SSC CHSL (Combined Higher Secondary Level) English Language and Comprehension Syllabus

English Language and Comprehension 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 and Comprehension in SSC CHSL (Combined Higher Secondary Level), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Vocabulary

   5 topics

   • Synonyms and Antonyms
   • One Word Substitution
   • Idioms and Phrases
   • Spelling and Misspelt Words
   • Homonyms and Commonly Confused Words
2. 2

   Grammar and Usage

   6 topics

   • Parts of Speech
     • Nouns, pronouns and articles
     • Verbs, adverbs and prepositions
   • Tenses and Subject-Verb Agreement
   • Spotting Errors
   • Sentence Improvement
   • Narration (Direct and Indirect Speech)
   • Voice (Active and Passive)
3. 3

   Sentence Structure and Composition

   4 topics

   • Fill in the Blanks
     • Single and double blanks
   • Cloze Test
   • Sentence Rearrangement (Para Jumbles)
   • Sentence Completion
4. 4

   Comprehension and Verbal Ability

   3 topics

   • Reading Comprehension
     • Factual and inferential questions
     • Vocabulary in context
   • Active/Passive and Phrase Replacement in Passages
   • Identifying Theme and Tone

English Language and Comprehension flashcards for SSC CHSL (Combined Higher Secondary Level)

19 of 50 cards from the English Language and Comprehension deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the difference between a synonym and an antonym?

   A synonym is a word with the same or nearly the same meaning as another word (e.g., happy = joyful). An antonym is a word with the opposite meaning (e.g., happy x sad).

2. Give a synonym and an antonym for the word 'Abundant'.

   Synonym: plentiful / ample / copious. Antonym: scarce / sparse / meagre.

3. What is 'One Word Substitution'? Give the single word for 'a person who knows many languages'.

   One Word Substitution is replacing a group of words or a phrase with a single precise word. 'A person who knows many languages' = Polyglot.

4. Provide the one-word substitution for: (a) one who eats everything, (b) one who studies the stars/celestial bodies for prediction.

   (a) Omnivore. (b) Astrologer (an astronomer studies celestial bodies scientifically; an astrologer predicts from them).

5. What is an idiom? What does the idiom 'to bite the bullet' mean?

   An idiom is a phrase whose meaning cannot be understood from the literal meaning of its individual words. 'To bite the bullet' means to face a difficult or unpleasant situation bravely.

6. What do these idioms mean: 'a blessing in disguise' and 'once in a blue moon'?

   'A blessing in disguise' = something good that initially seemed bad. 'Once in a blue moon' = very rarely.

7. Identify the correctly spelt word: Accomodate, Accommodate, Acommodate, Acomodate.

   Accommodate (it takes two c's and two m's).

8. Spell correctly the words for: (a) happening at the same time, (b) a list of items for a meeting.

   (a) Simultaneous. (b) Agenda.

9. What are homonyms? Distinguish homophones from homographs.

   Homonyms are words that share the same spelling or pronunciation but have different meanings. Homophones sound alike but differ in meaning/spelling (e.g., their/there). Homographs are spelt alike but differ in meaning/pronunciation (e.g., lead the metal vs lead to guide).

10. Distinguish the commonly confused words 'stationary' and 'stationery'.

    'Stationary' (with an 'a') means not moving/fixed. 'Stationery' (with an 'e') means writing materials like paper and pens.

11. Distinguish 'affect' and 'effect'.

    'Affect' is usually a verb meaning to influence (e.g., Rain affects crops). 'Effect' is usually a noun meaning result (e.g., The effect was severe).

12. Name the eight parts of speech in English.

    Noun, Pronoun, Verb, Adjective, Adverb, Preposition, Conjunction, and Interjection.

13. What is a noun? Name its main classifications.

    A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. Types: Proper, Common, Collective, Material/Concrete, and Abstract nouns; also countable and uncountable.

14. What is a pronoun? List the main kinds of pronouns.

    A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun. Kinds: Personal, Possessive, Reflexive, Demonstrative, Relative, Interrogative, Indefinite, and Distributive pronouns.

15. State the rule for using the articles 'a' and 'an'.

    Use 'a' before a consonant SOUND (a book, a university) and 'an' before a vowel SOUND (an apple, an hour). It depends on sound, not spelling.

16. When is the definite article 'the' used?

    'The' is used before specific/particular nouns, unique things (the sun, the moon), superlatives (the best), rivers, seas, mountain ranges, holy books, and nouns already mentioned.

17. What is a verb? Distinguish a transitive verb from an intransitive verb.

    A verb expresses action or state of being. A transitive verb takes a direct object (She wrote a letter). An intransitive verb does not take an object (He sleeps).

18. What is an adverb, and what does it modify?

    An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb, usually telling how, when, where, or to what extent (e.g., She sings beautifully; very fast).

19. What is a preposition? Give the correct preposition: 'He is good ___ mathematics.'

    A preposition shows the relationship of a noun/pronoun to another word in the sentence. Correct: 'good at mathematics'.

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