TOEIC Part 5 incomplete sentences: grammar practice

• Word form: choosing between apply, application, applicant, applicable from the position alone.
• Verb tense chosen by a time marker such as last quarter, by next month, since 2019.
• Active versus passive, decided by whether the subject performs or receives the action.
• Subject-verb agreement across a long noun phrase or a prepositional interruption.
• Pronoun case and reflexives: he, him, his, himself, and their plural equivalents.
• Prepositions in fixed structures: responsible for, comply with, in charge of, by Friday.
• Conjunctions and prepositions that express the same idea differently: although versus despite.
• Relative pronouns: who, which, that, whose, and when each is required.
• Comparatives, superlatives and the structures around them: more than, as… as, the most.
• Participles used as adjectives: a revised policy, the remaining seats, an interested buyer.

1. Step 1: 1

   Look at the options before the sentence

   If the four options are one root word in four forms, it is a word-form item and you need only the slot. If they are four different verbs, it is vocabulary and you must read for meaning.

2. Step 2: 2

   Read the words on either side of the gap first

   An article before and a noun after means you need an adjective. A preposition before means a noun or a gerund. Two or three words are often the whole of the evidence.

3. Step 3: 3

   Find the subject and its verb before deciding anything else

   Long subjects hide the number: *the list of approved vendors* takes a singular verb. Bracket the prepositional phrases mentally and the agreement becomes obvious.

4. Step 4: 4

   Let the time marker choose the tense

   Last month forces the past, by next Friday forces a future perfect, since forces a present perfect. Look for the marker rather than weighing the four verb forms against each other.

5. Step 5: 5

   Test voice with the object

   If there is no object after the verb and the subject is the thing affected, the answer is passive. *The report ___ to all managers* takes was distributed, not distributed.

6. Step 6: 6

   Separate conjunctions from prepositions by what follows

   A clause with its own subject and verb takes although, because, while. A noun phrase takes despite, because of, during. Decide by the shape after the gap, not by meaning.

7. Step 7: 7

   Budget well under a minute per item

   Part 5 is where time is either saved for the passages or wasted. Answer the slot-based items in seconds so the vocabulary items can have longer.

8. Step 8: 8

   Guess by word class when you are stuck

   Even without the meaning, the slot usually rules out two options. A one-in-two guess taken immediately beats a one-in-four guess taken after ninety seconds.

9. Step 9: 9

   Never leave a blank on the answer sheet

   There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so an empty row is a guaranteed loss. Mark something before you move on, even on items you intend never to revisit.

• Not thisWe will discuss about the proposal tomorrow.

  ThisWe will discuss the proposal tomorrow.

  Discuss is transitive and takes no preposition. The same trap appears with approach, contact, enter and mention.

• Not thisThe manager explained us the new procedure.

  ThisThe manager explained the new procedure to us.

  Explain, describe, announce and suggest do not take an indirect object without *to*. Unlike give and send, they cannot be reordered.

• Not thisDespite the shipment was late, the client was satisfied.

  ThisAlthough the shipment was late, the client was satisfied.

  Despite is a preposition and cannot be followed by a clause. With a subject and a verb after the gap, only a conjunction works.

• Not thisThe list of authorised suppliers are attached.

  ThisThe list of authorised suppliers is attached.

  The subject is *the list*, not *suppliers*. The prepositional phrase in between never changes the verb.

• Not thisAll employees must return the form to their supervisor by themself.

  ThisAll employees must return the form to their supervisor themselves.

  *Themself* is not standard in formal workplace English, and the plural reflexive is *themselves*.

• Not thisThe equipment was delivering yesterday morning.

  ThisThe equipment was delivered yesterday morning.

  Equipment cannot deliver anything, so the verb must be passive. Ask who is doing the action before choosing an -ing form.

• Not thisShe has worked here since three years.

  ThisShe has worked here for three years.

  Since takes a point in time, for takes a length of time. Both appear as options in the same item precisely because of this confusion.

comply with

To follow a rule or regulation. Always with *with*.

be responsible for

To have a duty covering something. Always with *for*.

in charge of

Managing or supervising something.

prior to

Formal *before*, followed by a noun or a gerund.

in accordance with

Following the terms of a policy or a contract.

as of

Starting from a stated date.

due to

Because of, followed by a noun phrase.

whereas

A formal conjunction marking contrast between two clauses.

provided that

On condition that: provided that payment is received.

regardless of

Without being affected by: regardless of the weather.

in addition to

As well as, followed by a noun or a gerund.

so that

Introduces purpose, followed by a clause with a modal.

eligible

Qualified to receive or do something: eligible for reimbursement.

on behalf of

Acting for someone else.

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