SSC Orientation

Study Note Kit_English

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Subject Introduction:
English language has the heaviest weightage in SSC CGL. Apart from CGL, English plays a vital role in
other SSC examinations and state exams of Delhi. Its importance can not be ignored if a candidate is an
aspirant of “Court Examinations” too.

Subject Weightage in SSC CGL Exam:

This subject values 50 Marks in Prelims (Tier 1), 200 in Mains (Tier 2) and 100 in Descriptive (Tier 3) in
SSC CGL.
In short, it can be estimated that out of 700, 350 marks are solely sectioned for the English language
that is equivalent to 50% of the Maximum marks.

Below are the most important topics from English that are required to clear the test in comfort.

High Weighted Topics:

Highly Weightage Topics (Prelims) Highly Weightage Topics (Mains)

1. Subject Verb Agreement 1. Narration

2. Pronouns 2. Voice

3. Tenses 3. Para Jumbles

4. Cloze Test (Incident) 4. Cloze test

All the above mentioned topics are the frequently asked topics in SSC examination from past several
years and will help you score fair marks.

Preparation of the Subject with Study Plan:

To prepare this subject step by step and ace it for your examination, we bring you the Study Plan of
this subject.
We have designed two Study Plans for you.

a. Long Term Study Plan:

This study plan will help you in depth preparation of the subject’s topics including their
subtopics in full time.

Days Topics

Day 1 Parts of Sentences

Day 2 Nouns

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Day 3 Nouns

Day 4 Nouns

Day 5 Pronouns

Day 6 Pronouns

Day 7 Pronouns

Day 8 Pronouns

Day 9 Articles

Day 10 Articles

Day 11 Revision of Nouns, Pronouns & Articles

Day 12 Verbs (Verbs often confused with their meanings and forms)

Day 13 Verbs (Non finite verbs)

Day 14 Verbs (Non finite verbs)

Day 15 Verbs (Subject Verb Agreement)

Day 16 Verbs (Subject Verb Agreement)

Day 17 Verbs

Day 18 Tenses

Day 19 Tenses

Day 20 Tenses

Day 21 Conditional Sentences

Day 22 Revision of Verbs, Tenses and Articles

Day 23 Active and Passive

Day 24 Active and Passive

Day 25 Adjective

Day 26 Adjective

Day 27 Adjective

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Day 28 Adverb

Day 29 Adverb

Day 30 Revision of Adjective, Adverb and Voice

Day 31 Direct and Indirect

Day 32 Direct and Indirect

Day 33 Direct and Indirect

Day 34 Prepositions

Day 35 Prepositions

Day 36 Prepositions

Day 37 Phrasal Verbs

Day 38 Conjunctions

Day 39 Revision of Prepositions, Phrasal verbs, Conjunctions and Narration

Day 40 Fill in the Blanks (Grammar Based)

Day 41 Fill in the Blanks (Grammar Based)

Day 42 Vocabulary (Word Meanings, Synonyms)

Day 43 Vocabulary (Word Meanings, Synonyms)

Day 44 Fill in the blanks (Vocab Based)

Day 45 Fill in the blanks (Vocab Based)

Day 46 Fill in the blanks (Vocab Based)

Day 47 Cloze Test

Day 48 Cloze Test

Day 49 Cloze Test

Day 50 Cloze Test

Day 51 Error Spotting and Phrase Replacement

Day 52 One Word Substitution

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Day 53 One Word Substitution

Day 54 Idioms and Phrases

Day 55 Idioms and Phrases

Day 56 Sentence Jumbles

Day 57 Para Jumbles

Day 58 Reading Comprehension

Day 59 Reading Comprehension

Day 60 Mock or Previous Paper along with analysis

b. Short Term Study Plan:

This study plan will help you to revise all the topics within 15 days before your examination.

Days Topics

Day 1 Nouns + Vocabulary (Meanings and Synonyms)

Day 2 Pronouns + Vocabulary (Meanings and Synonyms)

Day 3 Articles + Vocabulary (Meanings and Synonyms)

Day 4 Verbs (Non finite verbs) + Vocabulary (Meanings and Synonyms)

Day 5 Verbs (Subject Verb Agreement) + Vocabulary (Idioms and Phrases)

Day 6 Adjective and Adverb + Vocabulary (Idioms and Phrases)

Day 7 Adjective and Adverb + Vocabulary (Idioms and Phrases)

Day 8 Prepositions + Vocabulary (Idioms and Phrases)

Day 9 Conjunctions + Vocabulary (One word substitution)

Day 10 Tenses and Conditional sentences + Vocabulary (One word substitution)

Day 11 Error spotting and Phrase replacement + Vocabulary (One word substitution)

Day 12 Sentence and ParaJumbles + Vocabulary (One word substitution)

Day 13 Reading Comprehension + Vocabulary (Meanings and use of words given in passage)

Day 14 Cloze test (Meaning and use of words given in options)

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 Day 15 Fill in the blanks ((Meaning and use of words given in options)

Day 16 Mock test or Previous Papers along with analysis

Most repeated questions: Error Spotting

Spot the part of the sentence that has an error in it. Mark part 'D' as your answer if there is no error
in the sentence.

My family friend Vivek Dhiman (A) will be owning a flat (B) in Delhi soon. (C) No error (D)

1) A
2) B
3) C
4) D

Part B is the correct answer.

Key Points
 Use 'own' instead of 'be owning'
 RULE: Non action verbs can not be expressed in "Continuous/Progressive Tense"
 NON ACTION VERBS:-
o taste, feel, smell, sound, seem, sense, love, hate, like, dislike, belong, own, have,
possess, look, appear, mean, fit, resemble, prefer, know, suppose etc
 In the given sentence, own is used as a 'non action verb' hence it can not be used in 'continuous
tense'.
 After converting the sentence the given 'future continuous' tense into 'future simple', the
correct sentence will be-
 My family friend Vivek Dhiman will own a flat in Delhi soon.

Confusion Points
 It is important to understand that a verb can act as both - "action verb & non action verb'
 It depends on the usage of it. Go through the below examples to understand this confusion
point:
o I am having my lunch. (Correct in Present Continuous tense because verb 'have' is used
as an action verb)
o I am having two kids. (Incorrect in Present Continuous tense because verb 'have' is used
as Non action verb)
o I have two kids. (Correct)
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2. Spot the part of the sentence that has an error in it. Mark part 'D' as your answer if there is no
error in the sentence.

The height of (A) the statue of Ramanujacharya (B) is 216 foot. (C) No error (D)

1) The height of
2) the statue of Ramanujacharya
3) is 216 foot.
4) No error

Option no 3 is the incorrect part

Key Points
 Since the height is more than 1 foot, it will be written feet instead of foot
 Note: The plural of "foot" is "feet"
Correct sentence: The height of statue of Ramanujancharya is 216 feet.
Confusion Points
Below is a concise table of confusing 'singular and plural nouns'

SINGULAR PLURAL
foot feet
tooth teeth
mouse mice
ox oxen
syllabus syllabi
radius radii
formula formulae
loaf loaves
child children

3. Spot the part of the sentence that has an error in it. Mark "D" as your answer if the sentence is
grammatically fit.

At the sight of (A) police,(B)the robbers fled away.(C) No error (D)

1) A
2) B
3) C
4) D

Option C, is the correct answer. (remove 'away')

Key Points

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  Error Type: Superfluous Expression
 Flee means to "run away''
 Because 'away' is already in the meaning of "flee", it is incorrect to use 'flee away'
Correct sentence: At the sight of police, the robbers fled.
Alternate Method
 NOTE: Flee = Run away
 We can correct the given sentence either way.
1. Removing "away"
2. Using "ran" in the place of "fled"
 Correct sentences:
1. At the sight of police, the robbers fled.
2. At the sight of police, the robbers ran away.

Fill in the blanks Choose the most suitable verb to make the sentence logical in sense.

4. The traders suddenly _____________ the prices of crude oil last year.

1) arouse
2) raised
3) rose
4) roused

Option 2 is the correct answer. "raised"

Key Points
To understand this, it is important to note the differences between the given below 4 confusing verbs

1st 2nd 3rd Meaning in English Meaning in Hindi

form form form
Raise raised raised to lift something up or to ऊपर उठाना या स्‍तर में वृद्धि करना
increase
Rise rose risen to move upwards ऊपर की और उठना या चढ़ना
Arise arouse arisen to begin to exist or appear अद्धित्व में आना; प्रकट होना

Rouse roused roused to make angry excited, ककसी को अत्‍यंत क्रोकित, उत्तेकित, रुकचयुक्त कर
,interested दे ना
 From the meanings given above, It is clear that the prices of crude oil were "raised" by traders.
 The sentence is given in "past tense" which requires the 2nd form of the verb.
 Hence to make the sentence meaningful, we shall use the second form of raise i.e. "raised"
Complete Sentence: The traders suddenly raised the prices of crude oil last year.

5. RBI imposes Rs 25 lakh fine on Axis bank for _______ KYC norms.

1) Complying
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2) Flouting
3) Asking
4) Regulating

Option no 2 "flouting' is the correct answer.

Key Points
Below are the meaning of given words:

1. Comply: to obey an order or request (आदे श या अनुरोि को मानना)

2. Flouting: to refuse to obey or accept something (अवहे लना करना, उल्‍लंघन करना)
3. Regulate: to control something by using laws or rules (कानून की सहायता से ककसी को कनयंकित
करना )
As per the meaning given above, it is clear that option no 2 'flouting' is correct because a bank can be
fined if it breaks/breaches a law.

Vocabulary:
6. Which of the followings is opposite in the meaning to:
BEWILDERMENT
1) Bafflement
2) Befuddlement
3) Certitude
4) Bemusement
Option no 3 is the correct answer
Key Points
Bewilderment
 Meaning: "the quality or state of being lost, perplexed, or confused"
 Synonyms: bafflement, befuddlement, bemusement, mystification and stupefaction.
 Antonyms: assurance, certainty, certitude, confidence and conviction
 Use in a sentence: the slightest change in her daily routine leaves her in complete
bewilderment
From the above given synonyms and antonyms, it is clear that option 3 "certitude" is the correct
antonym.

7. Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word

IMPERATIVE
1) Preface
2) Necessary
3) Epilogue
4) Prologue
The correct answer is Necessary.
Key Points
 The most appropriate synonym of the given word 'Necessary' is 'Imperative'.
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  Let's look at the meaning and examples of the given options:
Words Meaning Example

Necessary needed in order to achieve a particular result; essential He lacks the necessary skills
for the job.

Imperative extremely important, essential or urgent. It's imperative to act now

before the problem gets really
serious.

Preface an introduction at the beginning of a book explaining its In his preface, the author says
purpose, thanking people who helped the author, etc. that he took eight years to
write the book.

Epilogue a speech or piece of text that is added to the end of a play An epilogue briefly describes
or book, often giving a short statement about what happens this development in whaling
to the characters after the play or book finishes after 1931.

Prologue a part that comes at the beginning of a play, story, or long The essay provides a prologue
poem, often giving information about events that happened to the book.
before the time when the play, story, or poem begins

 Therefore, as per the points mentioned above, we find that the correct answer is Option 2.
Additional Information
 Let's look at a method of retaining new vocabulary for a long time.
 Mnemonic is a system such as a pattern of letters, ideas, or associations that assists in
remembering something.
o Necessary: Not Every Cat Eats Sardines. Some Are Really Yummy.
8. VOICE
Change the given below active voice into a passive voice
Ruskin Bond authored the book 'It's a wonderful life'.
1) The book 'It's a wonderful life' has been authored by Ruskin Bond.
2) 'It's a wonderful life' the book has been authored by Ruskin Bond.
3) The book 'It's a wonderful life' was authored by the Ruskin Bond.
4) The book 'It's a wonderful life' was authored by Ruskin Bond.

Answer with the help of elimination technique.

 Option 1 and Option 2 are incorrect because they are given in present perfect tense where the
question is of "simple past".
 Option 3 is in 'simple past passive' form yet is incorrect because article 'the' is not used before
Proper nouns.
Example; The Sudhir (❌ ) Sudhir (✔️)
 As Sudhir is a proper noun, similarly 'Ruskin Bond' is a proper noun.

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  Option 4 is in 'simple past passive' form and has no grammatical error hence is the correct
answer.

9. SPELLING TEST
Which of the followings is incorrectly spelt
1) Mountaineering
2) Committee
3) Vaccum
4) Receive
Key Points
o Option no 3 is the correct answer.
o The correct spelling is Vacuum.
o Other words are spelt correctly

10. IDIOM
Directions: Identify the meaning of the idiom used in the sentence given below-

He's in the doghouse for forgetting his wife's birthday.

1) To be shifted in a small house.
2) Living in the house of a pet dog situated in the garden of the same house.
3) In someone's disfavour
4) In regret
Option no 3 is the correct answer.
Key Points
 To be in the doghouse means "to be in disgrace or disfavor."
 As per the meaning of the idiom, option no 3 is the correct answer.
 Example usages in sentences:-
1. "Having denied the proposal of Joe Biden, Pakistan is in the doghouse"
2. "I am in the doghouse because I broke Sara's favorite vase this morning"

Some of the useful books to prepare English Language for SSC Exams

Books Medium Author Publication

Objective English English SP Bakshi Arihant

Word Power Made Easy English Norman Lewis Penguin

General English Hindi, English Lucent Team Lucent’s

Apart from the books, it is advisable to read newspapers on a daily basis so that one can improve one’s
comprehension ability.

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