Grammatical Competence: Verb Tenses, Syntax, Sentence Transformation
Grammatical competence covers tense choice, sentence structure and sentence transformation: rewriting a sentence so that it means the same, using a given word, usually within a limit of two to five words including that word. The given word must appear unchanged, the meaning must be identical, and the structure requested (passive, conditional, reported speech) must actually appear - a rewrite that keeps the meaning but ignores the cue scores nothing.
Tense and aspect: the contrasts actually tested
- Past simple vs present perfect: finished time (yesterday, in 2019, last week) takes past simple; unfinished time (so far, since, for, already, yet, ever) takes present perfect.
- Past perfect for an event before another past event: When we arrived, the film had started.
- Future: will for predictions and instant decisions, be going to for plans and evidence-based predictions, present continuous for arrangements.
- Conditionals: type 2 (If I had more time, I would…) for an unreal present; type 3 (If I had known, I would have…) for an unreal past. Never put would in the if-clause.
- Reported speech: backshift one tense and adjust pronouns, time and place words (now → then, tomorrow → the following day).
Transformation patterns to memorise
- Passive: They built the bridge in 1900 → The bridge was built in 1900. With two objects, either can become subject.
- Impersonal passive: It is said that he… / He is said to…
- Causative: have/get something done - I had my car repaired.
- Wish/if only: past regret → wish + past perfect; present dissatisfaction → wish + past simple.
- Inversion after negative adverbials: Not only did she pass, but she also got the top mark.
- Comparatives: not as … as ↔ less … than; the more …, the more …
Worked example
It's a pity I didn't study harder. → I ______ harder. (WISH) → I wish I had studied harder. Reasoning: the original expresses regret about the past, so the cue WISH requires wish + past perfect, not wish + would (which complains about someone else's behaviour) and not wish + past simple (which would describe a present situation). Keep the subject I; the answer is five words including wish.
Traps
- Changing the given word: WISH stays wish, not wishes or wished, unless the new sentence genuinely demands it.
- Breaking the word limit or producing two sentences instead of one.
- Meaning shifts: He stopped smoking ≠ He stopped to smoke.
- Forgetting the backshift or the time-word changes in reported speech.
- Omitting a required relative pronoun, or using what where that is needed.