Why Grammar Matters in PTE Reading

Why Grammar Matters in PTE Reading

Grammar helps you in 3 important question types:

Question Type	Grammar Helps You...
Fill in the Blanks (both types)	Choose the correct word (noun, verb, adjective, etc.)
Re-order Paragraphs	Find the logical start and connect sentences
Multiple Choice	Eliminate wrong answers

Goal

Recognize grammar patterns without memorizing complex rules.

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1. Parts of Speech — Most Important

Understanding parts of speech helps you quickly identify what kind of word fits in a blank.

Part of Speech	Clue	Example
Noun	a person, place, thing, or idea	student, book, happiness
Verb	action or state	run, is, have been studying
Adjective	describes a noun	beautiful, large, interesting
Adverb	describes a verb/adjective	quickly, very, well
Preposition	shows position or time	in, on, at, during, by
Conjunction	connects clauses	and, but, because, although
Pronoun	replaces a noun	he, they, it, which, that

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✅ Fill in the Blank Trick

Look at:

• the word before the blank
• the word after the blank

These usually tell you what part of speech is needed.

Example:

She is a very ______ student.

The word "very" usually comes before an adjective.

So the blank needs an adjective.

✅ intelligent

❌ intelligence

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2. Common Grammar Patterns in PTE

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A. Articles (a, an, the)

Articles are tested very frequently.

Rule	Example
a / an = first time mentioned, general	She bought a car.
the = specific or already mentioned	The car was red.
no article = plural or uncountable general	Happiness is important.

Quick Rule

a → before consonant sound
an → before vowel sound

Examples:

• a university
• an apple

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B. Prepositions — Frequently Tested

Prepositions show time, place, direction, or relationship.

Preposition	Use	Example
in	inside, year, month	in 2020, in March
on	surface, day, date	on the table, on Monday
at	specific time/place	at 5pm, at the door
of	possession/connection	the color of the sky
by	method/before time	by car, by Friday

Common PTE Traps

❌ in Monday
✅ on Monday

❌ at 2020
✅ in 2020

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C. Conjunctions — Connecting Ideas

These help identify logical relationships.

Conjunction	Meaning	Example
and	adds similar idea	He studied hard and passed.
but	contrast	She studied but failed.
because	reason	He passed because he studied.
although	unexpected result	Although he studied, he failed.

Meaning Signals

because → reason

therefore → result

although / however → contrast

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3. Verb Tenses — What You Actually Need

You do not need every grammar tense.

Focus on these 4 major ones.

Tense	When to Use	Clue Words
Present Simple	facts, habits	always, usually, every day
Past Simple	finished past actions	yesterday, last week, in 2010
Present Perfect	past action connected to present	since, for, already, yet, ever
Future	prediction or plan	will, going to, tomorrow

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Present Simple

Used for:

• facts
• routines
• habits

Example:

She works in a bank.

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Past Simple

Used for completed actions in the past.

Example:

He visited Nepal last year.

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Present Perfect

Very common in PTE.

Structure:

has/have + past participle

Example:

She has lived here since 2015.

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Common PTE Trap

If you see:

• since
• for

Look for Present Perfect

✅ She has worked here for five years.

❌ She worked here for five years.
(Usually incorrect if still continuing)

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4. Pronouns & Reference Words (for Re-order Paragraphs)

This is extremely important.

These words point back to something already mentioned.

Pronoun	Refers To	Example
it, they, them	previously mentioned thing/people	The car was old. It broke down.
this, these, that, those	earlier idea	Global warming is serious. This concerns everyone.
he, she, they	a previously named person	John arrived. He sat down.

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✅ Re-order Paragraph Trick

A sentence beginning with:

• It
• They
• This
• That
• These

cannot usually be the first paragraph

Why?

Because the reader does not yet know what the pronoun refers to.

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Example

❌ It was revolutionary.

(What was revolutionary?)

Needs earlier context.

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5. Common Grammar Errors in PTE

These are common traps.

Wrong	Why?	Correct
He go to school	subject-verb agreement	He goes to school
She don't like it	wrong auxiliary	She doesn't like it
I have went	wrong past participle	I have gone
The informations	uncountable noun	The information
He is more taller	double comparative	He is taller

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Subject-Verb Agreement

Singular subject → singular verb

✅ She works

❌ She work

Plural subject → plural verb

✅ They work

❌ They works

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6. Quick Self-Check: Fill in the Blank

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Example 1

The company announced ______ new product yesterday.

a) a

b) an

c) the

d) (no word)

✅ Answer: a) a

Reason:

First time mentioned
"new" begins with consonant sound

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Example 2

She has been working here ______ five years.

a) since

b) for

c) during

d) from

✅ Answer: b) for

Reason:

for = length of time

Examples:

for five years
for two months

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Example 3

______ it was raining, they went for a walk.

a) Because

b) So

c) Although

d) And

✅ Answer: c) Although

Reason:

Shows contrast

It was raining, but they still went.

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✅ Final Cheat Sheet (Print & Remember)

If you see...	Look for...
a / an / the before blank	noun after blank
very / quite / really before blank	adjective after blank
since / for in sentence	present perfect verb
he / she / it / they at start	reference to earlier noun
although / however	contrast in meaning
because / therefore	reason or result

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Golden Rule for PTE Reading

Do not try to memorize every grammar rule.

Focus on spotting patterns quickly:

Word clues → Grammar pattern → Correct answer

That speed is what helps you score high in PTE Reading.