Lesson 1
Language Proficiency
In This Lesson
1. Parts of Speech
Understanding the eight parts of speech is fundamental to mastering English grammar.
Noun
A word that names a person, place, thing, or idea.
Examples: teacher, Manila, book, freedom
Verb
A word that expresses action or state of being.
Examples: run, write, is, become
Adjective
A word that describes or modifies a noun.
Examples: beautiful, tall, Filipino, three
Adverb
A word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
Examples: quickly, very, carefully, always
Pronoun
A word that replaces a noun.
Examples: he, she, it, they, we
Preposition
A word that shows the relationship between a noun and other words.
Examples: in, on, at, with, from
Conjunction
A word that connects words, phrases, or clauses.
Examples: and, but, or, because, although
Interjection
A word that expresses strong emotion.
Examples: Wow! Ouch! Hey! Alas!
2. Subject-Verb Agreement
The subject and verb must agree in number (singular or plural).
Basic Rules
- • Singular subject + singular verb: The student studies hard.
- • Plural subject + plural verb: The students study hard.
- • Compound subjects with "and": Maria and Juan are friends. (plural verb)
- • Compound subjects with "or/nor": Either the teacher or the students are coming.
Special Cases
- • Indefinite pronouns (everyone, nobody, each): Everyone is invited.
- • Collective nouns: The team is winning. / The team are arguing among themselves.
- • Words between subject and verb: The box of chocolates is on the table.
- • Inverted sentences: Here comes the bus. / There are many students.
3. Verb Tenses
Verb tenses indicate when an action takes place.
| Tense | Example | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | I write. | Habits, facts, routines |
| Present Progressive | I am writing. | Action happening now |
| Simple Past | I wrote. | Completed action in past |
| Past Progressive | I was writing. | Ongoing past action |
| Simple Future | I will write. | Future action |
| Present Perfect | I have written. | Past action with present relevance |
4. Reading Comprehension
Reading comprehension tests your ability to understand, analyze, and interpret written passages.
Reading Strategies
- Preview the questions first - Know what to look for before reading.
- Skim the passage - Get the main idea quickly.
- Identify the main idea - Usually in the first or last paragraph.
- Look for supporting details - Facts, examples, and evidence.
- Use context clues - Figure out unfamiliar words from surrounding text.
- Watch for signal words - "however," "therefore," "in addition," etc.
Types of Questions
- • Main Idea: What is the passage mainly about?
- • Detail Questions: According to the passage, what/when/where/who...?
- • Inference: What can be inferred from the passage?
- • Vocabulary: In context, the word "_____" means...
- • Author's Purpose: Why did the author write this passage?
- • Tone: What is the author's attitude toward the subject?
5. Filipino Grammar
The PUPCET also tests Filipino language proficiency, including grammar and vocabulary.
Bahagi ng Pananalita (Parts of Speech)
Pangngalan (Noun)
Tao, bagay, lugar, hayop, pangyayari
Pandiwa (Verb)
Nagpapahayag ng kilos o galaw
Pang-uri (Adjective)
Naglalarawan ng pangngalan
Pang-abay (Adverb)
Naglalarawan ng pandiwa
Panghalip (Pronoun)
Pamalit sa pangngalan
Pangatnig (Conjunction)
Nag-uugnay ng mga salita
Aspekto ng Pandiwa (Verb Aspects)
- • Naganap (Past/Completed): kumain, nagluto, nagbasa
- • Nagaganap (Present/Ongoing): kumakain, nagluluto, nagbabasa
- • Magaganap (Future/Will happen): kakain, magluluto, magbabasa
- • Pawatas (Infinitive): kumain, magluto, magbasa
6. Vocabulary Building
A strong vocabulary helps in both reading comprehension and language proficiency.
Context Clues
- • Definition clues: The word is defined in the sentence itself.
- • Synonym clues: A similar word is used nearby.
- • Antonym clues: An opposite word provides contrast.
- • Example clues: Examples help clarify meaning.
- • Inference clues: The meaning can be inferred from the context.
Common Word Roots
PUPCET Language Tips
- ✓Read daily - newspapers, articles, and books improve comprehension.
- ✓Practice grammar exercises - identify errors in sentences.
- ✓Learn new words - aim for 5-10 new vocabulary words per day.
- ✓Review Filipino grammar - don't neglect the Filipino section.