Word Usage
Word usage refers to how we choose and combine words to create meaningful sentences. In English, just knowing a word's meaning is not enough. You must also know how that word behaves with other words. This is called contextual usage. For example, a word might be grammatically correct but sound unnatural in a specific situation. Examiners test if you can spot these subtle errors in sentences. Word usage covers three main areas: grammar rules, idiomatic expressions, and logical flow.
Concepts (3)
Some words are always followed by specific prepositions. This is called 'fixed usage'. For example, you are 'interested in' something, not 'interested at' it. You have a 'reputation of' doing something. There is no simple rule for this.
Some words are always followed by specific prepositions. This is called 'fixed usage'. For example, you are 'interested in' something, not 'interested at' it. You have a 'reputation of' doing something. There is no simple rule for this. You must learn these pairs through practice. Using the wrong preposition is one of the most frequent errors tested in the UPSC English section.
Parallelism means using the same pattern of words for two or more ideas. This gives the sentence balance. If you are listing activities, all items should be in the same form. For example, 'He likes hiking, biking, and to swim' is incorrect.
Parallelism means using the same pattern of words for two or more ideas. This gives the sentence balance. If you are listing activities, all items should be in the same form. For example, 'He likes hiking, biking, and to swim' is incorrect. It should be 'He likes hiking, biking, and swimming.' Here, all three words end in 'ing'. This makes the sentence easier to read and grammatically sound for competitive exams.
The verb must match the subject in number. A singular subject needs a singular verb. A plural subject needs a plural verb. A common trap involves words like 'Every' or 'Each'. Even if they refer to many people, they are grammatically singular.
The verb must match the subject in number. A singular subject needs a singular verb. A plural subject needs a plural verb. A common trap involves words like 'Every' or 'Each'. Even if they refer to many people, they are grammatically singular. Example: 'Every student has a book' is correct. 'Every student have a book' is incorrect. Always find the real subject before choosing the verb.
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Start Lesson: Fixed Prepositions