Use of English (lexis and grammar)
Use of English: what is tested
This block assesses grammatical accuracy and lexical range through tasks such as sentence transformation, gap fill, word formation, and multiple-choice items. The Extremadura PAU syllabus expects control of verb tenses and aspect, conditionals, passive voice, reported speech, relative clauses, modals, prepositions and phrasal verbs, collocations, and affixation.
Core rules
- In transformations, keep the original meaning exactly. Identify the grammar point: if the prompt is active and the keyword is "was", you probably need a passive.
- Maintain tense and aspect: do not change "will" to "would" unless the transformation requires it.
- Check subject-verb agreement after inserting a new subject.
- For word formation, decide the word class first (noun, verb, adjective, adverb), then apply the correct affix and spelling rule.
- Learn prepositions as part of the phrase: "depend on", "interested in", "good at", "arrive at/in".
- For phrasal verbs, learn whether they are separable and whether they take an object.
Worked example
Prompt: "They will publish the results tomorrow." Transform using the passive. Answer: "The results will be published tomorrow." Reasoning: The object "the results" becomes the subject; the auxiliary "will be" carries the future tense; the main verb becomes the past participle "published"; the agent "by them" is omitted because it is unimportant. The time adverbial "tomorrow" stays in place.
Traps that cost marks
- Changing the meaning in a transformation (e.g., adding "probably").
- Forgetting the auxiliary "be" or using the wrong participle.
- Using the wrong preposition after a verb or adjective.
- Double marking tense: "will be published" not "will be publish".
- Word formation: adding a suffix that creates the wrong class ("success" vs "successful").
- Spelling errors after affixation ("beginning" with double n, "happiness" with y change).
- Ignoring the keyword given in the prompt.