Basic Grammar for College Entrance Exams

This guide covers fundamental grammar concepts to help you prepare for college entrance exams. We'll focus on the basics and provide simple examples.

1. Subject-Verb Agreement

The verb in a sentence must agree in number with its subject. This means:

• Singular subject = Singular verb


• Plural subject = Plural verb

Examples:

• The cat sits on the mat. (Singular)


• The cats sit on the mat. (Plural)

Common Mistakes:

• Using a plural verb with a singular subject (e.g., "The dog run fast.")


• Using a singular verb with a plural subject (e.g., "The students is happy.")

2. Tenses

Tenses indicate when an action takes place. Here are the basic tenses:

• Present Simple: Used for habits, routines, facts (e.g., I eat breakfast every day.)


• Past Simple: Used for completed actions in the past (e.g., I ate breakfast yesterday.)


• Future Simple: Used for actions that will happen in the future (e.g., I will eat breakfast tomorrow.)

Examples:

• Present Simple: She plays the piano.


• Past Simple: She played the piano.


• Future Simple: She will play the piano.

Common Mistakes:

• Incorrectly using the past tense (e.g., "I goed to the store.")


• Mixing tenses in the same sentence without a clear reason.

3. Articles (a, an, the)

• A/An: Used for non-specific singular nouns. "An" is used before vowel sounds.


• The: Used for specific nouns or nouns already mentioned.

Examples:

• I saw a dog. (Non-specific)


• The dog was brown. (Specific - we already mentioned it)


• I want an apple.

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting articles when they are needed.


• Using "a" before a word that starts with a vowel sound.


• Using "an" before a word that starts with a consonant sound.

4. Pronouns

Pronouns replace nouns. Common pronouns include I, you, he, she, it, we, they, me, him, her, us, them, my, his, her, our, their.

Examples:

• John is tall. He is a basketball player.


• Mary and I went to the store. We bought some milk.

Common Mistakes:

• Using the wrong pronoun case (e.g., "Me and him went to the store."). It should be "He and I went to the store."


• Pronoun-antecedent disagreement (e.g., "Each student should bring their book." should be "Each student should bring his or her book.")

5. Prepositions

Prepositions show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in the sentence. Common prepositions include in, on, at, to, from, with, by, for, about, of.

Examples:

• The book is on the table.


• I went to the store.


• She is from France.

Common Mistakes:

• Using the wrong preposition (e.g., "I am interested on learning.") It should be "I am interested in learning."


• Ending a sentence with a preposition (while sometimes acceptable, it's often better to rephrase).

6. Conjunctions

Conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses. Common conjunctions include and, but, or, so, because, although, if, since, when, while.

Examples:

• I like cats and dogs.


• I am tired, but I will finish my homework.


• I will go to the park if it doesn't rain.

Common Mistakes:

• Using conjunctions incorrectly, creating run-on sentences.


• Not using a comma before coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, so, for, nor, yet) when they connect two independent clauses.

7. Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjectives describe nouns (e.g., red car).


• Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs (e.g., He runs quickly).

Examples:

• The beautiful flower is blooming. (Adjective)


• She sings loudly. (Adverb)

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing adjectives and adverbs (e.g., "He is a real good singer.") It should be "He is a really good singer."


• Using comparative and superlative forms incorrectly (e.g., "This is the most tallest building.") It should be "This is the tallest building."

8. Question Tags

Question tags are short questions added to the end of a statement. They are used to confirm information or invite agreement.

Formula: Statement + , + auxiliary verb (opposite polarity) + pronoun?

Examples:

• She is coming, isn't she?


• They haven't arrived yet, have they?

Common Mistakes:

• Using the wrong auxiliary verb.


• Not using the correct pronoun.


• Failing to reverse the polarity (positive statement, negative tag, and vice versa).

Example Questions and Solutions (Based on Your Provided Questions)

Let's analyze some example questions similar to what you provided:

1. At the beginning of the ceremony, there was a respectable one-minute silence in remembrance of the victims of the earthquake. (This sentence is grammatically correct.)


2. My mother gets up usually early to prepare breakfast for the whole family.
   
   
   
   • Corrected: My mother usually gets up early to prepare breakfast for the whole family. (Adverb of frequency - "usually" - usually goes before the main verb.)
   
   
   
   


3. The money raised in the appeal will use to help those in need in remote areas.
   
   
   
   • Corrected: The money raised in the appeal will be used to help those in need in remote areas. (Passive voice requires "be + past participle")
   
   
   
   


4. Our father suggested ______ to Da Nang for this summer holiday.
   
   
   
   • Corrected: Our father suggested going to Da Nang for this summer holiday. (Suggest is followed by the gerund form "-ing")
   
   
   
   


5. The patients ______ with the new drug showed better signs of recovery than those receiving conventional medicine.
   
   
   
   • Corrected: The patients treated with the new drug showed better signs of recovery than those receiving conventional medicine. (Past participle acting as an adjective.)
   
   
   
   


6. Only after she ______ from a severe illness did she realise the importance of good health.
   
   
   
   • Corrected: Only after she recovered from a severe illness did she realise the importance of good health. (Past simple required for proper tense sequence.) Alternatively: Only after she had recovered is acceptable, but using Past Simple is preferable at this basic level.
   
   
   
   


7. Several measures have been proposed to ______ the problem of unemployment among university graduates.
   
   
   
   • Corrected: Several measures have been proposed to address the problem of unemployment among university graduates. (Address is the appropriate verb to solve or deal with a problem.)
   
   
   
   


8. There is no excuse for your late submission! You ______ the report by last Friday.
   
   
   
   • Corrected: There is no excuse for your late submission! You should have submitted the report by last Friday. (Should have + past participle expresses obligation in the past that was not fulfilled.)
   
   
   
   


9. The presenter started his speech with a few ______ jokes to build rapport with the audience.
   
   
   
   • Corrected: The presenter started his speech with a few humorous jokes to build rapport with the audience. (Humorous is the correct adjective to describe the jokes.)
   
   
   
   


10. It is advisable that the apprentice should be ______ to learn the ins and outs of the new job.
    
    
    
    • Corrected: It is advisable that the apprentice should be eager to learn the ins and outs of the new job. (Eager is the appropriate adjective describing a willingness to learn.)
    
    
    
    


11. Mary rarely uses social networks, ______?
    
    
    
    • Corrected: Mary rarely uses social networks, does she? (Question tag - statement is negative so the tag is positive. Use "does" as auxiliary verb.)
    
    
    
    


12. Candidates are advised to dress formally to make a good ______ on job interviewers.
    
    
    
    • Corrected: Candidates are advised to dress formally to make a good impression on job interviewers. (Impression is the correct noun here.)
    
    
    
    


13. If Martin were here now, he ______ us to solve this difficult problem.
    
    
    
    • Corrected: If Martin were here now, he would help us to solve this difficult problem. (Second Conditional: If + Past Simple, would + base form of verb).
    
    
    
    


14. You shouldn't lose heart; success often comes to those who are not ______ by failures.
    
    
    
    • Corrected: You shouldn't lose heart; success often comes to those who are not discouraged by failures. (Discouraged is the appropriate adjective here.)
    
    
    
    


15. It concerns many sociologists that inadequate parents skills may lead to an increase in the number of incidents of juvenile delinquency.
    
    
    
    • Corrected: It concerns many sociologists that inadequate parenting skills may lead to an increase in the number of incidents of juvenile delinquency. (Parenting is the correct adjective to describe skills relating to raising children)
    
    
    
    

By understanding these basic concepts and practicing with examples, you can improve your grammar skills and perform better on your college entrance exams.

Quick Tips

• Read regularly: Reading helps you internalize correct grammar.


• Practice consistently: Do grammar exercises regularly.


• Review your mistakes: Pay attention to the errors you make and learn from them.

Good luck with your exams!