Introduction
In the SBI CBO 2025 Descriptive English test, candidates are assessed not only for their ideas and structure but also for grammar accuracy. Even a well-thought-out essay or letter can lose crucial marks due to careless grammatical errors.
At Bank Whizz, we’ve evaluated thousands of mocks—and found that many aspirants repeat the same grammar mistakes again and again.
This post outlines the most common grammar pitfalls in SBI CBO descriptive writing and provides clear tips to avoid them, ensuring you deliver precise and professional answers.
Why Grammar Matters in Descriptive Writing
Grammar errors:
- Make your writing confusing or ambiguous
- Lower the professional tone
- Indicate lack of attention to detail
- Affect your overall fluency and coherence score
Examiners penalize for:
- Repeated tense errors
- Subject-verb mismatch
- Sentence fragments
- Spelling and punctuation issues
Top 10 Grammar Mistakes to Avoid
1. Subject–Verb Agreement Errors
✅ Correct:
The manager approves the loan proposal.
❌ Incorrect:
The manager approve the loan proposal.
📌 Tip: Always match singular subjects with singular verbs and plural subjects with plural verbs.
2. Tense Shifts
✅ Correct:
The branch received the complaint and responded promptly.
❌ Incorrect:
The branch received the complaint and responds promptly.
📌 Tip: Maintain the same tense unless there’s a valid time change.
3. Wrong Prepositions
✅ Correct:
We discussed the issue with the customer.
❌ Incorrect:
We discussed the issue to the customer.
📌 Tip: Learn common preposition usage in business communication (e.g., apply for, depend on, comply with).
4. Misplaced Modifiers
❌ Incorrect:
The bank only offered loans to salaried professionals.
✅ Correct:
The bank offered loans only to salaried professionals.
📌 Tip: Place modifiers close to the word they modify for clarity.
5. Run-on Sentences
❌ Incorrect:
The ATM was not working I informed the branch manager immediately.
✅ Correct:
The ATM was not working, so I informed the branch manager immediately.
📌 Tip: Use punctuation or conjunctions to connect ideas properly.
6. Fragmented Sentences
❌ Incorrect:
Because the customer didn’t provide KYC.
✅ Correct:
The account was frozen because the customer didn’t provide KYC.
📌 Tip: Make sure every sentence has a subject and a verb.
7. Confusing Pronouns
❌ Incorrect:
The manager spoke to the clerk before he left. (Who left?)
✅ Correct:
The manager left after speaking to the clerk. (Clarity restored)
📌 Tip: Replace ambiguous pronouns with clear nouns when needed.
8. Incorrect Use of Articles
✅ Correct:
The customer filed a complaint about the delayed service.
❌ Incorrect:
Customer filed complaint about delayed service.
📌 Tip: Use “a/an” for general references and “the” for specific ones.
9. Spelling Mistakes
❌ Incorrect:
The bank appologized for the inconvenience.
✅ Correct:
The bank apologized for the inconvenience.
📌 Tip: Use spell check tools, but don’t rely on them blindly—practice frequently misspelled words.
10. Improper Capitalization
❌ Incorrect:
He visited the Branch in Delhi.
✅ Correct:
He visited the branch in Delhi.
📌 Tip: Only proper nouns (names of places, people, institutions) should be capitalized—not common nouns.
Bonus Mistake: Overuse of Passive Voice
❌ Overused:
The proposal was approved by the manager, and it was sent to the regional office.
✅ Improved:
The manager approved the proposal and sent it to the regional office.
📌 Tip: Passive voice is not incorrect, but overusing it makes writing dull. Prefer active voice unless formality demands otherwise.
How to Avoid These Grammar Pitfalls
✅ 1. Practice With Feedback
Use Bank Whizz’s evaluated mocks to find your blind spots. We highlight grammar errors in every sentence you write.
✅ 2. Read Banking Editorials
Reading editorials from The Hindu, BusinessLine, or RBI Bulletins helps absorb correct sentence structures and grammar subconsciously.
✅ 3. Use a Grammar Checklist
Before submission, review your writing with this quick checklist:
- ✅ Verb and subject agree?
- ✅ Tense consistent throughout?
- ✅ Proper punctuation used?
- ✅ Prepositions and articles in place?
- ✅ Any ambiguous pronouns?
✅ 4. Keep Sentences Short and Crisp
Long, complicated sentences increase chances of grammatical mistakes. Use shorter ones with clarity.
Grammar in Essay vs. Letter – Know the Difference
| Aspect | Essay Writing | Letter Writing |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Formal, analytical | Professional and polite |
| Structure | Argument-driven | Purpose-driven |
| Language | Slightly academic | Straightforward |
| Grammar Focus | Logic flow, transitions | Format, clarity, respectfulness |
Sample Correction Example
🔸 Original:
The customer complaint was not resolve by branch in timely manner.
🔹 Corrected:
The customer complaint was not resolved by the branch in a timely manner.
Error Identified:
- Wrong verb form: resolve → resolved
- Missing articles: the branch
- Missing article before “timely manner”
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be a grammar genius to crack SBI CBO 2025. But you do need to avoid careless mistakes. Accuracy, structure, and tone matter as much as content.
At Bank Whizz, our goal is to help you master not just what to write—but how to write it correctly.
Call to Action
🚀 Want detailed evaluation of your grammar, structure, and clarity in descriptive writing?
👉 Join Bank Whizz’s SBI CBO 2025 Descriptive English Course today!
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