English
English
The English subtest measures control of standard written English - grammar, usage, punctuation, and vocabulary - through multiple-choice items and sentence-correction prompts. PMA items favor formal, edited American English.
Core rules
- Subject–verb agreement: the verb agrees with the head noun, not the nearest noun ("The box of medals is heavy").
- Pronoun case and reference: use subject pronouns such as "I" in compound subjects; every pronoun needs one clear antecedent.
- Parallel structure in lists and comparisons ("to run, to swim, and to cycle").
- Modifier placement: a participial phrase at the start of a sentence modifies the subject of the main clause.
- Punctuation: no comma splice; use semicolons between independent clauses and commas around nonessential clauses.
- Vocabulary: prefixes, suffixes, roots, and context clues; distinguish commonly confused pairs such as affect/effect, lie/lay, and imply/infer.
Worked example
Choose the correct verb: "Each of the cadets (has/have) submitted a copy." "Each" is singular, and prepositional phrases such as "of the cadets" never change the number of the subject. Answer: has. By contrast, "Neither the sergeant nor the privates were ready" agrees with the nearer subject, "privates."
Traps that cost marks
- Collective nouns (team, jury, class) take singular verbs when acting as a unit.
- "Between you and me," not "between you and I."
- Dangling modifiers: "Walking to class, the rain soaked him" is wrong because the rain is not walking; name the person performing the action.
- Choosing the longest or most formal option when the original is already grammatical.
- Misreading "except" or "NOT" items and picking the opposite of what is asked.