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TOEFL SKILL

SKILL 1 ( Subjects And Verbs )

As We know that a sentence in English should have a subject and a verb. The most common types of problems that you will encounter in the structure sentence of 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.      My mother  paying the clerk for the clothes. (I)
 Analysis:

      The sentence doesn't have to be, is. So incorrect.

      It should be My mother is paying the clerk for the clothes

2.      Each day practiced the violin for hours. (I)
 Analysis:

The sentence doesn't have subject. The verb is practiced. So incorrect.
 It should be Each day they practiced the violin for hours.

3.      Running  with my friend  to school.(I)
Analysis:

The sentence doesn't have a Subject. It has main verb, running but without tobe.

So incorrect.The correct sentence could be She/he is running with her/his friend  to school.

4.      The new student in the class very talkative and friendly. (I)
Analysis:
 The sentence has subject, The new student, but no verb. So incorrect.

 The correct sentence can be The new student in the class is very talkative and friendly.

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 Kai ____ 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 Kai is the subject; Kai 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.      During the week eat lunch in the school canteen.

Analysis :

The week is not Subject, it is object of preposition of during. Verb is eat but there is no Subject. So, it is incorrect. So the right sentence is During the week, they eat lunch in the school canteen.

2.      In the summer the trip to the beach is one of my favorite trip.

Analysis :

The beach is not Subject, it is object of preposition of to. Subject is the trip and Verb is Is. So sentence above is correct

3.      In the afternoon after the exam was tired.

Analysis :

The exam is not Subject, it is object of prepsition of after. Verb is was but there is no Subject. So, it is incorrect. So the right sentence is In the afternoon after the exam he/she was tired

4.      The name of pet in the cage is monggu

Analysis :

The cage is not Subject, it is object of preposition of in. Subject is the name  and Verb is Is

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 paticiple 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.

Example

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

(A) now
(B) is
(C) it
(D) was

Analysis

Appearing is not a part of a verb but adjective. Subject is film and Verb is Is. Answer (B), (C), or (D) is incorrect because sentence above has verb. The best answer to this question is (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.      For his birthday, the child is getting a talking doll (c)

Analysis :

Getting function as a part of a verb and after adding is (to be) so complete verb.

Subject is the child. So sentence above is correct

2.      The ship is sailing to South korea is leaving tonight.(i)

Analysis :

Sentence above is incorrect because is sailing should be sailing and function as adjective. The right sentence is The ship sailing to South Korea is leaving tonight.

3.      The boring class just ending a few minutes ago (i)
Analysis :

Sentence above is incorrect because ending should be is ending and function as a part of a verb. The right sentence is The boring class just is ending a few minutes ago.

4.      The fast moving clouds are bringing freezing rain to the area.(c)

Analysis :

bringing function as a part of a verb. Subject is clouds. So sentence above is correct

SKILL 4 (Past Participle)

Past participle 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 priticiples 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 participles 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).

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 thesentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

1.      The teacher found the lost exam.(c)

Analysis :

Lost is adjective. Subject is teacher. And verb is found.so sentence above is correct.

2.      The small market very crowded.(i)

Analysis :

There is not verb of be, is.

The right sentence is The small market is very crowded.

3.      The students registered in this school are listed on that sheet of paper. (c)

Analysis :

Registered functin as adjective.

Subject is students and verb is are listed.

4.      The courses are listed in the catalogue are required courses. (i)

Analysis :

Are listed should be listed and function as adjective

Subject is courses saan verb are required

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 (,).

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

1.      The dress didn’t not cost too much, but the quality it seemed excellent. (i)

Analysis :

Second clause has two subject; the quality and it. It should be the quality seemed excellent.

Coordinate connector is correct. The right sentence is The dress not cost too much, but the quality seemed excellent.

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

Analysis :
Both clauses are correct and coordinate connector is correct too.

3.      The patient took all the medicine, he did not feel much better. (I)
Analysis :
Both clauses are correct but there is no coordinate connector

The right sentence is The patient took all the medicine,but  he did not feel much better.

4.      The lawn needs water every day, or it will turn brown. (C)
Analysis :
Both clauses are correct and coordinate connector is correct.

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