Core Grammar Topics for PTE Reading

Core Grammar Topics for PTE Reading

Mastering these areas will give you a reliable strategy for tackling the most common question types.

1. Parts of Speech (Word Forms)

Why it's important: Identifying whether a blank needs a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb is a powerful first step, often helping you eliminate half the options instantly.

Example in PTE: Look at the sentence structure. If there's an article ("a," "an," "the") before the blank and no noun follows, you likely need an adjective or a noun.

2. Subject-Verb Agreement

Why it's important: A singular subject must have a singular verb, and a plural subject needs a plural verb.

Example in PTE: The subject "public trust" is uncountable and singular. The correct verb would be "remains" (e.g., "...public trust remains essential...").

3. Verb Tenses

Why it's important: Understanding the time frame of the sentence (past, present, future) ensures grammatical consistency.

Example in PTE: You must be able to identify whether an action is happening now, happened in the past, or is a general truth, and select the correct verb form accordingly.

4. Active and Passive Voice

Why it's important: Recognizing the subject-verb relationship helps you understand whether the subject is performing the action (active) or receiving it (passive).

Example in PTE: "When transparency is maintained..." is passive. The blank requires a past participle (V3) form because the action is being done.

5. Prepositions (Verb/Adjective + Preposition Pairs)

Why it's important: Certain verbs and adjectives are always paired with specific prepositions.

Example in PTE: "He applied for the scholarship" (not "to"), and people are "interested in environmental issues" (not "on").

6. Articles (A, An, The)

Why it's important: Articles specify whether a noun is general or specific, and this helps you understand the flow of ideas.

Example in PTE: New information is often introduced with "a" or "an," and then referred to later with "the."

7. Pronouns

Why it's important: Recognizing what a pronoun (e.g., "he," "she," "it," "they") refers to is crucial for understanding sentence connections, particularly in Re-order Paragraphs questions.

Example in PTE: A sentence starting with "This theory..." must come after a sentence that introduces the theory itself.

8. Collocations

Why it's important: Collocations are words that naturally go together in academic English. Recognizing them is a superpower for Fill in the Blanks.

Example in PTE: Common academic collocations include "make a decision," "conduct research," "lead to," "result in," and "play a role in."

9. Conjunctions and Linking Words

Why it's important: Understanding words like "however," "furthermore," "but," and "although" helps you follow the logical flow of a text.

Example in PTE: "However" signals a contrast, while "furthermore" signals an addition to the previous point. This helps you understand the author's direction.

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🎯 How to Apply This Knowledge

For Fill in the Blanks, a strong strategy is to:

• Skim the entire passage quickly to understand the main topic.
• Analyze the grammar around a blank: check the subject, tense, parts of speech, and look for prepositions.
• Look for collocations: What word naturally fits here based on common word partnerships?
• Use context to select the best word.

For Re-order Paragraphs, grammar is also your guide. Look for:

• Pronouns: A sentence with "these changes" must come after a sentence that mentions what the changes are.
• Articles: A sentence introducing "a scientist" will come before a sentence that says "the scientist."
• Linking words: Words like "However" link the sentence to the one it contradicts or qualifies.