Language Proficiency

How to Answer the Language Proficiency Test

• Learn to spot common grammatical errors.
• Check for pronoun-antecedent agreement.
• Identify the topic sentence of the paragraph.
• Use the Divide and Conquer Strategy.
• Take advantage of context clues.
• Take note of the time allotted per test.

Review of Language Proficiency

• Pronouns
• Normal and Inverted Word Order
• Conditional Statements
• Direct and Indirect Speech
• Verbs
• Verbals
• Modals
• Adjective and Adverb
• Dangling Modifier
• Misplaced Modifier
• Squinting Modifier
• Faulty Comparison
• Faulty Parallelism
• Sentence Fragment
• Comma Splice
• Capitalization
• Wordiness

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Pronoun agreement errors are as common as noun-verb agreement errors. The number of a pronoun must agree with its antecedent.

Example:

• Ajax entered the River Plate while the rest trailed behind ~~them~~ him.

Change of Pronoun Subjects

Pronouns are classified into three grammatical persons: first, second, and third-person points of view.

Example:

• They were working on the project together but ~~he~~ they suddenly stopped.

Wrong Pronoun

• Given a choice of “who'“, “which”, or “that”, use “who” when the antecedent is a single human being or a group of individuals.

• Use “which” for in animate nouns or subjects.

• “That” or things, but it can also be used for a class or type of person in oral conversations only.

  Example:

  • The crowd watched the arrival of Her Magesty’s Ship Queen Elizabeth ~~who~~ which had just returned from fighting in the war.

Ambiguous Pronoun Reference

A pronoun must agree in number and gender with its antecedent. When the sentence has more than one subject or noun, any pronoun used must have a clear reference. The noun that needs to be emphasized may be repeated in writing to make the context of a sentence clearer.

Examples:

Helena and Penny swam down the river, but ~~she~~ they (or Penny) got swept by the currents.

Normal and Inverted Word Order

The normal word order is subject then verb. However, sentences can have an inverted word order where the verb is before the subject. Such sentences are usually interrogative but can also be declarative in the form of conditional statements using “had” and “not.”

Examples:

• Is Bob going to buy a new laptop?
• Bob could have bought a new laptop had he not wasted his money.

Conditional Statements

These are sentences formed by a conditional clause and an independent clause that is the result of the condition. The conditional clause can start with “if” but also with verbs in the inverted word order. Meanwhile, the independent clause uses modals for its verbs

Examples:

• I could have bought Christmas gifts if I did not spend all of my recent salaries.
• Were it not for Marie’s sacrifice, Jeanne would not be able to defeat the villain.

Direct and Indirect Speech

• Direct speech is when the speaker in the sentence is directly quoted.

• Indirect speech is when the speaker is described to be speaking with the wording

  Examples:

  • The crowd yelled, “Hurry up!” to the last runner of the race.
  • The crowd yelled at the last runner of the race to hurry.

Verbs

• Each verb has a number, person, voice, and tense. A number is simply the singularity or plurality of a subject or noun.

• The three persons of a verb are first, second, and third.

• The voices are the active voice and the passive voice.

• The tenses of the verb show the time of its action or state of being.

  Examples:

  • The oil ~~have spilled~~ spilled onto the reefs.
  • Beldin finished his homework, worked on the chores and ~~was given~~ received his allowance.
  • The computer burst into flames and ~~dies~~ died.

Active and Passive Voice

• A verb’s active or passive voice is dependent on whether the subject is the actor of the verb or its recipient.

• Active voice is when the subjects dish out the action.

• Passive voice is when the subject is the recipient.

  Examples:

  • The dragon was slain by the hero and the princess was rescued.
  • The hero slew the dragon and rescued the princess.
  • We conducted a survey to determine if the hypothesis was true.
  • A survey was conducted to determine if the hypothesis was true.

Past Tense

Present Tense

Future Tense

Subject-Verb Agreement

A singular verb is used with a particular subject. A plural verb is used with a plural subject.

Examples:

• The ship sails to the horizon.
• The ships sail to the horizon.

Compound subjects joined by “and” require a plural verb unless issues refer to the same person or thing, are generally thought of together, or are accepted as one element.

Examples:

• The MRT and the LRT are in need of maintenance.
• Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich filling.

Singular subjects joined by “or” or “nor” require a singular verb. Plural subjects entered by “or” or “nor” need a plural verb. If two subject issues, one singular, and one plural, are connected by “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with the subject closer to it.

Examples:

• Juice or water satisfies my thirst.
• Neither the dogs nor the cat is willing to make the jump.
• Either the commanding officer or the soldiers were responsible for the massacre.

The words “some,” “few,” “many,” “both,” and “several” require plural verbs.

Examples:

• Several were barred from the courtroom.
• Both are attending the meeting.

When a modifying phrase follows a subject, the verb agrees with the issue, not the term's last word. Idioms beginning with “with,” “together with,” “along with,” “as well as,” “in addition to,” “accompanied by,” and “no less than” do change the number of the subject.

Examples:

• Ayano, accompanied by her teammates, was participating in the tournament.
• The animals, as well as the hunter, are trapped by the floods.

The verb in a relative clause whose subject is “who,” “which,” or “that” agrees with the antecedent of the relative pronoun.

Example:

• She wrote the note that was the cause of the argument.
• She wrote the notes that were the cause of the argument.
• I liked the person who was pleasant to me.
• I like the people who were nice to me.

Unusual word order does not affect agreement.

Examples:

• Here comes the witch to be burned at stake.
• Is there any burger left to serve?

The following words have no plural form and thus require singular verbs: rain, water, bread, soap, chalk, hair, work, advice, scenery, thunder, applause, baggage, furniture, money, jewelry, and poetry. When these nouns are preceded by “pieces of”, “kinds of”, etc., they are followed by plural verbs.

Examples:

• Such beautiful scenery is treasured by the inhabitants.
• These kinds of beautiful scenery are treasured by the inhabitants.

When a collective noun such as “family,” “group,” “class,” “club,” etc., is regarded as a unit, a singular verb is used. When it is viewed as individuals, a plural verb is required.

Examples:

• The clan judges the newcomer for violating the laws.
• The clan are deciding among themselves on the judgment for the newcomer.

The following are some nouns that are always used in the plural form and therefore require plural verbs: “goods,” “pliers,” “pants,” “trousers,” “ashes,” “glasses,” “pincers,” “clothes,” “thanks,” “scissors,” and “refreshments.” When preceded by “a pair of,” “a piece of,” etc., they are followed by singular verbs.

Examples:

• Only one piece of the scissors is held by Matoi.
• The scissors are extremely sharp and dangerous.

The following nouns, which are plural in form but singular in meaning, require singular verbs: “news,” “mumps,” “measles,” “civics,” “ethics,” “politics,” “economics,” “physics,” “mathematics,” “aeronautics,” “aerobics,” and “gymnastics.” When these nouns are preceded by “pieces of,” “kinds of,” etc., plural verbs are allowed.

Examples:

• Ethics is not to be violated.
• Those kinds of ethics are not meant to be followed.

The phrases “there is” and “there was” are followed by a singular complement. “There are” and “there were” are followed by a plural complement.

Examples:

• There was nothing we could do.
• There were many things we could have done.

The phrase “several” takes a plural verb. “The number of” takes a singular verb.

Examples:

• Several new players are angry at the game.
• The number of angry players is rising by the minute.

“All” is used as a pronoun denoting persons or objects takes a plural verb; “all” conveying abstract concepts takes a singular verb.

Examples:

• All they could afford was a bottle of water.
• All were able to drink bottled water.

Indefinite pronouns like “all,” “some,” and “fractions” may be either singular or plural. If they refer to one thing, they require singular verbs. They need plural verbs if they refer to more than one person or object.

Examples:

• Half of the new gaming consoles were already bought.
• Half of the pizza was already eaten.
• Some of the players are not like the new game.
• Some of the game’s story has been leaked already.

The pronoun “you,” whether singular or plural, always requires a plural verb.

Example:

• You are a nice person.

Adjectives used as nouns are considered plural.

Examples:

• The elderly are to be taken care of.
• The lazy were not paid at all.

The verb is singular when the subject is a title, a book's name, a clause, a quotation, or a group of words expressing a single idea.

Example:

• “Azure Warships” is the new trending video game.

An amount of money, interval of time, or a unit of measure takes a singular verb even when the form is plural. This is because nouns of quantity, distance, time, and amount are considered a unit. However, if the subject refers to individual bills or pieces, it can carry a plural verb.

Examples:

• Two meters is quite large for the jaws of predators.
• Two-meter-long jaws were discovered to belong to a new large predator.

Dangling Modifier

Dangling modifiers are phrases with nothing to modify or are modifying a subject that is unclear to the reader. They most frequently occur at the beginning of the sentence and are usually verbals: participles, gerunds, and infinitives.

Example:

~~Crashing at every opportunity,~~ Cornelio could not play. → Cornelio could not play the game, crashing at every opportunity.

Misplaced Modifier

Misplaced modifiers are modifiers that are improperly placed in a sentence and modify an unintended word. To avoid this, the modifier must be positioned beside or closest to the word it modifies.

Example:

The salaryman was fired by his boss sleeping on the job. → The salaryman, sleeping on the job, was fired by his boss.

Squinting Modifier

A squinting modifier can modify either the word/s before it or the word/s after it. A squinting modifier is almost similar to a misplaced modifier, in that the modified word is unclear.

Example:

Dogs that bark always annoy the neighborhood. → Dogs that always bark annoy the neighborhood.

More Information for UPCAT

1. Bernadette likes brewed black coffee but not tea. I like any.

   “Any” is wrong because, as a pronoun, it must refer to an uncountable number of objects. Since there were two given objects, the word “either” is appropriate.

2. Failing to anticipate correctly, the car crashed after the novice driver stepped on the brakes.

   “Failing to anticipate properly” should modify the driver, so it must be placed closer to the driver, not the car, to correct the misplaced modifier.

3. Life can get harsh, but people must persevere to achieve their dreams, not giving up on life.

   “Not giving up on life” is a modifier, but it refers to “dreams,” which is inappropriate. It is better to be placed after “must” and rephrased as “not give up on life and.”

4. History students did dig deeper into the available sources to create the missing narrative of the inarticulate.

   The sentence indicates that the action is essential and a requirement, so “did” is wrong. “Must” is the better choice instead.

5. Superheroes must have a tragic backstory sending a message that they chose to be heroes despite the suffering they experience.

   “Sending” is a gerund, but the infinitive form “to send” fits better in the sentence. The sentence has an objective, so an infinitive fulfills this role.

6. The researchers conducted numerous studies to determine which between the two ointments is best for relieving muscle pains.

   “Is best” is wrong because only two objects are being compared in the sentence. The correct answer should be “is better.”

7. Despite the best efforts from environmental groups, to cut down the forest was approved by the local government.

   @@Verbal@@

   The infinitive “to cut” should be changed to the gerund form “cutting” because it is a direct object in the sentence.

8. All of the flour in the jar could be used by our mom in baking the cake yesterday.

   @@Modal@@

   The error is in the use of modal. “Could” is the wrong modal since it indicates multiple possibilities, but the sentence specifies an actor, a time, and an object.

9. Due to his truancy in practice, his football skill is far better than other players in the National Football League.

   @@Negation@@

   The error is in negation. “Due” suggests an adverse effect, but the following clause is positive.

   10. coquettish lady

   @@flirty@@

   Coquettish means to act sexually to get the attention of a man.

   11. enigmatic figure

   @@inscrutable@@

   Enigmatic is the same as mysterious or unknowable.

   12. to the boondocks

   @@countryside@@

   Boondocks are placed outside the city, close to the forests and the mountains. A frontier is a line or border separating two countries. A tribe is a group of people, not a place. Rural is too vague as it just means a faraway place not close enough to be a synonym to boondocks.

   13. precocious child

   @@gifted@@

   Precocious means someone more mature than or above their own age group due to possessing qualities of being older such as being smarter.

   14. feeling soporific

   @@vigorous@@

   Soporific means feeling sleepy or complete due to something. Vigorous which is feeling active and energetic. Adamant is refusing to be persuaded or to change one’s mind. Chaotic is in a state of complete confusion and disorder.

   15. If it @@were@@ Yao’s choice, he would have pursued a career in archaeology.

   When between “it” and another noun, the verb should be plural so, “were” is the answer.

   16. The band members @@discussed their plan to succeed in the contest. Unfortunately, a heated argument started among them.@@

   @@“wanted to discuss a plan to win the contest; however, only a handful showed up.”@@

   It correctly uses the semicolon and the conjunction “however” to connect the two clauses, properly conveying the sentence’s meaning.

Language Proficiency

• Vocabulary
• Analogy
• Reading Comprehension
• Essay Writing

Vocabulary

• Use the Divide and Conquer Strategy.
• Use your knowledge of affixes and root words to determine the meaning of words.
• Use context clues to your advantage. Look for words that give a hint on what the answer could be.

Review of Vocabulary

• Root words
• Affixes
• Vocabulary and Spelling List
• Context Clues
• Analogy

Root Words

• Several English words can be traced back to Greek and Latin. Our knowledge of these roots can help us understand the meanings of words even before we look up their definitions in a dictionary.
• Roots and affixes are standard and unchanging. Once we know how to “dissect” words with these roots and affixes, it is pretty easy to derive their meanings.

Affixes

Affixes are added to existing words to form new words.

• Prefixes are added to the beginning of the word to alter or modify its meaning.
• Suffixes are added to the end of the word to change its meaning or the part of speech to which it belongs.

Verbs

Nouns

C

Adjectives

Context Clues

Analogy

• Create a bridge sentence to determine the relationship between the given pairs. Use this same relationship to choose your answer. If you cannot think of any relationship between the first pair, try thinking of a connection between the first and third words.
• Learn to spot the most essential or specific aspect of the relationship.
• Learn to spot the distracter. For example, the given pair may have a parent-offspring relationship, and a distracter can give an offspring-parent relationship.

Synonyms

• Synonyms are words that have the same meaning. Both words often belong to the same part of speech.
• Sometimes, a synonymous analogy pair shows an expression of how or what a word means.
• In some instances, the analogy pairs belong to different parts of speech. Though such couples require a different approach, the relationship expresses opposing concepts or meanings.

Definition

• ACADEMY: STUDY
• SOLDIER: COMBAT

Defining Characteristics

• REPTILE: COLD
• TRAFFIC: HINDRANCE

Degree of Intensity

• HATE: DESPISE
• ANNIHILATE: BREAK

Part to Whole or Whole to Part

• CROCODILE: REPTILE
• ELECTRONICS: COMPUTER

Function

• PIANO: MUSIC
• LIGHT: BULB

Manner

• RUN: TROT
• GORGE: EAT

Actor and Product

• CARPENTER: FURNITURE
• PROFESSOR: SYLLABUS

Actor and Tool/Object

• POLICE: HANDCUFFS
• SCULPTOR: MARBLE

Actor and Action

• PRESIDENT: LEAD
• LAWYER: ARGUE

Actor and Workplace

• JUDGE: COURT
• ATHLETE: GYM

Tool and Object It Acts Upon

• GUN: TRIGGER
• DOOR: KNOB

Cause and Effect or Effect and Cause

• TYPHOON: FLOOD

Time Sequence

• ATTENDANCE: DISMISSAL

Spatial Sequence

• BOW: AFT

Gender

• DUKE: DUCHESS

Age

• BUTTERFLY: CATERPILLAR

Symbol and Meaning

• DOVE: PEACE

Essay Writing

Take Note

• All test users use the essay to assess the test taker's ability in grammar, vocabulary, and organization of ideas.
• They focus less on your answer or stand on a particular question or topic. Instead, they want to know how well you can defend your solution or stand. Hence, it is not on the solution's what but on the why.
• Do not forget BOWEd: brainstorm, outline, write, and edit. Divide your time so that you can do all. Allocate more for the writing and the editing.

Reminders

• Read the directions carefully and follow them.
• The essay should include an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.
• Use the appropriate tone, style, and language, depending on what kind of essay they have to write.
• Write about what you know.
• Read or watch the news and to know about important issues and events.
• Before writing, you should brainstorm and outline. Note: Do not spend too much time on the outline; it should only be a guide for the actual writing.
• You should not include unrelated thoughts or points you won’t be able to develop in the essay.
• For an opinion piece, you should pick a side and defend it. Being neutral won’t make for a better essay; it will make for a weaker one.

Types of Essay Writing

1. Narrative Descriptive
2. Informative or Educational
3. Argumentative or Persuasive
4. Process
5. Compare and Contrast
6. Critical

More Tips

• Be aware of current issues and other significant events in history.
• Practice expressing an opinion on issues.
• Don’t think about being “safe” when writing your essay.
• Brainstorm.
• Read and understand the essay question carefully.
• Conceptualize an outline or a mind map of what you are about to write.
• Answer the question directly.
• Do not make lengthy introductions.
• If you are asked to write an opinionated essay, state your position at once.
• Support your arguments with facts or examples.
• Use simple words.
• Make sure that your essay is organized and focused.
• Make sure that your essay is coherent.
• Finish what you started.
• Check your essay for errors in grammar and usage.

What Essay Evaluators Look For

• Effectively and insightfully develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates outstanding critical thinking, using appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position;
• Is well organized and focused, demonstrating apparent coherence and smooth progression of ideas;
• Exhibits skillful use of language, using a varied, accurate, and apt vocabulary;
• Demonstrates meaningful variety in sentence structure;
• It is free of most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics.

More Information for ACET

1. praise his achievements

   Extol means to speak in high praise about something. Its synonym is laud.

2. Chalk: Calcium

   Table salt: Chlorine

   Chalk contains the element calcium. Chlorine is present in table salt.

3. Apprehend: Discharge

   Calumniate: Praise

   Apprehend and discharge are antonyms. Praise is the antonym of calumniating. Calumniate comes from the Latin word calumnia, which means to accuse a person. It is also related to the English word calumny, which means slander. Asperse and vilify are synonyms of calumniating. Gossip is not told.

4. Emilio Aguinaldo: First Republic

   Jose Laurel: Second Republic

   Emilio Aguinaldo was the only President of the First Philippine Republic, while Jose Laurel was the sole the President of the Second Philippines Republic.

5. Hen: Chick

   Vixen: Cub

   A hen is a female chicken. A chick is a young chicken.

   A vixen is a female fox. Cub is a term for a young fox.

6. Johannes Gutenberg: The printing press

   Charles Babbage: Mechanical computer

   Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. Charles Babbage invented the Analytical Engine, the first mechanical computer.

7. Adroit: Dexterous

   Arcadian: serene

   Adroit and dexterous are synonyms. Arcadian and serene are synonyms.

8. Gastroenterologists: Stomach

   Nephrologist: Kidneys

   Gastroenterologists specialize in treating diseases of the digestive system, including the stomach. The prefix gastro- comes from the Greek word gaster, which means stomach. The suffix -logist means someone who specializes in a sure thing. Nephrologists specialize in treating the kidneys. The prefix nephro- comes from the Greek word nephros, which means kidney.