WORD CHOICE & FORM for TOEIC TEST

by: Nuzul Ayni, MM

Try to fill in the blank

Try to fill in the blank

The best answer to the question is a. terminal.

Word Choice

In word choice, how well you understand many kinds of grammar are tested. Your knowledge of vocabulary is also tested. You will see many commonly confused words. The right answer may be a noun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition or conjunction. The questions with four answers listed are related in some way. The words may look or sound similar, but have different meanings. Words that are opposite in meaning might also be used. Sometimes more than one word may seem to be the right choice. Picking the right one will depend on knowing how and when a word is used in English. These words may have similar meanings (for example, house and home) or grammatical use (for example, much and many). Only one choice can work properly in the sentence.

Word Choice:Learning Hint

This is one of the most difficult parts of learning English because there are many words that sound or look the same, but have different meanings. Pay close attention to each answer choice and check whether it fits in the context of the sentence.

Word Choice:Learning Hint

1) Words with similar spelling, words that rhyme, words that sound alike, or words that are opposite that do not have similar meanings.For example:Make sure to only use the _____ paper.(A) vain(B) vein(C) pain(D) plain

Word Choice:Learning Hint

Make sure to only use the _____ paper.(A) vain(B) vein(C) pain(D) plain

The correct answer is (D). An adjective is needed to complete the sentence. Plain is the only adjective that makes sense. (A) is an adjective used to describe people, not things (paper). (B) is a noun that sounds like (A). (C) is a noun that rhymes with vein and plain.

Word Choice:Learning Hint

2) Words with similar meanings, but different usage:

The boss thinks we are doing a _____ job.(A) goods(B) well(C) good(D) badly

Word Choice:Learning Hint

The boss thinks we are doing a _____ job.(A) goods(B) well(C) good(D) badly

The correct answer is (C). An adjective needed to complete the sentence. Good is the only adjective. (A) is a noun. (D) is an adverb. (B) is also an adverb. To use well, the sentence would be, The boss thinks we are doing the job well. How is the job being done? It is being done well. You cannot say, The boss thinks we are doing the job good.

Word Form

Word families tests how well you know the various types of words that can be made from one word. A word can go from noun to verb to adjective to adverb by changing the ending of the word.

Word Form: Example

Which one is the noun?

Which one is the adjective?

Which one is the verb?

NOUN

•Person•Thing•Idea•Place

VERB

Shows action. Links subject to

another word in the sentence.

The little girl is sleeping with her pink doll.

ADJECTIVE

Describes and modifies a noun or pronoun.

Answer questions, “what kind?” or “how many?”

a beautiful scenery

The Markers / EndingsNoun Verb Adjective

-ance, -ence, -ancy, -ism, -ion, -ity, -ian, -ment.

-en, -ify, -ize, -ish. -ous, -able, -ible, -al, -ful, -less.