Lesson 12 of 15 · Grammar
Grammar course 3: Prepositions, conjunctions and clauses
The last grammar lecture is about the small words that connect ideas: prepositions, conjunctions, relative pronouns, noun-clause openers and connectors. On the TOEIC these words are tested in two ways — by grammar (what kind of structure follows the blank?) and by logic (what relationship links the two ideas?). You will learn to check both, in Part 5 sentences and across sentences in Part 6.
Free extract from the Noto Tracks TOEIC course
In the full lesson you will learn to
- use prepositions of time, place and movement, and the most frequent verb, adjective and noun + preposition combinations;
- tell prepositions, conjunctions and conjunctive adverbs apart (because of / because / therefore);
- use coordinating and paired conjunctions with parallel structure;
- choose the right relative pronoun and punctuate defining and non-defining clauses;
- build noun clauses with that, whether, what, how and -ever words, and adverb clauses of time, reason, contrast, condition and purpose;
- handle inversion after negative adverbs and choose logical connectors in Part 6.
1. Two questions for every connecting word
When the four options are connecting words — although, despite, however, even; who, which, whose, what; by, until, within, during — ask two questions:
- Grammar: What follows the blank? A noun phrase or -ing form (→ preposition)? A full clause with subject and verb (→ conjunction, relative pronoun or noun-clause opener)? A comma and a new sentence (→ conjunctive adverb)?
- Logic: What is the relationship between the two ideas? Time, cause, result, contrast, condition, purpose, addition?
Often the grammar question eliminates two options, and the logic question decides between the last two. In Part 6, the logic question usually needs the sentence before the blank as well.
Free pages from this lesson
You've reached the end of the free extract
Keep going with the full lesson
The rest of this lesson is in the Noto Tracks TOEIC course, with the practice questions and the answer key.
- 4. Fixed combinations with prepositions
- 8. Noun clauses
- 9. Adverb clauses
- 10. Inversion after negative and restrictive adverbs
- 11. Connectors for Part 6
Also in the full lesson
- Practice questions
- Answer key with explanations
- One-page summary
50 questions, free, with an estimated score.
TOEIC is a registered trademark of ETS. This guide is not endorsed or approved by ETS. Noto Studio is not affiliated with ETS. All examples are original.