Why “It Was Approved” Can Still Be Wrong on TOEIC
In TOEIC Reading, the difficult part is not always a long sentence or an unfamiliar word. Sometimes the decision depends on a small reference word such as it, they, this, or that.
These words can replace a noun phrase or point back to an idea. The key question is whether the reader can identify the intended reference clearly.
The trap: the small word is not clear
A pronoun becomes risky when more than one plausible antecedent is available and the sentence does not show which one is intended.
Unclear: The legal team met the compliance team before they submitted the revised guidelines.
Who submitted the guidelines: the legal team or the compliance team? The plural pronoun has two plausible group antecedents.
Part 5 uses incomplete sentences and Part 6 uses text completion. When a question depends on a pronoun or demonstrative, the answer must fit the grammar and the intended reference in context.
Build a clear meaning link
Personal pronouns normally refer back to a person, thing, or group that has already been identified. They also carry information such as person, number, and subject/object form.
Clear
The clients reviewed the proposal and decided to reject it. They disagreed with its terms.
“They” clearly refers to the clients.
Unclear
The legal team met the compliance team after they reviewed the proposal.
Without more context, “they” could refer to either team.
MTC move: When you see a reference word, ask: “What exact noun, group, or earlier idea does this point to?”
TOEIC-style check: one specific thing or a plural group?
In these examples, first decide whether the pronoun refers to one specific object or to more than one specific item.
The sentence mentions one document: the final report. “It” clearly refers to that document.
Do not rely on “it” when two singular antecedents are equally possible
If two singular things are equally plausible antecedents, “it” may not tell the reader which one is meant. If both are meant, the grammar must also be plural.
If only one item was approved, repeat the noun or otherwise identify it clearly: The report was approved on Monday.
This and that can point to a whole idea
This and that can refer back to a whole clause, sentence, or situation. That is a normal English pattern, but the intended situation still needs to be identifiable from context.
Clear
The delivery was delayed by three days. This caused several complaints.
“This” refers to the preceding situation: the three-day delay.
Needs context
The supplier changed the delivery date after the manager contacted the client. This caused confusion.
The sentence may refer to the change, the contact, or the whole sequence. More context may be needed.
This page focuses on referential it. English also uses it as a dummy subject in patterns such as weather and time expressions, where it does not point back to a noun.
Pronoun form must match the intended antecedent and sentence role
A pronoun must fit what it refers to and how it functions in the clause.
In this sentence, “they” clearly refers to the people who finished the proposal. The wording uses team members so the intended plural antecedent is not dependent on regional collective-noun conventions.
Useful accuracy note: English also uses singular they for one person when gender is unknown, unspecified, or irrelevant. The exercises on this page use they mainly for clearly plural antecedents.
Quick TOEIC check
Choose the clearest answer. First identify what the reference word needs to replace.
In question 3, “This” points to the whole preceding situation: the shipment was delayed by customs.
The MTC five-second reference check
When you see it, they, this, that, them, he, or she, use this short coaching routine.
Find the target
What exact noun, group, object, person, or earlier idea does it point to?
Check number
For the specific pattern in front of you, is the intended antecedent singular or plural?
Check role and meaning
Does the form work as the subject or object required by the sentence, and does it fit the intended referent?
Check clarity
If two antecedents are equally plausible, look for wording or context that resolves the reference.
Common mistake patterns
The labels below are MTC coaching labels, not diagnoses. A single missed item is not enough to identify a Learning Block; look for a repeated pattern across several questions, timed sets, or sessions.
Speed Trap
You choose “it” because it sounds natural, without checking what it refers to.
Translator
You translate the sentence, but lose the link between the pronoun and its antecedent.
Over Thinker
You notice several possible meanings and keep searching even after the grammar and context identify one clear answer.
Memoriser
You know the forms “it” and “they” but do not check how the pronoun functions inside the sentence.
Final Word: small words need clear links
Pronoun questions are not only about knowing the words it, they, this, and that. You also need to track what each form refers to and how it functions in the sentence.
Ask what the reference word replaces or points back to. Then check number, sentence role, and context before choosing.
The useful habit is simple: find the target first, then choose the form that points to it clearly and grammatically.
Want to know why small grammar questions keep costing you points?
If you repeatedly miss questions that look easy, the issue may not be knowledge alone. It may involve how you track meaning under time pressure.
The My TOEIC Coach Learning Block Diagnostic can help you investigate repeated patterns such as rushing, overthinking, translating, or memorising without applying the language. Use repeated evidence rather than one missed question.
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