Which competence concerns expressing intentions clearly and appropriately to the interlocutor and situation?

• A. Pragmatic competence
• B. Grammatical competence
• C. Lexical competence
• D. Fluency competence

Answer: (A)

Pragmatic competence is the ability to use language in a way that fits the social context and to convey one's intentions clearly to the listener. This includes choosing the right level of formality, tone, and indirectness, and tailoring speech to who you’re talking to and the situation so your message is understood as intended. That’s exactly what’s being tested here: expressing intentions clearly and appropriately to the interlocutor and situation.

Grammatical competence is about grammar rules and sentence structure, lexical competence is about having the right vocabulary, and fluency competence is about speaking smoothly and without hesitation. An example would be choosing a polite, indirect request in a formal setting versus a direct command with a friend; the content is similar, but the way you express it changes to suit the context—this kind of adaptation is the realm of pragmatic competence.