Canary PAU English cheat sheet

Question types map to task verbs: 'according to the text' = locate explicit information; 'infer'/'suggest' = combine two stated facts; 'the author's purpose' = overall stance, not one sentence.

Answers must be traceable to a line in the text; an option that is true in real life but not stated in the passage is a distractor, not an answer.

Scan for the key word of the question, then read the whole sentence plus the one before and after it - Canary reading items typically hinge on context, not the isolated word.

Extreme quantifiers in options (always, never, all, only, completely) are usually wrong; hedged options (some, often, tends to, mainly) usually match academic prose.

Reference questions (it, this, they, such) resolve to the nearest preceding noun phrase that agrees in number and makes sense semantically.

Vocabulary in context: substitute each option into the original sentence and keep the one that preserves the paragraph's argument, not the most common dictionary sense.

True/False with justification requires quoting or paraphrasing the exact line that proves the answer; a correct T/F without textual evidence earns only partial credit.

Gapped-text or sentence-insertion items: choose the option whose linking word and pronouns connect backward to the previous sentence and forward to the next.

Verb tenses: present perfect for past actions with present relevance or unfinished time (this week, so far); past simple for finished time (yesterday, in 2019, last year).

Conditionals: 1st = if + present, will; 2nd = if + past simple, would + infinitive; 3rd = if + past perfect, would have + past participle; mixed 3rd/2nd = if + past perfect, would + infinitive now.

Reported speech backshift: present→past, past→past perfect, will→would, can→could; time markers shift now→then, today→that day, tomorrow→the next day.

Passive transformation keeps the original tense: they built → was built; they are building → is being built; they will build → will be built.

Word formation: -tion/-ment/-ness/-ity form nouns; -able/-ive/-ous/-ful form adjectives; -ly forms adverbs; -ise/-ify form verbs. Check spelling changes (happy→happiness, decide→decision).

Preposition collocations to memorise as chunks: depend on, interested in, good at, responsible for, afraid of, capable of, insist on, succeed in.

Phrasal verbs change meaning with the particle: give up (quit), give in (surrender), give away (donate/reveal), turn up (arrive), turn down (reject/lower).

Linkers by function: contrast (however, although, despite + noun/-ing), cause (because, due to + noun), result (therefore, so), addition (moreover, in addition to + noun/-ing).

Countability and quantifiers: much/little + uncountable, many/few + countable, a number of + plural verb, the amount of + uncountable.

Standard structure for a 120-180 word task: introduction stating position (1-2 sentences), two body paragraphs each with one idea plus support, conclusion restating the position without new arguments.

Register rule: opinion essays avoid contractions, slang and rhetorical questions; formal linkers (furthermore, nevertheless, consequently) replace and/but/so.

Topic sentence first in every body paragraph, then explanation, then a concrete example or consequence - the example is what earns content marks.

Cohesion is scored separately: at least one referencing device per paragraph (this, such, the former, the latter) and varied linkers, not the same one repeated.

Answer the exact prompt: if it asks 'discuss both views and give your opinion', both views plus a clear personal stance are required; omitting the opinion caps the task-response band.

Word-count discipline: under-length answers lose marks; aim for roughly 10% above the stated minimum and cut repetition rather than adding filler sentences.

Paraphrase the prompt in the introduction instead of copying it; copied chunks are not counted toward the word total and signal limited range.

Edit pass checklist: subject-verb agreement, article use (a/an/the), tense consistency, third-person -s, and one complex sentence (relative or conditional) per paragraph.

Main-idea items: the correct option covers the whole passage; wrong options are true but too narrow (one paragraph) or too broad (beyond the text).

Paragraph-function items (what does paragraph 3 do?) are answered by its relation to the rest: example, counterargument, cause, or concession.

Attitude/tone words are graded: critical, sceptical, neutral, supportive, enthusiastic - pick the intensity the adjectives and adverbs actually support.

Chronology and cause questions require matching sequence markers (before, once, subsequently) rather than assuming the order of mention equals the order of events.

Numbers and dates in options are traps: verify units, ranges and comparatives (doubled, halved, three times as many) against the exact sentence.

Relative clauses: defining clauses take no commas and allow 'that'; non-defining clauses take commas and never take 'that'.

Gerund vs infinitive after verbs: enjoy/avoid/suggest/mind + -ing; want/decide/hope/plan + to-infinitive; stop + -ing (cease) vs stop + to-infinitive (pause in order to).

Modals of deduction: must be (certain), might/may/could be (possible), can't be (impossible) - 'mustn't be' expresses prohibition, not deduction.

Comparatives: as ... as for equality, not as ... as for inequality, the + comparative ... the + comparative for parallel change, and 'much/far/slightly' as modifiers, never 'more' before -er forms.

Opening move that scores: a general statement about the issue plus a sentence naming your position - avoid 'In this essay I am going to talk about...'.

Concession structure raises the band: acknowledge the opposing view with 'While it is true that..., critics argue...' then rebut with 'however' and evidence.

Conclusion formula: restate the thesis in different words + summarise the two body points in one clause each + a recommendation or prediction; no new evidence.

Formal punctuation: no exclamation marks, semicolons for closely linked clauses, and commas after introductory linkers (However, ... / In addition, ...).