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Advanced Grammar Tips for PTE Success

  • Writer: Brijesh Dhanani
    Brijesh Dhanani
  • Mar 4
  • 3 min read


The Pearson Test of English (PTE) assesses test-takers on various skills, including speaking, writing, reading, and listening. A strong command of grammar is essential to achieve a high score, as it directly impacts clarity, coherence, and accuracy in communication. This guide provides advanced grammar tips that can significantly boost your PTE performance.


Why Grammar Matters in PTE


Grammar plays a critical role in multiple sections of the PTE exam:

  • Writing: Sentence structure, verb tense, and punctuation affect clarity and coherence.

  • Speaking: Grammatical accuracy ensures fluency and effective communication.

  • Reading: Understanding sentence formation aids in comprehension.

  • Listening: Recognizing grammatical patterns improves interpretation of spoken content.


Common Grammar Mistakes in PTE

Here are some frequently observed errors:

Common Error

Example (Incorrect)

Example (Correct)

Subject-Verb Agreement

She have a car.

She has a car.

Run-on Sentences

I studied all night I still failed.

I studied all night, but I still failed.

Incorrect Prepositions

She is good in math.

She is good at math.

Articles Misuse

He bought apple.

He bought an apple.

Wrong Verb Tense

He go to school yesterday.

He went to school yesterday.


Advanced Grammar Tips for PTE Success


1. Master Sentence Structures

Use a variety of sentence structures to showcase your grammatical range.

Examples:

  • Simple Sentence: The test was difficult.

  • Compound Sentence: The test was difficult, but I managed to complete it.

  • Complex Sentence: Although the test was difficult, I scored well.

  • Compound-Complex Sentence: The test was difficult, but because I had studied hard, I performed well.

Tip: Practice writing sentences using all four types to enhance your writing fluency.


2. Use Active Voice Over Passive Voice

Active voice improves clarity and readability.

Example:

  • Passive: The essay was written by John.

  • Active: John wrote the essay.

Fact: Research suggests that passive voice sentences take 30% longer to comprehend than active voice sentences.


3. Understand Collocations and Word Pairing


Collocations are natural word combinations that enhance fluency.

Examples:

Weak Expression

Strong Collocation

Do a mistake

Make a mistake

Take a decision

Make a decision

Strong rain

Heavy rain

Big improvement

Significant improvement

Tip: Use collocation dictionaries like Oxford Collocations Dictionary to learn correct word pairings.


4. Use Correct Modifiers

Modifiers should be placed near the word they describe to avoid ambiguity.

Example:

  • Incorrect: Running down the street, the bag fell off John's shoulder. (Sounds like the bag was running!)

  • Correct: As John was running down the street, his bag fell off his shoulder.


5. Improve Subject-Verb Agreement

This is crucial for fluency and accuracy.

Example:

  • Incorrect: The group of students are excited.

  • Correct: The group of students is excited.


6. Master Articles (A, An, The)

Articles can be tricky for non-native speakers.

Rule

Example

Use "a" before consonant sounds

A university ("you" is a consonant sound)

Use "an" before vowel sounds

An honor (silent 'h' makes 'o' the first sound)

Use "the" for specific nouns

The sun, the president

7. Punctuation Perfection

Proper punctuation improves clarity.

Examples:

  • Comma Usage: Let's eat, Grandma! vs. Let's eat Grandma!

  • Apostrophe Use: The student's book (one student) vs. The students' books (multiple students).


8. Conditional Sentences

Conditionals help express possibilities and hypothetical situations.

Example:

Type

Example

Zero Conditional

If you heat water, it boils.

First Conditional

If I study, I will pass.

Second Conditional

If I were you, I would study harder.

Third Conditional

If I had studied, I would have passed.


How Gurully Can Help You with PTE Grammar Mastery


At Gurully, we provide comprehensive resources to help you master the PTE exam and improve your test performance. Our AI-powered mock tests, and real-time scoring, are designed to help test-takers enhance their English skills effectively. With interactive PTE practice tests and ai-scoring, Gurully enables students to identify their weaknesses and refine their English grammar usage in all sections of the PTE exam. Start your free PTE mock test today at Gurully and take the first step toward PTE success!


Conclusion


Mastering advanced grammar is essential for achieving a high PTE score. By improving sentence structure, avoiding common mistakes, and practicing with high-quality resources, you can enhance your grammatical accuracy and fluency. Implement these grammar tips in your daily practice, leverage Gurully’s mock tests, and watch your PTE score soar!


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