The three reporting areas of TEAS English: the conventions of standard English, using language effectively, and building vocabulary. Learn each rule, study the worked example, then test yourself.
How to use this guide
Each area below gives the core rules, a worked example, and two practice questions. The answers follow each practice set, so cover them and try the questions first. A 10-question mixed set at the end blends all three areas like the real exam, with a full answer key.
Areas covered: Conventions of Standard English · Knowledge of Language · Vocabulary Acquisition · 16 practice questions
1. Conventions of Standard English
agreement · punctuation · capitalization · sentences
Key concepts
Subject-verb agreement: singular subjects take singular verbs (“Physics is…”); ignore words that come between the subject and verb.
Pronoun-antecedent agreement: a pronoun matches its noun in number (“a student… he or she”; a collective noun like committee takes its).
Punctuation: a comma follows an introductory phrase; a semicolon joins two complete sentences; an apostrophe shows possession (“Sally's”) or a contraction (“it's” = it is).
Sentence types: simple (one clause), compound (two independent clauses), complex (one independent + one dependent). Avoid fragments and run-ons.
Key rules
its = possessive; it's = it is. | your/you're; their/there/they're.
Semicolon links two complete thoughts: “It rained; the game was canceled.”
Capitalize proper nouns (names, places, months) — not seasons or general subjects.
Worked example
Choose the correctly punctuated sentence: (a) “The paint is dry, I can hang the art.” (b) “The paint is dry; I can hang the art.”
Both parts are complete sentences.
Two complete sentences cannot be joined by a comma alone (a comma splice) — a semicolon is correct.
Correct: (b) “The paint is dry; I can hang the art.”
💡 Memory hook: FANBOYS glue sentences. For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So — put a comma before one when it joins two complete sentences. And it’s = it is (the apostrophe stands in for the missing letter).
Practice: Conventions of Standard English
1. Which sentence shows correct subject-verb agreement?
A. The list of items are on the desk.
B. The lists of items is on the desk.
C. The list of items is on the desk.
D. The items on the list is ready.
2. Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly?
A. The dog wagged it's tail.
B. The team celebrated its victory.
C. Its a beautiful day.
D. The childrens' coats are here.
Answers and working
1 → C. The subject is “list” (singular), so it takes “is”; “of items” is just a modifier.
2 → B. “Its” is the correct possessive; “it's” means “it is.”
2. Knowledge of Language
register · clarity · transitions · organization
Key concepts
Match register to the audience: formal writing avoids slang and contractions (“cannot” not “can't,” “children” not “kids”).
Write with clarity and concision — cut wordiness (“due to the fact that” → “because”).
Use transitions to connect ideas (however, therefore, for example, in addition).
Organize a paragraph with a topic sentence, supporting details, and a concluding sentence; every sentence should stay relevant.
Key rules
Formal = no slang, no contractions, precise word choice.
A transition sentence is a bridge between ideas — it doesn't add new evidence.
Remove any sentence that doesn't support the paragraph's main idea.
Worked example
Which is more appropriate for a formal report? (a) “The results were kinda surprising.” (b) “The results were unexpected.”
“Kinda” is slang and imprecise.
“Unexpected” is precise and formal.
Formal choice: (b) “The results were unexpected.”
💡 Memory hook: Dress for the occasion. Formal writing wears its Sunday best — full words instead of contractions and precise terms instead of slang (cannot, not can’t; children, not kids).
Practice: Knowledge of Language
1. Which sentence uses the most formal, academic language?
A. The study's findings don't really add up.
B. The findings of the study were inconclusive.
C. The study was a total flop.
D. The results were kinda all over the place.
2. Which transition best completes the sentence: “The bridge was closed; ___, drivers took a detour”?
A. however
B. therefore
C. for example
D. in contrast
Answers and working
1 → B. It avoids contractions and slang and states the result precisely.
2 → B. The detour is a result of the closure, so “therefore” (cause to effect) fits.
3. Vocabulary Acquisition
context clues · roots & affixes · connotation
Key concepts
Use context clues — nearby words, examples, or contrasts — to figure out an unfamiliar word.
Break words into parts: prefix + root + suffix. Affixes change meaning (un- = not, re- = again, -less = without).
Denotation is the literal meaning; connotation is the emotional shading (“slender” is positive, “scrawny” is negative).
Many affixes come from Latin and Greek and appear again and again on the TEAS.
Key rules
un-, in-, im-, dis- = not | re- = again | pre- = before
tele- = far | circum- = around | intra- = within | dys- = bad/abnormal
-tion = act/state | -hood = state of being | -able = capable of
Worked example
Using the prefix, what does “circumnavigate” mean?
“Circum-” means around; “navigate” means to travel a route.
Put together: to travel around.
Answer: to travel all the way around (for example, around the world).
💡 Memory hook: Un-do, Re-do, Pre-view. UN- = not, RE- = again, PRE- = before. Learn the common prefixes and you can crack the meaning of words you’ve never seen before.
Practice: Vocabulary Acquisition
1. Based on the prefix, the word “intravenous” means something that is:
A. Within or into a vein
B. Between two veins
C. Under the skin
D. Around the heart
The directions were so convoluted that even the experienced technician had to read them three times.
2. As used above, “convoluted” most nearly means:
A. Complicated
B. Simple
C. Colorful
D. Brief
Answers and working
1 → A. “Intra-” means within or into, so intravenous means into the vein.
2 → A. Needing to read them three times signals the directions were complex — “convoluted” = complicated.
★ Mixed practice: 10 TEAS-style questions
All three areas, like the real exam. Answer every question before checking the key below.
1. Which sentence is correct? (Conventions)
A. Neither the teacher nor the students was ready.
B. The students was ready for the test.
C. Neither the teacher nor the students were ready.
D. The teacher were ready for the test.
2. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? (Conventions)
A. I finished my work, then I relaxed.
B. I finished my work; then I relaxed.
C. I finished my work then I relaxed.
D. I finished my work: then, I relaxed.
3. The prefix “re-” in the word “rebuild” means: (Vocabulary)
A. Not
B. Before
C. Again
D. Around
4. Which sentence is most appropriate for an academic essay? (Language use)
A. The experiment produced the expected results.
B. The experiment kinda worked.
C. The experiment was awesome.
D. The experiment didn't really work out.
5. Which of the following correctly shows plural possession (desks belonging to several students)? (Conventions)
A. the students' desks
B. the student's desks
C. the students desks
D. the studentses desks
The lecture was so tedious that several students dozed off.
6. As used above, “tedious” most nearly means: (Vocabulary)
A. Exciting
B. Brief
C. Loud
D. Boring and tiresome
7. Which sentence uses correct capitalization? (Conventions)
A. We visited paris in the Spring.
B. we visited Paris in the Spring.
C. We visited Paris in the Spring.
D. We visited Paris in the spring.
8. Which word best completes the sentence: “She studied hard; ___, she passed the exam”? (Language use)
A. however
B. for example
C. consequently
D. nevertheless
9. Which of the following is a complex sentence? (Conventions)
A. The picnic was canceled.
B. It rained, and the picnic was canceled.
C. It rained; the picnic was canceled.
D. Because it rained, the picnic was canceled.
10. Which of the following words has the most positive connotation? (Vocabulary)
A. Cheap
B. Stingy
C. Miserly
D. Thrifty
Answer key and explanations
# | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
1 | C | With “neither/nor,” the verb agrees with the nearer subject (“students” → “were”). |
2 | B | A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses. |
3 | C · Again | “Re-” means again, so rebuild = to build again. |
4 | A | It avoids slang and contractions and states the result precisely. |
5 | A | For a plural noun ending in s, the possessive adds only an apostrophe: students'. |
6 | D · Boring | Students dozing off signals the lecture was tiresome; “tedious” = boring. |
7 | D | “Paris” is a proper noun (capital); “spring” is a season (lowercase). |
8 | C · Consequently | Passing because she studied is a result, so “consequently” fits. |
9 | D | A dependent clause (“Because it rained”) plus an independent clause makes a complex sentence. |
10 | D · Thrifty | “Thrifty” carries a positive connotation; cheap, stingy, and miserly are negative. |
Test yourself: free English quiz
Take these 16 questions as a timed quiz. You get a score at the end and a written explanation for every answer. The quiz is free; you just need a free Aspire account.
No account yet? Sign up free or log in first. Want full-length timed practice? See the ATI TEAS 7 English question bank.
Original Aspire Career Consultants study material for the ATI TEAS 7.