The KCPE - English paper is divided
into three sections, namely:
(i) Cloze
(broken passage)
(ii) Grammar
(iii) Comprehension
(ii) Grammar
(iii) Comprehension
CLOZE (BROKEN PASSAGE)
This is a section where a candidate
is required to analyze the passage and select the appropriate word that fits in
the dash (broken space). The word selected can be a conjunction, an article
(definite and indefinite), a verb, modal verb, preposition, a phrasal verb, a
relative pronoun, an adjective, a noun, a punctuation sign etc.
A candidate therefore, is required
to analyze and not only put/fix the right word but also think and place it (in
case it's a verb) in the agreeable tense. The following are examples of words
(and their usage) commonly tested in the cloze (broken passage)
ARTICLES
These are normally used before a
noun. There are two articles; definite and indefinite. Indefinite Articles:
- Indefinite article (a / an) is used to introduce new nouns/subjects in a sentence.
- Used when the noun is mentioned for the first time. - used with singular countable nouns e.g. monkey, an elephant.
- Indefinite article (a / an) is used to introduce new nouns/subjects in a sentence.
- Used when the noun is mentioned for the first time. - used with singular countable nouns e.g. monkey, an elephant.
Definite Articles:
- Definite article (the) is used to
refer to a noun which has already been mentioned / introduced e.g. A dog was
run over by a vehicle. The dog was running after a ball when it was knocked by
the vehicle.
Indefinite article
(a) is used with nouns whose first
sound is a consonant e.g. a cow, a car etc. Indefinite article (an) is used
with nouns whose first sounds is a vowel.
ALTHOUGH
Although is used with a subject +
verb e.g. although it was hot, we enjoyed ourselves. I didn't pass my exams
although I revised very hard.
THOUGH
It is also used in the same way as
although e.g. I didn't pass my exams though I had revised very hard. Though can
also be used at the end of a sentence e.g. The suit isn't very nice, I like the
tie though.
DESPITE
This is the same as Inspite of it is
used with a noun or a pronoun with this/that/what or 'ing' e.g inspite of the
heat, we enjoyed our holiday. I didn't pass my exams inspite of studying hard.
She wasn't well but inspite of this she went to play. Inspite of what I said
yesterday, I still love you. 1
EVEN THOUGH
EVEN THOUGH
Even though is a stronger form of
although e.g. even though I was very hungry I couldn't eat.
MODAL VERBS
These are words like can/could, will/would,
may/might, must, cant, ought to, needn't, won't, shall/should.
CAN / COULD:
used for actions e.g. I can go out
today (= there is nothing to stop me) I can't go out today I could go out today
(but I am not very keen) I couldn't go out yesterday (= I wasn't able)
CAN / MAY
Can I go out today (= do you allow
me to go out) May I go out today (= do you allow me to go out)
WILL / WON'T
I think I will go out today I
promise I won't go out today I would go out today but I have too much to do I
promised I wouldn't go out that day
SHALL
Shall I go out today (do you think
It is a good idea')
SHOULD / OUGHT TO
I should go out today. (It would be
a good thing to do) I ought to go out today (It would be a good thing to do)
MUST / NEEDN'T
I must go out today (= it is
necessary) I mustn't go out today (= It is necessary that I do not go out) I
needn't go out today (= It is not necessary that I go out)
COULD HAVE / WOULD
HAVE
I could have gone out yesterday but
I decided to stay home
I would have gone out yesterday but I had too much work to do
I should have gone out yesterday. I am sorry I didn't
I ought to have gone out yesterday but I am sorry I didn't
I needn't have gone out yesterday (=1 went out but it was necessary)
I would have gone out yesterday but I had too much work to do
I should have gone out yesterday. I am sorry I didn't
I ought to have gone out yesterday but I am sorry I didn't
I needn't have gone out yesterday (=1 went out but it was necessary)
WILL / WOULD/MAY
This are used to say whether
something is probable, possible, impossible or certain.
Will / Would
- What
time will she be here' She will be here soon - She would be here now but she
has been delayed
Should / Ought to
- She
should be here soon (= I expect she will be here soon)
- She ought to be here soon ( = I expect she will be here soon)
- She ought to be here soon ( = I expect she will be here soon)
May / Might/Could
- She
may be here now. I am not sure (= It is possible that she is here)
- She might be here now. I am not sure (= It is possible that she is here)
- She could be here now. I am not sure (= It is possible that she is here
- She might be here now. I am not sure (= It is possible that she is here)
- She could be here now. I am not sure (= It is possible that she is here
Must / Can't
- She
must be here. I saw her come in. (=1 am sure- there is no other possibility)
- She can't possibly be here. I know for certain that she is in Mombasa
- She can't possibly be here. I know for certain that she is in Mombasa
Would / Should have
- She will
have arrived by now
- She would have arrived earlier but she was delayed
- I wonder where she is. She should have arrived by now.
- I wonder where she is. She ought to have arrived by now
May/Might/Could
- She would have arrived earlier but she was delayed
- I wonder where she is. She should have arrived by now.
- I wonder where she is. She ought to have arrived by now
May/Might/Could
- She
may have arrived. I am not sure. (= It is possible that she has arrived)
- She might have arrived. I am not sure (= It is possible that she has arrived)
- She could have arrived. I am not sure (= It is possible that she has arrived)
- She might have arrived. I am not sure (= It is possible that she has arrived)
- She could have arrived. I am not sure (= It is possible that she has arrived)
Must / Can't
- She
must have arrived by now. (I am sure there is no other possibility)
- She can't possibly have arrived yet. It is much too early ( = It is impossible)
- She can't possibly have arrived yet. It is much too early ( = It is impossible)
EVERY / EACH
Are similar in meaning e.g.
- Each time I see you, you look different
- Every time I see you, you look different EACH is used when we think of things separately one by one.
- Each time I see you, you look different
- Every time I see you, you look different EACH is used when we think of things separately one by one.
We use EVERY when we think of things
as a group of every sentence must have a noun e.g. study each sentence
carefully .EACH is more usual for a small number e.g. there were four apples on
the table; each apple was of different size. EVERY is more usual for a large
number e.g. I would like to visit every town in Kenya. EACH can be used
for two things e.g. In a boxing ring, each boxer has to wear different colour
of shorts. We use EVERY to say how often something happens e.g. How often do
you brush your teeth' Everyday (not each day) We can use EACH in the middle or
at the end of a sentence e.g
- The dogs
were each given a bone.
- These mangoes cost fifteen shillings each.
- These mangoes cost fifteen shillings each.
EVERYONE / EVERY ONE
- EVERYONE
is only for people. It is the same as everybody.
- EVERY ONE (two words) is used for things or people, it means each one e.g.
- Everyone enjoyed the cake (Everyone here is the same as everybody)
- He has lots of phones and every one has a different sim card
- EVERY ONE (two words) is used for things or people, it means each one e.g.
- Everyone enjoyed the cake (Everyone here is the same as everybody)
- He has lots of phones and every one has a different sim card
EVERYBODY / EVERYONE /
EVERYTHING
These are singular words therefore
we use a singular verb e.g.
-Every seat in the church was occupied
-Everybody has arrived (not have arrived) We often use they/them/their after everybody/ everyone e.g.
-Everybody said they enjoyed themselves
-Everyone collected their shares
-Every seat in the church was occupied
-Everybody has arrived (not have arrived) We often use they/them/their after everybody/ everyone e.g.
-Everybody said they enjoyed themselves
-Everyone collected their shares
WILL / SHALL
Will is used when someone has
decided to do something at the time of speaking. We use WILL in the following
situations
- Offering to do something,
- Agreeing to do something
- Promising to do something
- Asking somebody to do something
- Offering to do something,
- Agreeing to do something
- Promising to do something
- Asking somebody to do something
OFFERING TO DO
SOMETHING
That casket looks heavy I will help
you with it
AGREEING TO DO
SOMETHING
I will give you the keys when you
come this afternoon
PROMISING TO DO
SOMETHING
I will pay you back on Friday I will
not tell anyone what happened
ASKING SOMEBODY TO DO
SOMETHING
Will you please be quiet? I am
trying to focus on my work. Will you shut the door please?
Generally we use WILL to talk about
the future, but sometimes we use WILL to talk about now e.g. don't call Julie
now she will be busy (= I know she will be busy now)
SHALL
Shall is used mostly in questions
e.g. Shall I ? Shall we? We use Shall I ? Shall we ? To ask
somebody's opinion (especially in offers and suggestions) e.g. Shall I close
the door (= Do you want me to close the door) I feel nauseous what shall
I do? (= what do you suggest) Normally we use SHALL only with I and We SHALL is
not used with He/She/It/You/They
IF / WHEN
We use WHEN for things which are
sure to happen e.g. I am going shopping this afternoon. When I go shopping I
will buy some food. We use IF for things that will possibly happen e.g. I might
go fishing this afternoon. (It is possible) If I go fishing I will catch some
fish If it rains this evening, I won't go out If they don't come soon I am not
going to wait
WHILE / WHEREAS
WHILE is used to state a length of
time e.g. I held the bat for a while and swung a heavy blow To show contrast
between two things e.g. He ate fish while his friends ate meat. To mean during
e.g. The chief was speaking while the women were preparing food. WHEREAS Is
used to compare two things with a difference e.g. Sandra is tall whereas her
sister Loidah is short
WHILE / AS / WHEN
WE use AS only if two things happen
at the same time e.g. As I walked into the room, the phone started ringing (=at
the same time) We use WHEN if one thing happens after another e.g. when I got
home, I had a bath We use WHILE plus a subject plus a verb e.g. I fell a sleep
while I was watching television. While you were out, there was a phone call for
you. Caesar read a book while I watched television.
PREPOSITIONS
A preposition is a word which shows
the relationship between a noun, a pronoun, and another word in a sentence,
examples of prepositions are:-
In
into
on
For
from
between
Under
at
before
After
to
till
Until
upon
up
Above
across .
by
Behind
with through
Below
beneath
Beside
A check for
A demand for
A need for
A reason for Advantage of
A course of
A photograph of
A picture of
a relationship with
a connection with
contact with
connection between
differences between
A drawing of
An increase in
A decrease in
A map of
A plan of
Damage to
Invitation to
A solution to
An answer to
A key to
A reply to
A reaction to
An attitude to/towards
Good to somebody
Polite to somebody
Cruel to somebody
A rise in
A fall in
into
on
For
from
between
Under
at
before
After
to
till
Until
upon
up
Above
across .
by
Behind
with through
Below
beneath
Beside
A check for
A demand for
A need for
A reason for Advantage of
A course of
A photograph of
A picture of
a relationship with
a connection with
contact with
connection between
differences between
A drawing of
An increase in
A decrease in
A map of
A plan of
Damage to
Invitation to
A solution to
An answer to
A key to
A reply to
A reaction to
An attitude to/towards
Good to somebody
Polite to somebody
Cruel to somebody
A rise in
A fall in
It's a nice one for candidates expecting to perform well in English
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