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Reach120

50 TOEFL Build a Sentence questions, with answers

Every item below shows the word set you are given, the sentence they build, and why that word order is the right one. Nothing is hidden behind a click, an email address or a sign-in.

Written by the Reach120 research teamReviewed

  • 1,137

    Build a Sentence items

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The questions, with answers

Each item gives you a short exchange and a set of words. Arrange the words into one grammatical sentence that answers the speaker. The answer and the rule follow immediately underneath.

Easy items

Difficulty labels are Reach120 practice settings, not ETS levels.

  1. 1. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What did you have for lunch today?

    • today
    • delicious
    • had
    • I
    • a
    • were
    • sandwich

    AnswerI had a delicious sandwich today.

    Simple past tense SVO: English past tense statements follow Subject + past-tense verb + Object order. The verb changes form to show the action happened before now.

    Pattern: Subject + V-ed/irregular past + Object.

  2. 2. Basic SVO

    Speaker: Where does your brother work?

    • works
    • the local
    • been
    • downtown
    • He
    • hospital
    • at

    AnswerHe works at the local hospital downtown.

    Present tense SVO: Present simple uses Subject + base verb (+s for third person) + Object. This basic word order is the foundation of English sentence structure.

    For he/she/it, add -s to the verb: She works, He plays.

  3. 3. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What did Maria buy?

    • flowers
    • fresh
    • yesterday
    • She
    • bought
    • has
    • some

    AnswerShe bought some fresh flowers yesterday.

    Simple past tense SVO: English past tense statements follow Subject + past-tense verb + Object order. The verb changes form to show the action happened before now.

    Pattern: Subject + V-ed/irregular past + Object.

  4. 4. Basic SVO

    Speaker: How do they get to school?

    • the
    • yellow
    • bus
    • daily
    • take
    • was
    • They

    AnswerThey take the yellow bus daily.

    Present tense SVO: Present simple uses Subject + base verb (+s for third person) + Object. This basic word order is the foundation of English sentence structure.

    For he/she/it, add -s to the verb: She works, He plays.

  5. 5. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What does your cat do all day?

    • sleeps
    • the
    • couch
    • had
    • warm
    • on
    • It

    AnswerIt sleeps on the warm couch.

    Present tense SVO: Present simple uses Subject + base verb (+s for third person) + Object. This basic word order is the foundation of English sentence structure.

    For he/she/it, add -s to the verb: She works, He plays.

  6. 6. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What did you do after work?

    • watched
    • funny
    • a
    • I
    • does
    • movie
    • tonight

    AnswerI watched a funny movie tonight.

    Simple past tense SVO: English past tense statements follow Subject + past-tense verb + Object order. The verb changes form to show the action happened before now.

    Pattern: Subject + V-ed/irregular past + Object.

  7. 7. Basic SVO

    Speaker: Where did they go?

    • visited
    • science
    • the
    • museum
    • are
    • They
    • today

    AnswerThey visited the science museum today.

    Simple past tense SVO: English past tense statements follow Subject + past-tense verb + Object order. The verb changes form to show the action happened before now.

    Pattern: Subject + V-ed/irregular past + Object.

  8. 8. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What does she study?

    • studies
    • university
    • biology
    • She
    • were
    • the
    • at

    AnswerShe studies biology at the university.

    Present tense SVO: Present simple uses Subject + base verb (+s for third person) + Object. This basic word order is the foundation of English sentence structure.

    For he/she/it, add -s to the verb: She works, He plays.

  9. 9. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What did he drink?

    • coffee
    • being
    • a
    • He
    • ordered
    • iced
    • large

    AnswerHe ordered a large iced coffee.

    Simple past tense SVO: English past tense statements follow Subject + past-tense verb + Object order. The verb changes form to show the action happened before now.

    Pattern: Subject + V-ed/irregular past + Object.

  10. 10. Relative Clauses

    Speaker: Who helps you with homework?

    • brother
    • studies
    • which
    • My
    • math
    • who
    • helps me

    AnswerMy brother who studies math helps me.

    Relative clause with "who": "Who" introduces a relative clause describing a person. The clause comes immediately after the noun it modifies and contains its own verb.

    Use "who" for people: The person WHO does something...

  11. 11. Relative Clauses

    Speaker: What car does he drive?

    • car
    • he bought
    • who
    • The
    • that
    • recently
    • runs smoothly

    AnswerThe car that he bought recently runs smoothly.

    Relative clause with "that": "That" introduces a defining relative clause for people or things. It identifies which specific noun is being discussed.

    Use "that" to identify: The one THAT matches the description...

  12. 12. Relative Clauses

    Speaker: Which restaurant is good?

    • is excellent
    • who
    • place
    • The
    • pasta
    • that
    • serves

    AnswerThe place that serves pasta is excellent.

    Relative clause with "that": "That" introduces a defining relative clause for people or things. It identifies which specific noun is being discussed.

    Use "that" to identify: The one THAT matches the description...

  13. 13. Relative Clauses

    Speaker: Who is your favorite professor?

    • inspires everyone
    • history
    • professor
    • The
    • which
    • who
    • teaches

    AnswerThe professor who teaches history inspires everyone.

    Relative clause with "who": "Who" introduces a relative clause describing a person. The clause comes immediately after the noun it modifies and contains its own verb.

    Use "who" for people: The person WHO does something...

  14. 14. Relative Clauses

    Speaker: Tell me about the movie.

    • which
    • won
    • who
    • awards
    • was remarkable
    • The
    • film

    AnswerThe film which won awards was remarkable.

    Relative clause with "which": "Which" introduces a relative clause describing a thing or concept. Place it directly after the noun being described.

    Use "which" for things: The item WHICH has a quality...

  15. 15. Relative Clauses

    Speaker: Where do you shop?

    • that
    • opened
    • whom
    • has everything
    • recently
    • The
    • store

    AnswerThe store that opened recently has everything.

    Relative clause with "that": "That" introduces a defining relative clause for people or things. It identifies which specific noun is being discussed.

    Use "that" to identify: The one THAT matches the description...

  16. 16. Relative Clauses

    Speaker: Who is the new employee?

    • woman
    • joined
    • Monday
    • seems friendly
    • who
    • The
    • which

    AnswerThe woman who joined Monday seems friendly.

    Relative clause with "who": "Who" introduces a relative clause describing a person. The clause comes immediately after the noun it modifies and contains its own verb.

    Use "who" for people: The person WHO does something...

  17. 17. Relative Clauses

    Speaker: Which apartment is yours?

    • south
    • that
    • faces
    • gets sunlight
    • one
    • The
    • who

    AnswerThe one that faces south gets sunlight.

    Relative clause with "that": "That" introduces a defining relative clause for people or things. It identifies which specific noun is being discussed.

    Use "that" to identify: The one THAT matches the description...

Medium items

Difficulty labels are Reach120 practice settings, not ETS levels.

  1. 18. Basic SVO

    Speaker: How was the conference?

    • really
    • yesterday
    • was
    • I
    • presentation
    • enjoyed
    • keynote
    • the

    AnswerI really enjoyed the keynote presentation yesterday.

    SVO with adverbial modifiers: When adverbs modify the verb, they typically come before the main verb or after the object. Manner adverbs often follow the object.

    Subject + adverb + Verb + Object, or Subject + Verb + Object + adverb.

  2. 19. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What happened at practice?

    • goals
    • three
    • quickly
    • beautiful
    • been
    • today
    • scored
    • She

    AnswerShe quickly scored three beautiful goals today.

    SVO with adverbial modifiers: When adverbs modify the verb, they typically come before the main verb or after the object. Manner adverbs often follow the object.

    Subject + adverb + Verb + Object, or Subject + Verb + Object + adverb.

  3. 20. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What did they cook?

    • carefully
    • traditional
    • a
    • does
    • meal
    • They
    • prepared
    • Italian

    AnswerThey carefully prepared a traditional Italian meal.

    SVO with adverbial modifiers: When adverbs modify the verb, they typically come before the main verb or after the object. Manner adverbs often follow the object.

    Subject + adverb + Verb + Object, or Subject + Verb + Object + adverb.

  4. 21. Basic SVO

    Speaker: How does he study?

    • reads
    • textbook
    • notes
    • every
    • were
    • morning
    • He
    • his

    AnswerHe reads his textbook notes every morning.

    SVO with adverbial modifiers: When adverbs modify the verb, they typically come before the main verb or after the object. Manner adverbs often follow the object.

    Subject + adverb + Verb + Object, or Subject + Verb + Object + adverb.

  5. 22. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What happened at the store?

    • found
    • a
    • great
    • We
    • on
    • deal
    • furniture
    • has

    AnswerWe found a great deal on furniture.

    SVO with adverbial modifiers: When adverbs modify the verb, they typically come before the main verb or after the object. Manner adverbs often follow the object.

    Subject + adverb + Verb + Object, or Subject + Verb + Object + adverb.

  6. 23. Basic SVO

    Speaker: Where did you go for vacation?

    • the
    • in
    • Cambodia
    • We
    • ancient
    • being
    • explored
    • temples

    AnswerWe explored the ancient temples in Cambodia.

    SVO with adverbial modifiers: When adverbs modify the verb, they typically come before the main verb or after the object. Manner adverbs often follow the object.

    Subject + adverb + Verb + Object, or Subject + Verb + Object + adverb.

  7. 24. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What does she do after school?

    • was
    • two
    • hours
    • for
    • She
    • the
    • piano
    • practices

    AnswerShe practices the piano for two hours.

    SVO with adverbial modifiers: When adverbs modify the verb, they typically come before the main verb or after the object. Manner adverbs often follow the object.

    Subject + adverb + Verb + Object, or Subject + Verb + Object + adverb.

  8. 25. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What did the team accomplish?

    • entire
    • project
    • the
    • They
    • successfully
    • completed
    • being
    • early

    AnswerThey successfully completed the entire project early.

    SVO with adverbial modifiers: When adverbs modify the verb, they typically come before the main verb or after the object. Manner adverbs often follow the object.

    Subject + adverb + Verb + Object, or Subject + Verb + Object + adverb.

  9. 26. Basic SVO

    Speaker: How was the restaurant?

    • absolutely
    • there
    • were
    • pasta
    • loved
    • I
    • seafood
    • the

    AnswerI absolutely loved the seafood pasta there.

    SVO with adverbial modifiers: When adverbs modify the verb, they typically come before the main verb or after the object. Manner adverbs often follow the object.

    Subject + adverb + Verb + Object, or Subject + Verb + Object + adverb.

  10. 27. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What did she say?

    • politely
    • the
    • dinner
    • has
    • invitation
    • declined
    • generous
    • She

    AnswerShe politely declined the generous dinner invitation.

    SVO with adverbial modifiers: When adverbs modify the verb, they typically come before the main verb or after the object. Manner adverbs often follow the object.

    Subject + adverb + Verb + Object, or Subject + Verb + Object + adverb.

  11. 28. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What do they do on weekends?

    • elderly
    • been
    • their
    • They
    • usually
    • together
    • visit
    • grandparents

    AnswerThey usually visit their elderly grandparents together.

    SVO with adverbial modifiers: When adverbs modify the verb, they typically come before the main verb or after the object. Manner adverbs often follow the object.

    Subject + adverb + Verb + Object, or Subject + Verb + Object + adverb.

  12. 29. Basic SVO

    Speaker: How was the exam?

    • easily
    • first
    • questions
    • ten
    • the
    • I
    • were
    • answered

    AnswerI easily answered the first ten questions.

    SVO with adverbial modifiers: When adverbs modify the verb, they typically come before the main verb or after the object. Manner adverbs often follow the object.

    Subject + adverb + Verb + Object, or Subject + Verb + Object + adverb.

  13. 30. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What did the children do?

    • happily
    • in
    • played
    • the
    • sunny
    • backyard
    • They
    • does

    AnswerThey happily played in the sunny backyard.

    SVO with adverbial modifiers: When adverbs modify the verb, they typically come before the main verb or after the object. Manner adverbs often follow the object.

    Subject + adverb + Verb + Object, or Subject + Verb + Object + adverb.

  14. 31. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What does he eat for breakfast?

    • eats
    • fresh
    • and
    • yogurt
    • always
    • was
    • He
    • fruit

    AnswerHe always eats fresh fruit and yogurt.

    SVO with adverbial modifiers: When adverbs modify the verb, they typically come before the main verb or after the object. Manner adverbs often follow the object.

    Subject + adverb + Verb + Object, or Subject + Verb + Object + adverb.

  15. 32. Basic SVO

    Speaker: How did she react?

    • are
    • today
    • called
    • She
    • friend
    • best
    • her
    • immediately

    AnswerShe immediately called her best friend today.

    SVO with adverbial modifiers: When adverbs modify the verb, they typically come before the main verb or after the object. Manner adverbs often follow the object.

    Subject + adverb + Verb + Object, or Subject + Verb + Object + adverb.

  16. 33. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What happened at the meeting?

    • approved
    • the
    • finally
    • They
    • been
    • new
    • marketing
    • budget

    AnswerThey finally approved the new marketing budget.

    SVO with adverbial modifiers: When adverbs modify the verb, they typically come before the main verb or after the object. Manner adverbs often follow the object.

    Subject + adverb + Verb + Object, or Subject + Verb + Object + adverb.

  17. 34. Basic SVO

    Speaker: Where does your family shop?

    • downtown
    • farmers market
    • shop
    • We
    • had
    • the
    • regularly
    • at

    AnswerWe regularly shop at the farmers market downtown.

    SVO with adverbial modifiers: When adverbs modify the verb, they typically come before the main verb or after the object. Manner adverbs often follow the object.

    Subject + adverb + Verb + Object, or Subject + Verb + Object + adverb.

Hard items

Difficulty labels are Reach120 practice settings, not ETS levels.

  1. 35. Basic SVO

    Speaker: Tell me about your weekend.

    • reading
    • afternoon
    • the
    • I spent
    • spent
    • entire
    • in the garden
    • novels

    AnswerI spent the entire afternoon reading novels in the garden.

    Complex SVO with multiple modifiers: With multiple modifiers, adjectives precede nouns, adverbs go near verbs, and prepositional phrases come at the end of the clause.

    Build outward: Subject + Verb + Object, then add modifiers around each part.

  2. 36. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What did the teacher say?

    • students
    • concept
    • the
    • all the
    • explained
    • She explained
    • to
    • difficult

    AnswerShe explained the difficult concept to all the students.

    Complex SVO with multiple modifiers: With multiple modifiers, adjectives precede nouns, adverbs go near verbs, and prepositional phrases come at the end of the clause.

    Build outward: Subject + Verb + Object, then add modifiers around each part.

  3. 37. Basic SVO

    Speaker: How does your roommate cook?

    • for
    • organic
    • prepares
    • She always
    • meals
    • the whole family
    • healthy
    • always

    AnswerShe always prepares healthy organic meals for the whole family.

    Complex SVO with multiple modifiers: With multiple modifiers, adjectives precede nouns, adverbs go near verbs, and prepositional phrases come at the end of the clause.

    Build outward: Subject + Verb + Object, then add modifiers around each part.

  4. 38. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What happened at the airport?

    • checked
    • identification
    • the gate
    • at
    • They carefully
    • carefully
    • every
    • document

    AnswerThey carefully checked every identification document at the gate.

    Complex SVO with multiple modifiers: With multiple modifiers, adjectives precede nouns, adverbs go near verbs, and prepositional phrases come at the end of the clause.

    Build outward: Subject + Verb + Object, then add modifiers around each part.

  5. 39. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What does the new intern do?

    • all
    • the
    • diligently
    • client files
    • important
    • daily
    • She diligently
    • organizes

    AnswerShe diligently organizes all the important client files daily.

    Complex SVO with multiple modifiers: With multiple modifiers, adjectives precede nouns, adverbs go near verbs, and prepositional phrases come at the end of the clause.

    Build outward: Subject + Verb + Object, then add modifiers around each part.

  6. 40. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What did your team build?

    • designed
    • a
    • modern
    • for
    • successfully
    • website
    • We successfully
    • the company

    AnswerWe successfully designed a modern website for the company.

    Complex SVO with multiple modifiers: With multiple modifiers, adjectives precede nouns, adverbs go near verbs, and prepositional phrases come at the end of the clause.

    Build outward: Subject + Verb + Object, then add modifiers around each part.

  7. 41. Basic SVO

    Speaker: How was the holiday dinner?

    • lovingly
    • for everyone
    • traditional
    • feast
    • prepared
    • My grandmother
    • grandmother
    • a

    AnswerMy grandmother lovingly prepared a traditional feast for everyone.

    Complex SVO with multiple modifiers: With multiple modifiers, adjectives precede nouns, adverbs go near verbs, and prepositional phrases come at the end of the clause.

    Build outward: Subject + Verb + Object, then add modifiers around each part.

  8. 42. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What did the students learn?

    • the final exam
    • chapter
    • before
    • thoroughly
    • notes
    • the
    • reviewed
    • They thoroughly

    AnswerThey thoroughly reviewed the chapter notes before the final exam.

    Complex SVO with multiple modifiers: With multiple modifiers, adjectives precede nouns, adverbs go near verbs, and prepositional phrases come at the end of the clause.

    Build outward: Subject + Verb + Object, then add modifiers around each part.

  9. 43. Basic SVO

    Speaker: How does the manager handle issues?

    • every
    • customer
    • professional care
    • He calmly
    • calmly
    • complaint
    • addresses
    • with

    AnswerHe calmly addresses every customer complaint with professional care.

    Complex SVO with multiple modifiers: With multiple modifiers, adjectives precede nouns, adverbs go near verbs, and prepositional phrases come at the end of the clause.

    Build outward: Subject + Verb + Object, then add modifiers around each part.

  10. 44. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What do you do before bed?

    • of
    • chapters
    • read
    • I usually
    • a
    • usually
    • novel
    • two or three

    AnswerI usually read two or three chapters of a novel.

    Complex SVO with multiple modifiers: With multiple modifiers, adjectives precede nouns, adverbs go near verbs, and prepositional phrases come at the end of the clause.

    Build outward: Subject + Verb + Object, then add modifiers around each part.

  11. 45. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What happened during the storm?

    • winds
    • destroyed
    • the old
    • The strong
    • wooden fence
    • completely
    • outside
    • strong

    AnswerThe strong winds completely destroyed the old wooden fence outside.

    Complex SVO with multiple modifiers: With multiple modifiers, adjectives precede nouns, adverbs go near verbs, and prepositional phrases come at the end of the clause.

    Build outward: Subject + Verb + Object, then add modifiers around each part.

  12. 46. Basic SVO

    Speaker: How does she maintain her garden?

    • waters
    • flowers
    • all
    • She carefully
    • the
    • carefully
    • every evening
    • beautiful

    AnswerShe carefully waters all the beautiful flowers every evening.

    Complex SVO with multiple modifiers: With multiple modifiers, adjectives precede nouns, adverbs go near verbs, and prepositional phrases come at the end of the clause.

    Build outward: Subject + Verb + Object, then add modifiers around each part.

  13. 47. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What did they discover?

    • in the ground
    • ancient
    • unexpectedly
    • They unexpectedly
    • buried
    • an
    • artifact
    • found

    AnswerThey unexpectedly found an ancient artifact buried in the ground.

    Complex SVO with multiple modifiers: With multiple modifiers, adjectives precede nouns, adverbs go near verbs, and prepositional phrases come at the end of the clause.

    Build outward: Subject + Verb + Object, then add modifiers around each part.

  14. 48. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What does the chef specialize in?

    • dishes
    • fusion
    • creates
    • expertly
    • using
    • unique
    • He expertly
    • fresh local ingredients

    AnswerHe expertly creates unique fusion dishes using fresh local ingredients.

    Complex SVO with multiple modifiers: With multiple modifiers, adjectives precede nouns, adverbs go near verbs, and prepositional phrases come at the end of the clause.

    Build outward: Subject + Verb + Object, then add modifiers around each part.

  15. 49. Basic SVO

    Speaker: What happened at the concert?

    • several
    • famous
    • brilliantly
    • last night
    • singer
    • The famous
    • classic songs
    • performed

    AnswerThe famous singer brilliantly performed several classic songs last night.

    Complex SVO with multiple modifiers: With multiple modifiers, adjectives precede nouns, adverbs go near verbs, and prepositional phrases come at the end of the clause.

    Build outward: Subject + Verb + Object, then add modifiers around each part.

  16. 50. Basic SVO

    Speaker: How did the project end?

    • the satisfied client
    • finished
    • delivered
    • proudly
    • to
    • product
    • the
    • We proudly

    AnswerWe proudly delivered the finished product to the satisfied client.

    Complex SVO with multiple modifiers: With multiple modifiers, adjectives precede nouns, adverbs go near verbs, and prepositional phrases come at the end of the clause.

    Build outward: Subject + Verb + Object, then add modifiers around each part.

These are Reach120 practice items written to the 2026 task format. None is a real TOEFL test item, and difficulty labels are our own practice settings rather than ETS levels.

What the task asks for

Build a Sentence opens the 2026 Writing section. You see a short exchange between two speakers and a bank of words and phrases; you arrange them into one sentence that fits the exchange. There is exactly one accepted arrangement per item, which is why this is the only writing task on the test with a real answer key.

What ETS states

  • The current Writing section lists 12 items: 10 Build a Sentence items, one Write an Email task, and one Academic Discussion task.

  • Per the 2026 specification, the maximum points per Build a Sentence item is 1.

    Treating an item as simply right or wrong is Reach120’s reading of that allocation together with the specification’s machine-scored note — the specification publishes the point allocation, not the words “correct or incorrect”.

  • Build a Sentence is machine-scored, evaluated by rule-based algorithms per the specification’s item-type notes.

    Build a Sentence is machine-scored alongside Reading and Listening (10 machine, 0 AI in the Writing section table). This says nothing about how Reach120 scores.

Sourced from the ETS 2026 test specifications, read 2026-07-27. Everything outside this box is Reach120’s own reading of it.

How to work through the bank

  1. 1Read the speaker’s line first. The exchange decides the tense and the subject far more often than the word set does.
  2. 2Find the verb before anything else, then decide what has to sit in front of it.
  3. 3Say the arrangement out loud before you check. A word order that sounds wrong usually is.
  4. 4Read the rule under the answer even when you were right — the same rule reappears across the bank in different words.

Build a Sentence: common questions

Are these real TOEFL questions?
No. They are Reach120 practice items written to the 2026 Build a Sentence format. ETS does not publish its live item bank, and anyone claiming to reproduce it is not describing something they can have.
How many Build a Sentence items are on the real test?
The current Writing section lists 12 items: 10 Build a Sentence items, one Write an Email task and one Academic Discussion task, per the 2026 specification read on 2026-07-27. A Reach120 full mock serves ten Build a Sentence items to match that shape.
Is there always only one correct answer?
In this task, yes — each item has one accepted arrangement, which is what makes it machine-scorable. That is unlike the email and discussion tasks, which are scored on a 0–5 rubric with no single right answer.
Do I need an account to use this page?
No. Every item, every answer and every explanation on this page is readable with no account and no email address. The scored drill is where an account starts to matter.

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