English Grammar for UPSC Exam part 3.

June 6, 2025June 7, 2025 Diznr International 0 Comments

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English Grammar for UPSC Exam – Part 3

The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) exam demands a strong command of English grammar, particularly for the CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) and the Mains Exam (Essay and Comprehension). Here’s a comprehensive guide for Part 3 of English Grammar preparation:

Topics Covered in Part 3:

Active and Passive Voice
Direct and Indirect Speech
Idioms and Phrases
Phrasal Verbs
Sentence Correction and Error Detection

1. Active and Passive Voice:

Active Voice: The subject performs the action.
- Example: She writes a letter.
Passive Voice: The subject receives the action.
- Example: A letter is written by her.

Tips:

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Identify the object of the active sentence to make it the subject of the passive sentence.
Use proper verb forms while converting.
Pay attention to tenses.

2. Direct and Indirect Speech:

Direct Speech: Quoting the speaker’s exact words.
- Example: She said, “I am happy.”
Indirect Speech: Reporting the speaker’s words.
- Example: She said that she was happy.

Rules for Conversion:

Change pronouns accordingly.
Shift the tense back if the reporting verb is in the past.
Use appropriate reporting verbs (say, tell, ask, etc.).

3. Idioms and Phrases:

Idioms: Expressions with metaphorical meanings.
- Example: Break the ice – Start a conversation.
Phrases: Group of words acting together with a specific meaning.
- Example: On cloud nine – Extremely happy.

Tip: Memorize frequently used idioms and phrases for better vocabulary.

4. Phrasal Verbs:

Verbs combined with prepositions or adverbs that create new meanings.

Example:
- Give up – Surrender
- Look into – Investigate
- Take off – Remove or leave the ground

Practice: Create sentences to understand contextual use.

5. Sentence Correction and Error Detection:

Focus on subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, and correct preposition usage.
Learn common mistakes, like incorrect article usage, misplaced modifiers, etc.

Example Question:
She is one of the best player in the team.
Corrected: She is one of the best players in the team.

Preparation Tips:

Practice grammar exercises from standard books like Wren & Martin.
Take mock tests to improve accuracy.
Regularly read newspapers like The Hindu for advanced vocabulary and sentence structures.

Would you like to practice some example questions or need more detailed guidance on any specific topic?

ENGLISH FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS – MIS

English Grammar for UPSC Exam part 3.

Here is a detailed overview of English Grammar for UPSC Exam – Part 3, covering intermediate to advanced grammar topics commonly tested in UPSC Prelims, Mains, and Interviews. This guide will help you build strong grammatical foundations for essay writing, comprehension, and precise communication.

English Grammar for UPSC – Part 3: Key Topics

Focus Areas in Part 3:

Direct and Indirect Speech (Narration)
Active and Passive Voice
Question Tags
Clauses (Noun, Adjective & Adverb Clauses)
Prepositions (Advanced Usage)
Reported Speech for UPSC Essays
Common Grammar Errors
UPSC-Level Grammar MCQs

1. Direct and Indirect Speech

Definition: Changing someone’s spoken words into reported (indirect) form.
Example:
➤ Direct: He said, “I am studying.”
➤ Indirect: He said that he was studying.

Common UPSC Pitfall: Shifting tenses correctly and adjusting pronouns & time expressions.

2. Active and Passive Voice

Definition: Changing the focus from subject to object.
Example:
➤ Active: The officer signed the document.
➤ Passive: The document was signed by the officer.

UPSC Tip: Used frequently in essay, précis and comprehension.

3. Question Tags

Definition: Short questions added to the end of a statement.
Example:
➤ She is coming, isn’t she?
➤ You don’t know the answer, do you?

Rule: Positive sentence → Negative tag
Negative sentence → Positive tag

4. Clauses – Deep Dive

Clause Type	Function	Example
Noun Clause	Acts as noun	I know that she is honest.
Adjective Clause	Describes a noun	The book that you gave me is useful.
Adverb Clause	Modifies a verb/adjective	I will come if it rains.

UPSC relevance: Reading comprehension and grammar correction sections.

5. Advanced Prepositions

Focus on idiomatic usage, such as:
- Accused of, capable of, interested in
- In spite of, due to, because of

UPSC questions often include preposition-based error spotting.

6. Common Grammar Errors for UPSC

Incorrect	Correct
He is senior than me.	He is senior to me.
She didn’t knew the answer.	She didn’t know the answer.
He is one of the best player.	He is one of the best players.

These appear in error detection MCQs.

7. UPSC-Focused Grammar MCQ Examples

Q. Choose the correct sentence:
A) Each of the boys have a book.
B) Each of the boys has a book.
C) Every boys has a book.
D) Every boy have a book.

Q. Identify the error:
“Neither the teachers nor the principal have arrived.”
Error: have → should be has (Subject-Verb Agreement)

Suggested Books for Grammar (UPSC Level):

Wren & Martin – High-level grammar rules
SP Bakshi (Arihant) – Grammar + Objective Practice
Oxford Practice Grammar – Intermediate to Advanced
Previous Year UPSC Questions – (CSAT & Essay)

UPSC Grammar Strategy:

CSAT Paper II: Practice MCQs (Error detection, sentence improvement, comprehension).
Essay & Mains: Focus on formal, grammatically correct writing.
Interview: Practice fluent and grammatically sound spoken English.

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