English Language
English Language tests grammar, vocabulary, sentence correction, and comprehension. Questions usually target tense, articles, prepositions, subject-verb agreement, active-passive voice, direct-indirect speech, and idioms, with a short passage for reading.
Core rules
- Subject-verb agreement: the verb agrees with the subject, not with the nearest noun.
- Tenses: use present perfect for past actions with present relevance; use past simple for a finished past time.
- Articles: “a/an” for singular countable nouns; “the” for specific or unique references.
- Passive voice: object becomes subject; use the correct form of “be” plus past participle.
Worked example
One of my friends ___ a doctor. (be) Reasoning: the subject is “one,” which is singular. “of my friends” is a prepositional phrase and does not change the number of the subject. Therefore the verb is “is.” Answer: One of my friends is a doctor.
Traps
- Choosing “are” because “friends” is plural and close to the blank.
- Mixing “since” and “for”: since + point of time; for + duration.
- Using “much” with countable nouns instead of “many.”
- Changing the tense unnecessarily in indirect speech.
In comprehension, eliminate options that are true in general but not stated in the passage.