An introduction to Primary 5 English Grammar MCQ
As students progress into Primary 5 English Grammar, they encounter more complex language rules and advanced sentence structures compared to earlier years. Concepts such as present perfect tense, perfect continuous tense, and sophisticated verb patterns are now heavily tested — especially in the Primary 5 English Grammar MCQ section of school exams.
Because Grammar MCQs require precision, many pupils lose marks not due to lack of knowledge, but due to misapplication of rules.
In this guide, we highlight 5 common Primary 5 English Grammar MCQ mistakes and explain how to avoid them effectively.
For structured and exam-focused grammar training, explore our Primary 5 English tuition programme, where grammar concepts are broken down clearly with weekly targeted practice.
Common mistake 1
A common mistake in Primary 5 English Grammar MCQ questions is spotting the keyword “now” and immediately choosing the present or present continuous tense.
However, the present continuous tense does not fully answer the question. The answers for Primary 5 English grammar MCQ questions should be specific (clear and exact).
In this case, Tom started jogging from 5 weeks ago until now. This indicates an activity that started in the past and is still continuing till now.
As such, using the present perfect continuous tense is the most accurate option.
Common Mistake 2
Another frequent error in Primary 5 English Grammar MCQ is identifying the word “to” and immediately selecting the base form of the verb.
At Primary 5 level, pupils must understand advanced verb patterns.
For Primary 5 grammar, there are additional verb patterns that pupils should be aware of.
Looked forward to means to be excited that something was going to happen.
Since something was going to happen, the action was ongoing then which means the answer should be in the continuous form (-ing).
Targeted grammar drills in our specialised Primary 5 English tuition help pupils recognise these commonly tested patterns.
Common Mistake 3
This is one of the most common Primary 5 English Grammar MCQ traps. Pupils often focus on the subject nearest to the blank instead of identifying the true subject of the sentence.
In this case, pupils often identify Sandy as the keyword and select the answer which has a singular verb.
This is a classic exam trap frequently practised in our Primary 5 English tuition lessons to strengthen subject-verb agreement accuracy.
The question is referring to those who are decorating the hall. In this case, it refers to all the pupils, not Sandy.
Conjunctions like except for are not part of the main information in the sentence. Rather, they are additional information that serves as distractors to test a pupil’s grammatical knowledge.
Common Mistake 4
Another common mistake that pupils make is to assume that the answer is in the past tense since the sentence is written in the past tense.
However, Primary 5 English Grammar MCQ often tests verb patterns such as =>Verbs such as see, hear, watched + object + infinitive
In this case, we use the infinitive fall (the base form) to emphasize the whole event or action that the onlookers saw.
Common Mistake 5
Some pupils do assume that the answer should be in the present tense since the blank is in a line of speech which is typically written in the present tense.
It is important to note that the action is ongoing as Nina’s brother was continuing to ask her the question then.
This means that the answer should be in the present perfect tense to show an action that started in the past and is continuing.
Recognising time relationships is key to scoring well in Primary 5 English Grammar MCQ questions.
Conclusion: How to Improve Primary 5 English Grammar MCQ Scores
Mastering Primary 5 English Grammar MCQ requires:
- Strong understanding of grammar rules
- Awareness of common exam traps
- Familiarity with tested verb patterns
- Consistent timed practice
With systematic correction and structured drills, pupils can significantly improve their grammar accuracy and overall English results.
Our Primary 5 English and Writing classes cover grammar, comprehension, and composition in a balanced, exam-focused format — helping students build confidence before entering Primary 6.
