SSC CGL 2019-20 Tier 1 Syllabus, Exam Pattern and Preparation Tips

Staff Selection Commission (SSC) SSC - CGL
21

Reflexive and Emphasising Pronouns

When 'self/selves' is joined with Pronoun, then it is called reflexive pronoun, for example;

Myself, ourselves, yourself, yourselves, himself, herself, itself, themselves.

There are a few verbs after which reflexive pronoun comes, they are;

Absent, present, avail, enjoy, introduce, content, acquit, busy, pride, plume, address etc., for example;

1) They enjoyed in the party. (incorrect)

2) They enjoyed themselves in the party. (correct)

3) She prides on her beauty. (incorrect)

4) She prides herself on her beauty. (correct)

5) I enjoyed yesterday. (incorrect)

6) I enjoyed myself yesterday. (correct)

NOTE: 'Avail of' is not used in passive voice, that's why the passive voice of "I availed myself of an offer" = The offer was availed of. Is very incorrect. The passive of it is not possible because there is no occasion for it

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Noun ending with 'ics'

Mathematics, politics, economics, ethics, etc.

If these words represent a subject (with reference to teaching), always use them in singular form;

1) Physics in taught even in schools today.

2) Mathematics requires practice.

When these words represent quality or property, always use them in plural;

1) His mathematics are weak.

2) Most men's politics sit much too loosely about them.

3) Politics are the outcome rather than the cause of social change

23

Number of the names of bird/animals.

In relation with hunting, when any bird/animal are used, they are always singular and 'a/an/the' are not used with them.

1) He went to hunt elephant.

2) He wanted to shoot wild dog

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Subjects of a few sentences are joined with these words

As well as, and not, Together with, with, In addition to, along with, Rather than, No less than, More than, Like, Unlike, Except, But, Besides, including, Excluding, accompanied by, headed by, led by.

Verb of these sentences is according to 1st subject, for example;

1. A thief with all his followers was sent to jail.

2. Solid qualities, like a good marriage settlement, endure.

3. She, no less than you, is responsible.

4. A taxi along with two passengers is traceless.

5. On the opening ceremony of a stadium was present a minister together with the District Magistrate

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Antecedent Rule------

If the subject is a 'Relative pronoun (who, which, that)', then the verb is used according to its 'Antecedent'. Antecedent is the Noun/Pronoun that comes before the 'Relative Pronoun', e,g.,

1) The man who is here is not good.

2) The men who are here are not good.

Here the subject is 'Who' in both the sentences, but Antecedent in first sentence is 'Singular Noun (who)' and in second sentence it is 'Plural Noun (men)'. That is why, in first sentence, singular verb has been used and in second sentence plural verb has been used. See below few more examples that are correct and analyse them.

1) I am the man who has killed him.

2) It is I who have helped Rahul.

3) The pen that is here is not mine.

4) The pens that are here are mine.

NOTE OF CAUTION: One of + Plural noun/pronoun + who/which/that

When 'One of' is used in a sentence, then the Noun/Pronoun that comes after  'of' is considered 'Antecedent' and 'Verb' is used according to, for example;

1) She is one of those who do not accept this view.

Here the antecedent of who is those (not 'one'), hence plural verb 'do' is used for 'those'.

See below, few more sentences that are incorrect based on this mistake

1) This is one of the first difficulties that faces us in the library.

2) It was one of the things that was worrying me.

3) I am not one of the desk-pounding types that likes to stick out his jaws

All these three sentences are incorrect, Plural verbs (face, were, like) had to be used here.

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Use of Relative Pronoun:                                                                 

(a) Relative Pronouns (Who/which/that/what/whose/whom) work as a Subject or Object and joins 'clauses' with each other, in this way, relative pronouns work as a conjunction too.

1) The pen that is here is mine. (Subject)

2) The pen that I bought is good. (Object)

(b) Who and  Whom are used for living things, especially for 'People' and 'Those'

1) I know the girl who is here.

2) I know all those who are here.

'Who' and 'Whom' are not used for non-living things, for example;

1) The book who is here is not mine. (incorrect)

2) The book whom I bought is famous for cheap articles. (incorrect)

That/which can be used in the above sentences.

(c) 'Which' is used for non-living nouns and 'that' is used for living and non-living Nouns both.

1) This is the girl that came here yesterday.

2) The pen that is here is good.

'That' is used mostly for these words;

All, much, little, anything, nothing, somebody, anybody, nobody, no one, none, superlative, degree, the same+noun, the only+noun.

1) He is the same man that saved me.

2) He is the only man that can write this article.

3) He is the greatest man that ever lived.

(d) Whose/of which

'Whose' is used to represent relationship for Man/Animal, sometimes for non-living Nouns too.

1) A goat whose colour is black looks lovely.

2) A girl whose hair is short looks like a boy.

(e) 'Of which' is used to represent relationship for non-living Noun.

1) A house of which the door is weak is unsafe.

(f) Which = and this

In some sentences, which is used for whole clause, not for single noun, please remember: 'THAT' cannot be used in this way

1) He killed all soldiers, that was a cruel act. (incorrect)

2) He killed all the soldiers, which was a cruel act. (correct)

(g) Antecedent of relative pronoun is not kept in Possessive Case

1) These are the Principal's order who must be obeyed. (incorrect)

2) These are the orders of the Principal who must be obeyed. (correct)

3) I went to Rama's house who is my friend. (incorrect)

4) I went to the house of Ram who is my friend. (correct)

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salutary syno

  • quid pro quo
  • pariah
  • beneficial
  • guise

0 voters

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you may please/ apply for an advance of salary/ to cover costs of transport.ne

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1) Gradable Adjectives

Gradable adjectives represent the 'series or order' or 'degree', for example;

Rich - richer - Richest; Poor- poorer- poorest

For these adjectives, to represent the 'series or order or degree', adverbs of degree can be used

1) It is extremely hot.

2) Non- Gradable Adjectives

The quantity/degree of non-gradable adjectives cannot be decreased and comparison is invalid, adverbs of degree cannot be used here

Full, perfect, round, square, Indian, atomic, botanical, chemical, biological, unique, excellent, right, wrong, circular, annual, monthly, milky, blue, lunar, golden, dead, dumb, blind, matchless.

Please note that, now a days full and perfect are being used as degree too, which is very famous; please don't try to make adjectives of others, for example

1) ..... and this fuller kind of criticism in what we desire.

2) ..... the most perfect representation of religion.

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In which of the following activities silicon carbide is used?

A.

Making cement and glass

B.

Disinfecting water of ponds

C.

cutting very hard substances

D.

Making casts for statues


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The thief entered the house at the owner's absence/ne

32

Among the various allotropes of carbon,

A.

coke is the hardest, graphite is the softest

B.

diamond is the hardest, coke is the softest

C.

diamond is the hardest, graphite is the softest

D.

diamond is the hardest, lamp black is the softest



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33

My reason / to side with him / is because he was the only one / i felt i could trust /NE



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Non stick cooking utensils are coated with

A.

Teflon

B.

PVC

C.

black paint

D.

polystyrene



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35


he avenged himself__________ his enemy 
with 
for 
on 
over

by


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36

employees are expected to/ adhere the rules/ laid down by the management./ne

37

Much/many + Subject/Object

Generally much/many are used in negative and interrogative sentences, for example;

1) She hasn't many friends.

2) Have you much money?

3) Have you many books?

4) I haven't many books.

In Affirmative sentences, much/many is used with Subject, not with object.

In Affirmative sentences, with Object, below words are used with Much/many

Lots of, a lot of, plenty of, a good deal of, a large number of, a large quantity of, a large amount of. Now see a few examples;

1) Many men came late.

2) Much milk was wasted by her family.

In these sentences, men and milk are subjects that's why many/much are used. If men and milk are made objects, use of much/many will be wrong, for example;

1) I know many men. (incorrect)

2) I bought much milk. (incorrect)

The correct forms of above two sentences will be;

1) I know a lot of men.

2) I bought plenty of milk.

NOTE: In Affirmative sentences, much/many is sued with Subject and Object both when, with much/many, as/how/too are connected

1) You make take as much as you like.

2) You may have as many pens as you like.

38

Position of Adjectives

When Adjective is placed before Noun, it is called Attributive use, when Adjective is placed after Verb, it is called Predicative use;

1) This is a while ball. (before noun) (attributive use)

2) This ball is white. (after verb) (predicative use)

Now, we will discuss how to use Adjective as Attributive/Predicative

Rule 1: Proper Adjective and Adjective of Quality can be used as Attributive/Predicative; for example

1) This game is Indian.

2) This is an Indian game.

3) He is a brave boy.

4) The boy is brave.

There are a few adjectives that are used only as Predicative not Attributive, they are

Asleep, awake, afraid, alike, ashamed, alone, alive, ill (for sense of unwell), unable, due, aware, glad, sorry, well, sure, worth, ready, etc.

1) The baby is asleep.

2) The boy is awake.

3) The man is alive.

4) He is afraid of me.

These sentences cannot be written like below;

1) There is an asleep boy.

2) There is an awake boy.

3) There is an alone girl.

4) There is an alive man.

Please note that, when ill is used as attributive, in that can ill means bad, not unwell, for example;

1) I have no ill will against him.

Rule 2: Adjectives are used after Indefinite Pronouns (something, nothing, anything, somebody, anybody, nobody, no one)

1) Tell him something new.

2) This person has nothing useful to do.

Rule 3: When Adjective is used for title, it comes after noun; for example

1) Alexander the great.

2) Pitt the Younger.

3) Cato the Elder.

4) Louis the Pious.

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39

magnitude syno

  • derange
  • blitz
  • hugeness
  • ire

0 voters

40

English Quiz for SSC-CGL

Dear PaGaLGuY readers,

As we all know, Verbal Aptitude is an important component of a number of competitive examinations such as the UPSC Civil Services Examination, Banking Entrance Examinations, SSC CGL/CHSL Examination, MBA Entrance Examination, Combined Defence Services Examination, etc. In order to help you practise and improve your verbal ability, we provide you this English Quiz.

Given below are a few questions from SSC examinations held in the last few years. Leave your answers/ responses in the comments section below and soon we'll let you know the correct answers!

Directions (Q. Nos. 1-5) In the following questions, out of the four alternatives, choose the one which can be substituted for the given words/sentence.

1. One who cannot be corrected

(a) Incurable        (b) Incorrigible         (c) Hardened       (d) Invulnerable

2. A general pardon granted by the Government to political offenders

(a) Pardon        (b) Excuse         (c) Honesty           (d) Amnesty

3. One who hates women

(a) Misogynist               (b) Misogamist            (c) Ambivert           (d) Misanthrope

4. A person who consumes human flesh

(a) Cannibal         (b) Javage          (c) Captor          (d) Carnivore

5. A school boy who cuts classes frequently is a

(a) Defeatist        (b) Sycophant        (c) Truant          (d) Martinet

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