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OET Grammar Book

Below are some common errors you commit in OET Writing. Learn them carefully.

A, an and the are articles. A and an are used for indicating a singular noun which is mentioned in the letter for the first time. However, "the" is used to refer to something that is already mentioned.

A / An

  • An automobile engineer, Mr Parker lives with a friend.

The

  • The friend that Mr Parker lived with is shifting to another house.

The is also used before body parts:

  • Error: She had pain in abdomen.
  • Correct: She had pain in the abdomen.
  • Reason: Use "the" before body parts.

An / A?

Examples for “an”

  • An MRI (em-aar-ai)
  • An admission (ad…)
  • An outpatient admission (aut…)
  • An eight-year-old child
  • An eighty-year-old…
  • ____ one-eyed patient. 

Examples for “a”

  • A university (yoo-ni) student…
  • A one-pound (van- pound) reduction
  • A one-eyed man…
  • A youth festival …

Important: It is not AEIOU, but the first sound of the word!

The + “Anything already mentioned”

  • When you mention something for the first time in the letter, like, “pain in the chest,” do not write “the” before it. 
  • However, do not miss “the” when you refer to the same chest pain the second, third, fourth, fifth times.
  • First Time: She was brought to the clinic with chest pain. (No “the”)
  • After the First Time: “It was found that the pain was radiating to the right side. (“the pain” refers to the chest pain mentioned before)

The + Body Parts

  • Do not miss the article “the” before all body parts – internal or external.
  • However, if it is a disease condition like “hip-fracture”, we do not write “the” before hip fracture. You can write, fracture of the hip.

Examples

  • He is not able to lift the left hand.
  • She cut the right ear lobe in an accident.
  • An immediate extraction of the tooth is advised.
  • At the end, two of the extremities were amputated.

There are a large number of nouns we have to be careful with:

History

  • Error: She had a history of Appendectomy.
  • Correct: She has a history of appendectomy.
  • Reason: History is always present; only the event can be in the past.

Adjective vs Nouns

  • Error: He has allergic for penicillin.
  • Correct: He is allergic to penicillin.
  • Reason: Use is before an adjective form.
  • Other forms: He has allergy to penicillin.

There are some words we shouldn't use in OET letters. Here are some of the:

Patient

  • Error: The patient is not suffering from any other condition.
  • Correct: Mr Parker does not have any other condition.
  • Reason: We cannot use words like "suffer", "patient", etc.
  • Other words to avoid: Obese, greatly, overweight.

Suffer

  • Error: Mr Parker is suffering from diabetes.
  • Correct: Mr Parker has had diabetes.
  • Reason: We avoid "suffer" and its forms.

Also avoid:

  • Obese / overweight.
  • Unfortunately.
  • Regretfully.

And / But / However / Also

  • We use “but” if the information on its both sides are opposite:

Examples

  • She was admitted on 22nd March and was diagnosed with…
  • Her dietitian made her shift to a Mediterranean diet plan; however, she did not show any progress.
  • Although her dietitian had made her shift to a Mediterranean diet plan, she did not show any progress.

Additionally (In addition to this)

Use “additionally” to begin a sentence only if the previous sentence has a similar information

  • Ms Renuka recommended homeopathy for her colleagues. Additionally, one day, she introduced them to Dr Siva, a homeopath.

Look at these two sentences:

  • She has been able to tolerate light meals at present… (progress).
  • In addition to this, she can walk short distances… (progress).

You can see that the first sentence is about a patient’s progress. What about the second sentence? That is progress, too!

Also / In addition to this, +

You cannot use “Also” to start a new sentence. However, it is a good practice to start a sentence with “In addition to this, …”

  • Incorrect: Also, his haemoglobin level has dropped to 71.
  • Correct: In addition to this, his haemoglobin level has dropped to 71.

And / along with / As well as …

  • “And” and “along with” are not the same. They are slightly different!
  • And is used to connect A and B (two pieces of information of the same type).
  • Along with is used to connect A and 2 (two information of the same category but slightly different).
  • Medication and diet change are part of management (same) but they are slightly different.

Examples

  • She was thereafter treated with metformin and amoxicillin.
  • She requires medication along with a meal programme.
  • She was managed thereafter with medication along with diet change.

For which / for this

  • “For which” is used to connect two parts of a sentence. However, “For this” is used to start a new sentence.
  • Important – Do not use a comma before or after for which.
  • Do not miss the comma (,) after “For this,”

Examples

  • She exhibited symptoms of myocardial infarction at 11 pm for which she was transferred to …
  • She exhibited symptoms of myocardial infarction after the evening meal. For this, she was transferred to ….

Though / Although / even though: However,

  • These two have almost the same meaning.
  • If the first part of the sentence is over 20 words, you can full-stop and start the next sentence with However:

Examples

  • Currently, he ambulates short distances with the help of a wheelie walker; however, he needs assistance with activities of daily living.
  • Although he currently ambulates short distances with the help of a wheelie walker, he needs assistance with activities of daily living.
  • Currently he ambulates short distances with the help of a wheelie walker for long distances, or a stick, for shorter distances. However, he needs assistance with activities of daily living.

Unless (If + not)

  • Please do not take this medicine unless indicated.
  • You can’t pass this exam unless you work hard.
  • I will not admit Ms Lee unless (if + not) she is in critical condition.

Please note / Please note,

You can use “please note” followed by a comma or a “that” as a connective when the current sentence is not well connected to the previous sentence. Suppose the previous sentence is about the discharge medication but the current sentence is about a drug allergy.

  • Mr Pious has recently recovered from an acute episode of coronary artery disease. Please note that he consumes alcohol in excess.

NB: Do not use a comma and “that” together. You need only one of them:

  • Incorrect: Please note that, he consumes alcohol in excess.
  • Correct: Please note, he consumes alcohol in excess.
  • Correct: Please note that he consumes alcohol in excess.

Banned Connectors: So, besides, further more, moreover. Instead, you can use the following connectors:

What connectors should I avoid?

  • Furthermore
  • Moreover,
  • Besides, 
  • Meanwhile, 
  • Apart from that, 
  • Later on,
  • Hence,
  • So,
  • Thus,
  • Thereafter
  • So

Don'ts

  • So, Mr Parker underwent surgery on the same day.
  • Besides, he was advised to take a break from his job.
  • Moreover, she was shifted to the ward on the same day.

Dos.

  • Therefore, Mr Parker underwent surgery on the same day.
  • Additionally, he was advised to take a break from his job.
  • In addition to this, she was shifted to the ward on the same day.

Here is a list of a few prepositions that should be carefully used.

On

  • Error: She is undergoing for surgery.
  • Correct: She is undergoing surgery.
  • Reason: No need for "for."

By or With

  • Error: He was treated with a physiotherapist.
  • Correct: He was treated by a physiotherapist.
  • Reason: By is used before people; with is used before things.
  • Examples: Treated by a doctor. Treated with antacids.

Since vs For

  • Error: She is a diabetic since 10 years.
  • Correct: She has been a diabetic for 10 years.
  • Reason: Use "for" with durations.

Of / About

  • Error: He was complaining about headache.
  • Correct: He was complaining of a headache.
  • Reason: Use "of" with complaints.

For

  • Error: He was advised for surgery.
  • Correct: She was advised to undergo surgery.
  • Reason: Use "to + undergo" for advice.

On

  • Error: M Reeta was admitted on yesterday.
  • Correct: Ms Reeta was admitted yesterday.
  • Reason: We do not use "on" with "today, yesterday, tomorrow."
  • Similar Errors: On today. On tomorrow.

On assessment / Admission + Past medical condition

Rules:

  • Always use past tense after “on assessment” and “upon admission.”
  • Do not forget the comma (,) before the patient’s name.

Examples:

  • On admission, Ms Reeta had high blood pressure and symptoms of myocardial infarction.

Following / Followed by 

The more you think of “following” and “followed by,” your confusion increases. So, before you cannot deal with it, “he was admitted following a fall” means fall happened first.

  • Incorrect: Mrs Price was admitted 2 days ago with mild concussion followed by a fall.
  • Correct: Mrs Price was admitted 2 days ago with mild concussion following a fall.
  • The first is incorrect because fall happened first! Following a fall = Fall happened first!

Be careful with verbs and tenses.

Undergo, Underwent, Undergone

  • Error: She was undergone an MRI.
  • Correct: She underwent an MRI.
  • Reason: "Undergone" is used with "has, have or had."

Completed / Incomplete Actions

If an action started but not yet completed, use "have" or "has" forms. For completed actions, use simple past (was, did).

Incomplete Actions

  • She has commenced medication.
  • He has been advised not to lift heavy weights.

Completed Actions

  • She commenced medication.
  • He was advised not to lift heavy weights.

Refused vs Denied

  • Error: Mr Parker refused any history of hypertension.
  • Correct: The patient denied any history of hypertension.
  • Reason: Refuse and deny are not the same.

What do you think?

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Written by englishmelon

Get in touch with us to prepare for English examinations of any kind. We teach OET, IELTS, PTE, IB and CBSE. We use simple tricks to learn and memorize complex structures for Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking. Our Personal Trainers are quite down to the earth and well experienced.

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