SBI Clerk English Questions with Answers: Quick Answer
This page gives 20 original SBI Clerk English questions with answers and full explanations. The set covers both stages of the examination. Questions 1 to 10 are written at Prelims level for the English Language section: 30 questions, 30 marks, 20 minutes. Questions 11 to 20 are written at Mains level for the General English section: 40 questions, 40 marks, 35 minutes. Both sections deduct 0.25 marks for each wrong answer. The topics are the ones the examination actually tests: reading comprehension, cloze passages, error detection, phrase replacement, word swap, synonyms and antonyms, idioms, double fillers and sentence rearrangement.
These 20 questions are original practice questions written for this page. They are not previous-year questions and are not copied from any paper, book or website. They are modelled on the style and difficulty of the SBI Clerk English sections, so they work as a timed drill: 10 questions in about 7 minutes at Prelims pace, then 10 questions at Mains pace. Every answer follows a stated grammar rule or a standard word meaning, and the rule is given with the answer. As of 2 November 2026, the pattern figures on this page follow the official SBI Clerk scheme described on the syllabus page linked below.
SBI Clerk English Method Box
Keep these ideas in front of you while you work through the questions. Almost every English question is one of them in disguise.
- Comprehension: the answer is always in the passage. Read the question first, then find the sentence that answers it. An option that sounds true but is not stated in the passage is wrong.
- Error detection: find the subject and the verb first and check that they agree. "The number of applicants" takes a singular verb, because the subject is "the number", not "applicants". "Neither of the two candidates" also takes a singular verb.
- Prepositions: "good at" is correct, not "good in". "Suffering from" is correct, not "suffering with". Preposition errors are the most common error type after agreement errors.
- Word swap: read the sentence with the words in their given places. If one word makes no sense where it stands, find the word it has traded places with. The two words usually belong to the same part of speech.
- Rearrangement: find the subject first, then the verb. The subject of a passive sentence is followed by "was/were + past participle" and then by "by" and the agent.
Shortcut habit: in Prelims, the English section allows barely 40 seconds per question. Attempt the vocabulary and idiom questions first, since they take the least time, and leave the comprehension passage for the end of the section if it is long.
Questions 1 to 4 — Reading Comprehension
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
When Meera opened her first bank account, she visited the branch twice: once to submit her documents and once to collect her debit card. The officer at the counter explained how to use the card, how to set a PIN, and how to check her balance on the bank's mobile application. He also gave her one warning that she never forgot: never share an OTP or a PIN with anyone, not even with a person who claims to be from the bank. A few weeks later, Meera received a phone call from a stranger who asked for her OTP, saying her account would be blocked otherwise. She remembered the officer's warning, refused to share it, and reported the call to the bank. Her account stayed safe, and she now helps her neighbours use mobile banking with the same caution.
Q1. Why did Meera visit the branch the second time?
(A) To collect her debit card (B) To submit her documents (C) To report a phone call (D) To meet the manager
Answer: (A) To collect her debit card. The passage says she visited once to submit documents and once to collect her debit card. The second visit was for the card.
Q2. What did the officer warn Meera about?
(A) Keeping her account balance low (B) Never sharing an OTP or a PIN with anyone (C) Visiting the branch too often (D) Using the mobile application
Answer: (B) Never sharing an OTP or a PIN with anyone. The officer's warning was never to share an OTP or a PIN, not even with a person claiming to be from the bank.
Q3. Which word in the passage is closest in meaning to "cautious"?
(A) Forgetful (B) Brave (C) Careful (D) Hasty
Answer: (C) Careful. The passage says Meera helps her neighbours use mobile banking "with the same caution", and "careful" means cautious. "Hasty" means hurried, which is the opposite.
Q4. What is the main idea of the passage?
(A) Opening a bank account is difficult (B) Mobile banking is unsafe (C) Bank officers are always helpful (D) Safe use of digital banking protects an account
Answer: (D) Safe use of digital banking protects an account. The passage shows Meera learning safe habits, refusing to share her OTP, and keeping her account safe. It does not say mobile banking is unsafe; it shows how to use it safely.
Question 5 — Cloze
Q5. Choose the correct word to fill the blank: The manager ___ the report yesterday.
(A) submitted (B) submits (C) will submit (D) submitting
Answer: (A) submitted. The word "yesterday" shows the action happened in the past, so the simple past "submitted" is correct.
Question 6 — Subject-Verb Agreement
Q6. Choose the correct word to fill the blank: Neither the clerk nor the officers ___ informed about the change.
(A) was (B) were (C) is (D) has been
Answer: (B) were. With "neither/nor", the verb agrees with the nearer subject. "Officers" is plural and stands nearest the verb, so "were" is correct.
Question 7 — Error Detection
Q7. Find the part with an error: The number of (A) / applicants have (B) / increased (C) / this year (D).
(A) Part A (B) Part D (C) Part B (D) Part C
Answer: (C) Part B. The subject is "the number", which is singular, so the verb must be "has", not "have". The phrase "of applicants" does not change the subject. The error is in part B.
Question 8 — Error Detection
Q8. Find the part with an error: He is (A) / good in (B) / mathematics (C) / and science (D).
(A) Part A (B) Part C (C) Part D (D) Part B
Answer: (D) Part B. The correct preposition with "good" is "at", not "in": "good at mathematics". The error is in part B.
Question 9 — Phrase Replacement
Q9. Choose the word that can replace the underlined phrase: The committee put off the meeting.
(A) postponed (B) cancelled (C) arranged (D) attended
Answer: (A) postponed. "Put off" means to delay to a later time, which is "postponed". "Cancelled" means called off entirely, which is stronger than the original phrase.
Question 10 — Word Swap
Q10. The bank reduced (A) the interest borrowers (B) on deposits to attract rates (C) from other banks (D). Which two words need to be swapped to make the sentence correct?
(A) A and C (B) B and C (C) A and B (D) C and D
Answer: (B) B and C. "Borrowers" and "rates" have traded places. The correct sentence is: "The bank reduced the interest rates on deposits to attract borrowers from other banks."
Question 11 — Synonym
Q11. Choose the word closest in meaning to TRANSPARENT.
(A) Cloudy (B) Opaque (C) Clear (D) Hidden
Answer: (C) Clear. "Transparent" means allowing light through, or open and easy to understand, which is "clear". "Cloudy" and "opaque" are opposites.
Question 12 — Antonym
Q12. Choose the word opposite in meaning to SCARCE.
(A) Rare (B) Short (C) Limited (D) Abundant
Answer: (D) Abundant. "Scarce" means in short supply. "Abundant" means present in large quantities, which is its opposite. "Rare", "short" and "limited" are similar in meaning to "scarce".
Question 13 — Idiom
Q13. What does the idiom "to be in the red" mean?
(A) To be in debt or making a loss (B) To be angry (C) To be embarrassed (D) To be in danger
Answer: (A) To be in debt or making a loss. The idiom comes from the accounting practice of recording losses in red ink. It means owing money or running at a loss.
Question 14 — Idiom
Q14. What does the idiom "to break the ice" mean?
(A) To end a friendship (B) To start a conversation in a social setting (C) To work in cold weather (D) To solve a difficult problem
Answer: (B) To start a conversation in a social setting. The idiom means to ease initial social awkwardness by starting a conversation, especially between strangers.
Question 15 — Double Filler
Q15. Choose the pair of words that fills the blanks: The ___ of the new scheme will ___ small farmers.
(A) failure, harm (B) cost, burden (C) launch, benefit (D) delay, confuse
Answer: (C) launch, benefit. The sentence needs a positive noun for the scheme's introduction and a positive verb for its effect: the launch of the scheme will benefit small farmers. The other pairs give the sentence a negative or meaningless sense.
Question 16 — Sentence Rearrangement
Q16. Rearrange the parts to form a correct sentence: P: was launched / Q: the scheme / R: last year / S: by the bank
(A) QRPS (B) PQSR (C) SPRQ (D) QPSR
Answer: (D) QPSR. The subject comes first: "the scheme" (Q), then the verb: "was launched" (P), then the agent: "by the bank" (S), then the time: "last year" (R). The sentence is: "The scheme was launched by the bank last year."
Question 17 — Error Detection
Q17. Find the part with an error: Neither of the two (A) / candidates were (B) / selected (C) / for the post (D).
(A) Part B (B) Part A (C) Part C (D) Part D
Answer: (A) Part B. "Neither of the two candidates" takes a singular verb, so "were" must be "was". The error is in part B.
Question 18 — Synonym
Q18. Choose the word closest in meaning to DILIGENT.
(A) Lazy (B) Hardworking (C) Careless (D) Slow
Answer: (B) Hardworking. "Diligent" means showing careful and persistent effort, which is "hardworking". "Lazy" and "careless" are opposites.
Question 19 — Antonym
Q19. Choose the word opposite in meaning to RIGID.
(A) Stiff (B) Strict (C) Flexible (D) Firm
Answer: (C) Flexible. "Rigid" means stiff and unbending. "Flexible" means able to bend or adapt, which is its opposite. "Stiff", "strict" and "firm" are similar in meaning to "rigid".
Question 20 — Cloze
Q20. Choose the correct word to fill the blank: The clerk ___ the documents carefully before filing them.
(A) ignores (B) loses (C) destroys (D) checked
Answer: (D) checked. The sentence needs a verb meaning "examined with care". "Checked" fits; "ignores", "loses" and "destroys" contradict the sense of careful handling.
How to Use These Questions
More solved sets: SBI Clerk Reasoning Questions with Answers: Solved Practice Set. Preparation plan: SBI Clerk Preparation Strategy 2026.
Attempt questions 1 to 10 in 7 minutes at Prelims pace, then questions 11 to 20 at Mains pace. Mark yourself with the +1/−0.25 scheme used in both English sections: add 1 for each correct answer and subtract 0.25 for each wrong one. In the real Prelims paper, the English section gives 20 minutes for 30 questions, so any question that takes more than a minute should be skipped and revisited. The most common errors here are agreement errors (question 7 and 17), preposition errors (question 8) and reading the options before recalling the word meaning (question 11 and 18). All three disappear with one written line per question.
- Check the full scheme: SBI Clerk syllabus and exam pattern — Prelims 100 questions, Mains 190 questions, language test, no interview.
- Practise quant next: SBI Clerk quant questions — 20 original quant questions for the same examination.
- Check the cut-off picture: SBI Clerk cut off 2026 — backlog and regular cycles kept separate.
- Check the result position: SBI Clerk result 2026 — how to check the Prelims result and what follows.
- Attempt a Mains mock: SBI Clerk Mains full mock test 02 — the complete 190-question Mains paper under exam conditions.
SBI Clerk English Questions FAQs
How many English questions are there in SBI Clerk Prelims and Mains?
Prelims has 30 English Language questions for 30 marks in 20 minutes. Mains has 40 General English questions for 40 marks in 35 minutes. Both sections deduct 0.25 marks for each wrong answer.
Which English topics matter most for SBI Clerk?
Reading comprehension, cloze passages, error detection, phrase replacement, word swap, synonyms and antonyms, idioms, double fillers and sentence rearrangement. In Mains, comprehension passages are longer and the vocabulary questions are harder, so reading speed matters more.
Are these 20 questions from previous-year papers?
No. They are original practice questions written for this page and modelled on the style and level of the SBI Clerk English sections. The comprehension passage is an original story written for this page, and every answer follows a stated grammar rule or a standard word meaning.
How is Mains English different from Prelims English?
Mains English has more questions, a longer comprehension passage, and harder vocabulary and rearrangement questions. The marking scheme is the same, but the Mains section gives 35 minutes for 40 questions, so the pace is slightly tighter per question.
How should I time the English section in the real exam?
In Prelims, aim for about 40 seconds per question and skip anything that takes longer than a minute. Attempt the vocabulary and idiom questions first, since they take the least time, and leave the comprehension passage for the end of the section if it is long.
Sources
- SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) examination scheme: Prelims 100 questions in 60 minutes, Mains 190 questions for 200 marks in 160 minutes, 0.25 negative marking, as described on this site's SBI Clerk syllabus and exam pattern page, which follows the official SBI advertisement.
- All 20 questions, options and solutions on this page are original and were written for this page. The comprehension passage is an original story written for this page, and every answer follows a stated grammar rule or a standard word meaning.
Last checked: 2 November 2026.