SSC English Practice Set with Answers (2026)

The English section of SSC exams tests a small number of things again and again: grammar, error spotting, vocabulary, idioms and sentence structure. If you practise these regularly, English can become the most scoring part of your paper.

This set has 50 questions from the topics that are asked most often. Each question has four options, the correct answer and a short explanation of the rule or meaning. The explanation matters more than the answer, since the same rule can appear in several questions.

How to use it: Attempt the set in 30 minutes. Then go through the explanations and write down the rules that surprised you. Keeping a small "rules notebook" is one of the best things you can do for English.

Fill in the Blanks (Q1–Q10)

Q1. She ______ to school every day.
(a) go   (b) goes   (c) going   (d) gone
Answer: (b) goes
Explanation: The subject "she" is singular, so the verb takes -s in the simple present.

Q2. If I ______ you, I would apologise.
(a) am   (b) was   (c) were   (d) be
Answer: (c) were
Explanation: In an unreal (imaginary) condition, "were" is used for all subjects.

Q3. He has been living here ______ 2015.
(a) for   (b) from   (c) by   (d) since
Answer: (d) since
Explanation: "Since" is used with a point in time, and "for" with a period of time.

Q4. Neither of the two boys ______ present.
(a) was   (b) were   (c) are   (d) have been
Answer: (a) was
Explanation: "Neither" takes a singular verb.

Q5. I look forward to ______ you.
(a) meet   (b) meeting   (c) met   (d) meets
Answer: (b) meeting
Explanation: "Look forward to" is followed by the -ing form because "to" is a preposition here.

Q6. The teacher, along with his students, ______ arrived.
(a) have   (b) are   (c) has   (d) were
Answer: (c) has
Explanation: The verb agrees with the main subject "the teacher", not with the phrase "along with".

Q7. He is senior ______ me.
(a) than   (b) from   (c) with   (d) to
Answer: (d) to
Explanation: Words like senior, junior, superior and inferior are followed by "to".

Q8. She is good ______ Mathematics.
(a) at   (b) in   (c) on   (d) with
Answer: (a) at
Explanation: "Good at" is the correct preposition for a skill or subject.

Q9. By the time we reached the station, the train ______.
(a) left   (b) had left   (c) has left   (d) leaves
Answer: (b) had left
Explanation: The past perfect shows the action that happened first.

Q10. Each of the students ______ given a certificate.
(a) were   (b) are   (c) was   (d) have been
Answer: (c) was
Explanation: "Each" is singular and takes a singular verb.

Spot the Error (Q11–Q18)

Q11. He don't (a) / know the answer (b) / to this question. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (a) Error in part (a)
Explanation: The singular subject "he" needs "doesn't", not "don't".

Q12. The furniture (a) / in the room (b) / are very old. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (c) Error in part (c)
Explanation: "Furniture" is an uncountable noun and takes a singular verb: "is very old".

Q13. She is (a) / more taller (b) / than her sister. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (b) Error in part (b)
Explanation: "Taller" is already a comparative, so "more" should not be used with it.

Q14. Neither the teacher (a) / nor the students (b) / were present. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (d) No error
Explanation: The verb agrees with the nearer subject, "students", so "were" is correct.

Q15. I have been knowing (a) / him (b) / for ten years. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (a) Error in part (a)
Explanation: "Know" is a stative verb and is not used in the continuous form. It should be "have known".

Q16. The news (a) / are not (b) / true. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (b) Error in part (b)
Explanation: "News" is singular, so it should be "is not".

Q17. He is the taller (a) / of all (b) / the boys in the class. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (a) Error in part (a)
Explanation: When more than two are compared, use the superlative: "the tallest".

Q18. My mother gave me (a) / a good advice (b) / before the exam. (c) / No error (d)
(a) Error in part (a)   (b) Error in part (b)   (c) Error in part (c)   (d) No error
Answer: (b) Error in part (b)
Explanation: "Advice" is uncountable. It should be "good advice" or "a piece of good advice".

Synonyms (Q19–Q24)

Q19. Choose the word closest in meaning to ABUNDANT.
(a) Scarce   (b) Rare   (c) Tiny   (d) Plentiful
Answer: (d) Plentiful
Explanation: Abundant means available in large quantity.

Q20. Choose the word closest in meaning to BENEVOLENT.
(a) Kind   (b) Cruel   (c) Selfish   (d) Angry
Answer: (a) Kind
Explanation: Benevolent means well-meaning and kind.

Q21. Choose the word closest in meaning to CANDID.
(a) Secretive   (b) Frank   (c) Shy   (d) Rude
Answer: (b) Frank
Explanation: Candid means honest and straightforward.

Q22. Choose the word closest in meaning to DILIGENT.
(a) Lazy   (b) Careless   (c) Hardworking   (d) Slow
Answer: (c) Hardworking
Explanation: Diligent means showing steady effort.

Q23. Choose the word closest in meaning to EMINENT.
(a) Unknown   (b) Ordinary   (c) Weak   (d) Distinguished
Answer: (d) Distinguished
Explanation: Eminent means famous and respected.

Q24. Choose the word closest in meaning to FRUGAL.
(a) Thrifty   (b) Wasteful   (c) Generous   (d) Rich
Answer: (a) Thrifty
Explanation: Frugal means careful about spending money.

Antonyms (Q25–Q30)

Q25. Choose the word opposite in meaning to ANCIENT.
(a) Old   (b) Modern   (c) Historic   (d) Antique
Answer: (b) Modern
Explanation: Ancient means very old, and modern means of the present time.

Q26. Choose the word opposite in meaning to EXPAND.
(a) Extend   (b) Grow   (c) Contract   (d) Spread
Answer: (c) Contract
Explanation: Expand means to become larger.

Q27. Choose the word opposite in meaning to GENEROUS.
(a) Kind   (b) Liberal   (c) Charitable   (d) Stingy
Answer: (d) Stingy
Explanation: A generous person gives freely; a stingy person does not.

Q28. Choose the word opposite in meaning to VICTORY.
(a) Defeat   (b) Triumph   (c) Success   (d) Win
Answer: (a) Defeat
Explanation: Victory is winning and defeat is losing.

Q29. Choose the word opposite in meaning to RIGID.
(a) Stiff   (b) Flexible   (c) Firm   (d) Hard
Answer: (b) Flexible
Explanation: Rigid means not able to bend.

Q30. Choose the word opposite in meaning to TRANSPARENT.
(a) Clear   (b) Glassy   (c) Opaque   (d) Thin
Answer: (c) Opaque
Explanation: Transparent means light passes through; opaque means it does not.

One-Word Substitution (Q31–Q36)

Q31. One who loves books.
(a) Bibliographer   (b) Philanthropist   (c) Bookworm only   (d) Bibliophile
Answer: (d) Bibliophile
Explanation: "Biblio" means book and "phile" means lover.

Q32. A person who walks in his sleep.
(a) Somnambulist   (b) Insomniac   (c) Sleepwalker only   (d) Somnologist
Answer: (a) Somnambulist
Explanation: Somnambulism means sleepwalking.

Q33. Government by the people.
(a) Autocracy   (b) Democracy   (c) Aristocracy   (d) Monarchy
Answer: (b) Democracy
Explanation: Demos means people and kratos means rule.

Q34. The study of ancient things and remains.
(a) Anthropology   (b) Geology   (c) Archaeology   (d) Etymology
Answer: (c) Archaeology
Explanation: Archaeology studies human history through excavated remains.

Q35. One who knows everything.
(a) Omnipotent   (b) Omnivorous   (c) Omnipresent   (d) Omniscient
Answer: (d) Omniscient
Explanation: Omni means all and scient means knowing.

Q36. An extreme fear of heights.
(a) Acrophobia   (b) Claustrophobia   (c) Hydrophobia   (d) Xenophobia
Answer: (a) Acrophobia
Explanation: Acro means high or top.

Idioms and Phrases (Q37–Q42)

Q37. "To break the ice" means:
(a) To break something cold   (b) To start a conversation and ease the tension   (c) To become angry   (d) To leave a place
Answer: (b) To start a conversation and ease the tension
Explanation: It is used when people meet for the first time.

Q38. "A piece of cake" means:
(a) A sweet dish   (b) A small gift   (c) Something very easy   (d) Something difficult
Answer: (c) Something very easy
Explanation: For example: "The exam was a piece of cake."

Q39. "Once in a blue moon" means:
(a) Every month   (b) Every night   (c) Very often   (d) Very rarely
Answer: (d) Very rarely
Explanation: A blue moon is a rare event.

Q40. "To hit the nail on the head" means:
(a) To say or do exactly the right thing   (b) To make a mistake   (c) To work with tools   (d) To be angry
Answer: (a) To say or do exactly the right thing
Explanation: It is used to praise an accurate remark.

Q41. "To spill the beans" means:
(a) To cook food   (b) To reveal a secret   (c) To waste something   (d) To tell a lie
Answer: (b) To reveal a secret
Explanation: It means telling a secret by mistake or on purpose.

Q42. "Under the weather" means:
(a) Standing in the rain   (b) Feeling very happy   (c) Feeling unwell   (d) Being very rich
Answer: (c) Feeling unwell
Explanation: It is a mild way of saying that someone is sick.

Spelling and Voice (Q43–Q50)

Q43. Choose the correct spelling.
(a) Accomodation   (b) Acommodation   (c) Accommmodation   (d) Accommodation
Answer: (d) Accommodation
Explanation: It has double c and double m.

Q44. Choose the correct spelling.
(a) Receive   (b) Recieve   (c) Receeve   (d) Receve
Answer: (a) Receive
Explanation: Remember: "i before e, except after c".

Q45. Choose the correct spelling.
(a) Occurence   (b) Occurrence   (c) Ocurrence   (d) Occurance
Answer: (b) Occurrence
Explanation: It has double c and double r.

Q46. Choose the correct spelling.
(a) Neccessary   (b) Necesary   (c) Necessary   (d) Nesessary
Answer: (c) Necessary
Explanation: One c and two s: "ne-ces-sa-ry".

Q47. Change to the passive voice: "She writes a letter."
(a) A letter was written by her.   (b) A letter has been written by her.   (c) A letter is being written by her.   (d) A letter is written by her.
Answer: (d) A letter is written by her.
Explanation: The simple present active becomes "is/are + past participle" in the passive.

Q48. Change to the passive voice: "They are playing football."
(a) Football is being played by them.   (b) Football is played by them.   (c) Football was being played by them.   (d) Football has been played by them.
Answer: (a) Football is being played by them.
Explanation: The present continuous becomes "is/are being + past participle".

Q49. Change to the passive voice: "The teacher punished the boy."
(a) The boy is punished by the teacher.   (b) The boy was punished by the teacher.   (c) The boy has been punished by the teacher.   (d) The boy had punished the teacher.
Answer: (b) The boy was punished by the teacher.
Explanation: The simple past active becomes "was/were + past participle".

Q50. Change to the passive voice: "Someone has stolen my pen."
(a) My pen is stolen.   (b) My pen was stolen by someone.   (c) My pen has been stolen.   (d) My pen had been stolen.
Answer: (c) My pen has been stolen.
Explanation: The present perfect becomes "has/have been + past participle".

Simple Ways to Improve Your English for SSC

• Read one editorial a day. It improves vocabulary and comprehension together.
• Learn five new words daily, with their synonyms and antonyms, and use each one in a sentence of your own.
• Revise the rules of subject-verb agreement, tenses and prepositions. Most error spotting questions come from these three areas.
• Practise a little every day. Twenty minutes a day for a month works better than a whole day of practice once a week.

After this set, you can try the separate practice sets on error detection, cloze test, synonyms and antonyms and reading comprehension on this site.