LanguageCert Young Learners ESOL
Fox (Pre-A1) & Owl (A1)
Grammar Syllabus
Young Learners ESOL
Fox (Pre-A1) and Owl (A1)
Grammar Syllabus
LanguageCert is an Ofqual-regulated Awarding Organisation responsible for the
development and award of language qualifications. LanguageCert’s mission is to
offer high-quality language qualifications that are fit-for-purpose for the candidates
they serve.
The aim of this document is to provide teachers and candidates with a description of
the grammar content for the Young Learners Fox (Pre-A1) and Owl (A1) ESOL tests.
A Vocabulary List is also available.
LanguageCert Young Learners ESOL
Fox (Pre-A1) & Owl (A1)
Grammar Syllabus
A1 candidates are expected to know everything in the Pre-A1 list as well as everything in the A1 list.
Aspect Pre-A1 Pre-A1 examples A1 A1 examples
Sentence • Simple statements, • The teacher is nice. • verb + infinitive • She wants to read.
structure instructions & Don’t run! They started to eat.
• verb + –ing
questions (positive & Do you like bananas?
• They went fishing
negative in all) • infinitive of purpose
• There is a clock on the yesterday.
• There is/There are ... wall. • want/ask someone to
• She sat down to watch TV.
do something
• have + object + • Emma has some milk to
• I want my parents to buy a
infinitive drink. • How/What about +
new car.
noun or –ing
• Let’s ... • Let’s play a game!
• How about going to the
• I think/know ...
• Like + verb with –ing • He likes playing football. beach?
• I know she’s a clever girl.
Verb forms (Positive, negative, • Nick lives in London. (Positive, negative, • I went to the zoo
question, imperative & They don’t eat meat. question, imperative & yesterday.
short answer forms, Is that your father? short answer forms,
• It rained on Saturday.
including contractions) Yes, it is. including contractions)
• Present simple • Past simple, regular and • Did you go to Sophie’s
irregular forms party? Yes, I did.
• Present continuous
(not with future • He didn’t enjoy the boat
reference) • What are they playing? trip.
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Aspect Pre-A1 Pre-A1 examples A1 A1 examples
Dad’s making breakfast.
• have (got) for
possession • Have you got a bike?
He hasn’t got a phone.
• would like + noun or
verb • I’d like an ice cream.
Would you like to go to
the park?
Modals • can/can’t (ability) • I can play the piano. • could (past ability) • They could see three
clowns.
• can (requests, • Can I have an apple? • must/mustn’t
permission) (obligation) • You mustn’t speak now.
• He’s got a new bike.
• have got (possession) • have (got) to • You have to go to bed now.
• Would you like some
(obligation)
• would + like cake? • Shall I carry your bag,
• shall (offers) grandma?
Question • Who ...? • Who is your English • How much ...? • How much rice would you
words • What ...? teacher? like?
• How often ...?
• What are you doing? • How often do you play
• Which ...? • When ...?
• Which ruler is yours? tennis?
• Where ...? • Why ...?
• Where’s the cat? • When did you see Lucy?
• Whose ...?
• Whose jacket is this? • Why do you like fishing?
• How ...?
• How do you spell that?
• How many ...?
• How many girls are
• How old ...?
there?
• How old is your sister?
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Aspect Pre-A1 Pre-A1 examples A1 A1 examples
Nouns • Regular, and common • apples, children, etc.
irregular, plural forms
• animal, egg, bread, rice,
• Countable & etc.
uncountable nouns
• Painting is fun.
• –ing forms as nouns
• Nick, Lucy, Mrs Brown,
• Names etc.
Pronouns • Subject pronouns • I, you, he, etc.
• Object pronouns • me, him, her, etc.
• Possessive pronouns • It’s mine!
• Demonstrative • This is his room.
• Interrogative • Which is your phone?
• one • Yes, please, I’d like one.
Possessives • Possessive adjectives • my, your, his, etc.
• Possessive pronouns • mine, yours, whose, etc.
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Aspect Pre-A1 Pre-A1 examples A1 A1 examples
Prepositions • Common prepositions • of, for, with, from, like • More common • by (train etc.), around, into,
prepositions off, out of, etc.
• Prepositions of place • behind the chair
between the trees • More prepositions of • above, below, opposite,
• Prepositions of time
in front of the bus place near, etc.
• a story about + noun / in the box
• More prepositions of • after/before (school, etc.),
–ing on the table
time on (Monday, etc.)
next to the bookcase
• be good at + noun / • She’s good at
• in the morning
–ing English/drawing.
at 10 o’clock
• a story about
robots/getting a pet
Determiners • Definite & indefinite • the children, a book, an • ‘the’ with superlatives • the best dad in the world
articles egg
• More common • all, another, any, both,
• Other common • some, a lot of, many, determiners every, more, most, etc.
determiners that, these, etc.
Adjectives • Position of adjectives • It’s a funny story. • Comparative & • My bike is cleaner than
before noun & after She’s happy now. superlative adjectives yours.
verb ‘to be’ He’s the best football
• What a great day!
player in my class.
• What (+a/an) + adj + What old photos!
noun
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Aspect Pre-A1 Pre-A1 examples A1 A1 examples
Adverbs • Common adverbs of • here, now • Adverbs of frequency • always, never
place & time
• Common adverbs of • badly, carefully, loudly,
manner quickly, quietly, slowly,
well
• Comparative &
superlative adverbs • Jack runs more quickly
than his brother.
She cooks the best in our
family.
Intensifiers • very, really, too
Miscellaneous • Cardinal numbers 1 – 20 • Lunch is at 12 o’clock. • Cardinal numbers 21 – • It’s (a) quarter to eight.
structures 100 There’s a break at half past
• Telling the time: (one,
ten.
two, three, etc.) o’clock • Ordinal numbers 1st –
It’s ten to seven.
(on the hour times only) 20th
• What was the weather like
• Telling the time: full
yesterday?
range of clock times
• We went for a bike ride in
• What is/was the
the forest yesterday.
weather like?
• Go for a + noun
Discourse • Linking words: and, or, • They’ve got a dog and a • conjunctions: because, • She went to bed early
but bird but they haven’t when (not with future because she was tired.
got a cat. meaning) When he got home, he did
• Sentence connector:
his homework.
then • I go home. Then I drink • Sentence connector:
some milk. next • He got up quickly. Next he
• Interacting in spoken
had breakfast.
discourse • ‘I love tennis.’ ‘Me too!’
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Aspect Pre-A1 Pre-A1 examples A1 A1 examples
• ‘I like chocolate.’ ‘So do • Interacting in spoken • ‘I’m sad.’ ‘What’s the
I.’ discourse matter?’
• ‘Please give me that • ‘Can I have a biscuit?’
book.’ ‘Here you are.’ ‘Alright.’
‘Thank you/Thanks.’
• ‘I’ve got a new bike!’
• ‘I’ve got a new bike!’ ‘Brilliant!’
‘Fantastic! / Great! /
• ‘Excuse me. I’m late.’
Wow!’
• ‘Let’s go to the beach.’
• ‘Hi, George’, ‘Hello, Lily.’
‘Good idea.’
• ‘I’m going now.’
‘Bye/Goodbye/See
you!’
• ‘Hooray! It’s my
birthday today.’
• ‘I can’t go to school
today.’ ‘Oh dear!’
• ‘Pardon/Sorry. I don’t
understand.’
• ‘I can play the piano.’
‘Well done!’
• ‘Let’s go to the beach.’
‘OK’
Punctuation & • Recognition of letters
spelling of the alphabet, lower
and upper case
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Aspect Pre-A1 Pre-A1 examples A1 A1 examples
• Ability to listen and
write down spelled-out
words
• Correct spelling of
common words at the
level
• Use of capital letters,
full stops and question
marks
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