Army Clerk Test English Syllabus

What is a conjunction?

A word that joins words, phrases, or clauses, e.g., and, but, or, because, although.

What are the coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS)?

For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.

What is the difference between a coordinating and a subordinating conjunction?

Coordinating conjunctions join equal parts (and, but); subordinating conjunctions join a dependent clause to a main clause (because, although, if).

What are the three articles in English?

'a', 'an' (indefinite) and 'the' (definite).

When is 'a' used and when is 'an' used?

'a' before a consonant sound (a book, a university); 'an' before a vowel sound (an apple, an hour).

When is the definite article 'the' used?

Before a specific/particular noun, unique things (the sun), and things already mentioned.

What is the structure of the Simple Present Tense (affirmative)?

Subject + base verb (+ s/es for he/she/it), e.g., He plays. They play.

When is the Simple Present Tense used?

For habits, general truths, and facts, e.g., 'Water boils at 100 C.'

What is the structure of the Present Continuous Tense?

Subject + is/am/are + verb-ing, e.g., She is reading.

What is the structure of the Present Perfect Tense?

Subject + has/have + past participle (V3), e.g., I have finished.

What is the structure of the Simple Past Tense?

Subject + past form (V2) of the verb, e.g., He played. She went.

What is the structure of the Past Continuous Tense?

Subject + was/were + verb-ing, e.g., They were playing.

What is the structure of the Past Perfect Tense?

Subject + had + past participle (V3), e.g., He had left before I arrived.

What is the structure of the Simple Future Tense?

Subject + will/shall + base verb, e.g., I shall go. They will come.

What is the structure of the Future Continuous Tense?

Subject + will be + verb-ing, e.g., She will be working.

What is the structure of the Future Perfect Tense?

Subject + will have + past participle (V3), e.g., I will have completed it by noon.

State the basic rule of Subject-Verb Agreement.

A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

In the present tense, what verb form follows a third-person singular subject (he/she/it)?

The verb takes -s or -es, e.g., He runs; She watches.

When two subjects are joined by 'and', is the verb singular or plural?

Plural, e.g., 'Ali and Sara are here.'

When subjects are joined by 'or'/'nor', which subject does the verb agree with?

The verb agrees with the subject nearer to it, e.g., 'Neither he nor they are coming.'

Do collective nouns like 'team' usually take a singular or plural verb?

Usually singular when acting as one unit, e.g., 'The team is winning.'

What is a synonym?

A word having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word, e.g., happy = glad.

Give a synonym for 'brave', 'big', and 'fast'.

Brave = courageous; Big = large; Fast = quick.

Give a synonym for 'begin' and 'end'.

Begin = commence/start; End = finish/conclude.

What is an antonym?

A word that means the opposite of another word, e.g., hot vs cold.

Give the antonyms of 'ancient', 'victory', and 'arrival'.

Ancient = modern; Victory = defeat; Arrival = departure.

Give the antonyms of 'expand' and 'accept'.

Expand = contract; Accept = reject.

What is meant by 'one word substitution'?

Replacing a long phrase or group of words with a single precise word, e.g., 'one who writes books' = author.

One word for 'a person who cannot read or write' and 'a place where books are kept'.

Illiterate; Library.

One word for 'a doctor who treats animals' and 'a person who studies stars and planets'.

Veterinarian (vet); Astronomer.