Grammar accounts for approximately 35% of the questions in the TOEIC Reading section. In Parts 5 and 6, each grammar question follows recurring patterns — the same structures appear from one session to the next. Master these 10 fundamental rules and you will score directly better.
This guide details the 10 most frequently tested TOEIC grammar rules, with concrete examples and tips for memorising them.
Rule 1 — Verb tenses and sequence of tenses
The TOEIC systematically tests your ability to choose the right verb tense according to context.
Time markers to know:
| Marker | Tense used |
|---|---|
| already, yet, just, since, for | Present Perfect |
| yesterday, last week, in 2020 | Simple Past |
| tomorrow, next week, by Friday | Future Simple / Future Perfect |
| when + simple past | Past Perfect for prior action |
| currently, right now | Present Continuous |
Typical TOEIC Part 5 example:
The report ______ since last Tuesday.
(A) has been delayed (B) delays (C) will delay (D) delayed
✅ Answer: (A) — "since" → Present Perfect
Practice: ECL Anglais Grammar Module — filter by "tenses" or "sequence of tenses"
Rule 2 — Word Forms
Word Forms questions are among the most frequent in Part 5. The TOEIC tests your ability to identify the correct grammatical form of a word in a sentence: noun, verb, adjective, or adverb.
Key word families to know:
| Verb | Noun | Adjective | Adverb |
|---|---|---|---|
| produce | production / productivity | productive | productively |
| manage | management / manager | managerial | — |
| achieve | achievement | achievable | — |
| decide | decision | decisive | decisively |
| apply | application / applicant | applicable | — |
Strategy: First identify the position of the word in the sentence (subject = noun, modifies a noun = adjective, modifies a verb = adverb).
Example:
The new ______ guidelines were approved by the board.
(A) regulate (B) regulation (C) regulatory (D) regularly
✅ Answer: (C) — adjective modifying "guidelines"
Practice: ECL Anglais Word Forms Module — 109 dedicated questions
Rule 3 — Prepositions of time and place
Prepositions are constantly tested in the TOEIC. Confusion between in / on / at and by / until / before is the source of many errors.
Prepositions of time:
| Preposition | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| at | Precise time, specific moment | at 3 p.m., at noon |
| on | Day or date | on Monday, on July 4th |
| in | Month, year, period | in July, in 2026, in the morning |
| by | Deadline (no later than) | by Friday, by the end of the month |
| until / till | Continuous duration | until next week |
| within | Within a time frame | within 24 hours |
Prepositions of place:
| Preposition | Use |
|---|---|
| at | Specific point |
| in | Enclosed space / city / country |
| on | Surface |
Typical TOEIC example:
The contract must be submitted ______ the 15th of March.
(A) until (B) by (C) on (D) in
✅ Answer: (B) — deadline → "by"
Rule 4 — Articles (a, an, the, zero article)
Articles are among the most subtle rules but appear regularly in Parts 5 and 6.
Essential rule:
- The → specific thing already mentioned or unique in the world
- A / an → first mention, non-specific thing
- Zero article → generic plural, uncountable nouns
Examples:
The company hired ______ experienced engineer.
✅ "an" (first mention, vowel sound)______ management announced new policies.
✅ Zero article ("management" = general concept)
Common traps: "the information" (always singular, no article), "feedback" (uncountable).
Rule 5 — The passive voice
The TOEIC frequently uses the passive voice in business and administrative contexts.
Structure: subject + be (conjugated) + past participle
| Tense | Active | Passive |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | sends | is sent |
| Simple Past | sent | was sent |
| Present Perfect | has sent | has been sent |
| Future | will send | will be sent |
| Modal | should send | should be sent |
Clues signalling the passive voice in the TOEIC:
- The subject is the "receiver" of the action
- Presence of "by + agent" (optional)
- Typical verbs: approve, submit, review, distribute, schedule
Example:
The annual report ______ by the board next week.
(A) reviews (B) will be reviewed (C) reviewing (D) reviewed
✅ Answer: (B) — passive subject + future
Rule 6 — Logical connectors
In Parts 6 and 7, logical connectors signal the relationships between ideas. Confusing them costs points.
Categories of connectors tested:
| Function | Connectors |
|---|---|
| Addition | furthermore, moreover, in addition, also |
| Contrast | however, nevertheless, on the other hand, while |
| Cause | because, since, as, due to, owing to |
| Consequence | therefore, thus, consequently, as a result |
| Concession | although, even though, despite, in spite of |
| Condition | if, unless, provided that, as long as |
Key distinction:
- although / even though → followed by subject + verb
- despite / in spite of → followed by a noun or gerund (-ing)
______ the poor weather, the meeting took place as planned.
(A) Although (B) Despite (C) However (D) Because
✅ Answer: (B) — followed by a noun phrase ("the poor weather")
Rule 7 — Relative pronouns (who, which, that, whose)
Relative pronouns appear regularly to link two clauses.
| Relative pronoun | Use |
|---|---|
| who | People (subject) |
| whom | People (object, formal) |
| which | Things, animals |
| that | People or things (restrictive) |
| whose | Possession (person or thing) |
| where | Place |
| when | Time |
TOEIC example:
The candidate ______ résumé was most impressive received the offer.
(A) who (B) which (C) whose (D) that
✅ Answer: (C) — possession ("résumé" belongs to the candidate)
Rule 8 — Modals and their nuances
Modals (can, could, may, might, must, should, have to...) test your understanding of nuances of probability, obligation, and permission.
| Modal | Main meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| must | Strong obligation | You must wear a badge. |
| have to | External obligation | I have to submit it by Friday. |
| should | Recommendation | You should confirm your attendance. |
| may / might | Possibility | The flight may be delayed. |
| can / could | Ability / permission | Can you send the report? |
| would | Conditional | I would appreciate a reply. |
Common trap: "must not" = prohibition (strong); "do not have to" = not required (no obligation). These are opposites.
Rule 9 — Comparatives and superlatives
The TOEIC tests comparative and superlative forms, particularly in business contexts.
Formation:
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| fast | faster (than) | the fastest |
| efficient | more efficient (than) | the most efficient |
| good | better (than) | the best |
| bad | worse (than) | the worst |
Fixed structures to memorise:
- as + adj + as → as ... as
- the + superlative + of/in → the most ... of
- the more... the more... → the more... the more...
Our new software is ______ efficient than the previous version.
(A) more (B) most (C) much (D) very
✅ Answer: (A) — comparative with two terms
Rule 10 — Gerund vs infinitive
Some verbs are followed by the gerund (-ing), others by the infinitive (to + base form), and some accept both with a difference in meaning.
Verbs + gerund:
avoid, consider, enjoy, finish, recommend, suggest, mind, keep, practice
Verbs + infinitive:
agree, decide, expect, hope, manage, plan, promise, refuse, want, wish
Verbs accepting both (with nuance):
- remember + ing (remember a past event) vs remember + to (remember to do something)
- stop + ing (stop doing) vs stop + to (stop in order to do)
The manager suggested ______ the deadline.
(A) to extend (B) extending (C) extended (D) extends
✅ Answer: (B) — "suggest" + gerund
How to practise these 10 rules with ECL Anglais
ECL Anglais offers 2,669 grammar questions covering all these rules, plus 109 dedicated Word Forms questions.
Targeted training plan (2 weeks):
| Day | Focus | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| D1-D2 | Verb tenses + sequence of tenses | 30 grammar questions |
| D3-D4 | Word Forms | 30 word forms questions |
| D5-D6 | Prepositions + articles | 30 grammar questions |
| D7 | Week 1 review | 20 mixed questions |
| D8-D9 | Passive voice + connectors | 30 grammar questions |
| D10-D11 | Relative pronouns + modals | 30 grammar questions |
| D12-D13 | Comparatives + gerund/infinitive | 30 grammar questions |
| D14 | Consolidation test | 40 random questions |
Total: ~270 questions in 2 weeks → estimated gain of 30 to 50 points on TOEIC Part 5.
10 corrected TOEIC grammar exercises
Test your mastery of the 10 rules above with these 10 TOEIC-format questions. Answers and detailed explanations at the bottom of each exercise.
Exercise 1 — Verb tense
By the time the meeting starts, the report ______ for two hours already.
A) will print B) will be printed C) will have been printing D) has printed
See the answer
Answer: C (will have been printing) — Future Perfect Continuous: action in progress for 2 hours at a future moment.
Exercise 2 — Word form
The CEO requested a ______ review of all departmental budgets.
A) compete B) competition C) competitive D) competitively
See the answer
Answer: C (competitive) — Adjective modifying "review".
Exercise 3 — Preposition of time
The training session is scheduled ______ Monday morning at 9 a.m.
A) on B) in C) at D) by
See the answer
Answer: A (on) — "On + day of the week" is the basic rule.
Exercise 4 — Article
Mr. Lee is ______ most experienced consultant in our firm.
A) a B) an C) the D) (no article)
See the answer
Answer: C (the) — Before a superlative, "the" is always used.
Exercise 5 — Passive voice
The proposal ______ by the board last Friday.
A) approved B) was approved C) has approving D) approving
See the answer
Answer: B (was approved) — Passive in the simple past: the subject (proposal) receives the action.
Exercise 6 — Connector
______ the heavy rain, the outdoor event proceeded as scheduled.
A) Although B) Despite C) Because D) Whereas
See the answer
Answer: B (Despite) — "Despite + noun" introduces the concession. "Although" would require a clause.
Exercise 7 — Relative pronoun
The conference ______ we attended last week was very informative.
A) who B) which C) whose D) what
See the answer
Answer: B (which) — Object relative pronoun for a thing; "that" would also be correct.
Exercise 8 — Modal
You ______ bring an ID card to enter the building.
A) might B) must C) could D) would
See the answer
Answer: B (must) — Strong obligation (security rule). "Might" = possibility, "could" = ability.
Exercise 9 — Comparative
This year's revenue is ______ than last year's.
A) high B) higher C) highest D) the highest
See the answer
Answer: B (higher) — Comparative of superiority with "than".
Exercise 10 — Gerund vs infinitive
The team manager decided ______ the project deadline.
A) extending B) to extend C) extend D) extended
See the answer
Answer: B (to extend) — "Decide" is followed by the infinitive "to + base form".
2,669 free TOEIC grammar exercises
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Try the exercisesFAQ — TOEIC Grammar
What is the most frequently tested grammar rule in the TOEIC?
Word Forms and verb tenses are systematically present in every TOEIC session. If you could only work on two points, these are the ones.
Do you need to know all grammar rules to score 700+ in the TOEIC?
No. The TOEIC tests a limited set of structures. By mastering these 10 fundamental rules, you cover 80 to 85% of grammar questions in Parts 5 and 6.
How many grammar questions are there in the TOEIC Reading section?
TOEIC Part 5 contains 30 incomplete sentences and Part 6 contains 4 cloze texts (12 questions). That makes 42 questions directly related to grammar out of 100 Reading questions in total.
Does ECL Anglais cover the same grammar structures as the TOEIC?
Yes. The 2,669 ECL Anglais grammar questions cover all points tested in the TOEIC: verb tenses, word forms, prepositions, passive voice, connectors, relative pronouns, modals, comparatives, and gerunds. The 4-choice MCQ format is identical.