Skill 1: Subjects and Verbs
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.
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
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.
Now,
Let's do and analyze the exercise below:
EXERCISE
2: 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.
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.
2.
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.
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
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
3: 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 Participles
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
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
4: 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. (Incorrect)
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. (Correct)
Analysis:
Subject
is The place and Verb is landed. Deserted is past participle as an adjective.
3.
The unexpected guests arrived just at dinnertime. (Correct)
Analysis:
Subject
is unexpected guests and Verb is arrived. Unexpected is past participle as an
adjective.
4.
The courses are listed in the catalogue are required courses. (Incorrect)
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).
5.
The teacher found the lost exam. (Correct)
Analysis:
Subject
is The teacher and Verb is found. Lost is past participle as an adjective.
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
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
5: 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 lawn needs water every day, or it will turn brown. (C)
Analysis:
Both
clauses are correct and coordinate connector is correct.
2.
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.
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.
