TOEIC › Conjunctions
Stock positions will not be refunded, ______________ the board understands shareholder's concerns, and will meet personally with any concerned parties.
but
and
for
therefore
Here, two independent clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction, it is up to you to choose the one that most accurately reflects the shift in the sentence. The first clause makes the blunt statement that "stock positions will not be refunded," not exactly reassuring for concerned stockholders. The second clause then changes the tone by offering reassurance. Therefore, "but" is the correct coordinating conjunction.
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
I am either going to yoga ___________ kickboxing class tonight, both of which take place at 7:00pm.
or
and
but
so
The correct answer is "or." We know that the speaker is making a choice between two things, and cannot do both activities since they both take place at 7:00pm, which is why the answer is not "and." The conjunctions "but" and "so" do not make sense in this sentence. The best choice is "or."
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
I will either buy a computer _____________ a television; I cannot afford both.
or
nor
for
and
The correct answer is "or." This sentence presents a choice between two things--a computer or a television. The biggest clue that "or" is the correct conjunction is the word "either." The other conjunctions are not appropriate in this sentence.
Which of the following words best completes the sentence?
Neither the painter _________________ the sculptor had received formal training.
nor
or
and
for
The correct answer is "nor." This conjunction is used when two things are presented in the negative sense, in combination with the word "neither." "And" "for" and "or" are all incorrect when used in combination with the word "neither."
Please choose the correct conjunction to complete the sentence.
We could go to the movies _______________ the park.
or
and
None of these
while
Or is the correct answer because we are linking two alternative ideas, the speakers two completely different options. And is used to connect similar ideas, but going to the park or the movies are two different options. While is used to express when two or more things are happening at the same time, but in this sentence the speaker can only choose one option.
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
I stayed in the sun too long, _______ I got a sunburn.
so
for
but
or
The correct answer is "so." The conjunction "so" shows a cause and effect relationship, which is the case in this sentence: the subject was in the sun too long, which caused a sunburn. The word "so" is similar in meaning to the word "therefore." The sentence would not make sense if the other conjunctions ("or", "but", and "for") were placed in the blank. That is why the best choice is "so."
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
I want to go to the movies, ________ my parents won't let me.
but
and
so
or
The correct answer is "but." In this sentence, the meaning of "but" can be understood the same way as the word "however." This sentence has a contrast--the subject wants to do something but cannot. If the sentence conveyed an alternative we might consider "or" but this sentence does not. The only conjunction that shows this contrast in meaning is "but," so it is the best choice.
Neither my grandmother __________________ my grandfather has ever left the country.
nor
or
and
but
The correct answer is "nor." This is the only conjunction that is appropriate to be used when paired with the word "neither," making two ideas negative. This sentence refers to two people, neither of whom has left the country, so "nor" is the best choice.
Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence.
It was raining, ___________ we chose to go to the aquarium instead of the beach.
so
but
for
and
The correct answer is "so." This is because the word "so" implies causation. The rain caused the subjects of this sentence to make a choice. We are not linking the two ideas, which would require the word "and" and we are not providing a contrast, which would require the word "but." The word "for" should not be used in this sentence because we are not providing an explanation in the second clause of the sentence.
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
When I moved to a new city, I thought I would hate it, _________ I came to see it as a wonderful place.
but
so
and
or
The best choice is "but." We know that this sentence requires the word "but" because there is a contrast--at first the speaker thought one thing, but then changed her mind. The other options link sentences in different ways that aren't appropriate in this sentence.