Grammar Reviewer for the DOST Exam
Grammar questions in the DOST-SEI Undergraduate Scholarship Examination check how well you use English correctly: choosing the right verb, spotting the error in a sentence, and putting words in an order that makes sense. This free DOST grammar reviewer covers both grammar and syntax, the rules for how words and phrases are arranged to form clear sentences.
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Grammar Practice Test
This Grammar Practice Test is made up of multiple-choice questions on English grammar and syntax, modeled on the Language and Literature items of the DOST-SEI exam. You’ll find questions on subject-verb agreement, verb tenses, pronouns, modifiers, parallel structure, and sentence construction.
You decide how long the test is. Choose how many questions you want to answer, then work through them at your own pace. Start with a short set to warm up, and take a longer one when you want a real workout before exam day.
Start the quiz below and find out which grammar rules you’ve already mastered.
Grammar Quiz
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What’s covered
Coverage of the Grammar Test
Grammar items in the exam test rules you have been studying since elementary and high school. These are the main topics to review, each with a quick example of a correct and an incorrect sentence:
Subject-Verb Agreement
A verb must agree with its subject in number, even when other words come between them.
Correct: The list of requirements is on the bulletin board.
Incorrect: The list of requirements are on the bulletin board.
Verb Tenses
Use the time clues in a sentence to choose the right tense, and don’t switch tenses without a reason.
Correct: Yesterday, he walked to school and took the bus home.
Incorrect: Yesterday, he walked to school and takes the bus home.
Pronoun Case and Agreement
Use object pronouns after prepositions, and make every pronoun agree with the noun it replaces.
Correct: The award was given to Ana and me.
Incorrect: The award was given to Ana and I.
Modifiers
Place describing words and phrases right next to the word they describe, so the meaning stays clear.
Correct: While I was walking to school, the rain soaked my shoes.
Incorrect: Walking to school, my shoes got soaked by the rain.
Parallel Structure
Items in a list or a comparison should share the same grammatical form.
Correct: She enjoys reading, writing, and swimming.
Incorrect: She enjoys reading, writing, and to swim.
Fragments and Run-on Sentences
Every sentence needs a complete thought, and two complete thoughts need proper punctuation or a connecting word.
Correct: The exam was difficult, but I finished on time.
Incorrect: The exam was difficult, I finished on time.
Prepositions and Idioms
Many words are always paired with a certain preposition, and the wrong one makes a sentence incorrect.
Correct: He is interested in robotics.
Incorrect: He is interested on robotics.
Word Order and Syntax
English follows a usual order for subjects, verbs, objects, and describing words, including the order of adjectives.
Correct: She bought a beautiful old wooden table.
Incorrect: She bought a wooden old beautiful table.
Answering tips
Tips for Answering Grammar Questions
1. Find the true subject.
Cross out phrases like “of the students” or “in the box” to see which noun the verb must agree with.
2. Look for time clues.
Words such as yesterday, since, already, and by next year tell you which tense the sentence needs.
3. Check every item in a list.
When you see a series or a comparison, make sure all of its parts share the same form.
4. Ask who is doing the action.
If a sentence starts with a describing phrase, the noun right after the comma must be the one doing that action.
5. Trust the rule over the sound.
A sentence can sound natural and still be wrong. When you’re unsure, apply the grammar rule instead of going by ear.
6. Eliminate, then compare.
Rule out choices that create a new error, then pick the clearest and most concise answer that is still correct.
Study guide
Why Grammar Matters in the DOST-SEI Exam
English is the language of most college textbooks, laboratory manuals, and research papers in the Philippines, especially in science and engineering programs. The DOST-SEI exam includes language items because future scholars need to understand complex instructions accurately and explain their ideas clearly.
Grammar questions can also be some of the quickest points you earn in Part I. Once you know the rules, many items take only a few seconds to answer, which leaves more time for the mechanical, spatial, and verbal reasoning items in the same 45-minute part.
Understanding Syntax: How Sentences Are Built
Syntax is the arrangement of words and phrases into sentences. Most English sentences follow one of five basic patterns. Knowing them helps you spot sentences that are incomplete or out of order.
Subject + Verb
Birds fly.
Subject + Verb + Direct Object
Maria reads novels.
Subject + Linking Verb + Complement
The test seems difficult.
Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object
The teacher gave us a reviewer.
Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Object Complement
The class elected Paolo president.
When an answer choice breaks one of these patterns, such as a sentence with no main verb, it is usually the wrong answer.
Common Grammar Mistakes Made by Examinees
Many examinees lose points on grammar not because the rules are hard, but because they read too quickly. These are the mistakes that come up most often:
- Making the verb agree with the nearest noun instead of the real subject.
- Shifting from past to present tense in the middle of a sentence.
- Using “I” after a preposition, as in “between you and I.”
- Mixing up its and it’s, their and there, or your and you’re.
- Using “less” with things you can count instead of “fewer.”
- Joining two complete sentences with only a comma.
Most of these errors are easy to fix once you learn to notice them, and that is exactly what regular practice trains you to do.
How to Review Grammar Effectively
Grammar improves fastest with short, regular practice rather than long cramming sessions.
To make your review count:
- Study one grammar rule at a time, then answer practice questions on it right away.
- Keep a list of the mistakes you make most often and review it before each session.
- Read English texts every day, such as news articles, science features, and short stories.
- Write a short paragraph each day and check it against the rules you’ve studied.
- Take this practice test again with more questions as your score improves.
- Learn the reason behind every correct answer, not just the answer itself.
The goal is to make the rules automatic, so you can recognize errors quickly even under time pressure.
Test-Taking Strategies for Grammar Items
On exam day, use this routine for each grammar question:
- Read the entire sentence before looking at the choices.
- Identify what the item is testing: agreement, tense, pronoun, modifier, or structure.
- Check the words around the blank or underlined part, not just the part itself.
- Read the sentence again with your chosen answer to make sure it is complete and clear.
- If an item takes too long, mark it and come back once you have answered the rest.
Building Confidence in English Grammar
Many students feel nervous about English because they worry about making mistakes. The good news is that the DOST-SEI exam tests the same core rules again and again. You don’t need to know every exception in the language. You need a solid grasp of agreement, tenses, pronouns, modifiers, and sentence structure.
Every practice question you answer makes these rules more familiar. With steady review and careful reading, you can turn grammar into one of your strongest areas and improve your chances of earning a DOST scholarship.
Final Reminders
Grammar questions reward careful reading. Find the subject, check the tense, and make sure every sentence is complete and clear before you choose your answer.
More Language and Literature practice tests
TOPNOTCHER PH is an independent reviewer website, not affiliated with the Department of Science and Technology or DOST-SEI. Practice questions are for review only and are not actual exam questions.