Table of Contents
Introduction
What is Error Spotting in SSC CHSL?
SSC CHSL English Grammar Syllabus
Most Important English Grammar Rules
Subject–Verb Agreement
Tenses
Articles
Prepositions
Pronouns
Adjectives & Adverbs
Active–Passive Voice
Direct–Indirect Speech
Modals
Commonly Confused Words
Error Spotting Tricks
Exam Weightage & Question Trend
Summary Notes
25 Practice MCQs
FAQs
SEO Metadata
Internal Linking Suggestions
Image Prompt + Alt Text
Introduction
English Grammar and Error Spotting are scoring areas in SSC CHSL Tier 1, and candidates who master basic rules can easily secure high accuracy. The exam tests your understanding of grammar, sentence structure, and error detection in practical, everyday English.
This JobSafal guide provides simple explanations, essential rules, and error-spotting tricks designed for fast revision and confidence building.
What is Error Spotting in SSC CHSL?
Error Spotting questions ask candidates to find the grammatical mistake in a sentence. The error may relate to grammar, usage, punctuation, or vocabulary.
Featured Snippet Definition (40–50 words):
Error Spotting in SSC CHSL tests a candidate’s ability to identify mistakes in grammar, usage, or sentence structure. It includes errors related to tenses, articles, prepositions, modifiers, subject–verb agreement, pronouns, and vocabulary. The questions are short, direct, and ideal for scoring.
SSC CHSL English Grammar Syllabus
SSC CHSL primarily tests:
Basic Grammar Rules
Error Spotting
Sentence Improvement
Cloze Test
Para Jumbles
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
One-Word Substitution
Active–Passive / Direct–Indirect
Vocabulary Usage
Most Important English Grammar Rules
These grammar rules appear repeatedly in SSC CHSL and help candidates score accurately.
1. Subject–Verb Agreement
Singular subject → singular verb
Plural subject → plural verb
“Each,” “Every,” “Either,” “Neither,” “Everyone,” “Someone” take singular verbs
Example:
Incorrect: Each of the players are ready.
Correct: Each of the players is ready.
2. Tenses (Most Tested)
Present Simple for habitual actions
Present Continuous for ongoing actions
Past Simple for completed actions
Future Simple for predictions
Error Pattern:
Incorrect shift in tense within the same sentence.
3. Articles (a, an, the)
Use a/an for general nouns
Use the for specific nouns
“The” is used with: oceans, rivers, mountain ranges, holy books, unique objects
Example:
The Himalayas, The Ramayana
4. Prepositions
Commonly tested prepositions:
in, on, at, for, from, since, by, with, about, over, under
Examples:
He is good at English.
She has been here since morning.
5. Pronouns
Pronoun must agree with antecedent
“Each/every” takes singular pronoun
Avoid double subjects
Example:
Incorrect: Riya, she is my friend.
Correct: Riya is my friend.
6. Adjectives vs Adverbs
Adjectives qualify nouns
Adverbs qualify verbs, adjectives, or adverbs
Example:
Incorrect: He speaks loud.
Correct: He speaks loudly.
7. Active–Passive Voice
Identify object → convert
Tense should remain the same
Example:
Active: They completed the job.
Passive: The job was completed by them.
8. Direct–Indirect Speech
Remove quotation marks
Change pronouns
Adjust tenses (back-shift)
Change time words (now → then, today → that day)
9. Modals (can, may, must, should)
“Should” for advice
“Must” for strong obligation
“May” for permission
“Can” for ability
10. Commonly Confused Words
Accept vs Except
Affect vs Effect
Principle vs Principal
Advice vs Advise
These appear frequently in Error Spotting questions.
Error Spotting Tricks
Read the complete sentence first
Check Subject–Verb Agreement
Identify the tense
Look for article misuse
Spot incorrect prepositions
Check double negatives
Watch for misplaced modifiers
Identify incorrect use of adjectives/adverbs
Observe singular–plural mismatches
Focus on commonly confused words
A little daily practice strengthens accuracy.
Exam Weightage & Question Trend
Topic | Expected Questions |
|---|---|
Error Spotting | 2–3 |
Sentence Improvement | 1–2 |
Voice | 1 |
Speech | 1 |
Vocabulary | 3–4 |
Cloze Test | 4–5 |
English plays an important role in pushing your score above the cut off.
Summary Notes
Grammar rules form the base of error spotting
Subject–Verb Agreement, Tenses, Articles are tested most
Avoid confusion between adjective and adverb usage
Understand prepositions and pronouns clearly
Practice improves recognition of common error patterns
Accuracy in English boosts overall SSC CHSL score
25 Practice MCQs
Q1. Choose the correct sentence:
A) He don’t know me
B) He doesn’t knows me
C) He doesn’t know me
D) He don’t knows me
Answer: C
Q2. Identify the error:
Each of the students have submitted the assignment.
A) Each of the
B) students
C) have
D) assignment
Answer: C
Q3. Fill in the blank: She is good ___ maths.
A) in
B) at
C) on
D) for
Answer: B
Q4. Incorrect pair:
A) Accept–Except
B) Affect–Effect
C) Advice–Advise
D) Write–Wright
Answer: D
Q5. Choose correct form:
A) She sings sweet
B) She sings sweetly
C) She sweetly sings
D) Sweet she sings
Answer: B
Q6. Identify the error:
Rohan and his friends is going to Delhi.
A) Rohan
B) and his friends
C) is
D) Delhi
Answer: C
Q7. He said that he ___ come tomorrow.
A) will
B) would
C) shall
D) must
Answer: B
Q8. Choose correct article:
He is ___ honest man.
A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article
Answer: B
Q9. Choose correct sentence:
A) She told me that she is tired
B) She told me that she was tired
C) She told me she be tired
D) She tells me she tired
Answer: B
Q10. Choose the correct preposition:
She is afraid ___ dogs.
A) from
B) with
C) of
D) for
Answer: C
Q11. Identify the error:
They discussed about the issue.
A) They
B) discussed
C) about
D) the issue
Answer: C
Q12. Choose correct word:
The news is very ___ .
A) surprising
B) surprised
C) surprise
D) surprises
Answer: A
Q13. Correct the underlined part:
He is senior than me.
A) senior from
B) more senior
C) senior to
D) senior with
Answer: C
Q14. Spot the error:
Neither of the two girls have arrived.
A) Neither
B) of the two
C) girls
D) have
Answer: D
Q15. He is capable ___ doing it.
A) with
B) to
C) for
D) of
Answer: D
Q16. Choose correct sentence:
A) The news are shocking
B) The news is shocking
C) News are shocking
D) A news is shocking
Answer: B
Q17. Identify the error:
One of the boys are missing.
A) One
B) of the boys
C) are
D) missing
Answer: C
Q18. Choose correct pronoun:
Everyone should bring ___ own lunch.
A) his
B) their
C) our
D) her
Answer: A
Q19. Choose correct option:
A) She is tallest than him
B) She is taller to him
C) She is taller than him
D) She is tall than him
Answer: C
Q20. Identify the error:
He gave me an useful book.
A) He
B) gave
C) an
D) useful
Answer: C
Q21. Choose correct modal:
You ___ follow traffic rules.
A) may
B) must
C) can
D) would
Answer: B
Q22. Spot the error:
He asked that where I lived.
A) He asked
B) that
C) where
D) I lived
Answer: B
Q23. Correct sentence:
A) Let he go
B) Let him go
C) Let he to go
D) Let him to go
Answer: B
Q24. Choose correct form:
She is the ___ girl in the class.
A) intelligent
B) most intelligent
C) more intelligent
D) intelligently
Answer: B
Q25. Spot the error:
Neither Riya nor her sisters is present.
A) Neither
B) nor
C) sisters
D) is
Answer: D
FAQs
Q1. How many grammar questions appear in SSC CHSL?
Around 10–12 questions across grammar, vocabulary, and error spotting.
Q2. What is the best way to master error spotting?
Daily rule revision and 20–30 practice questions.
Q3. Are grammar rules repeated every year?
Yes, SSC uses similar rule patterns.
Q4. Is tenses or SVA more important?
Both are core areas but subject–verb agreement appears frequently.