UPSC CDS English Syllabus

English syllabus — full chapter and topic list

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

1. 1

   Grammar

   3 topics

   • Parts of Speech
   • Tenses
   • Punctuation
2. 2

   Comprehension

   3 topics

   • Reading Strategies
   • Inference
   • Context Clues

English flashcards for UPSC CDS

23 of 50 cards from the English deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is a 'part of speech'?

   A category that classifies a word according to its grammatical function in a sentence. English has eight: noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection.

2. Define a noun and name its main types.

   A noun names a person, place, thing, or idea. Types: common, proper, abstract, concrete, collective, countable, and uncountable.

3. What is the difference between a common noun and a proper noun?

   A common noun names a general class (city, dog), while a proper noun names a specific entity and is capitalized (Delhi, Rover).

4. What is a pronoun, and give the main categories.

   A pronoun replaces a noun to avoid repetition. Categories: personal, possessive, reflexive, relative, demonstrative, interrogative, indefinite, and reciprocal.

5. What is a verb, and what are its two broad functions?

   A verb expresses an action (run, write) or a state of being (is, seem). It serves as the predicate's core, showing what the subject does or is.

6. Distinguish transitive verbs from intransitive verbs.

   A transitive verb takes a direct object (She read the book). An intransitive verb does not take an object (He slept).

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

   An adjective modifies a noun or pronoun (a quick runner). An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb (runs quickly).

8. What is a preposition? Give examples.

   A preposition shows the relationship (place, time, direction) between a noun/pronoun and another word. Examples: in, on, at, by, under, between, through.

9. What is a conjunction, and name its three types?

   A conjunction joins words, phrases, or clauses. Types: coordinating (and, but, or), subordinating (because, although), and correlative (either...or, neither...nor).

10. What are the FANBOYS coordinating conjunctions?

    For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So — they join elements of equal grammatical rank.

11. What is an interjection? Give examples.

    An interjection is a word or phrase expressing sudden emotion, standing apart grammatically. Examples: Oh!, Wow!, Alas!, Ouch!

12. What is the difference between a finite and a non-finite verb?

    A finite verb changes with tense, person, and number and can be a sentence's main verb. A non-finite verb (infinitive, gerund, participle) does not change with the subject.

13. What are the three forms of non-finite verbs?

    Infinitive (to go), gerund (going, used as a noun), and participle (going/gone, used as an adjective or in tenses).

14. What is a determiner, and how does it differ from an adjective?

    A determiner introduces and specifies a noun (a, the, this, my, some, three). Unlike adjectives, determiners are limiting words, not descriptive, and come before adjectives.

15. What is the difference between an abstract noun and a concrete noun?

    A concrete noun names something perceivable by the senses (table, music). An abstract noun names an idea, quality, or state (honesty, freedom).

16. How many tenses are there in English by aspect, and name the three times and four aspects?

    Three times (past, present, future) combined with four aspects (simple, continuous/progressive, perfect, perfect continuous) yield 12 tense forms.

17. What is the structure and use of the simple present tense?

    Structure: base verb (+s/es for third person singular). Used for habits, general truths, and permanent situations. Example: She writes daily.

18. What is the structure and use of the present continuous tense?

    Structure: am/is/are + present participle (verb-ing). Used for actions happening now or temporary ongoing actions. Example: She is writing.

19. What is the structure and use of the present perfect tense?

    Structure: has/have + past participle. Used for past actions with present relevance or actions completed at an unspecified time. Example: She has written the letter.

20. What is the structure of the present perfect continuous tense?

    has/have + been + present participle (verb-ing). Used for an action that started in the past and continues to now. Example: She has been writing for an hour.

21. What is the structure and use of the simple past tense?

    Structure: past form of the verb (verb-ed or irregular). Used for completed actions at a definite past time. Example: She wrote yesterday.

22. What is the structure of the past continuous tense?

    was/were + present participle (verb-ing). Used for an ongoing action in the past, often interrupted. Example: She was writing when I called.

23. What is the structure and use of the past perfect tense?

    had + past participle. Used for an action completed before another past action. Example: She had written before he arrived.

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