DPT Admission Test English Syllabus

Which prepositions are used with points in time vs. days vs. months/years (at/on/in)?

Use 'at' for precise times (at 5 p.m.), 'on' for days/dates (on Monday), and 'in' for months, years, and longer periods (in June, in 2026).

What is the goal of a sentence correction question, and what should you check first?

To identify and fix grammatical errors. First check subject-verb agreement, verb tense, pronoun agreement, parallelism, and modifier placement.

What is a dangling modifier? Give a corrected example.

A dangling modifier is a descriptive phrase whose intended subject is missing or unclear. Incorrect: 'Walking home, the rain started.' Correct: 'Walking home, I felt the rain start.'

What is parallelism (parallel structure) in a sentence?

Using the same grammatical form for items in a list or series. Example: 'She likes reading, writing, and swimming' (all -ing forms).

What is the difference between a phrase and a clause?

A phrase is a group of words without a subject-verb pair; a clause contains a subject and a verb. Example phrase: 'in the morning'; clause: 'she sang'.

What is the difference between an independent and a dependent (subordinate) clause?

An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone; a dependent clause does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone. Example dependent: 'because it rained'.

What is a relative clause, and which words introduce it?

A relative (adjective) clause modifies a noun and is introduced by relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, that. Example: 'The man who called is here.'

What is a noun clause? Give an example.

A noun clause is a dependent clause that functions as a noun (subject, object, or complement). Example: 'What he said surprised me.'

What is the main use of a comma in a list, and what is the Oxford (serial) comma?

A comma separates items in a list. The Oxford comma is the comma placed before 'and' in the final item: 'apples, oranges, and bananas.'

When is a semicolon (;) used?

To join two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction, or to separate list items that contain commas. Example: 'I was tired; I went to bed.'

What is the function of a colon (:) in a sentence?

A colon introduces a list, explanation, or quotation after a complete independent clause. Example: 'She bought three items: bread, milk, and eggs.'

What is the difference between a possessive apostrophe and a contraction apostrophe?

A possessive apostrophe shows ownership (the dog's bone); a contraction apostrophe replaces omitted letters (don't = do not).

What is the difference between a synonym and an antonym?

A synonym is a word with the same or similar meaning (happy/joyful); an antonym is a word with the opposite meaning (happy/sad).

Give a synonym and an antonym for the word 'abundant'.

Synonym: plentiful (or ample). Antonym: scarce (or insufficient).

Give a synonym and an antonym for the word 'benevolent'.

Synonym: kind (or generous). Antonym: malevolent (or cruel).

What does it mean to determine a word's meaning 'in context'?

It means using surrounding words and sentences (context clues) to infer the intended meaning of a word, rather than relying only on its dictionary definition.

What are the main types of context clues used to find word meaning?

Definition/restatement, synonym, antonym/contrast, example, and inference from the general sense of the passage.

In the sentence 'The arid desert had no water for miles,' what does 'arid' mean, and which clue helps?

'Arid' means extremely dry. The clue is 'had no water for miles,' a contextual definition clue.

What is an analogy question, and what must you identify to solve it?

An analogy presents a pair of related words and asks you to find another pair with the same relationship. You must identify the relationship between the first pair (e.g., synonym, part-to-whole, cause-effect).

In the analogy 'Hot : Cold :: Up : ___', what is the answer and the relationship?

Down. The relationship is antonyms (opposites).

In the analogy 'Finger : Hand :: Leaf : ___', what is the answer and the relationship?

Tree (or branch). The relationship is part-to-whole.

What is the recommended first step when answering reading passage questions?

Skim the passage to grasp the main idea and structure, then read the questions, and finally scan back to the passage for specific details and evidence.

What is the difference between a 'detail' question and a 'main idea' question in reading comprehension?

A detail question asks about specific facts stated in the passage; a main idea question asks about the central point or overall message of the whole passage.

What is the 'main idea' of a passage, and where is it often found?

The main idea is the central point the author wants to convey. It is often found in the topic sentence, usually at the beginning or end of a paragraph, or in the title.

How do you distinguish the main idea from a supporting detail?

The main idea is broad and covers the whole passage; supporting details are specific facts, examples, or reasons that explain or prove the main idea.

What is an inference in reading comprehension?

An inference is a logical conclusion drawn from evidence in the text combined with reasoning, rather than a fact stated directly. It is 'reading between the lines.'

How should you verify an answer to an inference question?

Ensure the inference is supported by specific evidence in the passage and does not go beyond what the text logically implies; avoid answers that are too extreme or not based on the text.

What is the correct spelling: 'recieve' or 'receive', and what rule applies?

'Receive' is correct. The rule is 'i before e except after c,' so after 'c' it is 'ei'.

What is the correctly spelled word: 'definately', 'definatly', or 'definitely'?

'Definitely' is correct. A common error is spelling it with an 'a' (definately).

What is the difference between 'their', 'there', and 'they're'?

'Their' shows possession (their car); 'there' refers to a place or is a pronoun (over there); 'they're' is the contraction of 'they are'.

What is the difference between 'affect' and 'effect'?

'Affect' is usually a verb meaning to influence (it affects me); 'effect' is usually a noun meaning a result (the effect was great).

What is the difference between 'principal' and 'principle'?

'Principal' means the head of a school or 'main/most important'; 'principle' is a noun meaning a fundamental rule or belief.