Spot Errors in 5 Seconds: Modifier & Parallelism Rules with Examples | English Grammar Tricks
For SSC, CGL, CHSL, CAT, Banking | Crack All Competitive Exams: Without Stress
To truly assess where you stand before the SSC CGL exam,does needs to be more than just a score - it should be pinpoint exactly where your time and marks are leaking.
For an exam like SSC CGL, tracking your performance comes down to balancing accuracy against the clock.
The core SSC CGL Tier 1 Performance Metric
In tier 1, you have 60 minutes to solve 100 questions (two marks each, -0.50 for wrong answers). That breaks down
to an average to 36 seconds per question.
The table below shows the ideal benchmark performance target for a competitive Tier 1 score:
- Section: General Intelligence Reasoning
- Questions: 25
- Target Accuracy: 92%
- Ideal Time Investment: 15 - 18 mins
- Target Score: 44+
- Section: Quantitative Aptitude
- Questions: 25
- Target Accuracy: 90%
- Ideal Time Investment: 20 - 22 mins
- Target Score: 42+
- Section: English Comprehension
- Questions: 25
- Target Accuracy: 85%
- Ideal Time Investment: 10 - 22 mins
- Target Score: 38+
- Section: General Awareness
- Questions: 25
- Target Accuracy: 70%
- Ideal Time Investment: 5 - 7 mins
- Target Score: 25+
- Section: Total
- Questions: 25
- Target Accuracy: -85% Overall
- Ideal Time Investment: 1 hour
- Target Score: 149+
Tracking performance through a pie chart can be an effective visual method to understand various aspects of a candidate's progress, such as time allocation, task completion, or skill proficiency.
To create a pie chart, first collect relevant data such as hours spent on different tasks, scores in various skill assessments, or the proportion of completed versus pending assignments.
Once the data is compiled, use a spreadsheet or a chart-making tool to convert the data into a pie chart.
This visual representation allows for quick insights into areas that are consuming more time or need improvement.
After reviewing the pie chart, identify the segments that indicate underperformance or inefficiencies.
For instance,
If a significant portion of time is spent on a low-priority task, it may signal a need for better time management or task prioritization.
Alternatively, if a large segment signifies low scores in a particular skill, additional training or practice in that area could be beneficial. The necessary steps to resolve these issues include setting specific, achievable goals, allocating time more effectively, seeking mentorship or additional resources, and continuously monitoring progress to ensure improvements.
The final week before the SSC CGL exam isn't about learning new concepts—it's entirely about consolidation, optimizing your biological clock, and preserving your mental energy.
Trying to cram fresh topics now will only spike your anxiety and dilute what you already know perfectly.
This methodical approach can help in gradually enhancing overall performance.
Most Frequent Spotting Error Traps in SSC CGL
In the SSC CGL exam section, spotting errors is one of the highest - yielding areas, but it can easily eat up your time
if you read sentences purely by " how they sound".
Examiners deliberately design traps that seems natural to the ear but violet strict grammar rules.
To maximize your speed and accuracy under intense time pressure, you need to stop reading passively and start scanning like an auditor.
The vast majority of questions asked in SSC CGL exam trace back to these five high - yielding rule blocks.
10XThink: Error Detection & Correction Master the Highest-Scoring Topic for SSC CGL English I Score Full Marks in Error Detection & Correction
Subject - Verb Agreement
Concord Error Detection
Most Repeated Exam Topic
Master Concord in Minutes
Definition with clear examples
Concord means agreement but in English Grammar it is also known as (Subject - Verb Agreement).
What is Concord?
Subject Verb Agreement means the verb must agree the subject in number and person.
Master Subject - Verb Agreement with this visual image - ideal for competitive exams.
For example:
- He writes✍️
- You write✍️
- I write✍️
- They write✍️
Quick Exam Trick🎯
- Find subject
- Check singular/plural
- Match verb
👉Correct subject = correct answer.
Here in the first example:
The subject is singular: third person singular (he,she,it)
Use a singular verb means always use 's ' or 'es' on the present tense.
On the other hand, pronouns like (' I '), first person (' You') second person are singular but they follow the plural verb
form rule (means don't use s/es) in the simple present tense.
In the last example,' They write', 'They' is plural here, (when the subject is plural such as" they," " we"," you "or "plural nouns " like " The boys", don't add 's' or 'es' to the verb in the present tense.)
But if we say:
He writes a letter in the morning.
If we analysis the sentence:
We come to the conclusion:
He writes: focus on sub and verb only
Sub + Verb → Only focus on
Subject + Verb
a letter: ignore article and obj
Article + Object → Ignore article + obj
in the morning → ignore phrase
Ignore extra phrases, clauses while doing error detection.
Subject Verb Agreement Rules (with Tricks & Examples)
SSC repeats previous year questions -
But not always word for word
Let's make the concord error detection easy for exams:
Rule No 1
Important exam trick🎯
When two subjects are connected by phrases like: ðŸ§
- as well as
- along with
- together with
- in addition to
- with
The verb must agree with the first subject, not the second one. Focus only on the main subject
For example:
Mr. Sen has gone on a picnic along with his family.
Main subject: Mr. Sen
Phrase: along with his family (extra information)
- Verb follows the first subject.
- Ignore the phrase ' along with'
- Ignore the second subject ' his family'.
Rule No 2
When two subjects are joined by either ...or/neither...nor, the verb agrees with the subject nearest to it.
Either/ Neither + or /nor verb follows the nearest subject.
Structure: ðŸ§
Either + subject(first) + or + subject(second) + verb (according to nearest subject)
Either he or his assistants is responsible to perform this task. ❌
(This sentence is wrong)
Either he or his assistants are responsible to perform this task.
(This sentence is correct)✔️
According to the rule, the verb must agree the closer subject (the second one).
First subject →"He"
Second subject → "assistants"
Here "assistants" → (plural) so, the verb must be plural.
"A number of" vs "The number of"
👉Very common trap
- A number of = plural
- The number of = singular
Here the article used determines
whether the subject is the group or
the individual.
The number of means the specific total and it is singular in number.
For example,
The number of candidates is increasing to take admission in college.
A number of means "many" or "several" and it is plural in number.
For example,
A number of candidates are absent today.
Rule No 3
Collective Nouns
A collective noun generally takes a singular verb when the subject stands for the collection as a whole.
For example:
A bunch of bananas is called a hand.
👉Collective nouns are usually singular.
For example:
The members of the cricket team are divided into two parts.
Here, the subject is
"The members" (plural)
Verb: "are" (plural)
Note: If you don't write the word "members", in other words, instead of
writing:
"The members of team", write only "team" then the verb will be singular ("is").
The cricket team is divided into two parts. (Considering the team as a single unit).
Rule No 4
When a plural noun expresses some specific quantity or amount considered as a whole, the verb is in singular.
For example:
Fifty kilometers is not a long distance nowadays.
when distance, time, money, or measurement is considered as a single unit, use singular verb.
Here, " Fifty kilometers" is considered
as a single unit, so use " is " don't use "are".
Rule No 5
Some nouns which are plural in form
but singular in meaning, take a singular verb.
👉Even if plural form, treat as one unit
For example:
Physics is his favorite subject.
Here, the word," Physics" seems to be plural but it is used as singular, the verb is in singular.
👉Use always singular verb
Rule No 6
When a plural noun comes between a singular subject and its verb, the verb is often wrongly made to agree with the nearest plural noun.
For example:
The quality of this fabric is not good.✔️
Here, the main subject is ' quality ' (singular), not fabric.
👉Common mistake usually people do: The quality of this fabric are not good.❌ (wrong)
Ignore phrases starting with ' of ', Always find the real subject.
Let's take another example to clarify this:
The taste of these grapes is sweet.
When the subjects joined by or, nor
are of different persons, the verb agrees in person with the one nearest
to it.
For example:
Either he or you are to complete the project.
With ' either ...... or', the verb agrees with the nearest subject
Subjects he (singular) + you (treated as plural)
Nearest subject: you so use plural verb (are).
👉Verb agrees with closest subject
Rule No 7
If the singular subjects are preceded by each or every, the verb is singular.
For example:
Each participant and spectator is present.
Here,' Each ' is a singular determiner. When it precedes two singular nouns connected by 'and', it dictates that the verb should be singular
👉Don't think - use singular verb.
Mastering subject-verb agreement is crucial for clear and grammatically correct writing.
This can be achieved through understanding and classifying different types of subject-verb agreement rules. Here are some key classifications with examples:
1. Singular and Plural Subjects: A singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb.
For example,
“The cat runs” (singular)
“The cats run” (plural).
2. Compound Subjects: When subjects are joined by "and," they usually take a plural verb. However, if the compound subject refers to a singular idea or person, it takes a singular verb.
For example,
“Bread and butter is my favorite breakfast” (singular idea)
“The teacher and the student are discussing” (plural).😊😊
3. Subjects with "Or" or "Nor": When subjects are connected by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the subject closer to it.
For instance,
“Neither the teacher nor the students are ready”
“Neither the students nor the teacher is ready.”
4. Indefinite Pronouns: Words such as "everyone," "someone," and "nobody" are singular and take singular verbs.
For example,
“Nobody is here.”
5. Collective Nouns: These can be tricky as they can take either singular or plural verbs depending on whether the group is acting as one unit or as individuals. For example, “The team is winning” (acting
as a unit) versus “The team are arguing among themselves” (acting as individuals).
By practicing these classifications, candidates can develop a keen sense of subject-verb agreement, leading to more polished and effective communication.
Revision Trick:✨
👉If you try to learn all the rules, definitely you will forget, the best way
is to learn them in patterns + practice + visuals - it is perfect for competitive exam.
👉Match the verb with the subject
Follow these steps:
- Day 1: Learn only 2 or 3 rules
- Day 2: Practice questions
- Day 3: Revise those rules (it will take only 5 minutes)
- Day 4 & 5: Do mixed revision
- Weekly: Full test (it can online or offline)
👉Here is a guide of subject verb agreement, so don't skip! ✨
👉How to identify Concord Error Fast:
Identifying subject verb agreement errors quickly can greatly enhance your writing and test taking skills. Here is a concise guide with examples to help you ace your exam.
Identify the Subject and Verb:
Always start by pinpointing the subject and verb in a sentence. Remember, the subject is the person, place, thing or idea that is doing or being something, and the verb is the action or state of being.
For example,
The kite flies.
- Subject: kite
- Verb: flies
Check for Singular and Plural Forms:
Ensure the subject and verb in number. Singular subjects take singular verbs, while plural subjects require plural verbs.
For example,
The child plays in the park.
- Singular subject
- Singular verb
The children play in the park.
- Plural subject
- Plural verb
Watch for Intervening Phrases:
Ignore phrases or clauses that come between the subject and verb, as they can distract from finding the correct agreement.
For example,
The bouquet of flowers smells lovely.
- Subject: bouquet
- Verb: smells
Be Cautious with Collective Nouns:
Collective nouns, like "team" or "group" ,may seem plural but are usually treated as singular.
For example,
The team wins.
- Singular: subject
- Singular: verb
Pay attention to Indefinite Pronouns:
Words like "everyone", "someone", and "nobody" are singular, while "few", "many" and "several" are plural.
For example,
Nobody is excited.
- Singular: subject
- Singular: verb
Many are called.
- Plural: subject
- Plural: verb
👉Quick Exam Trick✨
- Find the subject
- Check singular or plural
- Match the verb
👉If subject is correct, answer is correct
👉Save this for revision
Before attempting this test, revise important grammar topics like
subject - verb agreement:
Exercise to beat the competition
👉Practice through questions
Identify the error in the following sentence:
Each of the students have their own locker.
- Each
- have
- students
- locker
Answer: have
Explanation: The correct verb should be "has" because "Each of the students" is a singular subject, requiring a singular verb.
Choose the correct sentence:
- The team are winning the match.
- The team has winning the match.
- The team were winning the match.
- The team is winning the match.
Answer: "Team" is winning the match.
Explanation: Team is a collective noun that is treated as singular in this context, so it takes the singular verb "is"
Select the sentence with correct subject verb agreement:
- Neither the manager nor the employee are available.
- Neither the managers not the employee was available.
- Neither the manager nor the employees are available.
- Neither the manager nor the employees is available.
Answer: Neither the manager nor the employees are available.
Explanation: The sentence "Neither the manager nor the employees are available" follows the grammatical rule concerning subject-verb agreement with "neither...nor" constructions. In such cases, the verb should agree with the subject that is closest to it.
Here, the closest subject to the verb is "employees," which is plural.
Therefore, the plural verb "are" is used to maintain proper subject-verb agreement. This rule ensures that the verb matches the number of the nearest subject in "neither...nor" sentences.
Find the error:
The number of students in the class are increasing.
- Number
- students
- are
- increasing
Answer: are
Explanation: "The number of" is treated as singular, so the correct verb should be "is".
Which sentence is correct:
- There is a lot of cars on the road today.
- There are a lot of cars on the road today.
- There is many cars on the road today.
- There be a lot of cars on the road today.
Answer: There are a lot of cars on the road today.
Explanation: "Cars" is plural, so the correct verb is "are".
Identify the error:
The committee decide on the new policy tomorrow.
- committee
- decide
- policy
- tomorrow
Answer: Decide
Explanation: "Committee" is a singular noun, so it should be "decides".
Choose the correct sentence:
- Neither of the answers are correct.
- Neither of the answer are correct.
- Neither of the answers is correct.
- Neither of the answer is correct.
Answer: Neither of the answer is correct.
Explanation: "Neither" is singular, so it takes the singular verb "is".
Identify the sentence with an error:
- The news was troubling.
- The news are troubling.
- The news has been troubling.
- The news is troubling.
Answer: The news are troubling.
Explanation: "News" is a singular noun, should be "is".
Select the correct option:
500 rupees ____ too much for this item.
- are
- have
- were
- is
Answer: is
Explanation: "500 rupees" is considered a singular amount, so it takes "is".
When a sum of money is considered as a single amount, it takes a singular verb, even though the amount consists of plural units.
Examples:
- Five hundred rupees is enough to buy this item.
- Ten thousand rupees is a large sum for me.
- Two hundred rupees was all I had.
SSC Exam Tip: When a sum of money, a period of time, or a distance is considered as a single unit, we generally use a singular verb.
- Ten kilometres is a long distance.
- Five years is a long time to wait.
Which sentence is grammatically correct:
- A bouquet of flowers have made the room look beautiful.
- A bouquet flowers make the room look beautiful.
- A bouquet of flowers were making the room look beautiful.
- A bouquet of flowers makes the room look beautiful.
Answer: A bouquet of flowers makes the room look beautiful.
Explanation: "Bouquet" is the subject, which is singular, so "makes" is correct.
After completing the mock test, evaluate your answer sheet and track your progress to identify your weak areas, clear your doubts, and avoid repeating the same mistakes in the actual examination.
One important SSC CGL tip: Revise the special rules alongside these basics, particularly each of, one of, a number of, the number of, along with, as well as, and not only…but also. These are frequent sources of confusion in error-detection questions.
Most important for Competitive Exams
Quick Revision: Golden Rules of Subject–Verb Agreement
At last, let's take a quick look at the rules of Subject–Verb Agreement so that we can recall them easily during the examination.
Subject–Verb Agreement (SVA) is a fundamental aspect of English grammar. It ensures that the verb agrees with its subject in number and person.
Here are some golden rules to remember:
1. Singular and Plural Subjects
A singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb.
Examples:
- The rabbit runs quickly.
- The rabbits run quickly.
2. Compound Subjects Joined by “And”
Two or more subjects joined by and generally take a plural verb.
Example: Rohan and his friend are playing.
Exception: When two nouns refer to one person, thing, or idea, a singular verb may be used.
Example:
- Bread and butter is my favourite breakfast.
- Two and two makes four.
3. Subjects Joined by “Either…Or” or “Neither…Nor”
When two subjects are joined by either…or, neither…nor, not only…but also, or or, the verb generally agrees with the subject nearest to it.
Examples:
- Neither the preacher nor his followers know the answer.
- Neither the followers nor the preacher knows the answer.
4. Sentences Beginning with “There”
In sentences beginning with "there is"
or "there are", the verb agrees with the actual subject that follows it.
Examples:
- There is a mobile charger on the table.
- There are several mobiles on the table.
- There is a huge rush in the exhibition.
- There are sixty rooms in this hotel.
5. Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns such as everyone, someone, somebody, anybody, each, either, and neither generally take singular verbs.
Examples:
- Everyone loves an interesting comics.
- Each of the students has submitted the project.
- Neither of the answer sheets is correct.
6. Collective Nouns
Collective nouns such as team, committee, family, and group generally take a singular verb when the group is considered a single unit.
In British English, a plural verb may be used when the members are considered individuals.
Examples:
- The team is winning the match.
- The jury are divided in their verdict.
SSC Exam Tip: For objective grammar questions, pay close attention to the intended meaning and the grammatical convention expected in the question.
7. Titles of Books, Films, and Other Works
Titles of books, films, and other works generally take a singular verb, even if the title appears plural.
Examples:
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is a popular novel.
- The Arabian Nights is a famous collection of stories.
By remembering these golden rules and practising previous years’ questions, you can improve your accuracy in Subject–Verb Agreement.
Points to Remember: Don't just memorise grammar rules—understand them, practise them, and apply them accurately in the examination!
Dear Aspirants,
Tracking your performance in mock
tests is crucial for identifying areas of improvement and ensuring success in your exams. To effectively track your performance, start by maintaining a dedicated notebook or digital document where you record your scores, time taken, and any particular sections where you struggled. After each mock test, spend ample time reviewing both the answers you got wrong and those you got right. Understanding why you chose a particular answer and why it was incorrect is key to avoiding similar mistakes in the future.
Create a list of common errors you make, such as misreading questions or making calculation mistakes, and develop strategies to address them.
For example,
If you frequently misread questions, practice slowing down and underlining key terms. Establish a feedback loop by setting specific goals for each test and reviewing whether you achieved them. Lastly, seek feedback from peers, mentors, or online forums to gain different perspectives on your approach. By systematically analyzing your mistakes and refining your techniques, you’ll be well on your way to mastering your exams.
Best of luck on your journey!
Warm regards,
[Anubha Kulshrestha]
No comments:
Post a Comment