# TOEFL Build a Sentence: Examples and Tips 2026 | topin

TOEFL guidesBuild a Sentence

Where

Writing, first task

Items

10

Chips

About 5–10 words or short phrases, sometimes with a word already placed

Scoring

Each item is right or wrong; the whole order must be correct

Difficulty

Rises through the set, from simple questions to embedded clauses and passives

## How it works

You read a line from a conversation and see a set of word chips below it. You drag the chips into the one grammatical order that makes a sensible reply. An item counts only if every chip is in the right place.

## Worked example

Your classmate says: "The new study centre opens on Monday." Put the words in order to reply: is / know / do / where / it / you

Show the answer

Do you know where it is?

The reply is a polite question with an embedded question inside it. The main question uses the auxiliary: "Do you know". The embedded part keeps statement order, subject then verb: "where it is", not "where is it".

## A method for Build a Sentence

1. 1  
### Read the context line  
Decide what kind of reply fits: a question, an answer, an offer or an explanation. This tells you whether the sentence starts with an auxiliary, a question word or a subject.
2. 2  
### Find the subject and main verb  
Pair them first. Everything else, from auxiliaries to prepositions, is placed around this core.
3. 3  
### Check for an embedded question  
After phrases such as "do you know", "I wonder" and "could you tell me", the question inside uses statement order: "where the library is".
4. 4  
### Place the small words last  
Articles, prepositions and adverbs such as "already" or "still" have fixed positions. Put them in once the frame of the sentence is clear.
5. 5  
### Read the whole sentence back  
Say it in your head. If it sounds odd or leaves a chip unused, change the order before moving on.

## Traps to avoid

* Using question order inside an embedded question: "Do you know where is it?"
* Putting adverbs such as "often" or "already" in the wrong position.
* Mixing up passive order, such as "has been cancelled the meeting".
* Getting the reply grammatical but wrong for the context line.
* Spending too long on one item and leaving less time for the email and discussion.

## Build a Sentence FAQs

How many Build a Sentence questions are on the TOEFL?

Ten, at the start of the Writing section.

Is there partial credit in Build a Sentence?

No. Each item is right or wrong, so every chip has to be in the correct place.

How long do I have for Build a Sentence?

It shares the Writing section's roughly 23 minutes with the email (7 minutes) and the academic discussion (10 minutes), so aim to finish the ten items in a few minutes.

What grammar does Build a Sentence test?

Mostly word order: questions, embedded questions, passives, relative clauses and the position of adverbs and prepositions.

## Try Build a Sentence under real timing

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