English Language and Comprehension
English Language and Comprehension tests grammar, vocabulary and reading. The paper usually asks error spotting, sentence correction, fill in the blanks, synonyms and antonyms, idioms, cloze passages and comprehension.
Core rules
- Subject-verb agreement: the verb agrees with the subject, not with the nearest noun.
- One of: one of + plural noun takes a singular verb. One of the boys is absent.
- Since and for: since a point of time, for a duration.
- Articles: a before consonant sounds, an before vowel sounds, the for unique or already specified things.
- Comprehension: the answer must be supported by the passage, not by outside knowledge.
Worked example
Choose the correct verb: One of the boys ___ absent. Reasoning: the subject is one, which is singular. The phrase of the boys is a prepositional phrase and does not change the subject. So the verb is is. Answer: is.
Traps that cost marks
- Being misled by the noun nearest the verb.
- Using since with a duration, as in since two years.
- Choosing a synonym that fits the dictionary but not the sentence.
- Answering comprehension questions from memory instead of the passage.
For idioms, learn the sentence in which the idiom appears. For grammar, read the whole sentence before marking the error.