English Language: Grammar Control and Reading Precision
English Language tests two separate skills in one section: rule-based grammar (error detection, sentence improvement, fillers, cloze test, word swap, match-the-column) and reading precision (comprehension and para jumbles). Grammar questions are the fastest marks in the paper because the error usually turns on one identifiable rule, not on how the sentence sounds.
Subject-verb agreement
- "The number of" takes a singular verb; "a number of" takes a plural verb.
- "One of the + plural noun" takes a singular verb.
- Each, every, either, neither and collective nouns used as a unit take singular verbs.
- "Neither ... nor" and "either ... or" agree with the nearer subject.
Prepositions, tense and structure
- Despite and in spite of take a noun or gerund, not a clause with a verb.
- Since is used with a point of time, for with a duration.
- Between is for two, among for more than two.
- The past perfect is used only for the earlier of two past actions.
Para jumbles
Find the opener first - a sentence with no pronoun and no forward connector. Then link sentences by pronouns ("this", "these") and connectors ("however", "therefore", "moreover").
Worked example
"The number of candidates appearing for the examination have increased significantly over the past three years." The subject is "the number", which is singular, so "have increased" must become "has increased". The trap is that "candidates" sits immediately before the verb, and "a number of candidates have increased" would in fact be correct, which makes the sentence sound acceptable.
Traps that cost marks
- Choosing an RC option that is true in general knowledge but not stated in the passage.
- Extreme wording in an option ("always", "never", "only") where the passage is qualified.
- Filling a cloze blank before reading the full sentence for collocation.
- In word swap, checking meaning but not whether both words fit grammatically in their new positions.