CDS English · Teaching notes
Grammar — CDS English
Grammar has 496 past-year questions in CDS English, in 18 of the 20 sittings from 2017 to 2026, asked in many shapes: name the part of speech, fill the blank, complete the sentence, change the voice or the speech. Behind the shapes sit a few rules that decide most items: what job a word does in its sentence, which preposition a word demands, how a connector joins two ideas, and how a tense must agree with the rest of the sentence. The first pages name the parts of speech, and every later page uses those names.
Every subtopic, worked example, formula and trap in one printable document — answers shown, ready to share.
Subtopic notes
Parts of speech: the job a word does, nouns and pronouns
32 PYQsA word's part of speech is the job it does in this sentence, not the class it usually has. This page names the eight jobs, then the kinds of noun and pronoun the paper asks about.
Adjectives, pointing words and degrees of comparison
26 PYQsAn adjective describes a noun. Pointing words such as this, his and which stand before a noun and limit it. Degrees of comparison change the adjective's form to compare.
Verbs, and the -ing and to- forms
18 PYQsA verb is the action or state of the subject. Items ask whether it takes an object, which tense it is in, and what job an -ing or to- form is doing.
Adverbs: how, when, where, how often, how much
19 PYQsAn adverb tells how, when, where, how often or how much about a verb, an adjective or another adverb. Many end in -ly, but the ending is not the test.
Prepositions, conjunctions, connecting adverbs and interjections
33 PYQsPrepositions link a noun to the sentence, conjunctions join words and clauses, connecting adverbs link ideas across sentences, and interjections stand outside the sentence.
Articles: a, an, the or no article
14 PYQsA and an introduce one thing the listener does not know yet; the sound that follows decides which. The points to one known thing. Some nouns, such as numbered ones, take no article.
Quantifiers and other determiners
28 PYQsQuantifiers say how much or how many. Which one fits depends on three things: whether the noun can be counted, whether the sentence is positive, negative or a question, and whether you mean one at a time.
Prepositions of time, place and means
35 PYQsSmall words like at, on, in, by and until tell us when, where and how. Each one has a job, and the noun after the blank tells you which job is needed.
Words that take a fixed preposition
39 PYQsMany words always travel with one preposition: averse to, capable of, insist on, entry into. No rule predicts the pair, so you learn the pair, and then the pair can also tell you which word fits a blank.
Phrasal verbs
21 PYQsA phrasal verb is a verb plus one or two small words (put out, get over, fall out with) that together have a new meaning. Change the small word and the meaning changes.
Prepositional idioms and fixed phrases
21 PYQsAn idiom is a fixed group of words whose meaning is more than its parts: read between the lines, by dint of, out of the question. Not one word in it can be changed.
Connectors: cause, contrast and sequence
25 PYQsConnectors join ideas and show how they relate: because of (cause), in spite of (contrast), moreover (addition), until (time). Choose by meaning first, then by what follows the blank.
Conditionals, tenses and verb forms in blanks
33 PYQsMany blanks ask for the right form of a verb. The words around the blank (if, had, since, scarcely, a modal, is) decide the form, so find those signal words first.
Choosing the right word for the blank
20 PYQsSome blanks need a word of the right form (noun, adjective or adverb); others need the word that English speakers habitually pair with the noun nearby: substantial progress, excruciating pain.
Completing a sentence: agreement, quantifiers and set phrases
19 PYQsHalf a sentence is given and you pick the ending. Many of these endings turn on one small word: a quantifier such as each or neither, an uncountable noun such as news, or a fixed phrase such as cut down on.
Conditionals and the order of tenses
21 PYQsAn if-clause and its main clause must use matching tenses, and two linked events must keep their order in time. Learn three if-patterns and four tense-order rules, and most endings choose themselves.
Joining clauses: name the relation, then pick the connector
36 PYQsTwo ideas are joined by one word such as but, because, although, therefore or where. Decide first how the two ideas relate, then choose the word that carries that relation and the grammar it needs.
Changing the voice and reporting speech
27 PYQsTwo transformations. Active to passive: the object becomes the subject and the tense stays. Direct to reported speech: the tense moves back, and pronouns and time words change.
Is the word used correctly? Confusable pairs and meaning in context
29 PYQsA word is printed with two, three or four sentences, and you judge which of them use it correctly. Most items test a pair of look-alike words; the rest test whether a rare word's meaning fits the sentence.
Formula & revision sheet
0 formulas · 28 reference tables · 216 gotchas across all subtopics — the exam-eve cheat-sheet
Formula & revision sheet
0 formulas · 28 reference tables · 216 gotchas across all subtopics — the exam-eve cheat-sheet
Parts of speech: the job a word does, nouns and pronouns
Reference tables (2)
Kinds of noun: common, proper, abstract, collective, countable, uncountable12 rows
| Word | In the sentence | Kind of noun | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| statue | The wonderful statue of the leader welcomes all people | Common noun, the subject | 2020 (II)Q |
| exultation | There was an exultation in the group | Abstract noun: a feeling of great joy | 2021 (I)Q |
| opportunities | work opportunities are immense | Common noun, plural; 'work' only describes it | 2021 (II)Q |
| quincentenary | This year marks the quincentenary of Columbus's voyage | Common noun: a 500th anniversary | 2022 (I)Q |
| bottomline | The bottomline is that we have to make a decision | Compound noun: the main point | 2022 (I)Q |
| Honesty | Honesty is the best policy | Abstract and uncountable noun | 2022 (II)Q |
| happiness | Without health there is no happiness | Abstract noun | 2023 (I)Q |
| playtime | their playtime is very limited | Compound noun (play + time) | 2023 (II)Q |
| fountainhead | India is revered as the fountainhead of democracy | Compound noun: the source | 2024 (I)Q |
| river | The river that flows through the village is a tributary | Common noun, the subject | 2024 (II)Q |
| happiness | His happiness was obvious | Abstract noun | 2025 (II) |
| heights | he is afraid of heights | Common noun, plural, after 'of' | 2026 (I)Q |
When the options only say 'Noun', that is the answer for every row above. The kind matters only when the options name kinds.
Kinds of pronoun: personal, reflexive, impersonal, indefinite, distributive10 rows
| Word | In the sentence | Kind of pronoun | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| himself | The secretary himself visited the affected families | Emphatic: it only adds stress | 2019 (II)Q |
| it | they gave it to him (it = the jewel) | Personal: stands for a noun already named | 2020 (II)Q |
| It | It is eleven O'clock now | Impersonal: stands for no noun (time) | 2020 (II) |
| myself | I hurt myself | Reflexive: the action comes back to 'I' | 2020 (II)Q |
| thyself | Love your neighbour as thyself | Reflexive: the old form of 'yourself' | 2021 (I)Q |
| one | I'd like an ice cream. Are you having one too? | Indefinite: 'one' = an ice cream | 2022 (I)Q |
| None | None of these cars is in use | Indefinite: 'none' = not one | 2023 (I)Q |
| They | They are all going to attend the function | Personal | 2023 (II)Q |
| one | What made you choose the one rather than the other? | Indefinite: stands for the thing chosen | 2024 (I)Q |
| himself | The money which one earns is not the money for himself | Reflexive: refers back to 'one' | 2024 (II)Q |
When the options give only 'Pronoun' and no kinds, choose Pronoun for every row above.
Watch out for (12)
- Answering from memory→ Name the class by the job the word does
- A word after 'a' or 'the' is doing a noun's job→ Name the class by the job the word does
- Some options are not word classes at all→ Name the class by the job the word does
- A quality is abstract, not common→ Kinds of noun: common, proper, abstract, collective, countable, uncountable
- Noun or noun phrase→ Kinds of noun: common, proper, abstract, collective, countable, uncountable
- Two nouns side by side→ Kinds of noun: common, proper, abstract, collective, countable, uncountable
- Reflexive or emphatic: use the remove test→ Kinds of pronoun: personal, reflexive, impersonal, indefinite, distributive
- 'It' that stands for nothing→ Kinds of pronoun: personal, reflexive, impersonal, indefinite, distributive
- 'None' is not distributive→ Kinds of pronoun: personal, reflexive, impersonal, indefinite, distributive
- After a preposition: whom or which, never who or that→ Relative pronouns: who, whom, which, that
- The clause is not the word→ Relative pronouns: who, whom, which, that
- Relative or interrogative→ Relative pronouns: who, whom, which, that
Adjectives, pointing words and degrees of comparison
Reference tables (1)
Pointing words before a noun: this, that, his, which (determiners)6 rows
| Word | In the sentence | Job here | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| This | This boy is stronger than Ramesh | Demonstrative adjective: points to 'boy' | 2020 (II)Q |
| his | This is his pen | Possessive adjective: stands before 'pen' | 2020 (II) |
| This | This time we woke up to the virus related diseases | Demonstrative: points to 'time' | 2021 (I)Q |
| that | I like that boy | Demonstrative adjective: points to 'boy' | 2023 (I) No 'Adjective' or 'Determiner' option was given here. When the exact label is missing, pick the closest one offered: 'Demonstrative Pronoun' at least names the right word family. |
| Which | Which way shall we go? | Interrogative adjective: asks about 'way' | 2023 (I)Q |
| his | one of the tallest boys in his class | Possessive adjective: stands before 'class' | 2024 (II) No possessive-adjective option was given here. The closest label offered was 'Possessive Pronoun'. |
'His' is the one word that is both: 'his pen' (adjective) and 'The pen is his' (pronoun).
Watch out for (12)
- An adjective can stand far from its noun→ An adjective describes a noun, before it or after 'be'
- An -ed word before a noun→ An adjective describes a noun, before it or after 'be'
- 'Only' changes with its place→ An adjective describes a noun, before it or after 'be'
- Same word, two classes→ Pointing words before a noun: this, that, his, which (determiners)
- Her or hers→ Pointing words before a noun: this, that, his, which (determiners)
- 'This' is not an article→ Pointing words before a noun: this, that, his, which (determiners)
- Two markers at once→ Degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, superlative
- A degree form is still an adjective→ Degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, superlative
- 'Very' is not a degree→ Degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, superlative
- Four forms of one word→ Fill a blank by the class the slot needs, then by meaning
- When all four are the same class→ Fill a blank by the class the slot needs, then by meaning
- A verb-looking word can be a noun→ Fill a blank by the class the slot needs, then by meaning
Verbs, and the -ing and to- forms
Watch out for (9)
- Not every word after a verb is an object→ Finite verbs: transitive, intransitive, linking, tense
- 'Is' alone is not an auxiliary→ Finite verbs: transitive, intransitive, linking, tense
- Name only the underlined word→ Finite verbs: transitive, intransitive, linking, tense
- The same -ing word, three jobs→ Participle, gerund or infinitive
- 'To' + verb is not a preposition→ Participle, gerund or infinitive
- Gerund, not just Noun→ Participle, gerund or infinitive
- 'Was' sounds natural, 'were' scores→ Verb form in a blank: 'were' for the unreal, 'has' for 'it'
- Not every 'if' is unreal→ Verb form in a blank: 'were' for the unreal, 'has' for 'it'
- 'Has had' is not a mistake→ Verb form in a blank: 'were' for the unreal, 'has' for 'it'
Adverbs: how, when, where, how often, how much
Reference tables (1)
Degree words: very, too, extremely, most (intensifiers)4 rows
| Word | In the sentence | It strengthens | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| most | The most beautiful actor of the industry | the adjective 'beautiful' | 2020 (I)Q |
| very | The flower is very beautiful | the adjective 'beautiful' | 2020 (II) |
| extremely | associated with extremely new civil societies | the adjective 'new' | 2021 (II) |
| too | Rakesh is too old to run fast | the adjective 'old' (more than is right) | 2021 (II)Q |
An intensifier is a kind of adverb: pick 'Intensifier' when it is offered, 'Adverb' when it is not.
Watch out for (9)
- 'Hardly' does not mean 'in a hard way'→ An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective or another adverb
- 'Where' that asks nothing→ An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective or another adverb
- After a linking verb, an adjective→ An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective or another adverb
- -ly does not mean adverb→ Look-alikes: 'first', 'right', 'better' are adverbs; 'timely' is not
- 'Better' after a verb→ Look-alikes: 'first', 'right', 'better' are adverbs; 'timely' is not
- 'First' is not only a number→ Look-alikes: 'first', 'right', 'better' are adverbs; 'timely' is not
- 'Most' before an adjective is not an adjective→ Degree words: very, too, extremely, most (intensifiers)
- Too is not very→ Degree words: very, too, extremely, most (intensifiers)
- Two right labels, pick the narrower→ Degree words: very, too, extremely, most (intensifiers)
Prepositions, conjunctions, connecting adverbs and interjections
Reference tables (2)
Watch out for (15)
- 'Owing to' is not a participle→ A preposition links a noun to the rest of the sentence
- Because of + noun, because + clause→ A preposition links a noun to the rest of the sentence
- Two nouns, one preposition→ A preposition links a noun to the rest of the sentence
- A noun nearby is not always its object→ Preposition or adverb? Look for the object
- Same word, two answers on the same paper→ Preposition or adverb? Look for the object
- When the right label is missing→ Preposition or adverb? Look for the object
- After, before, since, except: two classes each→ Conjunctions join: coordinating and subordinating
- 'Connector' is not a word class→ Conjunctions join: coordinating and subordinating
- A conjunction can join two single words→ Conjunctions join: coordinating and subordinating
- 'And therefore': the 'and' joins→ Connecting adverbs: therefore, besides, otherwise, consequently
- 'Besides' with and without a noun→ Connecting adverbs: therefore, besides, otherwise, consequently
- 'Otherwise' is not a conjunction→ Connecting adverbs: therefore, besides, otherwise, consequently
- 'Why' that asks is an adverb→ Interjections: words that stand outside the sentence
- The whole cry is one interjection→ Interjections: words that stand outside the sentence
- The exclamation mark is a clue, not the test→ Interjections: words that stand outside the sentence
Articles: a, an, the or no article
Watch out for (6)
- Vowel letter, consonant sound→ A or an: the first SOUND decides
- The silent h→ A or an: the first SOUND decides
- Short forms read letter by letter→ A or an: the first SOUND decides
- A number after the noun removes the article→ 'The' for the one known thing; no article before a numbered noun
- An 'of' phrase makes it particular→ 'The' for the one known thing; no article before a numbered noun
- Naming the class of 'the'→ 'The' for the one known thing; no article before a numbered noun
Quantifiers and other determiners
Reference tables (1)
Whichever, these, all4 rows
| Word | Use | In the sentence | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whichever | any one from a known, limited set | Whichever road we take, we shall be late | 2022 (I)Q |
| all | every one of; here a determiner before the noun | May you be blessed with all good things of life | 2022 (II) No 'Determiner' or 'Adjective' option was given here. When the exact label is missing, pick the closest one offered: 'Pronoun', the class 'all' has when it stands alone. |
| these | points to plural things near in time or place | There is no truth in these claims | 2025 (I)Q |
| whichever | any one from the collection on offer | You can choose whichever shirt you like from the collection | 2025 (II) |
Whichever chooses from a limited set; whatever ranges over anything.
Watch out for (15)
- Less is for amounts, fewer for numbers→ Countable or uncountable decides the word: fewer/less, many/much
- Lesser is a different word→ Countable or uncountable decides the word: fewer/less, many/much
- Match the verb→ Countable or uncountable decides the word: fewer/less, many/much
- 'Few' is not 'a few'→ Few vs a few, little vs a little
- A request wants the positive→ Few vs a few, little vs a little
- Count first, then feel→ Few vs a few, little vs a little
- A question that expects 'yes'→ Some vs any
- 'Any' with a singular noun→ Some vs any
- 'A' is not a quantifier for uncountable nouns→ Some vs any
- 'One of the ...' needs a plural noun→ Each, every, either, one of: the singular words
- Either is for two only→ Each, every, either, one of: the singular words
- Each and every in a label question→ Each, every, either, one of: the singular words
- Whichever or whatever→ Whichever, these, all
- Look-alikes of 'these'→ Whichever, these, all
- 'All' alone or before a noun→ Whichever, these, all
Prepositions of time, place and means
Reference tables (3)
At, on, in and into for place, surface and direction11 rows
| Phrase | Why this preposition | Sitting |
|---|---|---|
| write your name at the top of the page | the top is a point on the page | 2023 (I) |
| studying at the university | an institution seen as a place you attend | 2023 (I) |
| a mark on the wall | the mark sits on a surface | 2024 (I) |
| a name written on the board | writing is on a surface | 2023 (II) |
| placed the elephant on the endangered list | items are put on a list | 2024 (II) |
| available on the Internet | the Internet is treated as a platform | 2026 (I), 2026 (II) |
| demonstrated at the Drop Zone | a named spot where something happens | 2022 (II) |
| translated into many languages | a change from one form to another | 2024 (I) |
| cross over to the other side of the river | movement from one side to the other | 2025 (I) |
| hang out down the pier | informal British use: down = along, at | 2023 (I) In everyday English 'on the pier' or 'at the pier' is also common. When only 'down' fits among the options, choose it. |
| loiter around the street | loiter = wander about with no purpose; around shows aimless movement | 2021 (II) 'Loiter in the street' and 'on the street' are also good English. Read all four options: if two seem right, pick the one that best shows movement here and there. |
Point = at, surface = on, inside = in, movement into = into.
By, in and with for travel, payment and means6 rows
| Phrase | Use it for | Sitting |
|---|---|---|
| travelled in Mr. Joshi's car / in Mr. Barthwal's car | one particular, named car | 2021 (II), 2022 (I) |
| came home by train | the general means of travel, no article | 2022 (I) |
| goes to work by bus | the general means of travel, no article | 2024 (I) |
| pay by credit card | the means of payment, no article | 2026 (II) |
| By means of rope ladders they scaled the wall | the tool used to do something | 2023 (II) |
| come along with you | together with a person | 2022 (II) |
By + a bare noun for the method; in or on + a particular vehicle.
Confusable pairs: between and among, beside and besides5 rows
| Word | Meaning | Tested in | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| among | shared out within a group | property divided among his daughters and sons | 2017 (II) |
| between | items named one by one, however many | a country lying between four named neighbours | 2026 (II) |
| beside | next to | He sat beside her all night. | 2026 (II) |
| beside | next to | Sit here beside me. | 2021 (II) 'Sit here by me' is also natural English. Beside is the exact word for 'next to'. |
| besides | in addition to | What other sport do you play besides hockey? | 2026 (I) |
Beside = next to. Besides = as well as.
Watch out for (13)
- In the morning, but on Monday morning→ At, on, in, by, until and during for time
- By is a deadline; until is a duration→ At, on, in, by, until and during for time
- During needs a noun, while needs a clause→ At, on, in, by, until and during for time
- Ago, not before, when you count back from now→ At, on, in, by, until and during for time
- In or into?→ At, on, in and into for place, surface and direction
- The Internet takes on, not in→ At, on, in and into for place, surface and direction
- Writing goes on a surface→ At, on, in and into for place, surface and direction
- By car, but in his car→ By, in and with for travel, payment and means
- By way of is not by means of→ By, in and with for travel, payment and means
- Pay by card, pay with a card→ By, in and with for travel, payment and means
- Between is not only for two→ Confusable pairs: between and among, beside and besides
- One letter changes the meaning→ Confusable pairs: between and among, beside and besides
- Aside cannot take an object→ Confusable pairs: between and among, beside and besides
Words that take a fixed preposition
Reference tables (3)
Adjective + preposition8 rows
| Pair | Example | Sitting |
|---|---|---|
| annoyed with (a person) | My teacher was annoyed with us for being late. | 2018 (II) annoyed with a person, annoyed about or at a thing or an event. |
| averse to | People who are averse to hard work do not succeed. | 2022 (I) |
| indebted to (a person) | He is indebted to his friend. | 2023 (I) |
| responsible for | held responsible for my spouse's debts | 2023 (I) |
| liable for (a debt or payment) | He is liable for his wife's debts. | 2022 (I) liable to + a penalty or a verb: liable to a fine, liable to break. |
| polite to (a person) | She has always been very polite to me. | 2024 (I) |
| fed up with | I'm fed up with you. | 2024 (I) |
| capable of + -ing | She is capable of winning the race. | 2024 (I) |
Learn each adjective with its preposition as one unit.
Verb + preposition20 rows
| Pair | Meaning or use | Sitting |
|---|---|---|
| shout to someone | call out to be heard, with no anger (shout at = in anger) | 2018 (II) |
| complain of a headache | complain of an illness or pain | 2018 (II) |
| insist on + -ing | my mother insists on going with my brother | 2018 (II) |
| blame someone for something | blame everyone for his mistakes | 2021 (I) |
| take care of | look after: I will take care of myself | 2021 (I) |
| connive with a person | secretly help someone do wrong (connive at a fault = ignore it) | 2022 (I) |
| aspire to / aspire for | aim for: aspire to distinction | 2022 (I) aspire to is the standard pair. When to is not among the options, aspire for is the one to choose. |
| stare at | the passive keeps it: being stared at | 2026 (II) |
| work with co-workers | together with them | 2025 (II) |
| work for the people | for their benefit | 2021 (II) |
| look for | search for: the man I have been looking for | 2021 (II) |
| enter into an agreement | make a formal agreement | 2022 (I), 2026 (I) |
| talk someone through something | explain it step by step | 2026 (II) |
| endow someone with a quality | nature has endowed them with a capacity | 2017 (II) |
| absolve someone of a crime | declare free from guilt | 2018 (I) |
| embark on a project | begin something big | 2024 (I) |
| result in unhappiness | have as its outcome (lead takes to) | 2021 (I) |
| be premised on a notion | be based on | 2023 (II) |
| differentiate the good from the bad | tell one from the other | 2017 (II) |
| precipitate eye issues | no preposition: it takes a direct object (contribute takes to) | 2024 (II) |
If the preposition changes the meaning, read the sentence before you choose.
Noun + preposition7 rows
| Pair | Example | Sitting |
|---|---|---|
| a discussion about | We had a discussion about the project. | 2024 (I) |
| a man of means | a wealthy man | 2021 (II) |
| meaning in | There is no meaning in what you say. | 2021 (II) |
| choice of location for | my choice of location for the family visit | 2025 (I) |
| a biography is about a person's life | the blank needs the preposition and the article | 2021 (I) |
| entry into | Entry into the building was restricted. | 2022 (II) |
| in the estimation of | lowered him in the estimation of everyone (= in their opinion) | 2017 (II) |
A noun often borrows its verb's preposition: enter into, entry into.
Watch out for (15)
- With a person, about a thing→ Adjective + preposition
- Liable for or liable to?→ Adjective + preposition
- A preposition is followed by -ing, not the base verb→ Adjective + preposition
- Do not drop the preposition in the passive→ Verb + preposition
- Shout to or shout at?→ Verb + preposition
- Talk to someone about it, but talk someone through it→ Verb + preposition
- Check whether the article is part of the answer→ Noun + preposition
- A man of means is not a man with plans→ Noun + preposition
- Entry into, not entry of→ Noun + preposition
- Lead to, but result in→ Let the preposition choose the word
- No preposition? Then a prepositional verb is wrong→ Let the preposition choose the word
- The preposition may be far from the blank→ Let the preposition choose the word
- Find which word the blank replaces→ When the blank is not a preposition: infinitive 'to' and articles
- Impossible for someone, impossible to do→ When the blank is not a preposition: infinitive 'to' and articles
- An article can hide in a preposition set→ When the blank is not a preposition: infinitive 'to' and articles
Phrasal verbs
Reference tables (2)
Phrasal verbs for meeting, getting on and enduring7 rows
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Sitting |
|---|---|---|
| call on a person | visit someone, often formally | 2018 (II), 2020 (I) call at a place (call at the office); call on a person. |
| run into someone | meet by chance | 2020 (I) |
| fall out with someone | quarrel and stop being friends | 2026 (I) |
| get along with someone | have a friendly relationship | 2018 (II) |
| put up with something | tolerate, bear | 2017 (II) |
| get over a shock | recover from | 2018 (I) |
| keep up with someone | move or progress at the same speed | 2021 (I) |
The third word (with) is part of the phrasal verb: do not leave it out.
Phrasal verbs for effort, duty and avoidance6 rows
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Sitting |
|---|---|---|
| carry through on a promise | keep a promise, do what you said | 2020 (I) carry out a task, a plan or an order. When the printed word after the blank is on, carry through is the one that joins it. |
| put in years of service | spend time or effort on work | 2020 (I) |
| keep off a subject | avoid talking about it | 2020 (I) |
| shy away from | avoid because of fear or doubt | 2021 (II) |
| make up for lost time | compensate for | 2022 (I) |
| fall back on | rely on in a time of difficulty | 2025 (I) |
Each verb is learnt with its full set of words.
Watch out for (10)
- Call on a person, call at a place→ Phrasal verbs for meeting, getting on and enduring
- Get over, not get through, for a shock→ Phrasal verbs for meeting, getting on and enduring
- Keep up with, not keep up to→ Phrasal verbs for meeting, getting on and enduring
- Check the context before choosing on or off→ Read the particle: on, off, out, about
- Keep off is not put off→ Read the particle: on, off, out, about
- Come about, come off, come out→ Read the particle: on, off, out, about
- Running out of needs the -ing and the of→ Read the particle: on, off, out, about
- Carry out a task, carry through on a promise→ Phrasal verbs for effort, duty and avoidance
- Keep off, not keep out, for a topic→ Phrasal verbs for effort, duty and avoidance
- Shy away from needs both words→ Phrasal verbs for effort, duty and avoidance
Prepositional idioms and fixed phrases
Reference tables (2)
Idioms built on a preposition10 rows
| Idiom | Meaning | Sitting |
|---|---|---|
| read between the lines | find the hidden meaning | 2021 (I) |
| live by one's pen | earn a living by writing | 2021 (II) |
| much water has run under the bridge | much time has passed and much has changed | 2021 (II) |
| fight to the last man | fight until everyone is killed | 2021 (II) |
| keep someone at arm's length | avoid becoming close or friendly | 2021 (II) |
| in the long run | in the end, over a long time | 2021 (II) |
| by dint of | by means of, because of (effort) | 2021 (II), 2022 (I) |
| rules to live by | rules that guide your life | 2022 (I) |
| in such a way that | so that (introduces a result) | 2021 (I) |
| go with the wind | drift along with whatever happens, without thinking | 2021 (I) The more common forms are 'go with the flow' and 'go with the tide'. All take with. |
Idioms do not follow the usual preposition rules. Learn them whole.
Idiomatic phrases that complete a sentence10 rows
| Idiom | Meaning | Sitting |
|---|---|---|
| done in | completely exhausted | 2018 (I) |
| no use crying over spilt milk | no point regretting what cannot be undone | 2018 (I) |
| a wet blanket | a person who spoils others' fun | 2018 (I) |
| Where there is a will, there is a way. | determination finds a way | 2020 (I) |
| out of the question | impossible, not to be considered | 2022 (II) |
| in full swing | at the height of activity | 2022 (II) |
| thrown out of gear | disrupted, disorganised | 2022 (II) |
| taken for granted | not valued; assumed without thanks | 2022 (II) |
| taken long strides | made great progress | 2023 (II) |
| paid his debts down to the last penny | paid every single penny | 2023 (I) |
Change one word and the idiom is broken.
Watch out for (6)
- In the long run, never on the long run→ Idioms built on a preposition
- By dint of, not with dint→ Idioms built on a preposition
- Same phrase, different blank→ Idioms built on a preposition
- Spilt milk, not split or spoiled→ Idiomatic phrases that complete a sentence
- Out of the question, not in question→ Idiomatic phrases that complete a sentence
- Look for the contrast word→ Idiomatic phrases that complete a sentence
Connectors: cause, contrast and sequence
Reference tables (1)
Sentence-opening discourse markers10 rows
| Marker | Function | Sitting |
|---|---|---|
| Moreover | adds a further point | 2025 (I) |
| Further | adds a further point | 2025 (I) |
| Later | moves forward in time | 2025 (I) |
| Meanwhile | at the same time, alongside | 2025 (I) |
| Unfortunately | the writer's attitude: regret | 2025 (I) |
| therefore | result or conclusion; can sit mid-sentence between commas | 2025 (II) |
| Indeed | confirms and stresses what was said | 2025 (II) |
| in particular | picks out one item to focus on | 2025 (II) |
| Significantly | marks what follows as important | 2025 (II) |
| Finally | the last point in a sequence | 2025 (II) |
A marker is an adverb: Unfortunately, not Unfortunate.
Watch out for (10)
- Despite, or in spite of, but never despite of→ Because of, in spite of, owing to: phrase or clause
- Because of and in spite of point opposite ways→ Because of, in spite of, owing to: phrase or clause
- Half a phrase is no phrase→ Because of, in spite of, owing to: phrase or clause
- Although cannot sit before a noun→ Because of, in spite of, owing to: phrase or clause
- An adjective cannot be a marker→ Sentence-opening discourse markers
- Despite and while cannot stand alone→ Sentence-opening discourse markers
- Manner adverbs are distractors→ Sentence-opening discourse markers
- Unless already means 'if not'→ Linking two clauses: while, until, unless, whatever, either or
- No will after until, unless, when, if→ Linking two clauses: while, until, unless, whatever, either or
- While needs a clause, during needs a noun→ Linking two clauses: while, until, unless, whatever, either or
Conditionals, tenses and verb forms in blanks
Watch out for (14)
- No would in the if-half→ The three conditionals and inverted 'Had he'
- Inversion drops the if→ The three conditionals and inverted 'Had he'
- If I were, not if I was, in an imagined condition→ The three conditionals and inverted 'Had he'
- Scarcely ... when, not scarcely ... than→ Tense signals and subject-verb agreement
- Present perfect never sits with yesterday→ Tense signals and subject-verb agreement
- A plural-looking subject can be one idea, and the reverse→ Tense signals and subject-verb agreement
- Affect is the verb, effect is usually the noun→ Verb form after a modal, a verb or 'is': base, gerund, participle, passive
- Is expecting or is expected?→ Verb form after a modal, a verb or 'is': base, gerund, participle, passive
- Needn't and mustn't are not the same→ Verb form after a modal, a verb or 'is': base, gerund, participle, passive
- Dislike having to, not dislike have to→ Verb form after a modal, a verb or 'is': base, gerund, participle, passive
- Than any other, not than any→ Relative pronouns and comparisons
- One of the + plural noun→ Relative pronouns and comparisons
- Who after a preposition becomes whom→ Relative pronouns and comparisons
- What cannot follow a noun→ Relative pronouns and comparisons
Choosing the right word for the blank
Reference tables (2)
Words for progress, difficulty, law and crime7 rows
| Word | Meaning | Tested as | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| substantial | large and real | make substantial progress | 2017 (II) |
| insurmountable | too great to overcome | faced almost insurmountable difficulty | 2024 (I) |
| potential | possible, likely in future | Every rash driver becomes a potential killer. | 2018 (I) |
| offences | crimes | offences against women | 2023 (II) |
| purview | scope, range of authority | come under the purview of this act | 2023 (II) |
| evade | escape, avoid | evade capture by the police | 2024 (I) |
| evidence | proof | seen as evidence of their literary interest | 2023 (II) |
The noun next to the blank chooses its partner.
Words for feeling, manner and lifestyle6 rows
| Word | Meaning | Tested as | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| mollify | calm an angry person | no one can mollify him when he is angry | 2017 (II) |
| gratitude | thankfulness | a deep debt of gratitude to the freedom fighters | 2018 (I) |
| silken | smooth and refined | the silken touch of a maestro | 2022 (II) |
| opulent | rich and luxurious | owns several sports cars and has an opulent lifestyle | 2024 (II) |
| excruciating | extremely painful | suffered excruciating pain from a leg injury | 2024 (II) |
| instil | slowly build a feeling or idea in someone | continues to instil a sense of patriotism | 2023 (II) |
Learn each word with the noun it travels with.
Watch out for (11)
- Two words before a noun can have two jobs→ Word form: noun, adjective or adverb
- Keep a list parallel→ Word form: noun, adjective or adverb
- Prescription and proscription→ Word form: noun, adjective or adverb
- Broke and broken→ Word form: noun, adjective or adverb
- Evade or invade?→ Words for progress, difficulty, law and crime
- Do not choose a word that repeats the sentence→ Words for progress, difficulty, law and crime
- Sound-alike nouns ending in -ence→ Words for progress, difficulty, law and crime
- Instil or install?→ Words for feeling, manner and lifestyle
- Look-alike words that start the same way→ Words for feeling, manner and lifestyle
- Check the charge of the word→ Words for feeling, manner and lifestyle
- Humour is not mollify→ Words for feeling, manner and lifestyle
Completing a sentence: agreement, quantifiers and set phrases
Reference tables (3)
Neither, either, each, any, none, one: who the word points to and what verb follows7 rows
| Word | Rule | Tested in | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neither (of two) | Not this one and not that one. Singular verb. Already negative. | I asked two people the way to the station, but neither of them could help me. | 2021 (II) None is the wrong choice here: there were only two people. |
| Neither of us | The clean negative for two people. Not 'both of us do not', not 'either of us did not', no extra 'did'. | Mohan and I couldn't get into the house because neither of us had the keys. | 2021 (II) |
| Any / any one of | One free choice from a group of three or more. Either is only for two. | Many good hotels: you can stay in any one of them. Many career options: you can choose any of them. | 2021 (II), 2022 (II) |
| Each of | One member at a time. Singular verb. | Each of the scholars has done well. | 2023 (II) |
| Either of | One of two. Singular verb, and past here because the question is reported. | He asked whether either of the brothers was at home. | 2023 (II) |
| One ... one's | A general 'one' is followed by one's, not his or their. | One cannot be too careful of one's good name. | 2023 (II) |
| The entire (time span) | Say 'the entire evening'. Never 'all the entire evening', and 'entire' needs 'the'. | Dan was very quiet. He didn't say a word the entire evening. | 2021 (II) |
Count the group first. Two people: either, neither, both. Three or more: any, none, all.
Uncountable nouns and comparison forms4 rows
| Pattern | Correct form | Wrong forms offered | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| News (uncountable) | Fortunately the news wasn't as bad as we expected. | the news weren't as bad | 2023 (II) |
| Luggage (uncountable) | When I was on holiday, all my luggage was stolen. | my whole luggage were stolen; my some luggage; my part luggage | 2023 (II) |
| The + superlative | We stayed at the cheapest hotel in the town. | at a cheapest hotel | 2023 (I) |
| Even + comparative | I got up very early, but Jack got up even earlier. | got up earlier to me; got up even before | 2023 (II) |
An -s at the end does not make a noun plural: news is singular.
Set phrases, phrasal verbs and prepositions of place and frequency7 rows
| Phrase | Meaning | Tested in | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| every ten minutes | Again and again, once in each ten minutes | The bus service is very good; there is a bus every ten minutes. | 2021 (II) |
| fly over | Pass above | We live near a busy airport; the planes fly over our house. | 2021 (II) |
| get into / get to (a city) | Arrive at a place. Both forms are standard; 'get at' and 'get in London' are not. | The arrival time of a train in London | 2023 (I) |
| get on (in a job) | Make progress, manage | How are you getting on in your new job? | 2023 (I) |
| cut down on | Use less of something | I am trying to cut down on coffee. | 2023 (I) |
| the right to vote | The legal power to vote | The applicant is a native of this country, so he has the right to vote. | 2023 (II) |
| Can I turn on ...? | A polite offer or request to do something | It is getting dark, can I turn on the lights? | 2022 (II) |
Learn each phrase with its small word attached: cut down on, get on in, fly over.
Watch out for (9)
- The plural noun after 'of' is not the subject→ Neither, either, each, any, none, one: who the word points to and what verb follows
- Either and neither are only for two→ Neither, either, each, any, none, one: who the word points to and what verb follows
- A second negative after neither→ Neither, either, each, any, none, one: who the word points to and what verb follows
- A noun that ends in -s but is singular→ Uncountable nouns and comparison forms
- Comparative + to→ Uncountable nouns and comparison forms
- A + superlative→ Uncountable nouns and comparison forms
- 'In ten minutes' is not 'every ten minutes'→ Set phrases, phrasal verbs and prepositions of place and frequency
- A particle that looks close→ Set phrases, phrasal verbs and prepositions of place and frequency
- Adding words to a fixed phrase→ Set phrases, phrasal verbs and prepositions of place and frequency
Conditionals and the order of tenses
Watch out for (12)
- Will or would inside the if-clause→ The three if-patterns and their inverted forms
- An extra 'been'→ The three if-patterns and their inverted forms
- Halves from two different types→ The three if-patterns and their inverted forms
- Was in Type 2→ The three if-patterns and their inverted forms
- A double negative after unless→ Unless, as long as, in case: conditions without 'if'
- An ending that fights the condition→ Unless, as long as, in case: conditions without 'if'
- Will after a condition word→ Unless, as long as, in case: conditions without 'if'
- In case is not if→ Unless, as long as, in case: conditions without 'if'
- Will in a time clause→ Tense sequence: time clauses, the earlier past, keeping the given tense
- Had + V3 on both actions→ Tense sequence: time clauses, the earlier past, keeping the given tense
- Changing a tense you were given→ Tense sequence: time clauses, the earlier past, keeping the given tense
- When versus as, because, since→ Tense sequence: time clauses, the earlier past, keeping the given tense
Joining clauses: name the relation, then pick the connector
Reference tables (2)
Concession and contrast words and the grammar each takes8 rows
| Word | Followed by | Relation | Tested in | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Despite | A noun or -ing word, no 'of' | Contrast | I could not sleep despite being very tired. 'Despite of the warning' is wrong. | 2021 (I), 2024 (II) |
| In spite of | A noun, an -ing word, or 'the fact that' + clause | Contrast | He undertook the difficult task in spite of the fact that he had no spare time. 'In spite the cold' is wrong. | 2024 (II) |
| Because of / because | Because of + noun; because + clause | Cause | She married him because of his nature. He pledged his organs because he had himself received one. | 2021 (I), 2024 (II) |
| Although | A full clause | Contrast | He wrote the exam with the utmost confidence although he was grossly underprepared. | 2024 (II) |
| Since | A full clause | Cause | He refused the honour since he did not trust the organisation. 'As because' and 'due to he' are wrong. | 2024 (II) |
| For (= because) | A full clause, after the main clause | Cause | He was adamant to undertake the journey, for he had promised to visit his school. | 2024 (II) |
| Whereas | A full clause with a different fact | Contrast of two facts | Kavya is interested in reading books, whereas her sister's interest is outdoor games. You have been frivolous, whereas I have been serious. | 2020 (I), 2024 (II) |
| Nevertheless | A new clause, after a semicolon | Contrast | The difficulties seemed insurmountable; nevertheless, the courage to carry on was undaunted. | 2024 (II) |
Ask two questions: what relation does the word carry, and does it want a noun or a clause after it?
Fixed pairs: no sooner...than, not only...but also, so...that, as...so7 rows
| Pair | Fixed second part | Tested in | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| No sooner | than | No sooner did I arrive at the airport than the flight took off. No sooner had he returned than he was off again. No sooner did the teacher enter the classroom than the students stopped talking. | 2020 (I), 2022 (I), 2023 (II) |
| Not only | but also | He is not only hard-working, but also honest. | 2020 (I) |
| So + adjective | that + result | He is so tired that he could scarcely stand. | 2020 (I) |
| As | so | As you have made your bed, so you must lie on it. | 2022 (I) |
| No other option | but to + verb | Elam has no other option but to accept the challenge. | 2021 (I) |
| More | than | The younger man has more money than brains. | 2022 (I) |
| Where there is a will | there is a way | A proverb: the second half is fixed and stays in the present. | 2022 (II) |
If you see the first half of a pair, look for its fixed second half in the options before anything else.
Watch out for (15)
- Reading only the second half→ Read the relation first: contrast, cause, result, condition, place or time
- Two connectors for one link→ Read the relation first: contrast, cause, result, condition, place or time
- Cause and result reversed→ Read the relation first: contrast, cause, result, condition, place or time
- Wherever versus whenever→ Read the relation first: contrast, cause, result, condition, place or time
- Despite of→ Concession and contrast words and the grammar each takes
- Nevertheless used like but→ Concession and contrast words and the grammar each takes
- Two conjunctions together→ Concession and contrast words and the grammar each takes
- Contrast where the meaning is cause→ Concession and contrast words and the grammar each takes
- Then for than→ Fixed pairs: no sooner...than, not only...but also, so...that, as...so
- Swapped pairs→ Fixed pairs: no sooner...than, not only...but also, so...that, as...so
- Too with that→ Fixed pairs: no sooner...than, not only...but also, so...that, as...so
- Half of 'not only ... but also'→ Fixed pairs: no sooner...than, not only...but also, so...that, as...so
- What after a noun→ Relative clauses: who, that, what
- Dropping the subject pronoun→ Relative clauses: who, that, what
- A changed tense or a stray modal→ Relative clauses: who, that, what
Changing the voice and reporting speech
Reference tables (2)
Commands and 'is said to' in the passive3 rows
| Active form | Passive form | Rule | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shut the door. | Let the door be shut. | Command: Let + object + be + V3 | 2018 (II), 2024 (II) The same item was set in 2018 (II) and again in 2024 (II). |
| Respect your elders. | Elders should be respected. | Advice or duty: should be + V3 | 2024 (II) |
| They said he was a good cricketer. | He was said to be a good cricketer. | Past 'said': was said to be. Going back to active, 'was' stays 'was'. | 2024 (II) |
A command keeps its force in the passive: Let ... be, or should be. 'Elders are respected' is a statement, not a command.
Reporting verbs by sentence type: questions, requests, orders, exclamations, wishes6 rows
| Sentence type | Reporting verb | Pattern | Tested in | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Command | ordered | ordered + person + to + verb | Move forward and face the target now. March forward and aim at the peak of the hill today. | 2018 (II), 2020 (I) |
| Polite request: Could you please ...? | requested | requested + person + to + verb, with no 'please' | Turn off the switch. Close the door. Pass the bill this week. | 2018 (II), 2020 (I) |
| Wh-question | asked | asked + wh-word + subject + verb | Where were your ideas when we faced the troubles last week? What is the way to solve the question? Where were you last evening? | 2018 (II), 2020 (I) |
| Yes/no question | asked | asked + if + subject + verb | Will you go with me for a cup of tea in the evening today? | 2018 (II) |
| Exclamation | exclaimed | exclaimed + that + statement | What a scintillating beauty it is! | 2020 (I) |
| Wish: May you ... | blessed / prayed | blessed + person + that + would | May you live long with all good things of life. | 2020 (I) |
Name the sentence type first. It decides the reporting verb before you check any tense.
Watch out for (15)
- Changing the tense→ Active to passive: keep the tense, swap subject and object
- Has with a plural new subject→ Active to passive: keep the tense, swap subject and object
- Reversing who did what→ Active to passive: keep the tense, swap subject and object
- Cause and effect in a completion→ Active to passive: keep the tense, swap subject and object
- Dropping 'Let'→ Commands and 'is said to' in the passive
- Turning a command into a statement→ Commands and 'is said to' in the passive
- The wrong tense after 'said'→ Commands and 'is said to' in the passive
- Half a change→ Reported statements: shift tense, pronouns and time words; universal truths stay
- Backshifting a universal truth→ Reported statements: shift tense, pronouns and time words; universal truths stay
- Said + person + that→ Reported statements: shift tense, pronouns and time words; universal truths stay
- Asked for a statement→ Reported statements: shift tense, pronouns and time words; universal truths stay
- Keeping question order→ Reporting verbs by sentence type: questions, requests, orders, exclamations, wishes
- Told for a question→ Reporting verbs by sentence type: questions, requests, orders, exclamations, wishes
- Ordered versus requested→ Reporting verbs by sentence type: questions, requests, orders, exclamations, wishes
- Keeping 'please' or 'what a'→ Reporting verbs by sentence type: questions, requests, orders, exclamations, wishes
Is the word used correctly? Confusable pairs and meaning in context
Reference tables (1)
Confusable pairs: affect/effect, discrete/discreet, less/fewer and the rest20 rows
| Word | Meaning and part of speech | Its look-alike | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affect | Verb: to influence; to move someone's feelings | Effect, a noun: a result (have an effect, take effect, in effect) | 2022 (II) |
| Effect | Noun: a result. As a verb, 'to bring about' (effect a change) | Affect, a verb: to influence (deeply affected by the new laws) | 2025 (II) |
| Elicit | Verb: to draw out a response or facts | Illicit, an adjective: unlawful | 2022 (II) |
| Illicit | Adjective: not allowed by law | Elicit, a verb: to draw out (elicit more information) | 2025 (II) |
| Climactic | Adjective: forming the climax, the most intense or decisive point | Climatic: to do with climate (climatic changes) | 2022 (II) |
| Discrete | Adjective: separate, distinct (a discrete series has gaps) | Discreet: careful, tactful, not drawing attention (discreet enquiries) | 2022 (II) |
| It's | Short for 'it is' or 'it has' | Its: belonging to it, with no apostrophe (its nature) | 2022 (II) |
| Amidst | Preposition: in the middle of a situation or atmosphere (amidst the confusion) | Among: within a group of separate people or things | 2022 (II), 2024 (II) |
| Among | Preposition: within a group of three or more separate people or things | Amidst: in the middle of something you cannot count; between: for two | 2024 (II) |
| Less | With uncountable nouns: less sugar, less time | Fewer: with countable plurals (fewer people, fewer days, fewer states) | 2022 (II) |
| Practise | Verb in British spelling: to do something again and again to improve | Practice: the noun, a habit or custom (common practice) | 2022 (II) |
| Practice | Noun: a habit, custom or method (a good practice) | Practise: the verb in British spelling (practise for hours) | 2025 (I) |
| Continuously | Adverb: without any break (it rained continuously for six hours) | Continually: again and again, with breaks in between | 2022 (II) |
| Immanent | Adjective: existing within, inherent | Imminent: about to happen; eminent: famous and respected (an eminent guest) | 2024 (II) |
| Will | The plain future with every person: They will apply soon | Shall: with I and we in formal English; with other persons it adds a promise or an order | 2024 (II) |
| Amoral | Adjective: without any sense of right and wrong, not concerned with morals | Immoral: morally wrong (murder and cheating are immoral) | 2025 (I) |
| Emigrate | Verb: to leave your own country to live in another | Immigrate: to come into a country to live; migrate: to move from place to place (animals, seasonal workers) | 2025 (I) |
| Advice | Noun: a suggestion (the doctor's advice) | Advise, the verb: advised, advising. 'Adviced' is not a word | 2025 (II) |
| Brake | Verb or noun: to slow or stop a vehicle | Break: to snap, to interrupt, to tell news | 2025 (II) |
| Incite | Verb: to stir people up to feel or do something | Insight, a noun: a deep understanding | 2025 (II) |
Most pairs differ in part of speech: one is a verb, the other a noun or an adjective. Check the job the word does in the sentence.
Watch out for (8)
- One letter changes the part of speech→ Confusable pairs: affect/effect, discrete/discreet, less/fewer and the rest
- An apostrophe in its→ Confusable pairs: affect/effect, discrete/discreet, less/fewer and the rest
- Less with a plural→ Confusable pairs: affect/effect, discrete/discreet, less/fewer and the rest
- Direction in emigrate and immigrate→ Confusable pairs: affect/effect, discrete/discreet, less/fewer and the rest
- Judging grammar instead of meaning→ Test each sentence against the word's core meaning and charge
- Missing the charge→ Test each sentence against the word's core meaning and charge
- The wrong part of speech→ Test each sentence against the word's core meaning and charge
- Counting a near fit→ Test each sentence against the word's core meaning and charge
PYQ weightage by concept
66 concepts · 496 PYQs — where the marks actually sit, so you know what to drill first
PYQ weightage by concept
66 concepts · 496 PYQs — where the marks actually sit, so you know what to drill first
Parts of speech: the job a word does, nouns and pronouns32 PYQs · 6%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Kinds of noun: common, proper, abstract, collective, countable, uncountable | 12 | 2% |
| Kinds of pronoun: personal, reflexive, impersonal, indefinite, distributive | 10 | 2% |
| Name the class by the job the word does | 6 | 1% |
| Relative pronouns: who, whom, which, that | 4 | 1% |
Adjectives, pointing words and degrees of comparison26 PYQs · 5%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| An adjective describes a noun, before it or after 'be' | 10 | 2% |
| Pointing words before a noun: this, that, his, which (determiners) | 6 | 1% |
| Degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, superlative | 5 | 1% |
| Fill a blank by the class the slot needs, then by meaning | 5 | 1% |
Verbs, and the -ing and to- forms18 PYQs · 4%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Finite verbs: transitive, intransitive, linking, tense | 9 | 2% |
| Participle, gerund or infinitive | 6 | 1% |
| Verb form in a blank: 'were' for the unreal, 'has' for 'it' | 3 | 1% |
Adverbs: how, when, where, how often, how much19 PYQs · 4%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective or another adverb | 11 | 2% |
| Look-alikes: 'first', 'right', 'better' are adverbs; 'timely' is not | 4 | 1% |
| Degree words: very, too, extremely, most (intensifiers) | 4 | 1% |
Prepositions, conjunctions, connecting adverbs and interjections33 PYQs · 7%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| A preposition links a noun to the rest of the sentence | 9 | 2% |
| Interjections: words that stand outside the sentence | 8 | 2% |
| Preposition or adverb? Look for the object | 6 | 1% |
| Conjunctions join: coordinating and subordinating | 6 | 1% |
| Connecting adverbs: therefore, besides, otherwise, consequently | 4 | 1% |
Articles: a, an, the or no article14 PYQs · 3%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 'The' for the one known thing; no article before a numbered noun | 8 | 2% |
| A or an: the first SOUND decides | 6 | 1% |
Quantifiers and other determiners28 PYQs · 6%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Some vs any | 8 | 2% |
| Each, every, either, one of: the singular words | 8 | 2% |
| Countable or uncountable decides the word: fewer/less, many/much | 5 | 1% |
| Whichever, these, all | 4 | 1% |
| Few vs a few, little vs a little | 3 | 1% |
Prepositions of time, place and means35 PYQs · 7%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| At, on, in and into for place, surface and direction | 12 | 2% |
| At, on, in, by, until and during for time | 11 | 2% |
| By, in and with for travel, payment and means | 7 | 1% |
| Confusable pairs: between and among, beside and besides | 5 | 1% |
Words that take a fixed preposition39 PYQs · 8%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Verb + preposition | 13 | 3% |
| Let the preposition choose the word | 9 | 2% |
| Adjective + preposition | 8 | 2% |
| Noun + preposition | 6 | 1% |
| When the blank is not a preposition: infinitive 'to' and articles | 3 | 1% |
Phrasal verbs21 PYQs · 4%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phrasal verbs for meeting, getting on and enduring | 8 | 2% |
| Read the particle: on, off, out, about | 7 | 1% |
| Phrasal verbs for effort, duty and avoidance | 6 | 1% |
Prepositional idioms and fixed phrases21 PYQs · 4%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Idioms built on a preposition | 11 | 2% |
| Idiomatic phrases that complete a sentence | 10 | 2% |
Connectors: cause, contrast and sequence25 PYQs · 5%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Because of, in spite of, owing to: phrase or clause | 10 | 2% |
| Sentence-opening discourse markers | 10 | 2% |
| Linking two clauses: while, until, unless, whatever, either or | 5 | 1% |
Conditionals, tenses and verb forms in blanks33 PYQs · 7%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tense signals and subject-verb agreement | 10 | 2% |
| Verb form after a modal, a verb or 'is': base, gerund, participle, passive | 8 | 2% |
| Relative pronouns and comparisons | 8 | 2% |
| The three conditionals and inverted 'Had he' | 7 | 1% |
Choosing the right word for the blank20 PYQs · 4%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Word form: noun, adjective or adverb | 7 | 1% |
| Words for progress, difficulty, law and crime | 7 | 1% |
| Words for feeling, manner and lifestyle | 6 | 1% |
Completing a sentence: agreement, quantifiers and set phrases19 PYQs · 4%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Neither, either, each, any, none, one: who the word points to and what verb follows | 8 | 2% |
| Set phrases, phrasal verbs and prepositions of place and frequency | 7 | 1% |
| Uncountable nouns and comparison forms | 4 | 1% |
Conditionals and the order of tenses21 PYQs · 4%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| The three if-patterns and their inverted forms | 11 | 2% |
| Tense sequence: time clauses, the earlier past, keeping the given tense | 6 | 1% |
| Unless, as long as, in case: conditions without 'if' | 4 | 1% |
Joining clauses: name the relation, then pick the connector36 PYQs · 7%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Read the relation first: contrast, cause, result, condition, place or time | 12 | 2% |
| Concession and contrast words and the grammar each takes | 10 | 2% |
| Fixed pairs: no sooner...than, not only...but also, so...that, as...so | 9 | 2% |
| Relative clauses: who, that, what | 5 | 1% |
Changing the voice and reporting speech27 PYQs · 5%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reporting verbs by sentence type: questions, requests, orders, exclamations, wishes | 11 | 2% |
| Active to passive: keep the tense, swap subject and object | 7 | 1% |
| Reported statements: shift tense, pronouns and time words; universal truths stay | 5 | 1% |
| Commands and 'is said to' in the passive | 4 | 1% |
Is the word used correctly? Confusable pairs and meaning in context29 PYQs · 6%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Confusable pairs: affect/effect, discrete/discreet, less/fewer and the rest | 20 | 4% |
| Test each sentence against the word's core meaning and charge | 9 | 2% |
Test yourself on Grammar
20 past CDS questions from this chapter, timed at 20 minutes and marked the way the exam marks it. You see your score and every answer the moment you finish. Free to start.