IBPS SO English Language Syllabus

What is a 'dangling modifier'?

A modifier (usually an introductory phrase) that has no logical subject in the sentence to modify. E.g., 'Walking to school, the rain started' is wrong because rain wasn't walking; correct: 'Walking to school, I got caught in the rain.'

In 'Spotting Errors' questions, what is the standard approach to isolate the error?

Read the full sentence for meaning, then check each underlined/divided part for grammar (subject-verb agreement, tense, preposition, article, pronoun) and mark the part containing the error; if all are correct, choose 'No error.'

In Sentence Improvement / Phrase Replacement, what should you do if the original underlined part is already correct?

Choose the 'No improvement' / 'No correction required' option. Do not replace a grammatically and contextually correct phrase.

What is a Cloze Test and what skills does it assess?

A Cloze Test is a passage with blanks to be filled with the best-fitting word from options. It tests vocabulary, grammar (collocations, prepositions, tense), and contextual comprehension of the passage as a whole.

What is the key strategy for solving a Cloze Test passage?

Read the whole passage first to grasp the theme, then fill blanks using context, grammatical fit, and collocations. Treat blanks together since the passage is connected; do not solve each blank in isolation.

What is a 'double-blank' filler question, and how is it best solved?

A sentence with two blanks needing two words that both fit grammatically and in meaning. Best solved by eliminating option pairs where even one of the two words does not fit, since both must be correct.

What are Para Jumbles, and what should you identify first to solve them?

Para Jumbles are scrambled sentences to be rearranged into a coherent paragraph. First identify the opening sentence (introduces the topic, no pronoun referring back) and the concluding sentence, then link the rest using connectors, pronouns, and logical flow.

In Para Jumbles, how do pronouns and articles help establish sentence order?

A noun is usually introduced first with 'a/an'; later references use 'the' or a pronoun (it, they, this, he). So a sentence with a pronoun/'the' referring to a noun must come AFTER the sentence that introduces that noun.

What is a 'Para Completion' question?

A paragraph is given with the last (or a missing) sentence removed; you choose the option that best completes it by matching the tone, logical flow, and conclusion of the paragraph without introducing a new idea.

In connector-based sentence questions, what do contrast connectors signal? Give examples.

Contrast connectors signal opposition between two ideas. Examples: but, however, yet, although, though, whereas, nevertheless, on the contrary, despite/in spite of.

Name connectors that signal cause-effect and those that signal addition.

Cause-effect: because, since, as, therefore, thus, hence, consequently, so. Addition: and, moreover, furthermore, besides, in addition, also.

In 'Sentence Starters' questions, how do you choose the correct opening word/phrase for a given clause?

Match the starter to the logical relationship and grammar of the clause — contrast starters (Although, Despite) for opposing ideas, cause starters (Since, Because) for reasons — ensuring the resulting sentence is complete and meaningful.

What is a 'Word Swap' / 'Word Usage' interchange question?

Two (or more) words in a sentence are in the wrong positions and must be interchanged to make the sentence meaningful. The task is to identify which pair of words should swap places to correct the sense.

What is a 'triple-blank' filler question and the elimination strategy for it?

A sentence with three blanks where one option set of three words must fit all. Strategy: scan each blank, eliminate any option set in which at least one of the three words is grammatically or contextually wrong; the surviving set is the answer.

Define synonym and antonym, and how 'context' affects choosing them in exams.

A synonym is a word with the same/similar meaning; an antonym is a word with the opposite meaning. In context-based questions, choose the synonym/antonym that fits the specific sense the word carries in that sentence, not just its dictionary meaning.

What does the idiom 'to bite the bullet' mean?

To force oneself to do something difficult or unpleasant that one has been avoiding; to face a hard situation bravely.

What does the idiom 'a blessing in disguise' mean?

Something that seems bad or unfortunate at first but results in a good outcome later.

What does the idiom 'to let the cat out of the bag' mean?

To reveal a secret carelessly or by mistake.

What does the idiom 'to beat around the bush' mean?

To avoid getting to the point; to talk about something indirectly without addressing the main issue.

What does the idiom 'once in a blue moon' mean?

Very rarely; something that happens only on rare occasions.

What is a 'spelling error' question, and what is the typical task?

Several words are given (often within a sentence or as options) and you must identify the incorrectly spelled word, or pick the correctly spelled one. It tests precise knowledge of standard English spellings.

Distinguish the commonly confused pairs: 'principal' vs 'principle' and 'stationary' vs 'stationery'.

Principal = head of an institution / main (adj); principle = a rule or fundamental truth. Stationary = not moving; stationery = writing materials (paper, pens).

Distinguish 'affect' vs 'effect'.

'Affect' is usually a verb meaning to influence ('The news affected her'); 'effect' is usually a noun meaning result ('The effect was huge'), and rarely a verb meaning to bring about ('to effect change').

What is the rule for 'fewer' vs 'less'?

'Fewer' is used with countable nouns (fewer mistakes, fewer people); 'less' is used with uncountable nouns (less water, less time).

What is the difference between 'each other' and 'one another'?

Traditionally 'each other' is used for two people/things and 'one another' for more than two, e.g., 'The two friends helped each other' vs 'All the team members supported one another.'

In tense rules, what tense follows a past-tense main clause in indirect/reported speech?

When the reporting verb is in the past, the reported clause shifts back one tense (backshift): present→past, present perfect/past→past perfect, will→would. E.g., 'She said she was tired.'

What is the rule for using 'a number of' versus 'the number of' with verbs?

'A number of' + plural noun takes a PLURAL verb ('A number of students are absent'); 'The number of' takes a SINGULAR verb ('The number of students is rising').

What is a 'phrase replacement' option set typically structured around, and how do you eliminate wrong choices?

It tests grammar (tense, agreement, prepositions), idiom/collocation, and conciseness. Eliminate options with grammatical errors, then those that distort meaning or are wordy/redundant, keeping the concise correct one.

What does the idiom 'to call it a day' mean?

To stop working on something / decide that enough has been done for the present, especially to end the day's work.

What is the difference between 'its' and 'it's', a frequently tested error?

'Its' is the possessive form (the dog wagged its tail); 'it's' is the contraction of 'it is' or 'it has' (it's raining = it is raining).

In Para Completion and connector sentences, why must the chosen option NOT introduce a new idea?

Because the completing sentence must logically conclude or continue the paragraph's existing line of thought; introducing a fresh, unsupported idea breaks coherence and is the hallmark of a wrong option.