TOEIC Part 5 Who vs Which vs That Anchor Drill
Choose who when the blank points back to a person. Choose which when it points back to a thing and commas mark added information. Choose that when the following detail identifies exactly which person, thing or group is meant.
Thing after a comma = which
Identifying detail with no comma = often that
Choose who
Look left for a person or group: an employee, applicant, manager, technician, consultant or customer. The blank connects that person to the information that follows.
Choose which
Look left for a thing, system, report, product, building or company. When commas separate added information, which is the reliable TOEIC choice.
Choose that
Look for information that identifies the exact person, thing or group. Strong signals include everything, anything, nothing, all, the only and the first.
Find the reference and check the commas
Do not choose from memory alone. First identify the person or thing before the blank. Then check whether commas mark added information or whether the detail is needed to identify the exact one.
The technician ___ inspected the equipment will submit a written report.
Answer: whoThe technician is the anchor. The blank points back to a person, so the sentence needs who.
The renovated lobby, ___ now includes a visitor lounge, reopened Monday.
Answer: whichThe renovated lobby, is the anchor. The lobby is a thing, and the commas add information, so the sentence needs which.
Everything ___ was discussed during the meeting will remain confidential.
Answer: thatEverything is the anchor. The following detail identifies all information included, so the sentence needs that.
The drill contains 2 untimed Warm-Up questions, 5 timed Anchor Drill questions and 5 timed New Context questions.
What your result shows
Your result shows whether you can identify the word before the blank, use the comma signal and separate a person, a thing with added information and an identifying detail under time pressure. In Review, check the reference and punctuation rather than relying on a memorised favourite.
If you missed who
Look immediately before the blank for a person or group. Common references include an employee, applicant, manager, technician, consultant, customer or a named person.
If you missed which
Find the thing before the blank, then check the punctuation. A report, system, product, building or company followed by added information between commas normally points to which.
If you missed that
Look for a detail needed to identify the exact person, thing or group. Strong signals include everything, anything, nothing, all, the only and the first.
Use Review in this order: check the correct answer, locate the person or thing before the blank, check the commas, decide added information versus identifying detail, and then read the reusable pattern.