Welcome to Pronouns and Determiners!
In Part 5 of the TOEIC Reading test, you are often asked to fill in a blank in a single sentence. Many of these questions test your knowledge of Pronouns and Determiners. These might seem like "small words," but they are high-value points. Why? Because if you know the rules, you can answer these questions in less than 10 seconds, leaving you more time for the long reading passages in Part 7. Let's learn how to spot the right answer every time!
1. Mastering Personal Pronouns
In the TOEIC exam, the most common trap is choosing the wrong "case" (the form of the word based on its job in the sentence). You need to identify if the blank is the Subject (the person doing the action) or the Object (the person receiving the action).
The Subject vs. Object Rule
Subject Pronouns: I, You, He, She, It, We, They. (Usually come before the verb).
Object Pronouns: Me, You, Him, Her, It, Us, Them. (Usually come after the verb or a preposition).
Example (The Weak Version):
The supervisor asked he to finish the report by Friday.
Why it's wrong: "He" is a subject pronoun, but here it is receiving the action of the verb "asked."
Example (The Improved TOEIC Version):
The supervisor asked him to finish the report by Friday.
TOEIC Tip: If the blank is after a verb like contact, notify, tell, or remind, look for the Object pronoun.
2. Possessive Adjectives vs. Possessive Pronouns
This is a favorite trick for TOEIC question writers. They want to see if you know when to use a noun after the word.
The "Noun" Test
Possessive Adjectives: My, Your, His, Her, Its, Our, Their. (Must be followed by a noun).
Possessive Pronouns: Mine, Yours, His, Hers, Its, Ours, Theirs. (Never followed by a noun; they stand alone).
Example (The Weak Version):
The office on the second floor is our.
Why it's wrong: "Our" is an adjective; it needs a noun like "office" after it.
Example (The Improved TOEIC Version):
The office on the second floor is ours.
OR: That is our office on the second floor.
Quick Review: Look at the word immediately after the blank. Is it a noun? If yes, pick the adjective (their, her, your). If there is a period (.) or a comma (,), pick the pronoun (theirs, hers, yours).
3. Reflexive Pronouns (-self/-selves)
Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and the object are the same person, or to emphasize that someone did something alone.
Common TOEIC Patterns
1. By + Reflexive: This means "alone" or "without help."
Example: Mr. Kim prepared the presentation by himself.
2. Emphasis: Placed right after the subject or at the end of the sentence.
Example: The CEO himself signed the contracts.
Did you know? On the TOEIC, "by himself" is exactly the same as "on his own." If you see "on [blank] own," the answer is usually a possessive adjective (on his own), not a reflexive pronoun.
4. Determiners and Quantifiers
Determiners help us identify which noun we are talking about or how many. In TOEIC Part 5, the exam tests if the determiner matches the noun (Singular vs. Plural).
The Singular/Plural Match
Each / Every: Use with singular nouns.
Example: Each employee must wear an ID badge. (NOT: Each employees).
All / Many / Several: Use with plural nouns.
Example: Several candidates were interviewed today.
Much / Little: Use with uncountable nouns (like information, equipment, luggage).
Example: We don't have much information about the merger yet.
Key Takeaway: Always check if the noun after the blank has an "-s" or not. This is the fastest way to earn marks in this section!
5. Relative Pronouns: Connecting Ideas
Relative pronouns (who, which, that, whose) connect a description to a noun. In Part 5, choosing the right one depends on what you are describing.
Who: For people.
Which: For things/objects.
Whose: For possession (belonging to someone).
That: For people or things.
The "Whose" Trap:
TOEIC often tests "whose" because it’s tricky.
Example: We hired the consultant whose experience is in marketing.
Trick: If you see [Noun] + [Blank] + [Noun], the answer is almost always whose.
6. Summary and Exam Strategy
Timing Reality: You have 75 minutes for 100 reading questions. You should spend no more than 30 seconds on a pronoun question. If you know the rules above, you can often find the answer in 5 seconds!
Final Checklist for Part 5:
1. Is the blank before or after the verb? (Subject vs. Object)
2. Is there a noun immediately after the blank? (Possessive Adjective vs. Pronoun)
3. Is the noun singular or plural? (Determiner choice)
4. Is there a "by" before the blank? (Look for -self words)
5. Avoid common spelling traps: Its (possessive) vs. It's (it is). TOEIC loves to use "It's" as a distractor!
Don't worry if this seems like a lot to remember! Start by practicing the "Subject vs. Object" rule first. Once you feel confident, move on to the "Singular vs. Plural" matching. These small steps will lead to a much higher score on your official test day.