IBPS RRB English Language Syllabus

In Sentence Improvement, what is the correct form: 'one of the + ___ noun + ___ verb'?

'One of the' takes a plural noun followed by a singular verb (One of the boys is absent).

What is the correct conditional structure for a Type 2 (unreal present) conditional, tested in Sentence Correction?

If + past simple, ... would + base verb (If I were rich, I would travel).

In Sentence Correction, what tense follows 'since' and 'for' when expressing duration up to now?

The present perfect or present perfect continuous (e.g., 'has worked here for five years').

What is a 'misplaced modifier' error tested in Sentence Improvement?

A modifier placed so that it appears to describe the wrong word, creating ambiguity; it must sit next to the word it modifies.

In Sentence Correction, what follows the modals 'must', 'should', 'could', 'would'?

The bare infinitive (base form of the verb) without 'to'.

In Phrase Replacement questions, what should you do if the original phrase is already grammatically and contextually correct?

Choose the 'No correction required' / 'No improvement' option.

In Phrase Replacement, what is the correct idiomatic form: 'prefer X ___ Y'?

'prefer X to Y' (not 'prefer X than Y').

What is the correct form tested in Phrase Replacement: 'no sooner ... ___ ...'?

'No sooner ... than ...' (No sooner had he left than it rained).

In a single-blank Filler, what are the two main factors used to pick the right word?

Grammatical fit (part of speech, collocation) and contextual/logical meaning consistent with the sentence's tone.

In double-blank Fillers, what strategy quickly eliminates wrong options?

Test both blanks together — if either word fails grammatically or in meaning, the whole option is rejected.

What is a 'collocation' and why does it matter for Fillers?

A pair/group of words that naturally go together (e.g., 'heavy rain', 'make a decision'); the correct filler must form a natural collocation.

In Para Jumbles, what is the first step to identify the opening sentence?

Find the sentence that introduces the topic independently — it has no pronouns, connectors, or references depending on a previous sentence.

In Para Jumbles, what clues help link two sentences in sequence?

Pronoun references, connectors (however, therefore, moreover), chronological/cause-effect order, and repeated/anaphoric nouns and articles (a vs. the).

In Para Jumbles, what does the shift from article 'a/an' to 'the' for the same noun indicate?

The sentence using 'a/an' (first mention) comes before the sentence using 'the' (subsequent reference) for that noun.

What is a Cloze Test in IBPS RRB English?

A passage with several blanks where each blank must be filled with the contextually and grammatically correct word from given options.

In a Cloze Test, what should guide your choice when two options are grammatically correct?

The overall meaning, tone, and flow of the passage — the word that best fits the context wins.

What are 'sentence connectors' (linking words) and give three categories with examples?

Words joining ideas: contrast (however, although, whereas), addition (moreover, furthermore, besides), cause-effect (therefore, hence, consequently).

Which connector shows contrast and starts a dependent clause: 'although' or 'however'?

'Although' is a subordinating conjunction joining clauses; 'however' is a conjunctive adverb usually set off by punctuation and not joining two clauses directly.

In Sentence Connector questions combining two sentences, what does 'in spite of / despite' require after it?

A noun, pronoun, or gerund (despite the rain / despite being tired) — not a full clause; use 'though/although' for clauses.

In Word Usage questions, what is being tested when a single word is given with several sentences?

Whether the word is used correctly (right meaning, part of speech, and grammar) in each sentence; you identify the sentence(s) where its usage is correct.

In Word Swap (Word Interchange) questions, what is the task?

Identify two words in a sentence that have been interchanged and must be swapped back to make the sentence meaningful.

Distinguish 'affect' vs. 'effect' for Word Usage questions.

'Affect' is usually a verb meaning to influence; 'effect' is usually a noun meaning the result/outcome.

Distinguish 'principal' vs. 'principle' in Word Usage.

'Principal' = head of a school or a main/primary thing; 'principle' = a fundamental rule or belief.

Distinguish 'stationary' vs. 'stationery' in Word Usage.

'Stationary' = not moving; 'stationery' = writing materials such as paper and pens.

What is a Para Completion question?

A paragraph is given with the last (or a missing) sentence omitted, and you choose the option that best concludes/completes it in tone and logic.

In Para Completion, what makes a sentence the correct concluding sentence?

It logically follows the preceding ideas, matches the tone, and provides a natural conclusion without introducing unrelated new information.

What is a Para Summary question?

A paragraph is given and you must choose the option that best captures its central idea in a concise form.

In Para Summary, why are options containing extra or new details usually wrong?

A summary must reflect only the main idea of the passage; options adding information not in the passage or overemphasizing a minor detail are incorrect.

What is the meaning of 'volatile', a word common in economy/banking passages?

Liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for worse (e.g., volatile markets/prices).

Give the synonym of 'curtail', frequently tested in vocabulary-in-context.

To reduce, cut back, or restrict (synonyms: diminish, shorten, lessen).