ADVANCED GRAMMAR

PROBLEMS IN SENTENCES WITH ONE SUBJECT AND VERB

Desi Antri Astuti S891708007

Kuntum Palupi S. S891708012
Mala Rovikasari S891708013

ENGLISH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
UINVERSITAS SEBELEAS MARET
2018
 TOEFL MATERIALS

STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION

TOEFL test has 3 sections, namely listening, structure, and reading. All of the
sections are important. To master TOEFL test, we need to learn how to deal with the
questions for each sections. In this paper, we are going to talk about structure skill especially
skill 1-5.

SKILL 1: BE SURE THE SENTENCE HAS A SUBJECT AND A VERB

Sentence in English consists of subject and verb. A sentence cannot be formed

without verb. Verb is very important in English sentence. Subject is usually located in the
beginning of the sentence and it functions as noun. There are two types of noun, namely:
abstract noun and concrete noun. Abstract noun means something we cannot touch and
cannot see but we can feel it such as love, happiness, air, and etc. Concrete noun means
something we can touch such as table, chair, book, and etc. In English, there is subject
pronoun: I, You, We, They, He, She, It. It refers to person. Subject can also be name of
person, building, and etc.

There are two types of verb based on the function in English, namely auxiliary verb
and main verb. Auxiliary verbs function as helping verbs: to be, to do, to have, and modal
verbs. Main verbs have four forms (V1, V2, V3, Ving). If in a sentence there is not any main
verb, we can put to be. For example:

1. She is beautiful.

Formula: S + to be + adj.

2. He is an English teacher

Formula: S + to be + N

3. They are at home

Formula: S + to be + adverb of place

4. I am yours

Formula: S + to be + pronoun

Here are types of to be:

Subjects Present Tense Past Tense Perfect Tense

I am was been
You are were been
We are were been
They are were been
He Is was been
She Is was been
It Is was been

In using verb, we should give attention to the number of the subject (is it singular or
plural). Singular noun must be followed by singular verb and plural noun must be followed
by plural noun. Plural noun is shown by the adding –s in the end of the word such as books.
But some of plural nouns have same form and change its form such as a mouse – two mice,
etc.

In the structure section of the TOEFL, the most common problem that we will be
encounter is that the sentence is missing either the subject or the verb or both, or has an extra
subject or verb. Let us take a look at the examples.

1. A sentence does not have subject

... was backed up for miles on the freeway.

a. Yesterday

b. In the morning

c. Traffic

d. Cars

To answer the question, we should find the verb and subject first. The sentence
already has was + V3 as the verb but there is not any subject yet. So, the best answer for
the question above is c because the sentence has singular verb so it must be followed by
singular subject.

2. A sentence does not have any verb

Engineers ... for work on the new space program.

a. necessary

b. are needed

c. hopefully

d. next month

To answer the question, we should find the subject and verb. The sentence already has
subject and it is plural subject so we need to put plural verb as well. So, the best answer is b.

3. A sentence has a verb and a verb but it is not formed perfectly.

The boy ... going to the movies with a friend.

a. he is

b. he always was

c. is relaxing

d. will be

In the sentence the boy functions as subject and going functions as verb but Ving is
always begun with to be in order to form well as a verb. So, the sentence needs to be. The
best answer for this question is d.

TOEFL 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).

_I_1. Last weekend went fishing for trout at the nearby mountain lake.
This sentence does not have any subject.

_C_2. A schedule of the day’s events can be obtained at the front desk.

_I_3. A job on the day shift or the night shift at the plant available.

This sentence does not have any verb.

_I_4. The new computer program has provides a variety of helpful applications.

This sentence has a wrong form of V3. It should be provided.

_C_5. The box can be opened only with a special screwdriver.

_I_6. The assigned text for history class it contains more that twenty chapters.

This sentence has double subject.

_C_7. The papers in the wastebasket should be emptied into the trash can outside.

_I_8. Departure before dawn on a boat in the middle of the harbor.

This sentence does not have any subject and verb.

_I_9. Yesterday found an interesting article on pollution.

This sentence does not have any subject.

_I_10. The new machine is processes 50 percent more than the previous machine.

This sentence has double verb.

SKILL 2: BE CAREFUL OF OBJECT OF PREPOSITION

An object of a preposition is a noun, a pronoun, a gerund (Ving), or a noun clause

which appears after preposition. There are many prepositions in English. The examples are
on the table.

Example of preposition
Aboard, about, above, across, after, against, along, amid, among, anti, around, as, at, before,
behind, below, beneath, beside, besides, between, beyond, but, by, concerning, considering,
despite, down, during, except, excepting, excluding, following, for, from, in, inside, into, like,
minus, near, of, off, on, onto, opposite, outside, over, past, per, plus, regarding, round, save,
since, than, through, to, toward, towards, under, underneath, unlike, until, up, upon, versus,
via, with, within, without.

In the structure section of the TOEFL test, an object of a preposition can cause
confusion because it can be mistaken for the subject of a sentence.

For example:

1. After his exam, Tom will take a trip by boat.

In this sentence, there are two objects of prepositions. Exam is the object of the
preposition after and boat is the object of the preposition by.

2. With his friend ... found the movie theater.

a. has

b. he

c. later

d. when

In this example with is preposition, so friend is object of preposition. Found is a verb.

This sentence needs a subject, so the best answer is b.

TOEFL Exercise

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

_C_1. The interviews by radio broadcasters were carried live by the station.

_I_2. In the last possible moment before take-off took his seat in the airplane.

The sentence does not have any subject.

_C_3. At the neighborhood flower shop, flowers in quantities of a dozen or a half dozen can
be delivered for free.
_C_4. The progressive reading methods at this school are given credit for the improved test
score.

_I_5. For the last three years at various hospitals in the county has been practicing medicine.

The sentence does not have any subject.

_C_6. In the past a career in politics was not considered acceptable in some circles.

_I_7. Shopping in the downtown area of the city it is much improved in recent years.

_C_8. At the building site the carpenters with the most experience were given the most
intricate work.

_I_9. For the fever and headache took two aspirin tablets.

The sentence does not have any subject.

_C_10. The report with complete documentation was delivered at the conference.

SKILL 3: BE CAREFUL OF APPOSITIVES

An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that comes before or after a noun and has the
same meaning. Thus, if the appositive is omitted from the sentence, the meaning of the
sentence did not change at all. Appositives can cause confusion in the structure section of
TOEFL because it can be mistaken for a subject. For example:

Sally, the best student in the class, got an A on the exam.

In this example, Sally is the subject of the sentence and the best student in the class
can easily be recognized as an appositive phrase because of the noun student and because of
the commas. The sentence says that Sally and the best student in the class are the same thing.
Note that if you leave out the appositive phrase the sentence still makes sense (Sally got an A
on the exam).

…, George, is attending the lecture.

A. Right now

B. Happily

C. Because of the time

D. My friend
 In this example, ‘George’ is not the subject of the sentence. It is an appositive as can
be seen from the commas before and after it. The sentence only has a verb ‘is attending’, so
to complete it, a subject is needed. Answer A, B, and C are incorrect because they cannot be a
subject. So, the best answer here is D.

TOEFL EXERCISE:

Each of the following sentences contains an appositive. Underline the subjects once and the
verbs twice. Circle the appositive phrases. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or
incorrect (I).

C 1. The son of the previous owner, the new owner is undertaking some fairly broad
changes in management policy.

I 2. Last semester, a friend, graduated cum laude from the university.

*This sentence doesn’t need come after subject (a friend). So, the correct sentence is
‘Last semester, a friend graduated cum laude from the university’.

C 3. Valentine’s Day, February 14, is a special holiday for sweethearts.

I 4. At long last, the chief executive officer, has decided to step down.

*This sentence above needs a subject. As we know, the chief executive officer is an
appositive.

C 5. Tonight’s supper, leftovers from last night, did not taste any better tonight than last
night.

C 6. The new bathroom tile pattern, yellow flowers on a white background, really
brightens up that room.

C 7. The door to the left, the only entrance to the closet, was kept locked at all times

I 8. In the end of winter, the wall heating unit, would not turn on.

*This sentence missed a subject. It can be added subject such as the electric heater.

C 9. The high-powered computer, the most powerful machine of its type, was finally
readied for use.

C 10. A longtime friend and confident, the psychologist was often invited over for
Sunday dinner.

SKILL 4: BE CAREFUL OF PRESENT PARTICIPLES.

 A present participle is the –ing form of a verb. It is a part of the verb when it is
accompanied by some form of the verb be. Present participles can cause confusion in the
structure section of TOEFL because it can be mistaken for a part of verb. For example, it is
part of the verb when it is accompanied by some form of the verb be,

The man is talking to his friend.

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

The present participle –ing is an adjective when it is not accompanied by some form
of the verb be.
The man talking to his friend has a beard.
In this sentence talking 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 has

Take a look at this question:

The child … playing in the yard is my son.
A. Now
B. Is
C. He
D. Was

In this example, the subject of the sentence is ‘The child’, but the word ‘playing’ is not part
of the verb. The verb in this sentence is the word ‘is’ instead. Thus, the answer B and D are
wrong because they will make the sentence to have more than one verb. Answer C is also
incorrect because there is already a subject. So, the best answer is A.

TOEFL 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).

C 1. The companies offering the lowest prices will have the worst business

*present participle as adjective.

I 2. Those travelers are completing their trip on TWA should report to Gate Three.
*present participle as verb.

C 3. The artisans were demonstrating various handicrafts at booths throughout the fair.
*present participle as verb.

I 4. The fraternities are giving the wildest parties attract the most new pledges.
*present participle as verb.
 *This sentence has double verbs: are giving and attract. It should be: The
fraternities giving the wildest parties attract the most new pledges.

C 5. The first team winning four games is awarded the championship.

*present participle as adjective

I 6. The speaker was trying to make his point was often interrupted vociferously.
*present participle as verb
*This sentence has double verbs: are giving and attract. It should be:
The speaker trying to make his point was often interrupted vociferously

C 7. The fruits were rotting because of the moisture in the crates carrying them to
market.
*present participle as adjective

C 8. Any students desiring official transcripts should complete the appropriate

attention.
*present participle as adjective

I 9. The advertisements were announcing the half-day sale received a lot of attention.

*present participle as verb

*This sentence has double verbs: were announcing and received. It should be:
The advertisement announcing the half-day sale received a lot of attention.

C 10. The spices flavoring the meal were quite distinctive.

*present participle as adjective

SKILL 5: BE CAREFUL OF PAST PARTICIPLES

There are two types of participles: present participles and past participles. Present
participles end in -ing. Past participles end in -ed, -en, -d, -t, -n, or -ne as in the
words asked, eaten, saved, dealt, seen, and gone. A past participle is the form of the verb that
appears with have or be. Because it is used to express actions that have already happened, it
takes the past tense form. It is used to create verb forms and may also modify nouns, noun
phrases, adjectives, and adjective phrases.
a) Past Participle as Verb in the Perfect Tense

Example:

 Shawn has ruined my life.

Past Participle
verb

 Jay had walked two miles by lunchtime.

Past Participle
verb

b) Past Participle as Verb in the Passive Voice

 A romantic song was written by Shwan.

Past Participle
verb
 The bill was paid by the generous stranger.

Past Participle
verb

c) Participles as Adjectives

 We were careful to avoid the broken glass.

adjective noun

 You should walk cautiously on the frozen pond.

adjective noun

 The stormy weather ruined my good mood.

adjective noun phrase

d) Participles as Adjectives in Participle Phrases
A participle phrase is an adjective phrase that starts with a participle.
 Brushed with a comb, the dog’s fur felt smooth.
noun phrase

participle phrase

 I have a heart wracked with sorrow.

noun
participle phrase

Exercise 5: Each of the following sentences contains one or more past participles.
Underline the subjects once the verb twice. Circle the past participles and label them as
adjectives or verbs. Then indicate if the sentences are correct ( C) or incorrect (I).
( I) 1. The money was offered by the client was not accepted.
( C) 2. The car listed in the advertisement had already stalled.
( I) 3. The chapters were taught by the professor this morning will be on next
week’s exam.
( C)
4. The loaves of bread were baked in a brick oven at a low temperature for many
hours.
( C) 5. The ports reached by the sailors were under the control of a foreign nation.
( C) 6. Those suspected in the string of robberies were arrested by police.
( I) 7. The pizza is served in this restaurant is the tastiest in the country.
( I) 8. The courses are listed on the second page of the brochure have several
prerequisites.
( C) 9. All the tenants were invited to the Independence Day barbecue at the
apartment complex.
( C) 10. Any bills paid by the first of the month will be credited to your account by the

next day.
 11. TOEFL EXERCISE

Choose the letter of the word or group of words that best completes the
sentence.\\
1. The North Plate River ___ from
Wyoning into Nebraska. 6. Any possible academic assistance
from taking stimultants ___
a. it flowed marginal at best.
b. flows a. it is
c. flowing b. there is
d. with flowing water c. is
Skill 1 S-V agreement. d. as
Singular subject needs singular V. Skill 1  S-V agreement. The
2. ___ Biloxi, Mississippi, received its sentence needs singular V cz the S
name from a Sioux word meaning is singular (any).
“first people.” 7. Henry Adams, born in Boston, ___
a. The city of famous as a historian and novelist.
b. Located in a. became
c. It is in b. and became
d. The tour included c. he was
Skill 3  Appositives. d. and he became
Formula: Appostives, S, V Skill 3  Appositives. There is
3. A pride of lions ___ up to thirty subject so we need V. Formula: S,
five lions, including one to three Appositives, V.
male lions, several female lions and 8. The major cause ___ the pull of the
cubs. moon on the earth.
a. can contain a. the ocean tides are
b. it contains b. of ocean tides is
c. contain c. of the tides in the ocean
d. containing d. theoceans’ tides
Skill 1 S-V agreement. Singular Skill 2  Object of prep. S = the
subject A pride needs singular verb. major cause.
4. ___ tea plant are small and white. 9. The musical instrument __ is six
a. The feet long.
b. On the a. is called the bass
c. Having flower the b. it is called the bass
d. The flowers of the c. called the bas
Skill 2 Object of prep. Sentence d. calls the bass
already has verb (plural) so it needs S. Skill 5  past participle. Already has V
We can use OP with plural S. so it needs adj.
5. The tetracyclines, ___ antibiotics, 10. The spices ___ the meal were quite
are used to treat infections. distinctive.
a. are a family of a. flavoring
b. being a family b. are flavoring
c. a family of c. flavor
d. their family is d. is flavoring
Skill 3  Appositives. Skill 4  present participle. Already has
Formula: S, Appositives, V V so it needs adj.
 ANALYSIS OF THE STUDENTS’ WORK

There are 7 students can answer number 1 and 4 correctly, 6 students can answer
number 2 correctly, 5 students can answer number 3 and 10 correctly, 4 students can answer
number 5 correctly, 4 students can answer number 6 correctly, 2 students can answer number
7 and 8, and 3 students can answer number 9 correctly. From the data we know that most of
the students cannot answer number 7 and 8. Question number 7 is about Appositives. It might
be because the students have difficulty in finding the subject in the sentence so they are not
able to decide the verb which is needed in the sentence. Appostives are confusing because it
seems like subject. Number 8 is about object of preposition. The students might see ‘cause’
as verb so they think that the sentence does not have any verb.

To solve the students’ difficulty in understanding Appositives, teacher can drill the
questions related to appositives while the problem related to object of preposition, teacher can
present the examples of prepositions.