KPG English: Vocabulary and Grammar study guide

The KPG English Vocabulary and Grammar domain tests control of English at sentence and short-text level. It covers word choice, collocation, dependent prepositions, word formation, tense and aspect, agreement, conditionals, relative clauses, and linking. Questions are usually gap-fill or sentence-completion items with four options, so you must choose the form that is both grammatically correct and natural in context.

Core rules and concepts

Collocation is meaning plus habit: 'make a decision', 'take responsibility', 'heavy rain', 'strongly agree'. A grammatically possible word can still be wrong.
Learn dependent prepositions with the word: 'depend on', 'interested in', 'capable of', 'prevent someone from doing'.
In time clauses ('when', 'after', 'as soon as', 'by the time'), use present or past forms, not 'will' or 'would': 'When she arrives, call me.'
Agreement follows the subject, not a phrase between subject and verb: 'The list of items is long.' With 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the nearer subject: 'Neither the manager nor the assistants were aware.'
Use past perfect for the earlier of two past actions: 'The deadline had passed by the time the report was published.'
Check parallelism after 'and', 'or', 'not only...but also': 'She writes clearly, accurately, and concisely.'

Worked example

Sentence: 'Neither the manager nor the assistants ___ aware of the change.' Options: was, were, has been, is. Reasoning: The subject is 'neither the manager nor the assistants'. With 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the nearer noun, 'assistants', which is plural. 'Was', 'has been', and 'is' are singular. Answer: were.

Traps that cost marks

Sound-alike confusions: affect/effect, borrow/lend, advice/advise, practice/practise.
'Used to' (past habit) versus 'be used to' (be accustomed to) versus 'be used for' (purpose).
Countability: 'information', 'advice', 'luggage' are uncountable; 'fewer' with count nouns, 'less' with uncountables.
Choosing by sound rather than by the preposition or tense signal in the sentence.
Double comparatives ('more easier') and missing articles before singular countable nouns.

Key exam moves

Identify the grammar signal first, then test the word in the full sentence for meaning and collocation.