Grammar and Applied Grammar
Applied grammar in BSEH SS English Core is tested through editing and omission, gap filling, sentence reordering and transformation. The paper rewards rule recognition under time pressure, so learn the error patterns rather than the labels.
High-yield rules
- Subject-verb concord: 'one of the + plural noun' takes a singular verb; with 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the nearer subject.
- Determiners: a/an/the, much/little with uncountables, many/few with countables.
- Reported speech: present becomes past, 'will' becomes 'would', 'today' becomes 'that day'.
- Passive: the object becomes subject and the tense of 'be' carries the tense.
- Prepositions with verbs: depend on, insist on, comply with, prefer to.
- Clause linking: 'although' never takes 'but'; 'because' never takes 'so'.
Worked example
'One of my friend (a) / are coming (b) / to visit me (c) / today (d).' Error in (a): 'one of' requires a plural noun, so 'friend' becomes 'friends'. That also fixes (b) to 'is coming', because the head of the subject is 'one'. Reasoning: fix the noun phrase first, then re-check concord; correcting only the verb leaves the phrase wrong.
Traps that cost marks
- Editing a word that is correct while missing an omission.
- Changing tense when only concord is wrong.
- Using 'would' for a past habit where 'used to' is needed.
- Double comparatives ('more better') and 'return back'.
- Reordering sentences without checking the punctuation of the original.