English Preparation for Government Exams
SSC CGL English Preparation
10 Common Mistakes in English for SSC CGL, CHSL & Other Government Exams
Study Smarter, Not Harder!
How to Avoid Common Mistakes in SSC CGL:
Basic 10 Common English Mistakes in SSC CGL
The Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) exam is a competitive test in India where proficiency in English grammar is crucial.
Here are ten common English grammar mistakes that candidates often make:
1.Subject-Verb Agreement: Many learners struggle with ensuring that the subject and verb in a sentence agree in number and person.
For example,
He go to the market. ❌
He goes to the market.✔️
2. Tense Confusion: Mistakes in tense usage, such as mixing past and present, can lead to confusion.
For instance,
I am going to the store yesterday ❌
I went to the store yesterday.✔️
3.Incorrect Use of Articles: Misusing
"a," "an," and "the" is frequent. Remember that "a" and "an" are for non-specific items, while "the" is for specific ones.
For example,
- "an university" ❌
- "a university." ✔️
- Next year, she will get admission to a university.✔️
- Next year, she will be admitted to a university.✔️
Rule: Use a/an according to the sound, not merely the first letter.
- a university → /juː/ sound
- a European country → /juː/ sound
- an umbrella → vowel sound
- an honest person → silent h, so vowel sound
4. Wrong Prepositions: Using incorrect prepositions can change the meaning of a sentence.
For example,
- "I am good in English". ❌
- "I am good at English."✔️
5. Pronoun Reference Errors: Ensuring pronouns clearly refer to the correct noun is essential.
For example,
When John met Tim, he was late. Specify who "he" refers to.
6. Misplaced Modifiers: Modifiers should be placed close to the word they modify to avoid confusion.
"She almost drove her kids to school every day" implies she didn’t complete the action, while "She drove her kids to school almost every day" is clearer.
7. Confusion Between Adjectives and Adverbs: Mixing up forms like "quick" (adjective) and "quickly" (adverb) is common.
For example,
- She runs quick. ❌
- She runs quickly. ✔️
8. Double Negatives: Using double negatives can reverse the intended meaning.
- I don’t know nothing.❌
- I don’t know anything.✔️
9. Overuse of Passive Voice: While not technically incorrect, overusing the passive voice can make sentences less direct.
For instance,
"The ball was thrown by John" is less direct than "John threw the ball."
10. Incorrect Word Order in Questions: Mistakes in word order are common in questions.
- You are coming with us?" ❌
- Are you coming with us?"✔️
Being aware of these common errors can help candidates prepare more effectively for the SSC CGL and improve their overall English proficiency.
10 Grammar Mistakes Candidates Should Avoid
Here are 10 common grammar mistakes that competitive exam aspirants frequently make, along with the rules and corrections to master them:
Subject Verb Agreement with Quantifiers:
Mistake: One of my friend is participating in the quiz.❌
Correction: One of my friends is participating in the quiz.✔️
Rule: The phrase "One of the" is always followed by a plural noun and a singular verb (e.g., One of the (plural noun) is (singular verb).
Misusing "Between" vs. "Among"
Mistake: Distribute the study material between all five students.❌
Correction: Distribute the study material among all five students.✔️
Rule: Between when referring to two distinct items or people (or specific individual items regardless of number). Use among when referring to three or more items or members of a group.
Mistake: Walking down the hall, the book was dropped.❌
Correction: Walking down the hall, he dropped the book.✔️
Rule: A modifying phrase at the beginning of a sentence must clearly
and logically describe the subject that immediately follows the comma. (A book cannot walk down the hall.)
Confusing "less" and "fewer'
Mistake: There are less questions left to attempt.❌
Correction: There are fewer questions left to attempt.✔️
Rule: Use fewer for countable nouns (questions, books, mistakes) and less for uncountable nouns or quantities (time, money, water, effort).
Incorrect use of "Neither....Nor"/ "Either....or"
Mistake: Neither the instructor nor the students was present.❌
Correction: Neither the instructor nor students were present.✔️
Rule: When two subjects are connected by neither ....nor or either.... or, the verb must agree with the subject closest to it (the students is plural, so use were).
Misplacing " Hardly", "Scarcely", and "No Sooner"
Mistake: Hardly I had entered the room when the exam started.❌
Correction: Hardly had I entered the room when the exam started.(or No sooner had I entered.... than.....)✔️
Rule: When sentences begin with negative adverbs like Hardly, Scarcely,
or No sooner, inversion occurs - the auxiliary verb comes before the subject. Also, pair Hardly/ Scarcely with when, and No sooner with than.
Prepositions After Words
Mistake: He is senior than me by two years.❌
Correction: He is senior to me by two years.✔️
Rule: Comparative adjectives ending in -ior ( senior, junior, superior, inferior, prior) take the preposition to, not than.
Using "Although" or "Though" with "But"
Mistake: Although he worked hard, but he failed the test.❌
Correction: Although he worked hard, he failed the test. (or Although he worked hard, yet he failed....)✔️
Rule: Although and but are both conjunctions expressing contrast. Using both in the same clause creates redundancy. Pair although with a comma or yet, never but.
Incorrect Pronoun Case After Prepositions
Mistake: This matter is strictly between you and I.❌
Correction: This matter is strictly between you and me.✔️
Rule: Prepositions(between, except,
like, besides, for) must be followed by objective pronouns (me, him,her, us, them), not subjective pronouns( I, he, she, we, they).
The Unnecessary "Return Back"/ "Repeat Again"
Mistakes:
- Please repeat the question again.❌
- He returned back to his hometown.❌
Corrections:
- Please repeat the question.✔️
- He returned to his hometown.✔️
Rule: Avoid redundancy. Words like repeat, return, revert, reply, re-examine already contain the concept of "again" or "back".
Subject Verb Agreement is one of the most heavily tested topics in competitive exams ( such as SSC, Banking, NDA, CDS).
The basic principle is simple: A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. However, exams target edge cases, tricky structures, and confusing noun phrases.
Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the major Subject Verb Agreement rules, along with common exam traps.
The Proximity Rule (Either .....or, Neither....ñor)
When subjects are connected by either...or, neither ... nor, not only .... but also, or the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
Incorrect: Neither the teacher nor the students was present in the auditorium.❌
Correct: Neither the teacher nor the students were present in the auditorium.✔️
Correct: Either the students or the teacher was late. (teacher is closest to the verb).✔️
💡Exam Tip: Look at the noun directly preceding the verb slot to determine the verb's number.
Parenthetical Expressions & Additive Phrases
When a singular subject is followed by phrases such as along with, together with, as well as, in addition to, accompanied by, with, or besides, the verb remains singular. These phrases do not make the subject plural.
Incorrect: The captain, along with his team members, were awarded medals.❌
Correct: The captain, along with his team members, was awarded medals.✔️
(the core subject is "Captain", which is singular)
"One of the" vs. "The only one of the"
This is a high frequency exam concept involving relative pronouns (who, which, that).
Pattern A (One of + Plural Noun + Relative Pronoun + Plural Verb) :
Example: He is one of those officers who have served with distinction.
Reason: Who refers back to officers (plural), so the relative clause takes a plural verb.
Pattern B (The only one of + Plural Noun + Relative Pronoun + Singular Verb)
Example: He is the only one of those officers who has served with distinction.
Reason: The only one restricts the subject do a single individual.
Collective Nouns ( Unity vs. Division)
Collective nouns (such as jury, committee, team, audience, class, government) take us singular verb when acting as a unified body, but a plural verb when members Act individually or are divided.
- Action: Unified action
- Example: The committee has submitted its report.
- Verb Type: Singular
- Action: Divided action
- Example: The committee are divided in their opinions.
- Verb Type: Plural
🎯Exam Tip: If the sentence uses plural possessive pronouns like their, it indicates division, requiring of plural verb.
Distributive Pronouns (Each, Every, Either Neither)
Words like each, every, everyone, someone, nobody, either, and neither are grammatically singular and take singular verbs.
Incorrect: Each of the participants have submitted their entry.❌
Correct: Each of the participants has submitted his/ her entry.✔️
Incorrect: Neither of the two solutions are correct.❌
Correct: Neither of the two solutions is correct.✔️
Amounts, Distances, Time and Units
When a plural noun refers to a single unit, total sum, distance, time, or weight, it takes a singular verb.
Incorrect: 10 miles are a long distance to walk.❌
Correct: 10 miles is a long distance to walk.✔️
Correct: Fifty thousand rupees was donated to the cause.✔️
Exception: If the sum/units are spent
all treated individually: Fifty thousand rupees were distributed among the victims.
Quantifiers and Noun Types
(A number of vs. The number of)
My number of ( + Plural Noun) - Plural Verb (means "many")
A number of candidates have cleared the tier - 1 exam.
The number of ( + Plural Noun) - Singular Verb (Refers to the specific figure/count)
The number of applicants has increased this year.
Other Quantifiers
All, Most, Some, Plenty, Half depend on the noun following the preposition of:
Some of the milk was spilled.
(Uncountable - Singular)
Some of the books were missing.
(Countable Noun - Plural)
Inversion (Here, There, and Adverbial Openings)
When a sentence starts with here, there, or a negative adverbial clause (Hardly, Scarcely, Seldom), the subject
comes after the verb.
Incorrect: There is many reasons for his failure.❌
Correct: There are many reasons for his failure.✔️
Correct: Seldom has he seen such dedication. (Subject: he)✔️
Nouns Plural in Form but Singular in Meaning
Certain nouns and in -s but represent a single subject, discipline, or illness. They take singular verbs.
Subjects/ Fields: Mathematics, Physics, Politics, Economics, Ethics
Diseases: Measles, Mumps, Rickets
Games: Billiards, Darts, Draughts
Example: Mathematics is a scoring subject in competitive exams.
Exception: Then fields of study refer to practical application or specific data, they become plural:
His mathematics are weak.(refers to calculation skills)
The statistics show a clear trend.
(refers to data points)
Always plural nouns
Certain nouns exist only in plural form (especially items with two symmetrical parts or compound tools) and take plural verbs unless preceded by "a pair of".
Items: Trousers, scissors, spectacles, binoculars, earnings, surroundings, thanks
Example: My spectacles are missing.
Example:
With "a pair of": A pair of spectacles has been found on the desk.
Small Mistakes Can Make a Big Difference!
Common Mistakes You Must Avoid
- You and I ❌
- You and me ✔️
Don't disclose this information. It should be between you and me.
The phrase "It should be between you and me" demonstrates the correct use of pronouns in a prepositional phrase. Here are the grammatical rules that apply:
1. Prepositional Phrases: In English, a prepositional phrase begins with a preposition (in this case, "between") and ends with the object of the preposition, which is typically a noun or pronoun.
2. Objective Case Pronouns: When pronouns are used as the object of a preposition, they should be in the objective case. The objective pronouns include: me, you, him, her, it, us, and them. In the phrase "between you and me," both "you" and "me" are correctly in the objective case.
3. Common Mistake: A frequent mistake is to use subjective pronouns (I, he, she, we, they) in these positions. For example, saying "between you and I" is incorrect because "I" is a subjective pronoun, not an objective one.
Example: Suppose you are discussing a secret or a private matter. You might say, "This information should remain between you and me," indicating that only the two of you should know about it.
By understanding these rules, you can ensure that your use of pronouns is grammatically correct in similar contexts.
- Didn't played ❌
- Didn't play ✔️
He didn't play mobile games.
The sentence "He didn't play mobile games" is a simple negative past tense sentence. Let's break down the grammatical rules and structure:
1. Subject: "He" is the subject of the sentence, indicating who performed the action. In English, subject pronouns like "he," "she," "it," "they," etc., are used to identify the doer of the action.
2. Auxiliary Verb: "Didn't" is a contraction of "did not," where "did" is the auxiliary verb used to form the negative past tense. The auxiliary verb "did" is used with the base form of the main verb to indicate actions that did not happen in the past.
3. Main Verb: "Play" is the base form of the verb, which follows "didn't" in negative past tense sentences. Note that the main verb remains in its base form when using "did" as the auxiliary verb.
4. Object: "Mobile games" is the object of the sentence, specifying what was not played. Objects can be nouns, pronouns, noun phrases, or clauses that receive the action
of the verb.
Example and Clarification:
Positive Sentence: "He played mobile games." Here, "played" is the simple past tense of the verb "play."
Negative Sentence: "He didn't play mobile games." Here, "didn't" negates the action, and "play" remains in its
base form.
The use of "didn't" helps clarify that the action of playing mobile games did not occur in the past.
- Open the fan. ❌
- Turn on the fan. ✔️
Please turn on the fan, and open all the doors and windows.
The sentence “Please turn on the fan, and open all the doors and windows” follows several grammatical rules that help maintain clarity and coherence. Here’s a breakdown of these rules along with examples to clarify:
1. Imperative Mood: The sentence uses the imperative mood, which is employed to give commands or requests. The subject "you" is understood and not explicitly stated.
Example: “Close the window.” (The implied subject is "you.")
2. Parallel Structure: The sentence maintains parallel structure by using two imperative clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction “and.” Both clauses begin with
a verb phrase, ensuring consistency in style.
Example: “Wash the dishes, and sweep the floor.” (Both actions are expressed in the same format.)
3. Punctuation: A comma is used before the conjunction “and” to separate the two independent clauses, emphasizing the equal importance of both actions.
Example: “Turn off the lights, and lock the door.” (The comma helps to clearly separate the two commands.)
4. Politeness Marker: The word “please” is used at the beginning of the sentence to make the request polite and courteous.
Example: “Please hand me the salt.” (The use of “please” softens the command.)
By following these grammatical rules, the sentence effectively communicates a polite request for multiple actions to be taken.
- Less friends ❌
- Fewer friends ✔️
He has fewer friends in comparison to others.
The sentence “He has fewer friends in comparison to others” uses several grammatical rules that can be broken down as follows:
1. Subject-Verb Agreement: The subject “He” is singular, so it takes the singular verb form “has.” This agreement is essential for maintaining grammatical correctness.
2. Comparative Structure: The phrase “in comparison to others” is used to establish a comparison between the number of friends he has and the number of friends other people have. This structure highlights the comparative nature of the statement.
3. Use of “Fewer”: The word “fewer” is used with countable nouns, such as “friends,” to indicate a smaller quantity. It is important to distinguish “fewer” from “less,” which is used with uncountable nouns.
4. Prepositional Phrase: “In comparison to” is a prepositional phrase that helps to introduce the basis of comparison, providing clarity to the sentence.
Example to Clarify:
Consider the sentence, “She has fewer books than her classmates.” Here, “She” is the subject, “has” is the singular verb, “fewer” indicates a smaller countable quantity (books), and “than her classmates” is the comparative phrase, showing that the number of books she has is less compared to her classmates.
In both examples, the structure effectively communicates a comparison of quantities using the appropriate grammatical rules.
Here are 10 multiple choice questions focused on spotting
the error related to prepositions, conjunctions, subject verb agreement, articles, adverbs, verbs, pronouns and nouns:
Prepositions
Identify the error in the sentence:
She is waiting in the bus stop.
- She is
- waiting in
- the bus stop.
- No error
Answer: waiting in
Explanation: The correct preposition is "at", instead of "in". The correct sentence should read: She is waiting at the bus stop.
Conjunctions
Identify the error in the sentence:
I wanted to go for a walk, so it was raining.
- I wanted
- to go for a walk
- so it was raining
- No error
Answer: so it was raining
Explanation: The connection "so" implies a cause and effect relationship incorrectly. It should be " but", as in the following sentence:
I wanted to go for a walk, but it was raining.
Subject Verb Agreement
Identify the error in the sentence:
The list of items are on the table.
- The list
- of items
- are on the table
- No error
Answer: are on the table
Explanation: The subject "The list" is singular, so the verb should also be singular:
The list of items is on the table.
Articles
Identify the error in the sentence:
He is a honest man.
- He is
- a honest
- man
- No error
Answer: a honest
Explanation: The Article should be "an" before of word starting with a vowel sound. The correct sentence is:
He is an honest man.
Adverbs
Identify the error in the sentence
She sings beautiful.
- She sings
- beautiful
- No error
Answer: beautiful
Explanation: "Beautiful" is an adjective. The adverb "beautifully" should be used to modify the verb "sings".
The correct sentence is:
She sings beautifully.
Verb
Identify the error in the sentence:
She have completed her homework.
- She have
- completed
- her homework
- No error
Answer: She have
Explanation: The correct form is "has" to manage the singular subject "She".
The correct sentence should be:
She has completed her homework.
Pronouns
Identify the error in the sentence:
Everyone must bring their own lunch.
- Everyone
- must bring
- their own lunch.
- No error
Answer: their own lunch
Explanation: "Everyone" is singular, so the pronoun should also be singular: "his" or her own lunch". However, in modern usage, "their" is often accepted as a gender - neutral singular pronoun.
Nouns
Identify the error in the sentence:
The informations are not clear.
- The informations
- are not
- clear
- No error
Answer: The informations
Explanation: "Information" is an uncountable noun and should not have an "s".
The correct sentence is:
The information is not clear.
Conjunctions
Identify the error in the sentence:
Neither the teacher nor the students
was ready for the exams.
- Neither the teacher
- nor the students
- was ready for the exam
- No error
Answer: was ready for the exam.
Explanation: The verb should agree
with the subject closer to it, which is "students".
The correct sentence is:
Neither the teacher nor the students were ready for the exam.
Articles
Identify the error in the sentence:
She bought an apple and a orange..
- She bought
- an apple
- and a orange
- No error
Answer: and a orange.
Explanation: The article "a" should be "an" before a word starting with a vowel sound.
The correct sentence is:
She bought an apple and an orange.
Study Tips:
To avoid common English grammar mistakes in SSC CGL, focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and ensuring that verbs match their subjects in number and tense.
Pay attention to pronoun-antecedent agreement, ensuring pronouns correctly refer back to their respective nouns.
Avoid common errors in verb tenses
by practicing consistency, especially in complex sentences. Brush up on punctuation rules, particularly the use of commas and apostrophes, to enhance clarity.
Expand your vocabulary to improve word choice and avoid redundancy. Finally, regularly practice writing and seek feedback to refine your grammar skills.
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