6.3 Pronoun Cases, Core Prepositions & Auxiliary Modals

Pronoun Cases, Core Prepositions & Auxiliary Modals

In Part 1 of the TOEIC Bridge Reading section, functional closed-class words—specifically pronouns, prepositions, and modal auxiliaries—appear frequently across sentence completion questions. Unlike open-class content words that expand continuously, closed-class functional words follow precise, predictable grammatical systems. Mastering pronoun cases, temporal and spatial prepositions, and modal auxiliary syntax provides test takers with dependable marks on test day.

Understanding how these function words interact with sentence structure allows candidates to solve questions rapidly without hesitation.

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The English Pronoun Case System

Pronouns substitute for noun phrases to prevent repetitive phrasing. In English, personal pronouns change form based on syntactic case: subject, object, possessive adjective, possessive pronoun, and reflexive.

1. Subject vs. Object Pronouns

• Subject Pronouns perform the action and precede the predicate verb: "When the shipment arrived, she inspected the contents."
• Object Pronouns receive the action of a transitive verb or follow a preposition: "The manager congratulated them." / "Send the itinerary directly to him."

2. Possessive Adjectives vs. Possessive Pronouns

• Possessive Adjectives (determiners) must precede and modify a noun: "Each participant received their packet at the registration desk."
• Possessive Pronouns replace both the determiner and the noun, functioning independently: "Ms. Diaz brought her laptop, but Mr. Clark forgot his." (his = his laptop). "Your badge is on the desk, and mine is in the briefcase."
• Punctuation Alert: Never confuse the possessive adjective its (no apostrophe) with the contraction it's (it is). A TOEIC Bridge Part 1 item testing possession always uses its: "The printer stopped working because its paper tray was empty."

3. Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns serve two grammatical roles:

• True Reflexive Function: Used when the subject and direct object represent the exact same entity: "Mr. Sato introduced himself to the new staff."
• Emphatic Function: Emphasizes that the subject performed an action independently, often in the phrase by + reflexive pronoun (alone or unaided): "The assistant organized the supply closet by herself."
• Non-Standard Distractor Warning: Forms such as theirselves or hisself are non-standard English and are always incorrect distractors on official examinations.

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Core Prepositions of Time and Place

Prepositions establish relationships of time, spatial location, and direction. Test questions frequently require selecting the exact preposition matching a noun complement.

Prepositions of Time

The prepositions at, on, and in follow a hierarchy from specific points to broad intervals:

• at (Exact clock times and fixed points): at 9:30 AM, at noon, at the start of the meeting.
• on (Specific days and calendar dates): on Monday, on October 12, on weekdays.
• in (Broader intervals—months, seasons, years, parts of the day): in August, in 2026, in the spring, in the morning (Exception: at night).

Deadline vs. Duration: By, Until, For, and During

• by denotes a strict deadline; the action must occur at or before that cutoff: "Submit the reimbursement request by 5:00 PM on Friday."
• until (or till) indicates a continuous state that continues up to a specific endpoint: "The service desk will remain open until 8:00 PM."
• for expresses duration over a quantified span of time: "Ms. Laurent worked in marketing for six years."
• during precedes a named event or nominal timeframe: "Phones must be silenced during the seminar."

Prepositions of Place

• at indicates an exact address, specific point, or venue: "The shuttle stops at 140 Market Street." / "Meet the client at the front entrance."
• in indicates enclosed spaces, rooms, cities, and countries: "The spare toner is in the cabinet." / "Our regional office is in Singapore."
• on indicates physical contact with a surface, floors of a building, or streets: "The remote is resting on the table." / "The office is on the third floor." / "The store is on Pine Street."

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Essential Modal Auxiliaries at CEFR A1–B1

Modal auxiliaries express concepts such as necessity, permission, ability, or advice.

The Bare Infinitive Structural Rule

The primary structural rule governing modal verbs is syntactic: $\text{Modal Auxiliary} + \textbf{Base Form of Verb (Bare Infinitive)}$ Modal verbs (can, could, should, must, may, might, will, would) are never followed by an infinitive with to, a gerund (-ing), or an inflected past tense form (-ed). Modals never take third-person singular -s:

• Correct: "All visitors must register at the reception desk."
• Incorrect: "All visitors must to register at the reception desk."

Meanings and Workplace Functions

Negative Distinctions: Distinguish must not (strict prohibition: "Employees must not share passwords") from do not have to (lack of obligation: "Staff do not have to work on holidays").

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Realistic Part 1 Illustrated Walkthrough

Test Item:
All department supervisors must submit ______ quarterly budget forecasts by Friday afternoon.
(A) they
(B) them
(C) their
(D) theirs

Step-by-step grammatical analysis:

1. Analyze the Structural Environment: The blank appears directly before the compound noun phrase "quarterly budget forecasts", which acts as the direct object of "must submit".
2. Determine the Required Word Class: A word that precedes a noun to indicate ownership is a possessive adjective (determiner).
3. Evaluate the Options:
   • Option (A) they is a subject pronoun.
   • Option (B) them is an object pronoun.
   • Option (C) their is the third-person plural possessive adjective, modifying quarterly budget forecasts and agreeing with All department supervisors.
   • Option (D) theirs is a possessive pronoun that stands alone without a noun.
4. Conclusion: Option (C) their is the only grammatically correct selection.