Word Swap
About 7 min · English Language · English
Time worked out from the lesson's 531 words at 150 words a minute, plus a minute for each question.
Word Swap is a relatively newer question format that is part of SBI Clerk Prelims. In these questions, you are given a sentence where two words have been interchanged, making the sentence grammatically incorrect or meaningless. Your task is to identify which two words need to be swapped back to make the sentence correct.
Key ideas
- Sentence Logic First: Before checking grammar, understand what the sentence is trying to say. The correct meaning will guide you to the swapped words.
- Subject-Verb Mismatch: Often, swapping creates a subject-verb agreement error. A singular subject paired with a plural verb (or vice versa) signals a potential swap.
- Adjective-Noun Pairing: Adjectives must logically modify their nouns. If "economic growth" becomes "growth economic" or an adjective describes the wrong noun, a swap is needed.
- Verb-Object Relationship: Verbs must take appropriate objects. "Drink food" or "eat water" indicates swapped words.
- Preposition Collocations: Fixed phrases like "interested in" or "capable of" get broken when words are swapped. Recognize standard collocations.
Watch out for
- Swapping based on sound alone → Always verify that both grammar AND meaning become correct after the swap. Sometimes a swap fixes grammar but creates nonsense.
- Ignoring the "No swap required" option → Students often force a swap even when the sentence is correct. Read the original carefully before hunting for errors.
- Swapping adjacent words → Exam setters usually swap words that are farther apart. If you think two neighboring words need swapping, reconsider.
Quick reference
- Understand meaning → then check grammar → then identify swap.
- Swapped words are usually the same part of speech (noun-noun, verb-verb, adjective-adjective).
- Subject-object swaps and adjective-noun swaps are common.
- Always test your answer by reading the corrected sentence aloud.
- If nothing sounds wrong, "No swap required" may be correct.
Check yourself: 3 questions
1. Directions: In the following sentence, two words are highlighted. If swapping these two words makes the sentence grammatically correct and meaningful, mark that pair as your answer. If no swap is required, mark 'No swap required' as your answer. The company has announced that it will provide (A) all its employees with adequate (B) training to ensure (C) they can handle the new software effectively (D). Which two words need to be swapped to make the sentence correct?
2. Directions: In the following sentence, two words are highlighted. If swapping these two words makes the sentence grammatically correct and meaningful, mark that pair as your answer. If no swap is required, mark 'No swap required' as your answer. The government's new policy aims to accessible (A) healthcare facilities more promote (B) in rural areas where medical infrastructure (C) is severely lacking (D). Which two words need to be swapped to make the sentence correct?
3. Directions: In the following sentence, two words are highlighted. If swapping these two words makes the sentence grammatically correct and meaningful, mark that pair as your answer. If no swap is required, mark 'No swap required' as your answer. The Reserve Bank of India has stringent (A) several implemented (B) measures to control inflation and stabilize (C) the economy during this financial (D) year. Which two words need to be swapped to make the sentence correct?
This lesson is cut from the topic's note, not rewritten. Fact-checked on 18 Oct 2026: an AI-assisted check of this note against cited sources; the errors it found were corrected that day. Some errors may remain. The questions are from Shishya's validated question bank.
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