in real life but not stated in the passage.
- Missing a double negative.