Verbal Ability
Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension & Analogies (40% of exam)
Subject-Verb Agreement
Rule 1: Basic Agreement
Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs.
✓ The dog runs fast. (singular)
✓ The dogs run fast. (plural)
Rule 2: Compound Subjects with "AND"
Compound subjects joined by "and" take plural verbs.
✓ Juan and Maria are friends.
Rule 3: "Either...Or" and "Neither...Nor"
The verb agrees with the nearer subject.
✓ Neither the teacher nor the students were present.
✓ Neither the students nor the teacher was present.
Rule 4: Collective Nouns
Can be singular or plural depending on context.
✓ The committee has decided. (acting as one)
✓ The committee have different opinions. (acting individually)
Rule 5: Intervening Phrases
Phrases between subject and verb don't affect agreement.
✓ The box of chocolates is on the table. (subject = box)
Commonly Confused Words
Affect vs Effect
Affect = verb (to influence)
Effect = noun (result)
The rain will affect the game. The effect was immediate.
Their vs There vs They're
Their = possessive (belonging to them)
There = place (location)
They're = they are (contraction)
Its vs It's
Its = possessive
It's = it is
The dog wagged its tail. It's a nice day.
Accept vs Except
Accept = to receive/agree
Except = to exclude
Principal vs Principle
Principal = main person/thing, school head
Principle = rule, belief, fundamental truth
Lose vs Loose
Lose = to misplace (verb)
Loose = not tight (adjective)
Then vs Than
Then = time (next, after)
Than = comparison
Compliment vs Complement
Compliment = praise
Complement = complete/match
Analogies
Analogies test your ability to recognize relationships between words.
Synonyms
Happy : Joyful :: Sad : Sorrowful
Antonyms
Hot : Cold :: Big : Small
Part to Whole
Wheel : Car :: Key : Piano
Cause & Effect
Fire : Smoke :: Rain : Flood
Function/Purpose
Pen : Write :: Knife : Cut
Worker & Tool
Chef : Knife :: Painter : Brush
Degree/Intensity
Warm : Hot :: Cool : Cold
Category/Type
Rose : Flower :: Apple : Fruit
Example Question:
DOCTOR : HOSPITAL :: TEACHER : ?
Answer: SCHOOL (Worker : Workplace relationship)
Reading Comprehension Tips
Read the questions first - Know what to look for before reading the passage.
Identify the main idea - Usually in the first or last paragraph.
Look for keywords - Circle or underline important words and phrases.
Eliminate wrong answers - Cross out obviously incorrect choices.
Watch for signal words - "however," "therefore," "in contrast," etc.