HSPT: Word usage: let the sentence choose the word
Learn to pick the right word from look-alike and sound-alike choices by checking the job the blank does, then the meaning the sentence needs.
How do you choose between words that look or sound almost the same?
Short answer
First decide what job the blank does: noun, verb, describing word or connecting word. Cross out the choices that can't do that job, then pick the one whose meaning fits.
Know first: Nouns, verbs and adjectives, Connecting words such as in, under and between
Step 1 of 5
Every blank has a job before it has a meaning
Usage questions give you four words that look alike, sound alike or all seem to fit. Usually only one of them can do the grammatical job the blank needs, so check the job first and the meaning second.
The job is often easy to hear. After will, can or to, the blank needs the base form of a verb. After a, the or some, it usually needs a noun. Between two nouns, it often needs a connecting word that shows place or time, such as under or during.
| Pair | Use the first when | Use the second when |
|---|---|---|
| affect / effect | you need a verb meaning influence: Loud music can affect your mood. | you need a noun meaning result: the effect of loud music. As a verb, effect means bring about, as in effect a change. |
| advice / advise | you need a noun: good advice | you need a verb: I advise you to rest |
| accept / except | you mean receive or agree to: accept the award | you mean other than: everyone except Leo |
| fewer / less | you can count the things: fewer chairs | you measure an amount: less noise |
| lie / lay | something rests on its own: lie down | someone puts an object down: lay the towel there |
| than / then | you compare: taller than | you mean next or at that time: and then we left |
| between / among | you mean two people or things: between the twins | you mean a group of three or more: among the finalists |
Most of these pairs split by part of speech or by whether you can count something. Check that before you trust your ear.
Step 2 of 5
Cross out by job, then choose by meaning
Worked example: A verb after will
Choose the word that makes the sentence grammatically correct and logical. The counselor will ___ each student to bring a water bottle on the trip.
- Aadvice
- Badvise
- Cadvisor
- Dadvising
- 1
Name the job
The blank follows will, so it needs the base form of a verb: will run, will help, will ___.
- 2
Cross out by job
Advice is a noun (a piece of advice). Advisor is a noun too, a person. Advising is an -ing form, and will advising isn't standard English.
- 3
Check the meaning
Advise means recommend. The counselor will recommend that each student bring a water bottle makes sense.
- 4
Where the wrong choices come from
All three wrong choices share the same root, so they look right at a glance. Each one fails the job test before you even think about meaning.
Answer
advise. It's the only choice that is a base verb, the form that follows will.
Find the wrong step
A student fills in this blank: Our class took ___ trips to the science center this year than last year. (A) less (B) fewer (C) lesser (D) little
- 1
Notices that the blank compares this year with last year, so it needs a comparing word before than.
- 2
Picks (A) less, because less trips sounds natural in everyday speech.
What went wrong
Trips can be counted: one trip, two trips. Things you count one by one take fewer. Everyday speech often uses less here, which is why it sounds fine.
- 3
Rereads the sentence and moves on.
The fix
Count first. Our class took fewer trips to the science center this year than last year. The answer is (B) fewer. Save less for amounts you measure, like less time.
Step 3 of 5
Try it yourself
Check yourself · Question 1
Choose the word that makes the sentence grammatically correct and logical. The kitten hid ___ the couch until the vacuum cleaner was turned off.
Answer: B
The blank needs a connecting word that shows place: where did the kitten hide? Under the couch is the only choice that names a place.
Check yourself · Question 2
Choose the word that makes the sentence grammatically correct and logical. After the long hike, Dario wanted to ___ on the couch for an hour.
Answer: B
Dario is resting, and nothing is being put down, so you need lie. After to, use the base form.
Check yourself · Question 3
Choose the word that makes the sentence grammatically correct and logical. This year the bake sale raised ___ money than last year, even with more volunteers.
Answer: B
Money is an amount, not something you count one by one. You can count dollars, but you can't say one money, two moneys. Amounts take less.
Trap answer: fewer
Countable idea, uncountable word
- Why it looks right
- Money gets counted all the time, in dollars and cents, so fewer feels right.
- Why it's wrong
- The rule follows the noun in the sentence. Dollars can be counted, but money is a measured amount.
- The right answer
- less, because less money uses an amount word. Fewer dollars would also be correct, if the sentence said dollars.
Common mistake
I picked the word that sounded right when I said the sentence in my head.
- Why it's tempting
- Everyday speech often uses lay for lie and less for fewer, so the wrong word can sound natural.
- Do this instead
- Check the job before you trust your ear. Ask: noun or verb? Can I count it? Is something being put down?
Step 4 of 5
What to remember
Remember
- Name the job of the blank first: noun, verb, describing word or connecting word.
- Use fewer for things you count one by one and less for amounts you measure.
- Lie means rest and takes no object. Lay means put something down and needs an object.
Step 5 of 5
Practice on a real question
Use what you just learned on this question, then check the explanation.
In your own words
What job did the blank do in the practice question, and which choices could you cross out because they were the wrong part of speech?