English Language and Communication - Grammar, Comprehension and Formal Writing
This domain tests English as a working language: grammar accuracy, comprehension of short passages, professional vocabulary, and formal correspondence. Marks are lost on small mechanical errors, so precision matters more than literary style.
Grammar points that recur
- Subject–verb agreement with one of, neither of, each, every, and collective nouns.
- Tense control: present perfect with since/for; past perfect for the earlier of two past actions.
- Active ↔ passive: the object becomes subject; keep the tense of be consistent with the original.
- Direct ↔ indirect speech: tense backshift, pronoun change, and time-word change (today → that day).
- Articles and prepositions of time and place; countable vs uncountable quantifiers (much/many, fewer/less).
Formal writing layout
Sender’s address, date, receiver’s designation, a clear subject line, salutation, body in short paragraphs, and a closing. Use Yours faithfully with Dear Sir/Madam and Yours sincerely with a named person.
Worked example
“Neither of the two candidates have submitted the form.” Reasoning: the subject head is Neither of, which is singular; the two candidates is the object of the preposition and cannot control the verb. Correct sentence: “Neither of the two candidates has submitted the form.” The same logic gives “Each of the students is present.”
Traps that cost marks
- Since two years instead of for two years - since takes a point of time, for takes a duration.
- Pairing Dear Mr Sharma with Yours faithfully.
- Answering an inference question by copying a line from the passage instead of drawing the conclusion.
- Double negatives such as “didn’t do nothing”.
- Changing the tense of the original while converting to passive voice.