SSC CGL English · Free notes
Spotting Errors: SSC CGL English
Spotting Errors has 359 questions in the SSC CGL Tier I bank: 114 from the 2023 shifts, 116 from the 2024 shifts and 129 from the 2025 shifts, and 231 of them EASY. SSC asks it two ways, finding the part of a sentence that has the error or choosing the option that improves an underlined part, and the same grammar points come back in both. Check the subject and its verb first, then the tense and the verb's form, then the small words: articles, prepositions and the words that join clauses.
The handout has every subtopic, worked example, formula and trap with answers shown. The formula sheet is the chapter’s formulas and traps alone, on one page.
Subtopic notes
Agreement and Pronouns
61 PYQsA verb must agree with its true subject in number, and a pronoun must match the noun it stands for in number, person and case.
Tenses and Verb Forms
96 PYQsChoosing the tense the time words call for, and the form a verb must take after will, had, to, a preposition or a verb such as avoid.
Articles, Adjectives and Comparison
69 PYQsChoosing a, an or the, treating uncountable nouns correctly, using the right degree of comparison, and an adverb where a verb needs one.
Connectors and Word Order
36 PYQsJoining words that come in fixed pairs, the parallel halves those pairs join, and the sentences that change the usual word order.
Prepositions, Word Choice and Idioms
97 PYQsThe preposition a word takes, the right word between two that look alike, and the fixed phrases and extra words that a grammar rule alone will not catch.
Formula & revision sheet
0 formulas · 3 reference tables · 22 gotchas across all subtopics — the exam-eve cheat-sheet
Formula & revision sheet
0 formulas · 3 reference tables · 22 gotchas across all subtopics — the exam-eve cheat-sheet
Watch out for (4)
- Agreeing with the nearest noun→ Finding the true subject
- Treating 'as well as' like 'and'→ Finding the true subject
- Its with an apostrophe→ Pronouns that match
- A reflexive as the subject→ Pronouns that match
Watch out for (4)
- The present perfect with a finished time→ The tense the time words call for
- Will in the if or when clause→ The tense the time words call for
- Reading every 'to' as an infinitive→ The form a verb must take
- The past tense in place of the participle→ The form a verb must take
Watch out for (4)
- Choosing a or an by the letter→ A, an, the and uncountable nouns
- A plural for an uncountable noun→ A, an, the and uncountable nouns
- Doubling the comparative→ Comparison, adjectives and adverbs
- An adverb after a linking verb→ Comparison, adjectives and adverbs
Watch out for (4)
- The wrong partner for no sooner→ Paired connectors and parallel halves
- Unbalanced halves→ Paired connectors and parallel halves
- Inverting an indirect question→ Word order: indirect questions, inversion and negatives
- Not inverting after a negative opener→ Word order: indirect questions, inversion and negatives
Reference tables (3)
The preposition a word takes12 rows
| Wrong | Right | Asked in |
|---|---|---|
| accused for | accused of | 2025 (twice) |
| capable to / capable for | capable of + -ing | 2025 (three times) |
| confident to win | confident of winning | 2025 (twice) |
| good in / good with | good at | 2024, 2025 (twice) |
| prevent him to go | prevent him from going | 2025 (twice) |
| angry on | angry with (a person) | 2025 |
| specialises at | specialises in | 2024 |
| comprises of | comprises | 2025 |
| discussing about | discussing | 2025 |
| despite of | despite (or in spite of) | 2025 |
| between themselves (a team) | among themselves | 2023 |
| in bus | by bus | 2025 |
Look-alike words and the word that fits11 rows
| Wrong | Right | Asked in |
|---|---|---|
| adopts itself (to water and land) | adapts itself | 2023 |
| beware of this fact | aware of | 2023 |
| noticeable people | notable people | 2023 |
| military person | military personnel | 2023 |
| lived by the same principals | principles | 2024 |
| the principle rights | the principal rights | 2025 |
| it had no affect | no effect | 2024 |
| interior problems (of a country) | internal problems | 2024 |
| not able to drink until 21 | not allowed to | 2024 |
| cynical investors who believed every word | credulous | 2024 |
| greater accurateness | greater accuracy | 2025 |
Fixed phrases, extra words and correct sentences11 rows
| Wrong | Right | Asked in |
|---|---|---|
| drove on the rampage | went on the rampage | 2023 |
| every single day by walk | on foot | 2023 |
| hopes were beaten | hopes were dashed | 2023 |
| brought about a new book | brought out | 2024 |
| gave up the prizes | gave away | 2024 |
| told the agitators to back in | back off | 2024 |
| nothing else your pride | nothing else but | 2024 |
| returned back | returned | 2025 (twice) |
| in details | in detail | 2025 |
| took pain | took pains | 2025 |
| yesterday night | last night | 2025 |
Watch out for (6)
- Adding a preposition the verb does not take→ The preposition a word takes
- Despite of→ The preposition a word takes
- Choosing the word that only sounds right→ Look-alike words and the word that fits
- A noun where the verb is needed→ Look-alike words and the word that fits
- Translating word for word→ Fixed phrases, extra words and correct sentences
- Missing a repeat because it sounds smooth→ Fixed phrases, extra words and correct sentences
PYQ weightage by concept
11 concepts · 359 PYQs — where the marks actually sit, so you know what to drill first
PYQ weightage by concept
11 concepts · 359 PYQs — where the marks actually sit, so you know what to drill first
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Finding the true subject | 48 | 13% |
| Pronouns that match | 13 | 4% |
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| The tense the time words call for | 50 | 14% |
| The form a verb must take | 46 | 13% |
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Comparison, adjectives and adverbs | 35 | 10% |
| A, an, the and uncountable nouns | 34 | 9% |
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Paired connectors and parallel halves | 21 | 6% |
| Word order: indirect questions, inversion and negatives | 15 | 4% |
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| The preposition a word takes | 44 | 12% |
| Look-alike words and the word that fits | 35 | 10% |
| Fixed phrases, extra words and correct sentences | 18 | 5% |
Test yourself on Spotting Errors
20 past SSC CGL questions from this chapter, timed at 12 minutes and marked the way the exam marks it. You see your score and every answer the moment you finish. Free to start.