PPSC Subject Specialist Test English Syllabus

How is a sentence changed from active voice to passive voice?

The object of the active sentence becomes the subject, the verb changes to a form of 'be' + past participle, and the original subject becomes the agent introduced by 'by' (often omitted).

What is the passive voice formula for the Simple Present and Simple Past tenses?

Simple Present: is/am/are + past participle (V3). Simple Past: was/were + past participle (V3) (e.g., 'The letter was written by him.').

What is the passive form of the Present Continuous and Present Perfect tenses?

Present Continuous: is/am/are + being + V3. Present Perfect: has/have + been + V3 (e.g., 'The work has been done.').

Which tenses generally cannot be made passive?

The Perfect Continuous tenses and the Future Continuous tense are normally not used in the passive voice; also intransitive verbs (no object) cannot be made passive.

How is a modal verb sentence (e.g., 'can', 'must') made passive?

Modal + be + past participle (V3), e.g., active 'She can solve it' becomes passive 'It can be solved (by her).'

What three main changes occur when converting direct speech to indirect (reported) speech?

1) Remove quotation marks and often add 'that'; 2) shift the tense back (backshift); 3) change pronouns and time/place words to fit the reporter's viewpoint.

In reported speech, how do present simple, present continuous, and present perfect tenses backshift?

Present simple to past simple, present continuous to past continuous, and present perfect to past perfect (e.g., 'I am tired' to 'He said he was tired').

In indirect speech, how are these time/place words changed: now, today, tomorrow, yesterday, here?

now to then, today to that day, tomorrow to the next day, yesterday to the previous day, here to there.

How is a yes/no question reported in indirect speech?

Use 'asked/enquired' + if/whether, change to statement word order (subject before verb), apply backshift, and drop the question mark (e.g., 'He asked if I was ready.').

How is an imperative (command/request) converted into indirect speech?

Use a reporting verb like told, ordered, requested, or advised + object + to-infinitive; for negatives use 'not to' (e.g., 'He told me to sit down'; 'She asked me not to go.').

Give the synonyms and antonyms of 'benevolent'.

Synonyms: kind, generous, charitable. Antonyms: cruel, malevolent, unkind.

What is a synonym and an antonym for the word 'abundant'?

Synonym: plentiful, ample, copious. Antonym: scarce, sparse, meager.

Give a synonym and an antonym for 'candid'.

Synonym: frank, honest, straightforward. Antonym: deceitful, evasive, insincere.

Give a synonym and an antonym for 'transient'.

Synonym: temporary, fleeting, short-lived. Antonym: permanent, lasting, enduring.

What is the one-word substitution for 'a person who knows many languages'?

A polyglot (or linguist).

What is the one-word substitution for 'a government run by a small group of people'?

An oligarchy.

What is the one-word substitution for 'a medicine that can counteract a particular poison'?

An antidote.

What is the one-word substitution for 'one who does not believe in the existence of God'?

An atheist (a person who believes God exists is a theist; one unsure is an agnostic).

What is the one-word substitution for 'words inscribed on a tomb'?

An epitaph.

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

To force oneself to endure or face a painful or unpleasant situation with courage.

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 'once in a blue moon' mean?

Very rarely; something that happens only on rare occasions.

What is the difference in usage between 'affect' and 'effect'?

'Affect' is normally a verb meaning to influence ('It affects me'); 'effect' is normally a noun meaning a result ('the effect of rain').

Distinguish between 'stationary' and 'stationery'.

'Stationary' (with an 'a') is an adjective meaning not moving; 'stationery' (with an 'e') is a noun meaning writing materials such as paper and pens.

Distinguish between 'principal' and 'principle'.

'Principal' means chief/main or the head of a school (a person/adjective); 'principle' is a noun meaning a rule, law, or fundamental truth.

What is the difference between 'its' and 'it's'?

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

Identify the common grammatical error: 'Each of the students have submitted their work.' What is correct?

Error in subject-verb agreement: 'each' is singular, so it should be 'Each of the students HAS submitted...' (verb 'has', singular).

What is a dangling modifier, and how is it corrected?

A modifier with no clear word to describe (e.g., 'Walking to school, the rain started'). Correct it by giving it a logical subject: 'Walking to school, I was caught in the rain.'

Differentiate the four sentence structures: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex.

Simple: one independent clause. Compound: two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinator. Complex: one independent + at least one dependent clause. Compound-complex: two or more independent clauses + at least one dependent clause.

What is the rule for using a semicolon versus a comma between two independent clauses?

Use a semicolon to join two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction ('I came; I saw'). A comma alone between them is a comma splice error; use a comma only with a coordinating conjunction.