Shadowing Practice: TOEFL 2026 Complete a Sentence Task: Step-by-Step Strategies and Practice (Part 1) - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
78 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
This video is for everyone who needs help with the new TOEFL Build a Sentence task.
2
In the Build a Sentence task, test takers first read a complete sentence, followed by a second sentence in which words or phrases are scrambled.
3
Test takers must rearrange the words to form a grammatically correct sentence that fits the situation.
4
You can expect about 6 to 12 Build a Sentence questions.
5
You'll have approximately 6 to 8 minutes to complete all the questions.
6
Let's explore a sequence of steps that will help you complete this task more efficiently.
7
Step 1.
8
Use the context from the prompt to guide you.
9
The prompt says, they've already booked flights for next month.
10
Booking flights strongly suggests an event or a future plan that's already arranged.
11
Step 2.
12
Check if it's a statement or a question.
13
The scrambled sentence ends with a question mark.
14
There are also two strong signals in the word bank, the WH word which and the auxiliary verb are.
15
This tells us that the subject -verb -word order will change into auxiliary verb -subject -verb -word order.
16
Step 3.
17
Find the main verb.
18
The action here is attending.
19
Step 4.
20
Ask who is performing the action.
21
The answer is they.
22
They is the subject.
23
Step 5.
24
Build the core structure for the pattern auxiliary verb subject verb
25
this gets us are they attending step 6 group the rest
26
of the words into meaningful chunks the only meaningful combination is
27
which conference it is also the focus of the question
28
and must be placed at the beginning of the sentence we
29
are asking about the object of the verb the conference in
30
a statement the object follows the verb they are attending a conference.
31
When we form a WH question about the object, the structure changes into WH word plus object plus auxiliary verb plus subject plus verb.
32
This pattern is fundamental to English sentence structure and is frequently seen in a build a sentence task.
33
Let's analyze one more example with a more advanced sentence pattern.
34
This is a slightly more challenging task because it has multiple verbs, multiple auxiliaries, and multiple subjects in a scrambled sentence.
35
When you have multiple verbs, multiple auxiliaries, and multiple subjects,
36
the first move is to sort the words into logical groups before you try to build the full sentence.
37
First, identify the main action verbs, then match them with the correct auxiliaries.
38
Notice that we have two action verbs in the word bank, know and working on.
39
The verb working on ends in ing.
40
In English, ing verbs in this structure require a form of be, either am working, is working, or are working.
41
So immediately we look for an auxiliary verb in the word bank.
42
We see is.
43
Next look for the subject.
44
We have two options to choose from, you and she.
45
We can't use you with is working on because of the subject verb agreement.
46
We say she is but you are.
47
She is working on is the first logical and grammatically correct group of words for this sentence.
48
Another action verb in the word bank is no. Quickly check the word bank for a matching auxiliary and subject.
49
The only variants that fit both logically and grammatically into this group are do and you.
50
Once we've identified our two strong groups, do you know and she is working on, we're left with the remaining words, which presentation.
51
So these two words naturally combine into one chunk, which presentation.
52
Now we have three clear groups
53
and combine them into a logical sequence do you know
54
which presentation she is working on finally why do we say do you know
55
which presentation she is working on and not do you know
56
which presentation is she working on the reason is
57
that this sentence consists of two parts the main clause do you know
58
and a noun clause
59
which part of the presentation she is working on a noun clause behaves like a noun
60
and functions as the object of the verb know in other
61
words the speaker is asking do you know something we replace something with
62
which presentation she is working on
63
and here is the key rule in noun clauses we use direct statement word order not a question word order
64
so inside the noun clause the structure stays subject plus auxiliary plus verb she is working on
65
or subject plus verb depending on the tense
66
and the type of action the rest of the video will
67
ask you to unscramble several sentences each sentence will follow one
68
of these patterns w -h -word plus object plus auxiliary plus subject plus verb
69
and auxiliary plus subject plus verb plus w -h -word plus noun plus subject plus auxiliary plus verb.
70
Try to apply the tips and strategies discussed earlier in the video and share your answers in the comments section.
71
Let us know which strategy or tip you found most helpful.
72
Thank you.
73
Thank you.
74
Thank you.
75
Thank you.
76
For more tips, strategies, and TOEFL practice, check out our TOEFL writing for an academic discussion course at udemy .com.
77
Please see the link to the course in the description to this video.
78
Leave your comments and don't forget to like and subscribe to our channel.
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
📺 Same Channel
✨ Recommend Video
B21
188 sentences
TOEFL 2026 Build a Sentence Tips, Tricks and Examples
TOEFL PrepUniversity Students
B22
36 sentences
TOEFL Speaking 2026 Task 1+2 Practice #072 - Full Set
TOEFL PrepUniversity Students
B21
147 sentences
TOEFL 2026 Email — Tips, Sample Answer and Templates
TOEFL PrepUniversity Students
B23
13 sentences
⭐TOEFL Speaking Task 1 - Listen & Repeat Practice #320 (⭐Advanced)
TOEFL PrepUniversity Students
B21
458 sentences
Как набрать больше 100 баллов TOEFL без особых усилий
TOEFL PrepUniversity Students
B24
34 sentences
Shadowing Sentences For TOEFL 2026 Speaking Task 1 – Listen & Repeat
TOEFL PrepUniversity Students
B22
448 sentences
TOEFL Writing 2026: Build a Sentence — Master Task 1 Fast! (Patterns, Examples, Practice)
TOEFL PrepUniversity Students
B21
209 sentences
TOEFL Speaking TIPS for a Perfect Score - 2026 Edition
TOEFL PrepUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B225
14 sentences
TOEFL Speaking 2026 Task 2 | Interview Practice #190 | Sample Answers
TOEFL PrepUniversity Students
B13
95 sentences
Master TOEFL Speaking Delivery: 40 Listen & Repeat Sentences (With Chunking Guide & Visual Cues)
TOEFL PrepUniversity Students
B23
128 sentences
DO THIS with Unfamiliar Words on the SAT
IELTS PrepTOEFL PrepCambridge Exam Prep
B22
62 sentences
VSTEP Listening - Task 1 - Test 15
IELTS PrepTOEFL PrepUniversity Students
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 78 sentences and 873 words to shadow. The speech runs for 7:30. The speaker talks at a steady 116 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 82% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| verb noun | /vɝb/ | A word that indicates an action, event, or state of being. |
| auxiliary adjective | /ɔɡˈzɪl.(jə).ɹi/ | Helping; giving assistance or support. |
| presentation noun | /ˌpɹɛzn̩ˈteɪʃn̩/ | The act of presenting, or something presented. |
| noun noun | /naʊn/ | A word that functions as the name of a specific object or set of objects, such as person, animal, place, word, thing, phenomenon, substance, quality, or idea… |
| clause noun | /klɔːz/ | A group of words that contains a subject and a verb; it may be part of a sentence or may constitute the whole sentence, depending on the syntax in each… |
| logical adjective | /ˈlɑd͡ʒɪkəl/ | In agreement with the principles of logic. |
| sequence noun | /ˈsiː.kwəns/ | A set of things next to each other in a set order; a series. |
| meaningful adjective | /ˈmiː.nɪŋ.fl̩/ | Having meaning, significant. |
| combine verb | /kəmˈbaɪn/ | To bring (two or more things or activities) together; to unite. |
| prompt verb | /pɹɑmpt/ | To lead (someone) toward what they should say or do. |
| chunk noun | /t͡ʃʌŋk/ | A part of something that has been separated; a generally squat, thick, irregular piece of something, e.g. wood or stone. |
| naturally adverb | /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/ | In a natural manner. |
| strongly adverb | /ˈstɹɔŋli/ | In a strong or powerful manner. |
| helpful adjective | /ˈhɛlp.fl̩/ | Furnishing help; giving aid; useful. |
| fundamental adjective | /ˌfʌn.dəˈmɛn.təl/ | Related to a foundation, base, or basis; serving as a foundation. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| check out verb | To record the departure or withdrawal of someone or something (such as guests, employees, books, etc.). |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 6 contractions and reduced forms, such as can't, don't, they've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- Long words — get the stress right: auxiliary /ɔɡˈzɪl.(jə).ɹi/, naturally /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/, fundamental /ˌfʌn.dəˈmɛn.təl/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like verb, auxiliary, presentation.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | they've already booked · we've identified |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | are scrambled · must be placed |
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.