WBPSC Clerkship English Quiz: Conjunctions

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12 practice questions on conjunctions with a full explanation for every answer. 📖 Read the detailed topic

Himalayan Rivers Quiz: Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra (Clerkship 2024)

WBPSC Clerkship 2024 Weekly Mock Test (25 October 2026): English, General Studies, Arithmetic

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Fill in the blank: "___ it was raining heavily, the match went on."

Explanation

The match went on in spite of the rain, so the two parts contrast. "Although" shows contrast. "Because" gives a reason, "unless" means "if not" and "until" marks a time limit; none fits the meaning.

Key Points

Although = in spite of the fact that
Never use "but" with "although"

Memory Tips

Although, Though, Even though all mean the same

Fill in the blank: "Hardly had he reached the station ___ the train left."

Explanation

"Hardly" is always followed by "when" (Hardly had ... when). "Than" belongs to "No sooner". "Then" and "while" do not form this pattern.

Key Points

Hardly had + subject + V3 ... when
Scarcely ... when follows the same rule

Confusion Points

Hardly ... than and No sooner ... when are both wrong

Memory Tips

Hardly/Scarcely take when; No sooner takes than

Fill in the blank: "No sooner did she see the snake ___ she screamed."

Explanation

"No sooner" pairs with "than" (No sooner ... than = as soon as). "When" goes with "hardly" or "scarcely".

Key Points

No sooner + auxiliary + subject ... than
It means "as soon as"

Memory Tips

No sooner → than

Fill in the blank: "He worked hard ___ he could pass the examination."

Explanation

"So that" expresses purpose: he worked hard in order to pass. "Because" gives a reason for something already true, while "unless" and "although" do not fit the meaning.

Key Points

So that = in order that (purpose)
Usually followed by can, could, may or might

Memory Tips

So that → "যাতে"

Fill in the blank: "Hurry up, ___ you will miss the bus."

Explanation

After a command, "or" means "otherwise": hurry, or you will miss the bus. "And" adds, while "but" and "yet" show contrast.

Key Points

Command + or = otherwise
Command + and = a good result follows

Memory Tips

Hurry up, or ... = otherwise

Fill in the blank: "Not only Rina ___ also her brother passed the test."

Explanation

The correlative pair is "not only ... but also". "And", "or" and "nor" cannot complete it. The verb agrees with the nearer subject.

Key Points

Not only ... but also is a fixed pair
The verb agrees with the nearer subject

Memory Tips

Not only → but also

Fill in the blank: "___ you work hard, you will not succeed."

Explanation

"Unless" means "if ... not": if you do not work hard, you will not succeed. "If" would reverse the meaning, and "though" and "until" do not fit.

Key Points

Unless = if not
Do not add a second negative inside the unless clause

Confusion Points

"Unless you do not work" is wrong because unless already carries the negative

Memory Tips

Unless = If not

Which of the following sentences is correct?

Explanation

"Though he is poor, he is honest" is correct: one conjunction joins the two clauses. The first sentence pairs "although" with "but", the second "because" with "so", and the third "unless" with "not"; all three are wrong.

Key Points

Although/Though never takes "but"
Because never takes "so"
Unless never takes "not"

Confusion Points

"Though ... yet" is allowed, but "though ... but" is not

Memory Tips

One link, one conjunction

Fill in the blank: "He tried hard, ___ he failed."

Explanation

He tried hard but still failed, so the clauses contrast, and "yet" (or "but") shows contrast. "So" gives a result, "because" a reason and "unless" a condition.

Key Points

Yet and but both show contrast
Yet is one of the FANBOYS conjunctions

Memory Tips

FANBOYS: For And Nor But Or Yet So

Fill in the blank: "Wait here ___ I return."

Explanation

"Until" marks the time up to which you wait. "Unless" would mean "if I do not return", which makes no sense here, and "although" and "because" do not fit.

Key Points