TOEIC Part 5 Anchor Drill

Although vs But: Use One Contrast Signal

This drill trains you to recognise how two contrasting ideas are connected. Use although to introduce a concessive clause. Use but to coordinate contrasting clauses, predicates, actions, or qualities. Check the structure before choosing.

A concessive clause introducing the contrast = although
Two parallel or coordinated parts turning in opposite directions = but
Use one contrast signal—not both together.

Choose although

Use although when the blank introduces a concessive dependent clause. In this drill, that pattern normally appears at the beginning: Although + subject + verb, main clause. The opening clause gives one situation, and the main clause gives an unexpected result.

Choose but

Use but when the sentence coordinates two contrasting parts. The parts may be complete clauses, shared-subject verb phrases, predicates, or qualities. Look for a subject or auxiliary that continues across the blank.

How to find the anchor

Do not choose only because the sentence contains two opposite ideas. First check how those ideas are joined. Is the blank opening a dependent contrast clause, or connecting parallel parts inside the sentence?

Although signals: the blank begins a clause with its own subject and verb, followed by a comma and an independent main clause. The main clause gives a result that contrasts with the opening situation.

But signals: the sentence already has its subject or auxiliary, and the words after the blank continue with a parallel predicate, action, quality, or result. The coordinator marks the turn between those parts.

___ the first shipment arrived two days late, the retailer kept the original launch date.

Answer: although

the first shipment arrived two days late, is the anchor. The blank introduces the opening concessive clause, and the independent main clause gives the unexpected result. Use although once; do not add but before the main clause.

The first shipment arrived two days late ___ reached the retailer before the launch.

Answer: but

arrived two days late is the anchor. The same subject continues from one action to the contrasting result, so but coordinates the two verb phrases.

The choices contrast although with but. Tap the clause boundary, shared subject, auxiliary, or parallel-predicate anchor before choosing.

Start the Anchor Drill

After the drill

What your result reveals

Your score shows whether you recognised how the two contrasting ideas were connected: whether the blank introduced a concessive clause with although, or coordinated parallel clauses, predicates, actions, or qualities with but. Use the Review to check the complete structure before comparing the two choices.

If although caused problems

Review the opening-clause pattern: Although + subject + verb, main clause. The first clause gives one situation, and the main clause gives an unexpected or limiting result. Check the complete clause and the comma before choosing.

If but caused problems

Review coordinated structures such as subject + predicate + but + contrasting predicate. The subject or auxiliary may be shared across the blank. Confirm that the words after but continue a parallel clause, action, result, or quality.

If false anchors or timing caused problems

You may be choosing only because the ideas contrast. First locate the clause boundary, comma, shared subject, auxiliary, or parallel predicate. Then decide whether the sentence needs subordination with although or coordination with but.

Use the Review in this order: check the correct answer, identify the exact clause or coordination anchor, read why that structure points to although or but, then compare the complete sentence with the rejected choice. Use one contrast signal; do not add but to a sentence that already uses although for the same contrast.

Take the Learning Block Diagnostic Find Your TOEIC Plan Practise Again