English can become one of the fastest-scoring sections in SSC CGL Tier 1 if your vocabulary and grammar basics are clear. Recent SSC CGL shifts have included a mixture of Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, vocabulary, error detection, sentence improvement, voice, narration, idioms and one-word substitutions.
Use this page for a quick revision before your exam. Every topic below is followed by a quiz question so that you can test the rule immediately.
SSC CGL English Short Notes PDF
Grammar rules, tenses, voice, narration, vocabulary, idioms, one-word substitutions and Cloze/RC strategies for quick revision.
1. Subject-Verb Agreement
A singular subject takes a singular verb (He goes to school.) and a plural subject takes a plural verb (They go to school.).
Important Rules
- Each / Every / Either / Neither + singular noun → singular verb. Example: Each of the students is present.
- Along with / as well as / together with: the verb agrees with the main subject. Example: The teacher, along with the students, is present.
Each of the students ___ submitted the assignment.
2. Tenses
Present Simple
Habits and universal truths.
He plays cricket.
Present Continuous
Action happening now.
He is playing cricket.
Present Perfect
Completed action with present relevance.
He has completed the work.
Past Perfect
Earlier of two past actions.
The train had left before we reached the station.
The train ___ before we reached the station.
3. Articles
- Use a before a consonant sound: a university.
- Use an before a vowel sound: an hour.
- Use the for something specific or already known: The book you gave me is interesting.
She is ___ honest girl who studies at ___ university.
4. Prepositions
Common combinations to remember:
- good at
- interested in
- depend on
- afraid of
- capable of
- responsible for
- superior to
- inferior to
- senior to
- junior to
Remember
Always say senior to, never "senior than". The same applies to junior, superior and inferior.
He is senior ___ me.
Choose the correct sentence.
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5. Active & Passive Voice
- Active: The police arrested the thief.
- Passive: The thief was arrested by the police.
- Structure: Object + suitable form of be + V3 + by + subject.
- Remember to maintain the original tense.
Passive voice of 'The boy kicked the ball' is:
6. Direct & Indirect Speech
Direct: He said, "I am busy."
Indirect: He said that he was busy.
Common Tense Changes
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| am / is | was |
| are | were |
| has / have | had |
| will | would |
| can | could |
| may | might |
But universal truths generally do not change tense.
Identify the correct indirect speech: He said, 'I am tired.'
7. Error Detection
Check in this order:
- Subject-verb agreement
- Tense
- Article
- Preposition
- Pronoun
- Conjunction
- Adjective / adverb
- Parallelism
Do not immediately assume the longest-looking phrase contains the error.
Choose the correct sentence.
8. Vocabulary
Revise synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitutions, idioms and commonly confused words.
Common Confusing Words
| Word | Meaning / Usage |
|---|---|
| Affect | Usually a verb (to influence) |
| Effect | Usually a noun (result) |
| Accept | To receive / agree |
| Except | Excluding |
| Principal | Head / main |
| Principle | Rule / belief |
| Stationary | Not moving |
| Stationery | Writing materials |
Choose the correctly spelt word.
Antonym of 'Scarce' is:
9. One-Word Substitution
| Meaning | One Word |
|---|---|
| One who cannot read or write | Illiterate |
| One who loves mankind | Philanthropist |
| One who hates mankind | Misanthrope |
| A person who knows many languages | Polyglot |
| A government by the people | Democracy |
| A person who looks at the bright side | Optimist |
One who speaks many languages is called:
10. Idioms
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Break the ice | Start a conversation |
| Once in a blue moon | Rarely |
| A blessing in disguise | Something that appears bad but proves beneficial |
| Hit the nail on the head | Say exactly the right thing |
| At the eleventh hour | At the last moment |
| Burn the midnight oil | Work or study late at night |
'A blessing in disguise' means:
'Break the ice' means:
11. Cloze Test Strategy
Do not solve every blank independently. First:
- Read the entire passage.
- Understand the tone.
- Identify the grammatical structure.
- Eliminate impossible options.
- Check vocabulary in context.
The answer must fit both grammar and meaning.
The speaker's argument was so ___ that no one could disagree with it.
12. Reading Comprehension Strategy
For short SSC passages:
- Read the question carefully.
- Locate the relevant sentence.
- Avoid outside knowledge.
- Choose the option supported by the passage.
- Be careful with extreme words such as always, never, completely, only.
Passage
Regular exercise improves heart health and reduces stress, although it cannot replace a balanced diet.
Which statement is best supported by the passage above?
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Final Revision Order
Grammar → Vocabulary → Idioms → OWS → Voice → Narration → Cloze → RC
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How should I revise English for SSC CGL Tier 1 just before the exam?
Revise core grammar rules (subject-verb agreement, tenses, articles, prepositions), then vocabulary, idioms and one-word substitutions. Finish with voice, narration, cloze test and RC strategy, and solve a few mixed questions. Avoid starting new books or topics.
How many English questions come in SSC CGL Tier 1?
The English Comprehension section has 25 questions worth 50 marks in Tier 1, with a negative marking of 0.50 marks for each wrong answer.
Which English topics are most important for SSC CGL?
Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, error detection, sentence improvement, active-passive voice, direct-indirect speech, vocabulary (synonyms, antonyms), idioms and phrases, and one-word substitutions appear regularly in recent shifts.
What is the best way to solve error detection questions?
Check in a fixed order: subject-verb agreement, tense, article, preposition, pronoun, conjunction, adjective/adverb and parallelism. Do not assume the longest-looking phrase contains the error.
How do I solve Cloze Test questions quickly?
Read the whole passage first, understand the tone, identify the grammatical structure of each blank, eliminate impossible options and check the vocabulary in context. The correct answer must fit both grammar and meaning.
How can I save time in the SSC CGL English section?
Do not spend too long on one vocabulary question. If you do not know a word, eliminate options and move on. English should be a section where you gain time for Quant and General Awareness.
Where can I download the SSC CGL English short notes PDF?
You can download the SSC CGL English short notes PDF from the download section at the top of this page. It covers grammar rules, vocabulary, idioms and strategies for quick revision.