SBI Clerk English Language Syllabus

English Language syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for English Language in SBI Clerk, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Reading Comprehension

   2 topics

   • Passage-Based Questions
   • Theme and Main Idea
2. 2

   Cloze Test

   2 topics

   • Fill in the Blanks
   • Contextual Usage
3. 3

   Error Detection

   2 topics

   • Grammatical Errors
   • Contextual Errors
4. 4

   Sentence Improvement

   2 topics

   • Grammar Correction
   • Sentence Structure
5. 5

   Para Jumbles

   2 topics

   • Rearranging Sentences
   • Logical Sequence
6. 6

   Fill in the Blanks

   2 topics

   • Single Blank
   • Double Blanks

English Language flashcards for SBI Clerk

18 of 51 cards from the English Language deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In Reading Comprehension, what is an 'inference' question asking you to do?

   To derive a conclusion that is not directly stated in the passage but is logically implied by the information given.

2. What is the difference between a 'fact-based' (detail) RC question and an 'inference' RC question?

   A fact-based question has its answer stated explicitly in the passage; an inference question requires reasoning beyond what is written, drawing an implied conclusion.

3. When an RC question asks for the 'tone' of a passage, what is being tested?

   The author's attitude or emotional stance toward the subject (e.g., critical, optimistic, satirical, neutral, sarcastic).

4. What does a 'central idea' or 'main theme' RC question require you to identify?

   The single overarching point the entire passage is built around, not a minor supporting detail.

5. What is the best strategy for answering 'vocabulary in context' questions in RC?

   Determine the meaning of the word from how it is used in the sentence, not from its most common dictionary meaning, since the same word can shift meaning by context.

6. Name the common genres of passages found in SBI Clerk Reading Comprehension.

   Banking and economy, business and finance, social issues, science and technology, environment, and abstract/narrative passages.

7. What is the recommended approach for an economy/banking-based RC passage?

   Skim for the main argument and key data, focus on cause-effect and conclusions, and not get lost in technical figures unless a question targets them.

8. In RC time management, why is it advised to read the questions before some passages?

   For factual/detail-heavy passages, previewing questions lets you scan directly for answers, saving time versus reading the whole passage first.

9. Which two RC question types should be attempted first to maximize accuracy with minimal time?

   Vocabulary (synonym/antonym) and direct fact-based detail questions, as they are quick and high-accuracy.

10. List the eight parts of speech in English grammar.

    Noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection.

11. What is the difference between an adjective and an adverb?

    An adjective modifies a noun or pronoun; an adverb modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

12. What is the basic rule of subject-verb agreement?

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

13. In subject-verb agreement, what verb form do two singular subjects joined by 'and' usually take?

    A plural verb (e.g., 'Ram and Shyam are friends').

14. When subjects are joined by 'either...or' / 'neither...nor', which subject determines the verb?

    The verb agrees with the subject nearest to it (the second/closer subject).

15. What verb form do indefinite pronouns like 'everyone', 'each', 'nobody', and 'everybody' take?

    A singular verb.

16. Which collective nouns and uncountable nouns (e.g., 'furniture', 'information', 'news') take a singular verb?

    They are treated as singular and take a singular verb (e.g., 'The news is good').

17. What are the three articles in English and how are they classified?

    'A' and 'an' are indefinite articles; 'the' is the definite article.

18. What is the rule for choosing between 'a' and 'an'?

    Use 'a' before a consonant sound and 'an' before a vowel sound (based on sound, not spelling, e.g., 'an hour', 'a university').

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