TOEFL SKILLS 1-5

SKILL 1 : SUBJECTS AND VERBS

A sentence in English should have a subject and a verb. The most common types of problems that you will encounter in the Structure section of the TOEFL test are related to subjects and verbs; perhaps the sentence is missing either the subject, or the verb, or both; perhaps the sentence has an extra subject or verb.

Example :

The plane __________ landing at the airport in five minutes.

(A) it is

(B) it really is

(C) is descending

(D) will be

Analysis:

This sentence has a subject, plane, and has part of a verb, landing; to be correct, some form of the verb be is needed to make the verb complete. Answers (A) and (B) are incorrect because the sentence already has a subject, plane, and does not need the extra subject it. Answer (C) is incorrect because descending is an extra part of a verb that is unnecessary because of landing. Answer (D) is the best answer; will be together with landing is a complete verb.

EXERCISE

Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice in each of the following sentences. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

1.      The bus schedule has changed since last week. (C)

Analysis:

The subject is The bus and verb is has changed, so the sentence is Correct.

2.      My best friend always helpful with problems. (I)

Analysis:

The subject of the sentence above is My best friend, but there is no Verb. So, incorrect.

The correct sentence should be My best friend is always helpful and with problems. 

3.      The professor handed the syllabus to the students. (C)

Analysis:

The sentence has subject, the professor and verb, handed. So it is correct

4.      Accidentally dropped the glass on the floor. (I)

Analysis:

The sentence doesn't have a Subject. The verb is dropped, so it is incorrect.

The correct sentence should be Accidentally she or he dropped the glass on the floor.

5.      The basketball player tossed the ball into the hoop. (C)

Analysis:

The sentence has subject, The basket ball player and verb, tossed. So it is correct

SKILL 2 : OBJECTS OF PREPOSITION

An object of a preposition is a noun or a pronoun that comes after a preposition such as in, at, of to, by, behind, and on to form a prepositional phrase.

The trip (to the island) (on Saturday) will last (for three hours).

This sentence contains three objects of prepositions. Island is the object of the preposition to; Saturday is the object of the preposition on; hours is the object of the preposition for.

An object of a preposition can cause confusion in the Structure section of the TOEFL test because it can be mistaken for the subject of a sentence.

Example :

To Mike ____ was a big surprise.

(A) really

(B) the party

(C) funny

(D) when

Analysis :

In this example, you should look first for the subject and the verb. You should notice the verb was and should also notice that there is no subject. Do not think that Mike is the subject; Mike is the object of the preposition to, and one noun cannot be both a subject and an object at the same time. Because a subject is needed in this sentence, answer (B), the party, is the best answer. Answers (A), (C), and (D) are not correct because they cannot be subjects.

EXERCISE

Each of the following sentences contains one or more prepositional phrases. Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice. Circle the prepositional phrases that come before the verb. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

1.      By the next meeting of the class need to turn in the papers.(I)

Analysis:

Verb is need but there is no Subject. So, it is Incorrect

The next meeting of the class is NOT subject, it is object of preposition

2.      The name of the baby in the crib is Jack. (C)

 Analysis:

Subject is The name of baby and Verb is IS. So, it is correct

The Crib is only object of preposition

3.      The directions to the exercise on page 20 unclear. (I)

Analysis:

Subject is The directions but there is no Verb. So, it is incorrect.

The exercise is not subject, it is object of preposition.

4.      Because of the heavy rain throughout the night, the walkways are muddy. (C)

Analysis:

Subject is the walkways and Verb is Are. So, it is correct.

The heavy rain throughout the night is only object of preposition.

5.      During the week eat lunch in the school cafeteria. (I)

Analysis:

Verb is eat but there is no Subject. So, it is incorrect

The week is not Subject, it is object of preposition

SKILL 3 : PRESENT PARTICIPLES

Present participles can-cause confusion in the Structure section of the TOEFL test because a present participle can be either an adjective or a part of the verb. A present participle is the - ing form of the verb. It is part of the verb when it is preceded by some form of the verb be.

The train is arriving at the station now. (Arriving is VERB)

In this sentence, arriving is part of the verb because it is accompanied by is.

A present participle is an adjective when it is not accompanied by some form of the verb be.

The train arriving at the station now is an hour late. (Arriving is ADJECTIVE)

In this sentence, arriving is an adjective and not part of the verb because it is not accompanied by some form of be. The verb in this sentence is is.

The following example shows how a present participle can be confused with the verb in the Structure section of the TOEFL test.

Example :

The film ____ appearing at the local theater is my favorite.

(A) now

(B) is

(C) it

(D) was

Analysis:

In this example, if you look at only the first words of the sentence, it appears that film is the subject and appearing is part of the verb. If you think that appearing is part of the verb, you might choose answer (B), is, or answer (D), was, to complete the verb. However, these two answers are incorrect because appearing is not part of the verb. You should recognize that appearing is a participial adjective rather than a verb because there is another verb in the sentence, is. In this sentence, there is a complete subject, film, and a complete verb, is, so this sentence does not need another subject or verb. The best answer to this question is answer (A).

EXERCISE

Each of the following sentences contains one or more present participles. Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice. Circle the present participles, and label them as adjectives or verbs. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

1.      The crying baby needs to be picked up. (C)

       ADJ.

Analysis:

The sentence above is correct because crying functioning as an adjective. Subject of the sentence above is a baby, while its verb is needs to be picked up.

2.      The clothes are lying the floor should go into the washing machine. (I)

VERB

Analysis:

The above sentence is wrong because are lying is supposed to function as an adjective, lying and not part of the verb. While correct sentences is the clothes lying the floor should go into the washing machine.

3.      The waitress bringing the steaming soup to the waiting diners. (I)

VERB

Analysis:

The above sentence is wrong because bringing is supposed to be is bringing to function as part of a verb instead of an adjective. Correct sentences should be the waitress is bringing the steaming soup to the waiting diners.

SKILL 4 : PAST PARTICIPLE

Past participles can cause confusion in the Structure section of the TOEFL test because a past participle can be either an adjective or a part of the verb. The past participle is the form of the verb that appears with have or be. It often ends in -ed, but there are also many irregular past participles in English.

The mailman has left a letter in the mailbox. (Left is VERB)

The classes were taught by Professor Smith. (Taught is VERB)

In the first sentence, the past participle left is part of the verb because it is accompanied by has. In the second sentence, the past participle taught is part of the verb because it is accompanied by were.

A past participle is an adjective when it is not accompanied by some form of be or have.

The letter left in the mailbox was for me. (Left is ADJECTIVE)

The classes taught by Professor Smith were very interesting. (Taught is ADJECTIVE)

In the first sentence, left is an adjective rather than a verb because it is not accompanied by a form of be or have (and there is a verb, was, later in the sentence). In the second sentence, taught is an adjective rather than a verb because it is not accompanied by a form of be or have (and there is a verb, were, later in the sentence). The following example shows how a past participle can be confused with the verb in the Structure section of the TOEFL test.

Example :

The bread _____ baked this morning smelled delicious.

(A) has

(B) was

(C) it

(D) just

Analysis :

In this example, if you look only at the first few words of the sentence, it appears that bread is the subject and baked is either a complete verb or a past participle that needs a helping verb. But if you look further in the sentence, you will see the verb smelled. You will then recognize that baked is a participial adjective and is therefore not part of the verb. Answers (A) and (B) are incorrect because baked is an adjective and does not need a helping verb such as has or was. Answer (C) is incorrect because there is no need for the subject it. Answer (D) is the best answer to this question.

EXERCISE

Each of the following sentences contains one or more past participles. Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice. Circle the past participles, and label them as adjectives or verbs. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

1.      The food is served in this restaurant is delicious. (I)

Analysis:

The sentence should be "The food served in this restaurant is delicious".

is served is incorrect, it should be served (past participle as an Adjective).

Subject is The food and Verb is IS

2.      The plane landed on the deserted runway. (C)

Analysis:

Subject is The place and Verb is landed

Deserted is past participle as an adjective

3.      The courses are listed in the catalogue are required courses. (I)

Analysis:

The sentence should be The course listed in the dialogue are required courses.

Subject is The course and Verb is are required.

are listed is inccorect, but it should be listed (be past participle as an adjective)

4.      The unexpected guests arrived just at dinnertime. (C)

Analysis:

Subject is unexpected guests and Verb is arrived

Unexpected is past participle as an adjective

5.      The small apartment very crowded and disorganized. (I)

Analysis :

Subject is the small apartment but there is no Verb

The sentence should be The small apartment is very crowded and disorganized.

Crowded and disorganized are past participle as adjectives.

SKILL 5 : COORDINATE CONNECTOR

Many sentences in English have more than one clause. (A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb.) When you have two clauses in an English sentence, you must connect the two clauses correctly. One way to connect two clauses is to use and, but, or, or so between the clauses.

The sun was shining and the sky was blue.

The sky was blue, but it was very cold.

It may rain tonight, or it may be clear.

It was raining outside, so I took my umbrella.

In each of these examples, there are two clauses that are correctly joined with a coordinate connector—and, but, or, or so—and a comma (,).

The following example shows how this sentence pattern could be tested in the Structure section of the TOEFL test.

Example :

I forgot my coat, ____ I got very cold.

(A) then

(B) so

(C) later

(D) as a result

Analysis :

In this example, you should notice quickly that there are two clauses, I forgot my coat and I got very cold. This sentence needs a connector to join the two clauses. Then, later, and as a result are not connectors, so answers (A), (C), and (D) are not correct. The best answer is answer (B) because so can connect two clauses in this manner.

EXERCISE

Each of the following sentences contains more than one clause. Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice. Circle the connectors. Then indicate if the sentences are correct ‘(C) or incorrect (I).

1.      The book was not long, it difficult to read. (I)

Analysis:

Second clause should be it is difficult to read. There is not coordinate connector.

2.      The lawn needs water every day, or it will turn brown. (C)

Analysis:

Both clauses are correct and coordinate connector is correct.

3.      It was raining, so decided not to go camping. (I)

Analysis:

Second clause has no Subject.

4.      The material has been cut, and the pieces have been sewn together. (C)

Analysis:

Both clauses are correct and coordinate connector is correct too.

5.      The patient took all the medicine, he did not feel much better. (I)

Analysis:

Both clauses are correct but there is no coordinate connector

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