English Language
English Language tests grammar, vocabulary, sentence correction, prepositions, articles, tenses, voice, reported speech, idioms, comprehension and sentence arrangement. Kerala PSC questions often use standard written English rather than conversational usage.
Core rules
- Subject-verb agreement: singular subject takes singular verb; each, every, either, neither are singular.
- Articles: a before consonant sounds, an before vowel sounds; the for specific or unique references.
- Tenses: present perfect for past action with present relevance; past perfect for the earlier of two past actions.
- Prepositions: fixed collocations such as depend on, comprise (no of), superior to.
- Voice: change object to subject; keep tense and add by only when needed.
- Vocabulary: learn word pairs such as affect/effect, principal/principle, complement/compliment.
Worked example
Choose the correct verb: Each of the students ___ submitted the assignment. Reasoning: the subject is each, not students; each is singular, so the verb is has. Answer: has.
Traps
In one of the + plural noun, the verb agrees with one: One of the boys is absent. Do not use since for a duration; use for with a period. Affect is usually a verb, effect usually a noun. In reported speech, backshift the tense when the reporting verb is past.