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 ther 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 subjecs, 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
Newspaper……………………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, newspaper, but that there is no verb. Because answer B,
are delivered, is a verb, it is the best answer. Answer 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 m,ake the verb
complete. Answer A and B are in correct 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.
SUBJECT AND VERB
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 shoul
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 student. (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 basketball
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 to be. 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.
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 preposition to;
Saturday is the object 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 a object at the same time. Because a subject is needed in
this sentence, answer B, the party, is the best answer. Answer A, C, and D are
not correct because they cannot be subjects.
The following chart outlines the key information that you
should remember about objects of prepositions.
Now, lets do and analyze the exercise below:
EXERCISE 2
Each of the following sentences contains one or more
prepositional phrases. Underline the subjects one 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, its 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.
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.
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.
Analysis:
Verb is eat but there is no subject.
So, it is incorrect. The week is not subject, it is object of preposition.
6.
In
the morning after the concert was tired.
Analysis:
Verb is was but there is no subject.
So, it is incorrect. The concert is not subject, it is object of preposition.
7.
In
the summer the trip to the mountains is our favorite trip.
Analysis:
Subject is the trip and verb is is.
So it is correct.
8.
In
a box on the top shelf of the cabinet in the hallway of the house.
Analysis:
No subject and no verb.
9.
With
her purse in her hand ran through the door.
Analysis:
Verb is ran but there is no subject.
So, it is incorrect. Her purse and her hand are only object of preposition.
10. At 1:00 in the morning the alarm
clock on the table beside the bed rang.
Analysis:
Subject is the alarm clock and verb
is rang. So, it is correct.
Skill 3: Present
Participles
Present participles can-cause confusion in the structure
section of the toefl test because 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 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 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 adjective or verbs. Then indicate if the
sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
1.
The
crying baby needs to be picked up. (C)
adj
2.
The
clothes are lying the floor should go into the washing machine. (I)
Verb
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 –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 bbe 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 this 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 this 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.
Answer 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 the following sentences contains one or more pas
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 unexpected guests arrived just at
dinnertime. (C)
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. (I)
Analysis:
The sentences should be the course
listed in the dialogue are required courses. Subject is The course and Verb is
required. Are listed is incorrect, but it should be listed (be past participle
as an adjective)
5. The teacher found the lost exam. (C)
Analysis:
Subject is The teacher and Verb is found. Lost is past participle as an
adjective 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 many rain tonight, or it may be clear.
It was raining outside, so i took my umbrella.
In each of
the these examples, there are two clauses that are correctly joined with a
coordinate connector-and, but, or, so-and a comma (,).
The following example shows how this sentence pattern could
be tested in the Structure section of the 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 connectors, so answer (A), (C), and
(D) are not correct. The best answer is answer (B) because so can connect two
clauses in this maner.
The following chart lists the
coordinate connectors and the sentences pattern used with them.
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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 decited 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.
Source:
