PTE Grammar Tips for Thai Students

Master PTE grammar with these targeted tips for Thai students—improve your sentence structure, verb use, and punctuation for a higher score.

Why Grammar Matters in the PTE Academic Exam

Grammar plays a critical role in all four sections of the PTE Academic test—especially Speaking and Writing. For Thai students, common grammar challenges stem from differences between Thai and English grammar systems. Thai lacks verb tenses, articles, and subject-verb agreement rules, which often leads to errors when speaking or writing in English.

Common Grammar Mistakes Thai Students Make

1. Verb Tenses Confusion

Thai verbs do not conjugate based on time, so students often mix up past, present, and future tenses.

Incorrect: Yesterday, I go to the market.
Correct: Yesterday, I went to the market.

Tip: Focus on simple past, present perfect, and future tenses. Use signal words like yesterday, already, will, since, for, and yet to guide verb tense choice.

2. Articles (a, an, the)

Thai language has no equivalent articles, making them one of the most common error sources.

Incorrect: I saw elephant.
Correct: I saw an elephant.

Tip: Learn the basic rules:

Use a/an for non-specific, singular nouns.
Use the for something specific or previously mentioned.
Don’t use articles with plural general nouns (Dogs are friendly).

3. Subject-Verb Agreement

In Thai, the verb doesn’t change with the subject, but in English, it must.

Incorrect: She go to school every day.
Correct: She goes to school every day.

Tip: With singular third-person subjects (he, she, it), add -s to the verb in the present tense.

4. Preposition Misuse

Prepositions don’t always translate directly, causing confusion.

Incorrect: I arrived to the station.
Correct: I arrived at the station.

Tip: Memorize common preposition phrases:

arrive at (a place)
good at (something)
interested in
depend on

5. Omission of Plural -s

Thai does not mark plural nouns with -s, so learners often forget this.

Incorrect: I have three cat.
Correct: I have three cats.

Tip: Practice listening and reading exercises that emphasize plural forms.

6. Misplaced Adverbs

Thai sentence structures differ from English, leading to adverb placement issues.

Incorrect: She every day goes to school.
Correct: She goes to school every day.

Tip: Most adverbs of frequency (always, often, never) go before the main verb but after the verb to be.

7. Overuse of Simple Sentences

Many Thai students rely on basic sentence patterns, limiting their fluency and coherence scores.

Incorrect: I study English. I want to go abroad.
Correct: I study English because I want to go abroad.

Tip: Use connectors like because, although, so that, in addition, however, and therefore.

Grammar Strategies for PTE Success

Improve Through Daily Reading

Expose yourself to correct grammar in context by reading English articles, short stories, or PTE sample passages. Note sentence patterns and punctuation.

Practice Sentence Transformation

Transform simple sentences into complex or compound ones:

Simple: He is tired.
Compound: He is tired, but he continues working.
Complex: Although he is tired, he continues working.

This helps in Writing and Speaking tasks, where grammar variety boosts scores.

Use PTE Writing Prompts for Practice

Write responses to actual PTE essay and summarize written text prompts. Then check for:

Tense consistency
Subject-verb agreement
Article usage
Sentence variety

Free tools like Grammarly or AI writing assistants can help spot grammar errors.

Record and Self-Evaluate Spoken Responses

Use apps to record your Read Aloud or Describe Image responses. Focus on:

Sentence structure
Clear subject-verb-object arrangement
Accurate tenses

Play back your recording and compare it to sample answers.

Grammar in PTE Speaking: What to Watch For

1. Read Aloud

Practice intonation and punctuation. For example, pause at commas and periods to reflect sentence structure.

2. Repeat Sentence

Repeat exactly what you hear, including correct grammar. Train your ear by listening to grammatically accurate materials.

3. Describe Image & Retell Lecture

Structure your response:

Introduction: “This image illustrates…”
Details: Use proper verb tenses and prepositions.
Conclusion: “Overall, it can be concluded that…”

4. Answer Short Question

Although these require brief responses, correct grammar still matters—use full sentences when practicing.

Grammar in PTE Writing: Boost Your Score with Accuracy

1. Summarize Written Text

You must produce one sentence. This requires advanced grammar skills like:

Relative clauses (which, who, that)
Conjunctions (while, although, because)
Passive voice

Example:

The article discusses climate change. It shows rising temperatures.
Correct: The article, which discusses climate change, shows that temperatures are rising.

2. Essay Writing

Use a clear structure:

Introduction: General statement + thesis (no grammar errors)
Body: Topic sentence + explanation + example (use cohesive devices)
Conclusion: Summarize with correct verb tense and sentence structure

Tip: Use the “PEEL” method (Point, Explain, Example, Link) with correct grammar for each paragraph.

Sample Grammar Exercises for Thai Learners

Fill in the Blanks:

He __________ (go) to school every day.
I saw __________ elephant in the jungle.
They are interested __________ playing football.
She __________ (be) a good student.

Rewrite Sentences:

Incorrect: She go to market.
Correct: ______________________
Incorrect: I have one brothers.
Correct: ______________________

Tools Thai Students Can Use to Improve Grammar

Grammarly: Detects grammar mistakes in writing
BBC Learning English Grammar: Structured grammar lessons
Duolingo English Course: Grammar through interactive practice
PTE Practice Platforms: Focused grammar exercises tied to real test questions
YouTube Channels: Like Speak English with Mr. Duncan or BBC Learning English

Final Grammar Tips for Thai PTE Aspirants

Master the Basics: Focus on tense, articles, and agreement first.
Practice in Context: Avoid isolated grammar drills—use writing and speaking tasks.
Feedback Matters: Get corrections from teachers, peers, or apps.
Don’t Translate Directly: English and Thai structures differ significantly.
Daily Exposure: Read, write, speak, and listen to English as much as possible.

Conclusion

For Thai students aiming for high scores in the PTE Academic, grammar must become second nature. By addressing key problem areas—verb tenses, articles, and sentence structure—you’ll not only improve your accuracy but also your confidence in all test sections. Consistent practice, feedback, and smart tools will help you gain the fluency and grammatical control needed to achieve your PTE goals.