Sentence structure
Sentence structure is essential in PSC Written Expression, where ideas must be organized in a grammatically correct way, and it can also support success in Reading Comprehension, where an incorrect answer may reflect confusion about how the sentence is built or how its parts connect logically.
Why this matters on the PSC test
Many PSC errors are not about a single word in isolation. They come from using the wrong construction, breaking a fixed expression, or choosing a form that does not fit the sentence pattern required in formal French.
Core rule
A sentence can contain correct words and still be incorrect if the structure is wrong. In these questions, the key is to recognize the required pattern, not just the individual words.
In PSC questions, sentence structure often includes: fixed expressions, standard turns of phrase, required word order, and verb patterns that belong to a specific construction.
à temps partiel
rendre compte de
faire progresser
estime de soi
Common PSC traps
- Fixed expressions altered slightly: one letter or one word changes, and the whole phrase becomes incorrect. Example: à temps partiel.
- Idiomatic phrases replaced by similar-looking forms: example: rendre compte de, not a near-homophone version.
- Verb constructions: some patterns require a specific form, such as faire + infinitive or veuillez + infinitive.
- Formal administrative phrasing: PSC items often use established formal patterns rather than everyday spoken French.
- Correct-looking distractors: a wrong answer may contain familiar words, but the full structure is not accepted in standard written French.
PSC-style examples
Il travaille à temps partiel.
Le rapport doit rendre compte de la situation actuelle.
Cette mesure peut faire progresser le dossier.
Le programme vise à renforcer l’estime de soi.
Veuillez lire les avis publiés au bas de la page.
Mini practice
a) à temps partiel
b) à temp partiel
a) rendre compte de ses travaux
b) rendre conte de ses travaux
a) faire progresser le projet
b) faire progressé le projet
1. a) à temps partiel
2. a) rendre compte de ses travaux
3. a) faire progresser le projet