Grammar and Vocabulary in Context (文法・語彙)
What this domain tests
This section checks whether you can choose the form or word that makes a sentence grammatical and meaningful. Tochigi-style items include 語形変化 (changing a word to the correct form), 適語補充 (choosing the missing word), and tense, voice, agreement, and part-of-speech decisions.
Core rules and concepts
- Read the whole sentence first; the missing form is decided by the grammar around it, not by the word alone.
- Identify the subject and verb. Long phrases between them do not change agreement: 'The box of books is heavy.'
- Decide voice: if the subject receives the action, use a past participle. If it does the action, use an -ing form or active verb.
- After prepositions and some verbs, use a noun or -ing form: 'good at drawing,' 'enjoy reading.'
- Check irregular past forms and past participles: wrote/written, went/gone, took/taken.
- For word-form items, decide whether the gap needs a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb.
Worked example
'This is the book ( ) by the famous writer.' Choices: wrote / written / writing / to write.
Reasoning: 'The book' does not write; it is written by the writer. The phrase after the noun is a reduced passive relative clause: 'which was written by.' The correct form is the past participle 'written.' 'Wrote' is active past, 'writing' is active -ing, and 'to write' suggests purpose, which does not fit.
Traps that cost marks
- Choosing by sound or by the Japanese meaning instead of by sentence structure.
- Missing a singular subject hidden behind a plural noun.
- Using the past tense where a past participle is required.
- Confusing similar words: lend/borrow, bring/take, say/tell, few/little.
Exam habit
Say the sentence silently with each choice. The wrong form often becomes obvious when the whole sentence is read, not just the gap.