Video summary

PTE Fill in the Blanks: 19 Grammar Rules That Solve Every Question (2026)

Main summary

Key takeaways

Educational

Main Ideas & Lessons

  • The video teaches a set of 19 recurring grammar patterns/rules specifically for solving PTE Reading module fill-in-the-blank questions quickly.
  • The biggest performance issue described: test-takers guess based on sound/alike options, then fail because they don’t know the underlying patterns.
  • The method is to identify the grammar signals around the blank (nearby prepositions, articles, pronouns, verb forms, conjunctions, quantifiers, “which/that”, etc.) and use those signals to choose the correct option.
  • You don’t need fancy vocabulary—knowing patterns resolves most questions.
  • A “cheat sheet” is provided for quickly recognizing word types: noun, verb, adjective, adverb, gerund, prepositions.

Methodology / Step-by-Step Approach (As Taught)

A) Use Quick Word-Type Identification (Cheat Sheet)

  • Noun: names a person/place/thing/idea (often can be preceded by “the” or “a/an”).
  • Verb: shows action or state (has forms such as present/simple, past/ED, past participle / ED or -ing, depending on structure).
  • Adjective: modifies a noun; answers “what kind?” (often appears before the noun).
  • Adverb: modifies verbs/actions; commonly ends with -ly.
  • Gerund: -ing form used as a noun (e.g., “Swimming is fun.”).
  • Prepositions: connect ideas (e.g., in, on, at, of, for, to, with, by, about).

B) Apply 19 Grammar Rules to the Blank

Use the rule that matches the words immediately around the blank.

The 19 PTE Fill-in-the-Blank Grammar Rules

Verb-form Rules

  1. Blank after “to” → first form of verb (base verb)

    • Example: “plans to [base verb] …”
    • Not: to + -ing/-ed

  2. After modals (can/could/should/will/would/may/might/must) → first form

    • Example: “could [base verb] …”

  3. Blank after “has/have/had” → ED / past participle form

    • Example: “has [ED form] …”

  4. Blank after “was/were/is/are/be/been/being” → ED / past participle form

    • Also: if “by” appears after the blank → blank is ED form (passive constructions)

Noun / Article Rules

  1. After “a” or “an” → singular noun

    • Never plural: a/an + (singular noun)

  2. After “the” → noun (singular or plural allowed), but match subject–verb agreement

    • If the sentence verb ends with -s, noun is typically singular.
    • If the verb has no -s, noun is typically plural.
    • Example: “The findings suggest …” vs “The suggestion suggests …”

  3. Blank between “the” and “of” → noun

    • Pattern: the [noun] of …

  4. Pronoun “ownership words” before blank (its/their/his/her/my/our) → noun

    • Pattern: possessive + noun

  5. Blank between an article (a/an/the) and a noun → adjective

    • Example: “a good boy” / “the significant improvement”

  6. Blank after degree/superlative/intensifier words → adjective

    • Triggers: more, most, very, extremely, highly, increasingly
    • Example: “more accessible …”

  7. Blank that functions between verb cues → adverb (often -ly)

    • Trigger context: words like has/have/is/was/can/could + blank + verb
    • Choose the adverb that fits meaning (often ends in -ly)

Preposition Rules

  1. After prepositions (in/of/for/by/with/about) → noun or -ing form

    • Never first-form verb after a preposition.

  2. After “despite” → noun or -ing (NOT ED form)

    • Example: “despite receiving/fighting/resolving …”

  3. With prepositions, choose the word that naturally pairs with that preposition

    • “Natural pair” idea: depend on, result in, according to, in response to, etc.
    • If options are similar, select the common collocation.

Subject–Verb Agreement Rules (Focus on “Real Subject”)

  1. Match subject (singular/plural) to verb form

    • Singular subject → verb ends with -s
    • Plural subject → verb has no -s
    • Warning: the subject may not be the nearest noun after the verb.
    • Example: “The expansion of …” → expansion is singular.

  2. With “and/or” keep grammar type consistent

    • After and: the form before and after should match (similar structure/type).
      • Example: “boys and girls …”
    • After or: form stays the same, but meaning may contrast.
      • Example: “either play … or go …”

  3. After quantifiers many/several/few → noun plural (-s)

    • Example: “many boys”

  4. After quantifiers much/considerable/little → noun uncountable (no -s)

    • Example: “a considerable debate” / “much information”

  5. After “which” or “that” → verb

    • Use correct verb agreement:
      • singular subject → verb ends with -s
      • plural subject → verb has no -s
    • Example: “a policy which raises …” vs “policies which reduce …”

Example-Driven Application (What It Demonstrates)

The video uses passages where multiple rules appear within a single blank context, such as:

  • has + ED form
  • to + base verb
  • despite + -ing
  • was + adjective (e.g., “unable”)
  • could + adverb (-ly) + verb
  • the [noun] of structure
  • singular subject requires -s verb (e.g., “introduction … raises …”)
  • verb preceded by “be” typically needs an adverb (e.g., “must be carefully addressed”)

Speakers / Sources Featured

  • Primary speaker: Unnamed presenter/teacher on the PTE-focused YouTube channel (speaking directly to viewers).
  • Sources/organizations referenced:
    • LanguageAcademy.com.au (and its LA PTE exam practice app), mentioned as the platform for practice and feedback.

Original video