Comprehensive Introduction to Verb/Adjective + Preposition Pairs and Articles
This comprehensive introduction to Verb/Adjective + Preposition Pairs and Articles is designed to help you master these concepts for the PTE exam.
Part 1: Verb/Adjective + Preposition Pairs
What Are They?
In English, certain verbs and adjectives "govern" specific prepositions. This means they must be followed by a particular preposition to sound natural and be grammatically correct. You cannot choose a preposition based on logic or translation; you must memorize the pair.
Why It's Important for PTE
- Fill in the Blanks (Reading & Writing): You will often see a blank followed by a space. The correct answer is the preposition that perfectly pairs with the verb or adjective just before the blank.
- Essay Writing: Using the wrong preposition (e.g., "discuss about") is a major grammatical error that lowers your score.
- Summarize Written Text: Correct preposition usage ensures your sentence is clear and concise.
Common Verb + Preposition Pairs (PTE Favorites)
Verb | Preposition | Example Sentence |
Apply | for (a position/scholarship) | He applied for the scholarship. |
Depend / Rely | on | The success of the project depends on the weather. |
Consist | of (parts) | The team consists of five members. |
Result | in (a consequence) | The heavy rain resulted in flooding. |
Lead | to | Poor diet can lead to health problems. |
Belong | to | This book belongs to me. |
Listen | to | Please listen to the instructions. |
Look | at (stare) | Look at the board. |
Pay | for | Did you pay for the tickets? |
Wait | for | I am waiting for the bus. |
Common Adjective + Preposition Pairs (PTE Favorites)
Adjective | Preposition | Example Sentence |
Interested | in | Many people are interested in environmental issues. |
Responsible | for | The manager is responsible for the project. |
Different | from | British English is slightly different from American English. |
Similar | to | My experience was similar to yours. |
Satisfied / Pleased | with | The teacher is satisfied with the results. |
Worried / Concerned | about | Parents are worried about their children's health. |
Famous | for | The city is famous for its beautiful architecture. |
Good / Bad | at (skills) | She is good at math. |
Afraid / Scared | of | Many people are afraid of public speaking. |
PTE Study Tip:
Focus on context. In the reading "Fill in the Blanks," look at the word immediately before the blank.
- If it's a verb or adjective from the list above, look for the matching preposition in the options.
- If the blank is before a noun, and the options are prepositions, check the preceding word to see what preposition it pairs with.
Part 2: Articles (A, An, The)
What Are They?
Articles are small words that come before nouns. They tell the reader if the noun is specific (known to both the speaker and listener) or general (not specifically identified).
Why It's Important for PTE
- Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks: You will frequently see blanks where the correct answer is "a," "an," or "the." The options might include other words, and you must choose the article based on the context.
- Essay Writing: Missing or misusing articles is a common mistake that makes your writing sound unnatural and can lower your grammar score.
The Rules in a Nutshell
1. 'A' and 'An' (Indefinite Articles)
- Used with singular, countable nouns that are general or introduced for the first time.
- 'A' is used before consonant sounds (a book, a university - sounds like 'yoo').
- 'An' is used before vowel sounds (an apple, an hour - silent 'h').
2. 'The' (Definite Article)
- Used to refer to something specific that both the speaker and listener know about, or something that has already been mentioned.
- Used when there is only one of something (the sun, the government, the internet).
The "First Mention" Rule (Crucial for PTE)
This is the most common article rule tested in PTE.
- First Mention: The writer introduces a new topic using "a" or "an."
- Second Mention: Once the topic is known, the writer refers to it again using "the."
Example:
The city council built a new bridge near the river. Unfortunately, the bridge was damaged by a storm.
(First, we meet a random bridge (a). Later, we know exactly which bridge, so we use "the.")
Other Key Rules for PTE:
- No Article (Ø) is used with:
- Plural general nouns: Ø Dogs are loyal. (All dogs in general)
- Uncountable general nouns: Ø Water is essential. (Water in general)
- Most proper nouns: Ø John is here. Ø France is a country. (Exceptions: The United States, The UK)
PTE Study Tip (Comparing the concepts):
Look at how these two grammar points can interact in a text:
Example Passage:
Scientists recently discovered a (1) new planet orbiting a distant star. Astronomers are particularly interested in (2) this planet because it has water. They are now analyzing the (3) data collected from their telescopes.
- Blank 1: A (First mention of a general planet).
- Blank 2: in (The adjective "interested" is always followed by "in").
- Blank 3: the (The data is specific—it's the data from their telescopes).
Practice Set: Mixed Fill in the Blanks
Instructions: Read the passage. Choose the correct word to fill in each blank from the options provided in parentheses.
Passage:
Climate change is a global issue that many people are concerned (1) ______ (of / about / on). Scientists have conducted extensive research to understand its causes. They have found that the increase in greenhouse gases is largely responsible (2) ______ (for / to / with) the rising global temperatures. To combat this, governments must invest (3) ______ (for / in / on) renewable energy sources. Recently, (4) ______ (A / An / The) international agreement was signed in Paris. Since then, (5) ______ (a / an / the) agreement has been ratified by over 190 countries, demonstrating a collective effort to address this critical challenge.
Answer Key & Explanations:
1. about - The adjective "concerned" is always paired with the preposition "about."
2. for - The adjective "responsible" is always paired with the preposition "for."
3. in - The verb "invest" is always paired with the preposition "in" when referring to an area or sector.
4. An - This is the first mention of a general agreement. The word "international" starts with a vowel sound, so we use "An."
5. the - This is the second mention. Now we are referring to the specific Paris agreement, so we use "the."
10 Additional Practice Sets: Verb/Adjective + Preposition Pairs and Articles
I have structured these to mimic the PTE Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks style. Each set has 4 blanks with dropdown-style options in parentheses.
Crucial PTE Strategy
Before you look at the options, read the sentence and ask yourself:
1. Is the blank before a noun? Check if you need a/an/the or no article.
2. Does the word right before the blank (a verb/adjective) require a specific preposition?
Set 1
Passage:
Effective time management is crucial for academic success. Students often rely (1) ______ (on / for / at) digital calendars to organize their schedules. However, simply owning a planner is not enough; one must also be disciplined (2) ______ (with / about / for) sticking to the plan. (3) ______ (A / An / The) recent study found that students who plan their week in advance are less stressed. Researchers emphasized that (4) ______ (a / an / the) findings of this study could change how universities teach study skills.
Answers: 1. on | 2. about | 3. A | 4. the
Set 2
Passage:
Urban farming is becoming increasingly popular in major cities. Many residents are looking (1) ______ (after / for / at) ways to grow their own vegetables on rooftops. This practice is especially beneficial (2) ______ (for / to / with) communities that lack access to fresh grocery stores. (3) ______ (A / An / The) innovative project in New York City has inspired other metropolises. As a result, (4) ______ (a / the / an) project has received significant funding from environmental groups.
Answers: 1. for | 2. for | 3. An | 4. the
Set 3
Passage:
Companies often struggle to retain talented employees. High turnover usually results (1) ______ (from / in / by) poor management and a lack of career progression. To solve this, businesses should invest more (2) ______ (on / for / in) professional development programs for their staff. (3) ______ (A / The / An) excellent example of this is Google's employee training initiatives. However, implementing (4) ______ (a / the / an) same strategies may not work for every industry.
Answers: 1. from | 2. in | 3. An | 4. the
Set 4
Passage:
Renewable energy technologies have advanced rapidly over the last decade. Solar power, for instance, is very different (1) ______ (than / from / to) traditional coal-based energy. Many homeowners are now interested (2) ______ (for / in / on) installing solar panels to reduce their electricity bills. (3) ______ (A / An / The) recent drop in solar panel prices has accelerated this trend. Consequently, (4) ______ (an / a / the) demand for qualified solar installers has increased dramatically.
Answers: 1. from | 2. in | 3. A | 4. the
Set 5
Passage:
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the healthcare industry. AI algorithms are now capable of diagnosing diseases based (1) ______ (in / on / at) medical imaging data. However, doctors must remain responsible (2) ______ (for / about / with) the final treatment decisions. (3) ______ (A / An / The) important ethical debate has emerged regarding patient privacy. Moving forward, (4) ______ (the / a / an) debate will likely shape future government regulations on AI.
Answers: 1. on | 2. for | 3. An | 4. the
Set 6
Passage:
A healthy diet consists (1) ______ (in / of / by) a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Many people are confused (2) ______ (with / about / at) which foods actually contain high levels of sugar. (3) ______ (A / An / The) new food labeling system was introduced last year to help consumers. Unfortunately, (4) ______ (an / a / the) system has not been widely adopted by all manufacturers yet.
Answers: 1. of | 2. about | 3. A | 4. the
Set 7
Passage:
Public speaking is a skill that many professionals worry (1) ______ (for / about / of). Interestingly, being good (2) ______ (for / at / in) communication often leads to faster career promotions. (3) ______ (An / A / The) well-known survey revealed that 70% of employees fear presenting to large groups. However, (4) ______ (a / the / an) survey also showed that regular practice significantly reduces this anxiety over time.
Answers: 1. about | 2. at | 3. A | 4. the
Set 8
Passage:
Global tourism has a massive impact on local economies. Developing nations often depend heavily (1) ______ (to / on / for) international visitors for their revenue. Unfortunately, mass tourism can also lead (2) ______ (for / to / with) environmental degradation in fragile ecosystems. (3) ______ (An / A / The) eco-tourism initiative was launched in Costa Rica to tackle this. Since its launch, (4) ______ (the / an / a) initiative has successfully protected several rainforest areas while still attracting tourists.
Answers: 1. on | 2. to | 3. An | 4. the
Set 9
Passage:
Online education is very similar (1) ______ (with / to / from) traditional classroom learning in terms of curriculum, but different in delivery. Students must be disciplined enough to pay attention (2) ______ (at / for / to) recorded video lectures without getting distracted. (3) ______ (A / An / The) unexpected challenge of online learning is maintaining student engagement. To address this, (4) ______ (a / the / an) professors at leading universities are now using interactive quizzes during their live streams.
Answers: 1. to | 2. to | 3. An | 4. the
Set 10
Passage:
Financial literacy is something every adult should be familiar (1) ______ (about / with / to). Many people end up paying high fees simply because they are not aware (2) ______ (for / of / about) the hidden costs in their bank contracts. (3) ______ (A / An / The) national campaign was organized last month to educate the public about savings. According to the organizers, (4) ______ (an / a / the) campaign reached over five million people through social media.
Answers: 1. with | 2. of | 3. A | 4. the
Advanced Practice Sets: Verb/Adjective + Preposition Pairs and Articles
Below are the 15 additional advanced practice sets (Sets 11–25), followed by the Bonus Set 26 and the Final Pro-Tip for PTE Fill in the Blanks, kept in the same format.
Set 11
Passage:
The modern workplace relies heavily (1) ______ (on / for / to) effective teamwork to achieve company goals. Managers often complain (2) ______ (about / for / of) a lack of communication between different departments. (3) ______ (A / An / The) innovative solution was proposed during the last board meeting. Since then, (4) ______ (an / a / the) solution has been tested in three branches with promising results.
Answers: 1. on | 2. about | 3. An | 4. the
Set 12
Passage:
Historically, economic recessions have resulted (1) ______ (to / from / in) a combination of market crashes and consumer panic. Politicians are frequently blamed (2) ______ (about / for / with) the slow recovery periods that follow. (3) ______ (A / The / An) famous economist argued that government spending is the best cure. However, implementing (4) ______ (a / the / an) economist’s exact recommendations often proves politically difficult.
Answers: 1. from | 2. for | 3. A | 4. the
Set 13
Passage:
Social media influencers have a huge impact on young consumers. Many teenagers look up (1) ______ (at / to / for) these influencers as role models, often imitating their lifestyles. However, parents are growing increasingly worried (2) ______ (with / of / about) the unrealistic beauty standards being promoted. (3) ______ (A / An / The) recent survey showed that 60% of teens feel inadequate after scrolling through Instagram. Surprisingly, (4) ______ (an / the / a) survey also found that most teens are aware of this negative effect but cannot stop the habit.
Answers: 1. to | 2. about | 3. A | 4. the
Set 14
Passage:
Effective leadership is not just about giving orders. A good leader must be sensitive (1) ______ (to / for / with) the needs of their team members. Furthermore, they must be prepared to deal (2) ______ (about / with / for) conflicts as soon as they arise. (3) ______ (An / A / The) excellent training program was developed at Harvard to teach these soft skills. Currently, (4) ______ (the / a / an) program is being rolled out to multinational corporations worldwide.
Answers: 1. to | 2. with | 3. An | 4. the
Set 15
Passage:
Obesity rates have soared in developed countries over the past thirty years. This health crisis is largely attributable (1) ______ (to / for / on) the overconsumption of processed foods. Many governments have tried to cope (2) ______ (to / with / for) this issue by taxing sugary drinks. (3) ______ (A / An / The) controversial tax was introduced in Mexico a few years ago. According to health officials, (4) ______ (an / a / the) tax has reduced soda purchases by nearly 10%.
Answers: 1. to | 2. with | 3. A | 4. the
Set 16
Passage:
Space exploration is often criticized for its enormous cost. Detractors argue that the money spent on Mars rovers could be better spent (1) ______ (for / on / to) solving poverty at home. However, scientists are deeply committed (2) ______ (for / to / in) their research, believing it will benefit future generations. (3) ______ (An / A / The) historic moon landing in 1969 inspired millions of children to study science. Even today, (4) ______ (a / the / an) impact of that single event is still felt in STEM classrooms around the globe.
Answers: 1. on | 2. to | 3. The | 4. the
Set 17
Passage:
Learning a new language requires more than just memorizing vocabulary. Adult learners often struggle (1) ______ (for / with / about) pronunciation, especially if the sounds do not exist in their native tongue. Nevertheless, they should not be discouraged (2) ______ (by / for / of) their initial failures. (3) ______ (A / An / The) practical strategy is to listen to podcasts in the target language daily. If learners follow (4) ______ (a / the / an) strategy consistently, they usually see rapid improvement within months.
Answers: 1. with | 2. by | 3. A | 4. the
Set 18
Passage:
Alternative medicine, such as acupuncture and herbal remedies, is gaining acceptance in Western countries. Many patients are turning (1) ______ (to / for / on) these treatments because conventional medicine has failed them. However, medical professionals warn (2) ______ (about / for / of) the potential dangers of unregulated supplements. (3) ______ (A / An / The) alarming report was published by the World Health Organization last year. In response, (4) ______ (an / a / the) report has prompted several nations to tighten their health regulations.
Answers: 1. to | 2. about / of (both are acceptable, but "about" is more common in modern English) | 3. An | 4. the
Set 19
Passage:
Many graduates discover that their university degrees do not automatically qualify them (1) ______ (to / for / with) high-paying jobs. Employers are usually more interested (2) ______ (on / for / in) relevant work experience rather than academic grades. (3) ______ (An / A / The) unpaid internship is often the only way to gain this experience. Unfortunately, (4) ______ (the / an / a) internship is a luxury that many lower-income students simply cannot afford.
Answers: 1. for | 2. in | 3. An | 4. the
Set 20
Passage:
Virtual reality (VR) technology is no longer limited to gaming. Architects now use VR to present their designs (1) ______ (for / to / with) clients before any physical construction begins. This process protects them (2) ______ (from / about / of) making costly design errors later on. (3) ______ (A / An / The) major construction firm in Dubai recently adopted this technology. Since adopting it, (4) ______ (an / a / the) firm has reduced its project revision costs by 30%.
Answers: 1. to | 2. from | 3. A | 4. the
Set 21
Passage:
Remote work has changed how employees interact with each other. Many workers complain (1) ______ (for / about / of) feeling isolated when they are not physically present in an office. Managers, on the other hand, are concerned (2) ______ (with / about / for) maintaining team cohesion across time zones. (3) ______ (An / A / The) interesting study from Stanford University found that productivity actually increases at home. However, (4) ______ (a / an / the) study warned that this productivity boost often comes at the cost of longer working hours.
Answers: 1. about | 2. about | 3. An | 4. the
Set 22
Passage:
Water scarcity is a pressing issue that affects nearly every continent. Agricultural practices are the primary reason that many regions suffer (1) ______ (by / from / for) severe droughts. Experts agree that we must shift (2) ______ (from / to / for) water-intensive crops to more sustainable alternatives. (3) ______ (A / The / An) pioneering technique called drip irrigation has shown great promise. To implement (4) ______ (a / the / an) technique effectively, however, governments must subsidize the high initial equipment costs.
Answers: 1. from | 2. from | 3. The | 4. the
Set 23
Passage:
Customer satisfaction is directly linked to a company's profitability. Dissatisfied customers are likely to switch (1) ______ (to / with / for) competitors without any prior warning. Therefore, businesses must focus (2) ______ (on / at / for) improving their after-sales support services. (3) ______ (A / An / The) global survey of 5,000 consumers revealed that fast response times are the top priority. Interestingly, (4) ______ (an / a / the) survey participants ranked price as only the third most important factor.
Answers: 1. to | 2. on | 3. A | 4. the
Set 24
Passage:
Genetically modified (GM) foods remain a highly debated topic. Many environmentalists object strongly (1) ______ (against / to / for) the widespread cultivation of GM crops. Conversely, large agricultural corporations argue (2) ______ (for / about / in) the necessity of GM foods to feed a growing global population. (3) ______ (An / A / The) recent decision by the European Union to relax its regulations has angered activists. As a result, (4) ______ (the / an / a) activists are now planning mass protests across several member states.
Answers: 1. to | 2. for | 3. A | 4. the
Set 25
Passage:
Mindfulness meditation has been scientifically proven to reduce stress. Individuals who engage (1) ______ (in / with / on) daily meditation often report better sleep quality. However, beginners often ask (2) ______ (for / about / after) guidance on how to start their practice. (3) ______ (A / An / The) excellent mobile application offers free guided meditations for novices. According to the developers, (4) ______ (an / a / the) application has been downloaded over ten million times worldwide.
Answers: 1. in | 2. for | 3. An | 4. the
Extra Challenge: Tricky Pronouns — Set 26
Bonus set to teach you that articles come before adjectives too!
Passage:
Artificial intelligence is rapidly replacing routine administrative tasks. Many workers are afraid (1) ______ (of / from / about) losing their jobs to automation. However, history shows that technological revolutions usually result (2) ______ (to / in / from) the creation of entirely new job categories. (3) ______ (An / A / The) optimistic report from the World Economic Forum predicts that AI will create 97 million new jobs by 2025. Despite this, (4) ______ (an / the / a) report cautions that most of these new roles will require advanced digital skills, leaving low-skilled workers vulnerable.
Answers: 1. of | 2. in | 3. An | 4. the
Final Pro-Tip for PTE "Fill in the Blanks"
When you are stuck between two prepositions (e.g., argue for vs. argue about), look at the noun that comes after the blank.
- If the noun is a positive goal (e.g., change, justice, funding) → use "for".
- If the noun is a topic (e.g., politics, money, the decision) → use "about".
- This trick works for care/worry/talk as well!
10 More Tough Practice Sets: Verb/Adjective + Preposition Pairs and Articles
These sets are designed to push your skills further by including:
1. Separated pairs: The verb/adjective and its preposition are sometimes separated by other words.
2. Tricky article choices: The article may come before an adjective, such as an unusual event, and you must choose a/an according to the sound of the immediate next word.
3. Multiple valid prepositions: Some verbs take different prepositions depending on the meaning, such as result in vs. result from, so you must read the entire sentence carefully.
Set 27
Passage:
The rise of e-commerce has profoundly altered consumer behavior. Traditional brick-and-mortar stores are now competing fiercely (1) ______ (against / for / with) online giants like Amazon for market share. To survive, they must adapt quickly to changing trends and cater (2) ______ (for / to / with) younger, tech-savvy demographics. (3) ______ (A / An / The) unprecedented shift in shopping habits was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, many analysts believe that (4) ______ (a / the / an) shift is permanent and will define retail for the next decade.
Answers: 1. with | 2. to | 3. An | 4. the
Set 28
Passage:
Neuroscience has made remarkable progress in understanding how memories are formed. Short-term memories are converted into long-term ones during deep sleep, a process that depends heavily (1) ______ (of / on / for) specific brain wave patterns. Patients suffering (2) ______ (by / of / from) insomnia often struggle with memory retention as a result. (3) ______ (A / An / The) groundbreaking experiment at MIT successfully manipulated these brain waves in mice. Following (4) ______ (an / the / a) experiment, the mice demonstrated significantly improved recall abilities.
Answers: 1. on | 2. from | 3. A | 4. the
Set 29
Passage:
Global supply chains remain extremely fragile in the face of geopolitical tensions. Many multinational corporations are now looking (1) ______ (after / for / into) alternative suppliers in Southeast Asia to reduce their reliance on a single region. These companies are aware (2) ______ (about / of / for) the risks involved in concentrating production in one country. (3) ______ (A / An / The) recent disruption in the Suez Canal highlighted these vulnerabilities perfectly. Since that incident, (4) ______ (an / a / the) urgency to diversify supply routes has become a boardroom priority.
Answers: 1. into (looking for = searching; looking into = investigating/considering) | 2. of | 3. A | 4. the
Set 30
Passage:
Academic integrity is a cornerstone of higher education. Universities are extremely strict (1) ______ (about / with / for) plagiarism and often expel students who violate their policies. However, many students are unfamiliar (2) ______ (to / with / of) the proper citation methods required for their assignments. (3) ______ (An / A / The) comprehensive workshop on academic writing was offered to all freshmen last semester. Unfortunately, attendance at (4) ______ (an / a / the) workshop was disappointingly low, which has prompted the university to make it mandatory this year.
Answers: 1. about (strict about = regarding rules; strict with = regarding discipline of a person) | 2. with | 3. A | 4. the
Set 31
Passage:
Cryptocurrency has evolved from a niche interest into a mainstream financial asset. Many institutional investors are now pouring billions (1) ______ (for / into / on) Bitcoin and Ethereum despite their notorious volatility. Skeptics, however, warn (2) ______ (about / of / against) the potential for a massive market bubble that could wipe out retail investors. (3) ______ (A / An / The) alarming statistic reveals that nearly 20% of all Bitcoins are currently held in digital wallets that have been inactive for over a decade. If (4) ______ (an / a / the) owners of those wallets suddenly decided to sell, the market could crash instantly.
Answers: 1. into | 2. against (warn against = advise not to do; warn about/of = inform of a danger) | 3. An | 4. the
Set 32
Passage:
Biodiversity loss is occurring at an alarming rate, primarily due to human activity. Conservationists have long appealed (1) ______ (for / to / on) governments to enact stricter protections for endangered habitats. Their efforts, however, often clash (2) ______ (against / with / to) the economic interests of large agricultural corporations. (3) ______ (A / An / The) historic agreement was signed at the recent UN Biodiversity Conference. Crucially, (4) ______ (an / a / the) agreement includes a legally binding target to protect 30% of the world's land and oceans by 2030.
Answers: 1. to (appeal to = request someone; appeal for = request something) | 2. with | 3. A | 4. the
Set 33
Passage:
Artificial intelligence excels at processing vast amounts of data, but it still struggles (1) ______ (for / with / at) understanding human nuance and sarcasm. Researchers are currently working (2) ______ (on / for / at) developing algorithms that can detect emotional context in text-based communications. (3) ______ (A / An / The) unexpected breakthrough occurred when a team in Japan used a completely new neural network architecture. Following (4) ______ (an / the / a) breakthrough, the AI's accuracy in detecting sarcasm jumped from 65% to 92%.
Answers: 1. with (struggle with = difficulty dealing with; struggle for = fight to achieve) | 2. on | 3. An | 4. the
Set 34
Passage:
Flexible working arrangements have become the new norm in many industries. Employees today are accustomed (1) ______ (to / with / for) hybrid schedules that blend office and remote work. Surprisingly, this freedom has not led (2) ______ (for / to / in) a decline in productivity; in fact, output has often increased. (3) ______ (An / A / The) comprehensive meta-analysis of 1,200 companies confirmed this positive trend. However, (4) ______ (an / a / the) analysis also noted that managers require extensive retraining to effectively lead hybrid teams.
Answers: 1. to (accustomed to) | 2. to | 3. A | 4. the
Set 35
Passage:
The gig economy has provided millions of workers with unprecedented flexibility. Many drivers and delivery personnel prefer to work independently rather than commit (1) ______ (for / to / with) a single employer. However, these workers are often excluded (2) ______ (of / from / to) basic benefits like health insurance and paid leave. (3) ______ (A / An / The) landmark court case in California sought to reclassify gig workers as employees. Since that ruling, (4) ______ (an / a / the) debate over worker classification has intensified across the entire nation.
Answers: 1. to (commit to = dedicate oneself; commit with is incorrect) | 2. from (excluded from) | 3. A | 4. the
Set 36
Passage:
Nanotechnology is poised to revolutionize the medical field. Scientists are experimenting (1) ______ (on / with / for) microscopic particles that can deliver drugs directly to cancerous tumors. This targeted approach minimizes damage to healthy cells, a significant improvement (2) ______ (to / on / for) traditional chemotherapy. (3) ______ (An / A / The) promising clinical trial is currently underway at a prestigious hospital in London. If successful, (4) ______ (an / a / the) trial could pave the way for a new generation of cancer treatments with far fewer side effects.
Answers: 1. with (experiment with = test using something; experiment on = test on living subjects) | 2. on (improvement on = making something better than before; improvement to = adding to something existing) | 3. A | 4. the
Pro-Tips for These Tough Sets
1. Watch for "False Friends"
In Set 29, looking for means "searching," but looking into means "investigating." The context tells you the company is investigating alternatives, not simply searching for them. These nuances can be tested in PTE.
2. Prepositions Can Change Meaning
Notice in Set 31 that warn against is stronger than warn about.
- warn against something = advise someone not to do something
- warn about something = inform someone about a danger
- warn of something = give a warning about a possible danger
If several options are grammatically possible, choose the one that best matches the meaning of the sentence.
3. Article Before Adjectives
In Set 27, we use An before unprecedented:
An unprecedented shift
The article is determined by the sound of the immediate next word, not by the noun that comes later.
Compare:
- a useful idea
- an unusual idea
- a university
- an honest person
- a European country
- an MBA program
4. The "Second Mention" Rule
In most of these sets, the third blank introduces a new topic using a/an, while the fourth blank refers back to the same specific topic using the.
For example:
An unprecedented shift occurred.
The shift changed consumer behavior.
This is one of the most useful patterns to recognize quickly in PTE Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks.
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