Lexis and grammar in context - vocabulary, synonymy, word formation, structural accuracy
Lexis and grammar in context tests whether you can choose the form that fits a specific sentence, not whether you can recite rules in isolation. Cantabria tasks typically include synonym/antonym matching, word formation, gap-fill with the correct tense or form, and sentence transformation. The marking rewards grammatical fit, meaning and spelling.
Synonyms and antonyms
Choose a word that keeps the same part of speech and register in that sentence. 'Reduce' can be replaced by 'cut' in 'cut emissions', but 'lower' may not fit every collocation. Check whether the sentence needs a verb, noun, adjective or adverb, and whether the tone is formal or neutral.
Word formation
Decide the part of speech from the slot: after an article you usually need a noun; after 'be' you may need an adjective or past participle; before a noun you need an adjective. Then apply the suffix or prefix and check spelling: succeed → success, happy → happiness, true → truth, efficient → inefficient. Watch irregular forms and double consonants.
Grammar in context
- Tense: look for time markers and the surrounding narrative. 'Last year' forces past simple; 'since 2020' forces present perfect.
- Agreement: singular subjects with intervening phrases ('The number of students is') and collective nouns.
- Verb patterns: 'despite + -ing', 'although + clause', 'look forward to + -ing', 'make someone do'.
- Conditionals and passives: keep the auxiliary and participle complete.
Worked example
'The company ___ (success) in cutting waste last year.' Reasoning: the slot needs a finite verb, not the noun 'success'; the subject is 'The company' (third person singular); 'last year' requires past simple. The verb from 'success' is 'succeed', so the answer is succeeded. 'Successed' is a spelling error and 'success' is the wrong word class.
Traps that cost marks
- False friends: 'actual' (real/current, not 'actualmente'), 'eventually' (finally, not 'eventualmente'), 'assist' (help, not 'attend').
- Choosing a synonym with the wrong grammatical pattern: 'depend on', not 'depend of'.
- Forgetting third-person -s, plural -s or the -ed ending under time pressure.
- In transformations, changing the meaning or omitting the given word.