The Duolingo English Test (DET) has emerged as a popular alternative to traditional language proficiency tests like the IELTS and TOEFL, especially due to its flexibility, accessibility, and fast results. Among its various sections, the Reading tasks evaluate not only comprehension but also a candidate’s grasp of grammar. Strong grammar skills are crucial for accurately understanding sentence structures, identifying correct usage, and demonstrating English proficiency.
In this blog, we’ll explore the most important grammar rules that test-takers should master for the Duolingo Reading tasks. These rules can significantly improve your ability to choose the correct responses and interpret written content efficiently.
Why Grammar Matters in Duolingo Reading Tasks
Unlike simple vocabulary recognition, grammar plays a fundamental role in how sentences convey meaning. The Duolingo Reading section includes tasks such as:
- Identifying real English words in a list (Read and Select)
- Completing sentences with missing words (Read and Complete)
- Highlighting the answer within a passage
To perform well in these tasks, one must understand the grammatical relationship between words, sentence structures, and the correct usage of tense, subject-verb agreement, and modifiers.
Let’s dive into the essential grammar rules that every test-taker should remember.
📌 1. Subject-Verb Agreement
This is one of the most basic yet most frequently tested grammatical elements. A singular subject requires a singular verb, while a plural subject needs a plural verb.
Examples:
- She walks to school. (Correct)
- They walks to school. (Incorrect)
Key Tips:
- Be cautious with collective nouns like “team” or “group.”
- Don’t be distracted by intervening phrases.
Explore more: Subject–verb agreement (Wikipedia)
📌 2. Verb Tenses and Consistency
Verb tenses indicate the time of action and need to remain consistent throughout a sentence or passage. Mixing tenses can confuse the reader and alter the intended meaning.
Examples:
- He studied hard and passes the test. (Incorrect)
- He studied hard and passed the test. (Correct)
Common Tenses to Master:
- Simple past
- Present perfect
- Past perfect
- Future
Wiki link: English verb tense (Wikipedia)
📌 3. Articles (A, An, The)
Articles define the specificity of nouns. While small, these words have a significant impact on meaning.
Rules:
- Use "a" before words that begin with a consonant sound (a dog).
- Use "an" before vowel sounds (an apple).
- Use "the" for specific items (the book you gave me).
Test Tip: Omitting or misusing articles can drastically change the meaning or grammaticality of a sentence.
More info: Articles in English grammar (Wikipedia)
📌 4. Prepositions
Prepositions indicate relationships in time, space, direction, and introduce objects. They are often tested in sentence completion tasks.
Common Prepositions:
- Time: at, on, in
- Place: under, between, next to
- Direction: to, into, onto
Examples:
- He arrived at 5 PM.
- She sat between her friends.
Wiki link: English prepositions (Wikipedia)
📌 5. Sentence Structure: Independent and Dependent Clauses
Understanding how to construct compound and complex sentences is crucial. A sentence must have at least one independent clause.
Examples:
- Although he was tired, he continued working. (Complex)
- He was tired, but he continued working. (Compound)
Errors like comma splices or run-on sentences are commonly penalized in written English and may cause confusion in reading tasks.
Learn more: Clause (grammar) (Wikipedia)
📌 6. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
A pronoun must agree in number and gender with its antecedent.
Incorrect: Every student must submit their homework.
Correct: Every student must submit his or her homework.
(However, modern English increasingly accepts the singular "they" for gender-neutral references.)
Relevant reading: Pronoun (Wikipedia)
📌 7. Modifiers and Word Order
Modifiers (adjectives, adverbs, phrases) must be placed close to the word they modify. Misplaced modifiers can lead to ambiguity or incorrect meaning.
Incorrect: She almost drove her kids to school every day.
Correct: She drove her kids to school almost every day.
Also, in English, word order is generally Subject-Verb-Object. Deviating from this can affect clarity.
More info: Modifier (grammar) (Wikipedia)
📌 8. Parallel Structure
When listing or pairing ideas, maintain the same grammatical form (e.g., all gerunds or all infinitives).
Incorrect: She likes swimming, to dance, and biking.
Correct: She likes swimming, dancing, and biking.
Duolingo reading tasks often hide subtle errors in parallelism. Spotting them gives you a significant edge.
Relevant article: Parallelism (grammar) (Wikipedia)
📌 9. Punctuation Rules
Punctuation marks help clarify meaning. In the DET reading tasks, correct punctuation can make the difference between a coherent sentence and a confusing one.
Essentials:
- Periods end declarative sentences.
- Commas separate elements in a list or clause.
- Semicolons join related independent clauses.
Example:
- Let’s eat, grandma. (Correct)
- Let’s eat grandma. (Incorrect and alarming!)
More on this: English punctuation (Wikipedia)
📌 10. Homophones and Commonly Confused Words
The DET Read and Select task may test your knowledge of words that sound similar but differ in meaning and spelling.
Examples:
- Their / There / They’re
- Your / You’re
- Affect / Effect
Quick Tip: Learn them in pairs or groups with examples.
Explore: Homophone (Wikipedia)
Pro Tips for Applying Grammar in Duolingo Reading Tasks
To maximize your grammar proficiency in Duolingo’s reading section:
- Read English newspapers or websites like BBC News or The Guardian to observe grammar in real context.
- Practice spotting errors in sample paragraphs.
- Use grammar-checking tools while writing and observe suggested corrections.
- Revisit foundational grammar resources like Purdue OWL or Grammarly’s grammar guide.
Final Thoughts
While vocabulary knowledge and reading fluency are essential for Duolingo’s Reading tasks, grammar rules provide the backbone that supports comprehension and accuracy. By mastering these 10 grammar fundamentals, you’ll gain the clarity and confidence to tackle even the most nuanced questions in the test.
Whether you're preparing for college admission, immigration, or job applications, a strong grammar foundation is key to acing the Duolingo English Test.
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Also Read:
Strategies for Completing Fill-in-the-Blank Questions in Duolingo
Common Sentence Patterns in Duolingo Reading Section