Toefl Skills

1. Subjects and Verbs (Skill 1)
You 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 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 I

______was ringing continuously for hours.

(A) Loudly
(B) In the morning
(C) The phone
(D) The bells

Analysis:

In this example, you should notice immediately that there is a verb, was ringing, but there is no subject. Answer (C) is the best answer because it is a singular subject that agrees with the singular verb was ringing. Answer (A), loudly, and answer (B), in the morning, are not subjects, so they are not correct. Although answer (D), bells, could be a subject, it is not correct because bells is plural and it does not agree with the singular verb was ringing.

Example II

Newspapers _______ every morning and every evening.

(A) delivery
(B) are delivered
(C) on time
(D) regularly


Analysis:

In this example, you should notice immediately that the sentence has a subject, newspapers, but that there is no verb. Because answer (B), are delivered, is a verb, it is the best answer. Answers (A), (C), and (D) are not verbs, so they are not correct.

Example III

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.

SUBJECTS AND VERBS

A sentence in English must have at least one subject and one verb. The first thing you should do as you read a sentence in the Structure section of the TOEFL test is to find the subject and the verb.

EXERCISE 1

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 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. The customer paying the clerk for the clothes. (I)

Analysis:

The sentence doesn't have to be, is. So incorrect
It should be The customer is paying the clerk for the clothes.

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

Analysis:

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

6. Each day practiced the piano for hours. (I)

Analysis:

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

7. 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

8. 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.

9. Walking with the children to school.(I)

Analysis:

The sentence doesn't have a Subject. It has main verb, walking but without tobe. So incorrect.
The correct sentence could be She/he is walking with the children to school


10. The whales headed south for the winter. (C)

Analysis:

The sentence has a subject, the whales and verb, headed. So, it correct



2. Adjective Clause Connector (Skill 9)

An adjective clause describes a noun. Because the clause is an adjective, it is positioned directly after the noun that it describes.

In the first example, there are two clauses: this is the subject of the verb is, and I is the subject of the verb want. That is the adjective clause connector that joins these two clauses, and the adjective clause that I want to buy describes the noun house.

In the second example, there are also two clauses: house is the subject of the verb is, and I is the subject of the verb want. In this sentence also, that is the adjective clause connector that joins these two clauses, and the adjective clause that I want to buy describes the noun house.

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

Example

The job _____ started yesterday was rather difficult.
(A) when
(B) was
(C) after
(D) that he

In this example, you should notice quickly that there are two clauses: job is the subject of the verb was, and the verb started needs a subject. Because there are two clauses, a connector is also needed. Answers (A) and (C) have connectors, but there are no subjects, so these answers are not correct. Answer (B) changes started into a passive verb; in this case the sentence would have one subject and two verbs, so answer (B) is not correct. The best answer to this question is answer (D). The correct sentence should say: The job that he started yesterday was rather difficult. In this sentence job is the subject of the verb was, he is the subject of the verb started, and the connector that joins these two clauses.

The following chart lists the adjective clause connectors and the sentence pat terns used with them.

EXERCISE 9: 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. I did not believe the story that he told me. (C)

Analysis:

First Clause : I did not believe the story
Second Clause : He told me
Adjective clause connector : that

2. Ms. Brown, whom did you recommend for the job, will start work tomorrow.(I)

Analysis:

First clause : Ms. Brown will start work tomorrow
Second clause : Did you recommend for the job (incorrect)
It should be you recommended for the job
Adjective clause connector : whom

The correct sentence is Ms. Brown, who you recommended for the job, will start work tomorrow.

3. The lecture notes which lent me were not clearly written.(I)

Analysis:

First clause : The lecture notes were not clearly written
Second clause : lent me (incorrect)
It should be I lent
Adjective clause connector : which

The correct sentence is the lecture notes which I lent were not clearly written

4. Sally has an appointment with the hairdresser whom you recommended. (C)

Analysis:

First clause : Sally has an appointment with the hairdresser
Second clause : you recommended
Adjective clause connector : whom

5. The phone number that you gave me.

Analysis:

First clause : The phone number (incorrect: no verb)
Second clause : you gave me
Adjective clause connector : that
The correct sentence is The phone number that you gave me IS wrong

6. She is able to solve all the problems which did she cause.(I)

Analysis:

First clause : She is able to solve the problems
Second clause : did she cause (incorrect)
It should be she caused
Adjective clause connector: She is able to solve all the problems which she caused

7. The day that she spent on the beach left her sunburned. (C)

Analysis:

First clause : The day left her sunburned
Second clause : she spend on the beach
Adjective clause connector : that

8. Next week I am going to visit my cousins, whom have not seen in several years.(I)

Analysis:

First clause : Next week I am going to visit my cousins
Second clause : have not seen in several years (incorrect)
It should be I have not seen in several years
Adjective clause connector : whom
The correct sentence is Next week I am going to visit my cousins, whom i have not seen in several years

9. Did you forget the promise whom you made? (C)

Analysis:

First clause : Did you forget the promise
second clause : you made?
Adjective clause connector : whom

10. The teacher whom the students like the most is their history teacher.

Analysis:

First clause : The teacher is their history teacher
Second clause : the students like the most
Adjective clause connector : whom

3. Problems with past participle after have (Skill 16)
Whenever you see the verb have in any of its forms (have, has, having, had), be sure that the verb that follows it is in the past participle form.

We had complete* the work.

They have went* to the market.

In the first example, complete should be the past participle completed because it is after had. In the second example, went should be the past participle gone because it is after have.

The following chart outlines the use of verb forms after have.

EXERCISE 16:

Each of the following sentences contains a verb formed with have. Underline the verbs twice. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

1. We have already hearing the good news. (Incorrect)

Analysis: have hearing should be have heard

2. She has ridden her bicycle to school every day. (Correct)

Analysis: has ridden is correct

3. I have always believe you. (Incorrect)

Analysis : have always believe is incorrect, it should be have always believed.

4. He has find the missing car keys. (Incorrect)

Analysis : has find is incorrect. It should be has found.

5. They have put their money in a savings account. (Correct)

Analysis : have put is correct

6. Their parents have allowed them to stay up late. (Correct)

Analysis: have allowed is correct

7. She has never ran away from home before. (Incorrect)

Analysis: have never ran is correct. It should be have never run.

8. Have you ever saw a ghost? (Incorrect)

Analysis: saw is incorrect. It should be seen.

9. They have taken three tests already this week. (correct)

Analysis: have taken is correct.

10. He has offer me a high-paying job. (Incorrect)

Analysis: has offer is incorrect. It should be has offered.



4. Problems with Modals (Skill 18)

Whenever you see a modal such as will, would, shall, should, can, could, may, might, or must, you should be sure that the verb that follows it is in its base form.

You must telling* her the truth.

The child may comes* in now.

• In the first example, telling should be the base form tell because it follows must.
• In the second example, comes should be the base form come because it follows may.

The following chart outlines the use of verb forms after modals.

EXERCISE 18

Each of the following sentences contains a verb formed with a modal. Underline the verbs twice. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

1. You should try to respond politely. (C)

2. Everyone must leaves the room immediately. (I)

Analysis:

• leaves should be leave

3. I could sat on the beach for hours. (I)

Analysis:

• sat should be sit

4. She will asking you many difficult questions. (I)

Analysis:

• asking should be ask

5. You can look at the book, but you cannot borrow it. (C)

6. He may lies to you because he is not very truthful. (I)

Analysis:

• lies should be lie

7. He knew that he would forgot the phone number. (C)

Analysis:

• forgot should be forget

8. The weatherman said that it might snowing tonight. (I)

Analysis:

• snowing should be snow

9. Perhaps we could bought a new car this year.(I)

Analysis:

• bought should be buy

10. This course will satisfy the graduation requirement. (C)


5. Adjectives and Adverbs (Skill 24)

Sometimes in the Written Expression section of the TOEFL test, adjectives are incorrectly used in place of adverbs, or adverbs are incorrectly used in place of adjectives. Adjectives and adverbs have very different uses in sentences. Adjectives have only one job: they describe nouns or pronouns.

• In the first example, the adjective delicious describes the noun meal.

• In the second example, the adjective delicious describes the pronoun it.

Adverbs have three different uses. They can describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

• In the first example, the adverb quickly describes the verb writes.
• In the second example, the adverb quickly describes the adjective written (which describes the noun letter).
• n the third example, the adverb extremely describes the adverb quickly, which describes the adjective written (which describes the noun letter).

The following are examples of incorrect sentences as they might appear on the TOEFL test.

• In the first example, the adverb largely is incorrect because the adjective large is needed to describe the noun table.
• In the second example, the adjective soft is incorrect because the adverb softly is needed to describe the verb talked.
• In the third example, the adjective extreme is incorrect because the adverb extremely is needed to describe the adjective long.
• In the last example, the adjective unbelievable is incorrect because the adverb unbelievably is needed to describe the adverb quickly.

The following chart outlines the important information that you should remember about the use of adjectives and adverbs.

EXERCISE 24:

1. Her hair was an unusually color of red. (I)

Analysis:

• the adverb unusually is incorrect. It should be unusual (adjective) to describe the color (noun)

2. The weather is really comfortable. (C)

Analysis:

• Really (adverb) is correct because it describes comfortable (adjective)

3. We attended a poor planned conference. (I)

Analysis:

• Adjective poor is incorrect. It should be poorly (adverb) because it describes planned (adjective).

4. He talked slowly and carefully. (C)

Analysis:

• Adverb Slowly and carefully are correct because they describe talked (verb)

5. The composition was careful prepared.(I)

Analysis:

• Adjective careful is incorrect. It should be carefully (adverb) because it describes prepared (adjective)

6. She had an incredible story about her long trip. (C)

Analysis:

• adjective incredible is correct because it describes story (noun).

7. He sent me a quickly written note. (C)

Analysis:

• adverb quickly is correct because it describes written (adjective).
• adjective written is correct because it describes note (noun).

8. The cat meowed sad. (I)

Analysis:

• adjective sad is incorrect. It should be sadly (adverb) because it describes meowed (verb)

9. The children are hungry and tired. (C)

Analysis:

• Adjective hungry and tired are correct because they describe children (subject)

10. The lecturer spoke extremely loud. (I)

Analysis:

• Adjective loud is incorrect. It should be loudly (adverb) because it describes spoke (verb).

Source:
http://www.toeflskill.com/2011/01/skill-1-subjects-and-verbs.html
http://www.toeflskill.com/2011/02/adjective-clause-connector-toefl-skill.html
http://www.toeflskill.com/2011/05/problems-with-past-paticiple-after-have.html
http://www.toeflskill.com/2011/06/problems-with-modals-skill-18.html
http://www.toeflskill.com/2011/08/skill-24-adjectives-and-adverbs.html