Using the correct parts of speech

Sometimes, you will come across questions with very similar given choices of answers like in the 2 examples below. When you see you this, you should know that this question is testing your knowledge of word forms or parts of speech. When answering questions on parts of speech, I suggest that you focus on the words that come before and after the missing word to consider the possible grammatical structure.

Look at the following example:

1. The cloth bag would be more popular if it were more __________.

a) fashion

b) fashioned

c) fashionable

d) fashionista

As you can see, the missing word is after the verb “were” and the determiner “more”, so the most appropriate answer should be an adjective which is c) fashionable as linking verbs like “to be” are often followed by adjectives.

Look at the next example:

2. The problem has not been settled yet. They left the meeting with _________.

a) disappoint

b) disappointed

c) disappoints

d) disappointment

In this example, the missing word comes after the preposition “with”. Normally, a preposition is followed by a noun, a pronoun, or a gerund. Since there isn’t any pronoun or gerund, the only possible answer is d) disappointment, which is a noun.