TOEFL Build a Sentence
The first task of the new TOEFL Writing section: put words in the right order to complete a reply in a short conversation.
One person says something; you build the other person's answer from a set of words. The task tests word order, questions and grammar. Every word must be in the right place to score, so precision matters more than speed.
How the Task Works
Ten short conversations, about seven minutes in total.
?The Task at a Glance
- Prompt One speaker says a short line in a campus or everyday situation.
- Response The reply has gaps. Some words may already be in place.
- Word bank Single words or short chunks. Sometimes there is one word too many.
- Scoring All or nothing: the item counts only if every word is in the right position.
- Timing Ten items in about seven minutes, so roughly 40 seconds each.
A: I'm going to the library after class.
B: Do you know what time it closes tonight? (extra word: does)
Practice: 8 Items
Complete each reply. Watch the final punctuation: is it a question or a statement?
Show all answers
Word Order Rules That Score
Most items test a few patterns again and again.
| Pattern | Order | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Statement | subject + verb + object + place + time | I will send it to you by Friday. |
| Question | (question word) + helper verb + subject + main verb | When is the essay due? |
| Embedded question | Do you know / Could you tell me + question word + subject + verb | Could you tell me where it is? |
| Comparison | more / -er + adjective + than | It was more interesting than I expected. |
| Relative clause | noun + (that / who) + subject + verb | The one I found is closer to campus. |
The most common trap: after "Do you know…" or "Could you tell me…", the verb does not move before the subject.
Strategies
How to get each item right in about 40 seconds.
✓Five Tips
- Check the end A question mark or a full stop tells you which word order you need.
- Find the verb Place the main verb first, then build the subject and the rest around it.
- Use agreement "has to" or "have to"? The subject tells you, and rules out the extra word.
- Time goes last Expressions like "tonight" or "by Friday" usually end the sentence.
- Read it aloud in your head A correct sentence sounds natural as a reply to the first speaker.
Every word in its place.
This task rewards solid basic grammar. Learn the word order patterns, and the points follow.
Punctuation. Verb. Subject. Order.
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