Grammar and Vocabulary in Context
What this domain tests
These items are short sentences or mini-dialogues with one blank. They test tense and aspect, subject-verb agreement, articles, prepositions, word class, and collocation. The blank is never solved by grammar alone; the surrounding words decide the answer.
Core rules and concepts
- Read the whole sentence before looking at the options. Identify what word class the blank needs.
- Build a timeline. Words like by the time, already, since, when fix the tense.
- Find the real subject before checking agreement: The list of names is long, not are.
- Learn chunks, not single words: be interested in, look forward to + -ing, depend on, one of the + plural noun.
- Check countability: information, advice, furniture are uncountable and take no plural -s.
Worked example
"By the time we arrived at the cinema, the film ___ ." Options: (A) starts (B) has started (C) had started (D) was starting Reasoning: "By the time we arrived" sets a past reference point. The starting happened before that point, so a past perfect is needed: had started. B uses present perfect, which cannot anchor to a past event. D suggests the film was in the middle of starting, which conflicts with by the time. Answer: C.
Traps that cost marks
- Present perfect where a past perfect is required.
- Agreement with the noun next to the verb instead of the head noun.
- Since with a duration (since three years is wrong; use for three years).
- Choosing a word that fits the meaning but not the grammar, e.g. a noun where an adjective is needed.