Many candidates struggle to hear the beginning of repeat sentences. Some foreign/ non-native tutors even claim that Pearson clips are missing the first few words—but that’s a myth. What’s actually happening is a filter created by your first language.

There are 4 key things to understand before you listen like a native-speaker:

1. English contracts small grammatical words
   Articles, prepositions, and auxiliary verbs may sound like they disappear—but they’re still there, often reduced to a soft schwa sound (/ə/). Native speakers gloss over them rapidly, so they’re easy to miss if you’re not tuned in.
2. English blends chunks of 3–5 words
   Instead of distinct individual words, native speech often runs words together in fluid “thought groups.” This can make a full phrase sound like a single, blurry unit, unless you’re listening for rhythm and intonation patterns.
3. Pronouns are always present—even if disguised
   In Latin-based languages, subject pronouns aren’t always spoken. But in English, they’re always there: I, you, we, he, she, it. The catch? They’re usually contracted and fused with the verb—like “I’ve gone” or “She’ll be there”—making them harder to spot.
4. The Purpose is in the first few words. Unlike a lot of Asian language, the purpose of sentence is in the first few words. If you understand the purpose, it’s much easier to remember and repeat.

Here are some practice focusing on understanding one of the most common sentence types in PTE: instructions, suggestions and obligations in third person.

Modals: You or We with a modal or auxillary verb WILL (usually contracted ‘ll)/ MUST/ CAN/ CANT/ NEED TO/ HAVE

Complete the beginning of these repeat sentence/ write from dictation sentences.

1.

_________ ________ __________ careful with how we develop artificial intelligence.

2.

________ _________ _______ prepare thoroughly for the presentation.

3.

_____ _________ __________ electronic devices to record the lecture.

4.

_____ ________ wait any longer to start the project.

5.

______ ______ __________ ________ _______ a partner to work with on the project.

6.

______ ____ _____ __ to bring a student ID in order to enter the seminar.

7.

_______ _______ __________ together to work on the project.

8.

____ _________ _____ study just the most influential movements.

Another common sentence beginning in P.T.E. is a statement or instruction that begin with all, most, some or none ( or all of the, most of the, some of the, none of the…)

9. _______ ___________ prefer to study in the morning rather than the evening.

10.

_____ _____________ must wear a uniform at all times.

11.

_______ ______ _______ people disagreed with the points he was making.

12.

____ ____ ____ people could hear from the back of the auditorium.

Another variation is ‘it is essential to ‘ , ‘it is essential that’ and also pay attention to when it is used in past tenses or even futures.

Pronunciation drills coming soon- check back in a few days.

Remember ‘to + verb’ verses ‘that + subject verb’

13.

___ ____ _____ ___ attend all laboratories sessions for credits.

14.

___ ________ ___ understand the importance of the church in history.

15.

_______ _______ _________ _________ ___ understand generative artificial intelligence in the near future.

16.

________ ________ __________ ______ you listen carefully to the instruction.

Mixed practice. This set will include more variation. Write or Repeat.

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