Complete Learning Pathway A

Complete Learning Pathway for Grammar Test A

The table below gives the complete list of grammatical items tested in the Diagnostic Grammar Test Part A, Questions 1 - 50.

**Full Learning Pathway for questions 1 - 50**
Q	Comments	Reference	Exercises
1	The present simple tense is used with permanent situations, such as 'China is in Asia'; generally accepted facts such as 'Hong Kong is an international city'; scientific laws such as. 'Water boils at 100 degrees centigrade'.	Tenses: simple / continuous	Explain the use of the verb
2	It / there contrasts. 'It' here is a pronoun meaning 'the weather' or 'the temperature'.	There or it?	1) There or it? 2) There or it? 3)There or it? (Mind Your Grammar)
3	The infinitive to express purpose: verb + to + infinitive We use to + infinitive when the meaning is the purpose or reason for doing something. eg I have to go to the bank to transfer some money.	Infinitive of purpose
4	No article should be used. Weather is uncountable so there is no article here. eg England has very changeable weather. (In England the weather is very changeable).	1) Articles 2) The definite article with uncountables 3) Specific reference 4) General reference	1) a or an? 2) countable or uncountable?
5	Comparative form of adjectives: short adjectives usually add the suffix -er. eg Blood is thicker than water.	Formation of comparatives
6	'Some' is used for affirmative sentences, 'any' for negatives and questions and 'isn't no..' = double negative and so is ungrammatical.	Some or any in questions	some, any, someone, anyone or any one
7	There is + quantifier: this is the existential meaning of 'there'. eg There is a lot of milk in the fridge.	There or it?	1) There or it? 2) There or it? 2) There or it?
8	most / the most / most of as quantifiers. eg Most people in Hong Kong live in high rise apartments.	most / the most / most of as quantifiers
9	Quantifiers - a little, a few, little, few: when the indefinite article is used, there is a positive meaning, without it a negative meaning. eg There is little milk left (=not much); There is a little milk (=some milk);	little / a little / few / a few as quantifiers	little / a little / few / a few as quantifiers
10	Tenses - progressive / will to express future: future time is expressed in a number of ways, mainly with the continuous tenses and auxiliary 'will'	1) Progressive form relating to the immediate future 2) Modality in Functional Grammar	Shall or will?
11	Tenses and relative pronoun 'who' in defining / non-defining clauses. This is a non-defining clause, so 'who' is necessary. We can only drop the relative pronoun in defining clauses..	1) Relative clauses 2) Defining, Non-defining 3) Examples of defining/non-defining 4)Relative pronouns 5) That, who, whom 6) Verb tenses 7) Relative Clauses	1) Verb tenses 2) Relative Clauses
12	Comparison of adjectives: comparative / superlative forms. eg He is the most popular singer in Hong Kong.	1) Formation of comparatives 2) Formation of superlatives
13	Expressing age: simple tenses / past perfect contrasted. With 'born' we usually use simple past be + 'born'. eg When was he born?	Past Perfect	1) Tenses contrasted 2) Explain the use of the verbs
14	Expressing age: have / be. Use the verb 'be' when talking about age. eg I left school when I was 15.	Expressing age
15	Tenses contrasted: pres perfect / past simple / present perfect. Use the past tense when talking about the past. eg I got a job when I left school.	Tenses contrasted	1) Explain the use of the verb 2) pres perf / past simple
16	Tenses + passive: pres perfect / past simple / past progressive. Past simple used in the passive here. eg She was invited to give a talk.	1) The passive voice 2) Using the passive (Common Errors)	1) The passive (Common Errors) 2) The passive (Common Errors) 3) Using the passive
17	Tenses: past / present with modals (used to). The modal auxiliary 'used to' is used for some regularly repeated action in the past which is no longer done. eg I used to play the guitar when I was a teenager.	1) Used to 2) modal auxiliaries	Modal auxiliary verbs
18	Past tense + causative verb complementation: make + to / zero infinitive. eg The teacher made the children stay late to finish their work.	Special uses of 'make'
19	Correlative pairs: both / and / or. 'both' is often used used with 'and' eg Both Mary and George were at the party.	both / and / or / either
20	Past tenses: past perfect / past progressive / past simple / passive. The main use of the past perfect is to refer to time in the past before a past reference point. eg After I had done the essay I went to bed.	1) Verb tenses 2) The past perfect	Verb tenses: explain the use of the verbs
21	Premodifying intensifiers: such / so. The pattern here is such + a + countable noun. eg He is such a clever boy.	Premodifying intensifiers - such / so
22	Adverb - ever + to inf: the adverb 'ever' is used variously to mean 'at any time' - here the structure is: ever + to + infinitive. eg Hilary was the man ever to climb Mount Everest.	Uses of ever
23	Tenses contrasted: pres simple / past simple / past progressive	Progressive and simple forms in the past tense	Verb tenses: explain the use of the verbs
24	Concessives: even though / even so / in spite of. The preposition 'in spite of' is required before the -ing form of the verb. We use these expressions when we qualify what we said with something which is opposite to what is expected or in meaning. eg We went cycling even though it was raining.	Concessive conjunctions (Common Errors)	1) Conjunctions (Common Errors) 2) Conjunctions (Common Errors)
25	Verb complementation: verb + -ing / to inf Here after the verb keep on we use the -ing form of the verb. eg He just kept on talking regardless of interruptions.	Verb complementation : verb + -ing / to + inf	1) verb + -ing / to + inf 2) verb + -ing / to + inf
26	Type 3 conditional: verb forms in if clauses. The past perfect is used in the if clause and the perfect infinitive (would not have been) in the main clause.	1) Main types of conditionals 2) Conditional clauses	Conditional clauses
27	Premodifiers + indefinite noun phrase: use of 'quite' as a premodifier. Here 'quite' is used before the indefinite article. eg quite a boring lesson, it was quite an interesting film	Premodifying intensifiers - quite
28	Tenses + passive: pres perf / pres prog / past simple. Here the passive is used in the simple past.	1) Using the passive 2) the passive (Common Errors)	1) the passive (Common Errors) 2) the passive (Common Errors) 3) Verb exercise (the passive)
29	Tenses: SV agreement with negative + simple / progressive contrasts. The Olympic Games is plural, so the verb must show agreement. ('was' is singular); 'were taking place' has number agreement, but this is not how the past progressive should be used, so the past simple is correct.	Progressive and simple forms in the past tense	Subject-verb agreement
30	Verb complementation: want + to inf. The verb 'want' is followed by to + infinitive. eg I want to leave now.	Verb complementation : verb + -ing / to + inf	1) verb + -ing / to + inf (Mind Your Grammar) 2) verb + -ing / to + inf
31	Quantifiers - (countable v uncountable) little / few/ a little / a few. When the indefinite article is used, there is a positive meaning, without it a negative meaning. eg 'There is little milk left' (=not much) 'There is a little milk' (=some milk).	little / a little / few / a few as quantifiers	little / a little / few / a few as quantifiers
32	Verb complementation: manage + to inf. The verb 'manage' is followed by to + infinitive. eg We managed to finish in time..	Verb complementation : verb + -ing / to + inf	1) verb + -ing / to + inf (Mind Your Grammar) 2) verb + -ing / to + inf
33	Relative pronouns: which / when / where / what 'when' is used here as a relative pronoun referring to time. eg The first time when we were flooded there was only a little water.	1) Relative clauses 2) Defining, Non-defining 3) Examples of defining/non-defining 4) Relative pronouns 5) That, who, whom 6) Verb tesnses	1) Relative clauses 2) Relative pronouns (Mind Your Grammar)
34	Past tenses: past simple / perfect infinitive / would for 'future in the past'. The auxiliary 'would' is sometimes used with reference to past time as a sort of 'past' form of will. eg I had no idea then that we would never meet again.	1) Main uses of 'would' 2) Other uses of 'would'	Should or would?
35	Auxiliaries: should + infinitive. 'should is used to say what we think is the right or best thing to do. eg It looks like it's going to rain - you should take the umbrella with you.	Main uses of 'should'	Should or would?
36	Contrasts for be + to inf / would / past prog: the verb be + to infinitive is used to speak of arranged or scheduled events. eg We were to have the meeting this morning but it had to be postponed.	The verb to be + infinitive
37	Comparatives: time / place - irregular comparatives. This is a reference to time - 'further' is an irregular comparative for 'far' and is used for distance of places.	Formation of comparatives
38	Prepositions of relative position and inclusion: among / against. Use among with reference to a group. eg He is the first among the students in my class to win a prize.	Prepositions of relative position and inclusion (among / against / between)	1) Prepositions proof reading exercises 2) Prepositions exercises
39	Relative clauses: defining / non-defining clauses, use of that / which / what. The pronoun 'that' is used with defining clauses. 'what' is used to make noun clauses. eg The police have caught the the man that stole my bag. (= defining) Jim Brown, who has always been complaining about the job, has resigned. (= non-defining) I don't care about what you want. (= noun clause)	1) Relative clauses: defining and non-defining (Mind Your Grammar) 2) Relative clauses	1) Relative pronouns (Mind Your Grammar) 2) Relative clauses
40	Preposition + reflexive: between themselves'. 'between' is used with 2 parties, so the reflexive pronoun is plural. eg Don't show this to anyone else - it's just between ourselves.	Preposition + reflexive pronoun	1) Prepositions proof reading exercises 2) Prepositions exercises
41	Passive or active voice? Here the passive is used (= to be accommodated) eg We were accommodated very comfortably in the university lodging house.	1) Using the passive voice (Common Errors) 2) The passive	1) Using the passive voice (Common Errors) 2) Using the passive voice (Common Errors) 3) Passive or active voice?
42	Verb complementation: succeed + prep + -ing. Some common verbs are often used in this pattern. eg He insisted on paying for the whole bill.	Verb complementation : verb + -ing / to + inf	1) verb + -ing / to + inf (Mind Your Grammar) 2) Verb complementation : verb + -ing / to + inf
43	There or it? Use 'it' to refer back to something, or for forward reference to represent something abstract such as 'the weather'. Use 'there' to show something exists. eg There's some insect in my soup - it's still alive. It looks like there will be some snow. They predict that it's going to rain.	There or it?	1)There or it? (Mind Your Grammar) 2) There or it? 3) There or it?
44	Verb complementation: to + infinitive / -ing / perfect infinitive. Some verbs can be used with different meanings in the patterns verb + to + infinitive or verb + -ing. eg He went on to talk about black holes. He went on talking without stopping for 2 hours.	1) Infinitive or -ing form: different meanings (Mind Your Grammar) 2) Infinitive or -ing form: different meanings	1) Infinitive or -ing form: different meanings 2) Infinitive or -ing form: different meanings (Mind Your Grammar)
45	Relative pronouns who / which / that plus tense (past perfect) eg We wondered who had eaten all the cakes.	1) The Past Perfect 2) Relative pronouns 3) Pronouns 4) Relative clauses	1) Relative pronouns (Common Errors) 2) Relative pronouns (Common Errors) 3) Relative pronouns (Common Errors) 4) Relative clauses
46	Type 3 conditional: verb forms in 'if' clauses. In this type of conditional the past perfect is used in the 'if' clause, and the perfect infinitive (auxiliary + have + past participle) is used in the main clause. eg I he had not eaten all the cream cakes, he would have felt better.	1) Main types of conditionals 2) Conditional clauses	Conditional clauses
47	Type 3 conditional (passive): perfect infinitive verb form in main clause. The perfect infinitive (auxiliary + have + past participle) is used in the main clause in this type of conditional. eg If bill had come, the cakes would all have been eaten.	1) Main types of conditions (Mind Your Grammar) 2) Conditional clauses	Conditional clauses
48	Prepositional phrases: preposition + possessive / reflexive. There are many common prepositional phrases with prepositions such as 'by', 'on' or 'to' etc. eg He went out on his own. She did it all by herself.	1) Preposition + reflexive pronoun 2) Prepositional phrases	1) Prepositions proof reading exercises 2) Prepositions exercises
49	Passive or active voice? Here the passive is used (= to be rembered) eg He will always be remembered for his achievements in sport.	1) Using the passive voice (Common Errors) 2) The passive	1) Using the passive voice (Common Errors) 2) Using the passive voice (Common Errors) 3) Passive or active voice?
50	Would + be: some uses of would. This is sometimes called the 'future in the past' as it used similarly to 'will' but with a past time reference. eg I did not know then, but it was the last time we would be together. (I wonder when we will be together again).	1) Main uses of would 2) Other uses of would	Should or would?