Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Expression
General Strategies
Be familiar with the directions.
Begin with questions 1-15 (Structure). Questions
1-5 are easier and 11-15 are harder.
Continue with questions 16-40 (Written
Expression). Questions 16-20 are easier and 3640 are harder.
Do not take too much time with each item. If you
have time left you can go back and check 11-15
and 36-40.
Do not leave any blank answers on the answer
sheet.
Characteristics of a Sentence
A sentence can be formed by one or more clauses.
Clauses can be independent and dependent/subordinate
clauses. All sentences must have subject and verb.
Sentences can be: simple, compound, complex, and
compound-complex.
A simple sentence is formed by only one independent
clause.
I went to the movies yesterday afternoon.
Independent clause
was terrific.
conj. +
Indep. Clause +
Characteristics of a Clause
Every clause must have a subject and a verb. A
complement is optional.
There are two types of clauses: independent and
dependent (or subordinated).
Independent clauses have a complete idea and
can stand alone in a sentence.
Dependent clauses complement the
independent clause, but do not have a complete
idea and cannot stand alone in a sentence.
Skills 1-5
Simple Sentences: one subject + one verb
SKILL 1: BE SURE THE SENTENCE HAS A SUBJECT AND A VERB:
OP
APP
APP
IT AND THERE
Strategy
Some sentences or clauses begin with it or there. Be aware of the
constructions that follow these subjects. In the Structure section, parts
of a sentence including it and there may be omitted.
Adjective
Adjective
and
nor
but
or
yet
so
Condition
If
In case
provided
providing
unless
whether
Contrast
although
even though
though
while
whereas
Manner
as
in that
Place
where
wherever
con.
Subj. verb
con.
Subj. verb
exercises.
Although there is a lot of information to learn for the TOEFL
Con.
Subj.
verb
exam, you can get the 600 points if you work hard.
Subj. Verb
Noun clauses: They are the second type of subordinated clauses. They
Indirect/embedded/polite questions:
Where is the bank?
Could you tell me where the bank is?
Does he work here?
Do you know if he works here?
con.
S V
Prep.
C/S
S V
Subject
Adjective clauses: These are the third type of dependent or subordinate clause.
They have the same function as an adjective: describe a noun (person, place,
thing).
This is the book which I bought yesterday.
Describes the book.
The man who is standing over there helped me.
Describes the man
Adjective clauses, like all other clauses, need to have at least a subject and a verb.
Adjective clauses go immediately after the noun they are describing, so they can
appear in the middle or end of the sentence.
C/S
C/S
We can also change the position of the adjective clause and put it at
the beginning of the sentence.
The president, (who is) now preparing to give a speech, is meeting with
his advisors.
Now preparing to give a speech, the president is meeting with his
advisors.
Cannot be reduced:
Once you arrive, you can start the exam.
Can be reduced:
Once the exercises are answered, they are checked by the
teacher.
Once answered, the exercises are checked by the teacher.
Adverb clauses of cause cannot be reduced:
as, because, inasmuch as, now that, since
They are not interested in what you say or what you do.
clause
clause
gerund
Independent clause
After any form of have: have, has, had, having we should use the past
participle form of the verb:
Peter has worked a lot this week.
My parents have bought a new car.
I had finished my homework by 10 p.m.
Having finished my homework, I went out.
You should have studied a little more.
After any form of be: am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being the verb
can be in:
Present participle: for progressive tenses:
I am playing.
He is playing.
I was playing.
We were playing.
I have been playing.
I had been playing.
After modals or modal like expressions use the base form of the
verb: can, could, shall, should, will, would, must, ought to, be
able to, be supposed to, have to, had better.
You can work with us.
He should study a lot more.
They must finish the project.
I would help you, If I had time.
If you see a sentence with one verb in the past and one verb in
the present, the sentence is probably incorrect because it doesnt
make any sense:
I tell him the truth when he asked me the question.
FORM
MEANING
USE
EXAMPLE
Present
perfect
Have + Past
Participle
Past up to
now
Not with a
past tense **
Past
perfect
Had + Past
Participle
Before
past up to
past
Not with a
present
tense
**Except when the time expression since is part of the sentence, see skill 35.
SIMPLE PAST
PRESENT PERFECT
USE
EXAMPLE
Will
After the
present
Do not use
with past
Would
After the
past
NOTE: When would is used to make polite requests, it is used with the present tense:
I would like to have a cup of coffee please.
Verb
Object
verb
Agent
am/is/are
bought
Pres.Prog.
Pres.Perf.
Past.
Past Prog.
Past Perf.
Future
Future Perf.
am/is/are being
have/has been
was/were
was/were being
had been
will be
will have been
bought
bought
bought
bought
bought
bought
bought
SKILL 39:
amount
little
less
In this example the plural criteria looks singular because it does not end in S.
However, criteria is a plural noun, so the singular verb was used is incorrect.
The verb should be in the plural form were used.
IRREGULAR PLURALS
Vowel Change
Man / Men
Woman / Women
Add EN
Child / Children
Same as Singular
Deer / Deer
Fish / Fish
-IS -ES
Analysis / Analyses
Diagnosis / Diagnoses
Synthesis/Syntheses
Axis / Axes
Hypothesis / Hypotheses Thesis / Theses
Crisis / Crises
Parenthesis / Parentheses
Ends in A
Bacterium / Bacteria
Criteria
Curriculum / Curricula
-US -I
Foot / Feet
Tooth / Teeth
Goose / Geese
Mouse / Mice
Ox / Oxen
Salmon / Salmon
Sheep / Sheep
Alumnus / Alumni
Bacillus / Bacilli
Cactus / Cacti
Trout / Trout
Datum / Data
Criterion /
Phenomenon / Phenomena
Fungus / Fungi
Nucleus / Nuclei
Radius / Radii
Stimulus / Stimuli
Syllabus / Syllabi
SUBJECT
OBJECT
I
You
He
She
It
We
They
Me
You
Him
Her
It
Us
Them
POSSESSIVE
ADJECTIVES
POSSESSIVE
PRONOUNS
My
Your
His
Her
Its
Our
Their
Mine
Yours
His
Hers
Ours
Theirs
Must be accompanied by
noun
Cannot be accompanied
by a noun
PRONOUN AGREEMENT
1.
Be sure that every pronoun and possessive agrees with the
noun it refers to.
2.
You generally check back in the sentence for agreement
*In informal speaking we can use their/them
She is beautiful.
NOUN
PRO.
ADV.
ADJ.
NOUN
ADV.
ADJ.
NOUN
ADJ.
ADV.
feel
prove
seem
taste
be
look
smell
A one-word adjective comes before the noun it describes, it does not come
directly after.
ADVERBS
-LY ADJECTIVES
costly
likely
daily
quarterly
northerly
early
lively
hourly
weekly
easterly
friendly
lonely
monthly
yearly
southerly
kindly
manly
nightly
lovely
westerly
alike
alive
alone
afraid
asleep
like, similar
live, living
lone
frightened
sleeping
In the first example, cleans is the verb of the sentence. In the second
example, cleaning is a verbal adjective describing woman. In the third
example, cleaned is a verbal adjective describing car.
The cleaning* car is not correct because a car cannot do the action
of cleaning. (active)
The cleaned* woman is not correct because a woman cannot
receive the action of the verb clean. (passive)
-ED
MEANING
Active
Passive
USE
EXAMPLE
It does the
action of the
verb.
It receives the
action of the verb.
Countable
Singular
Nouns
Contable
Plural Nouns
Uncontable
Nouns
Indefinite
(General)
a dollar
an apple
---- dollars
---- apples
----money
----juice
Definite
(Specific)
the dollar
the apple
the dollars
the apples
the money
the juice
AN
A university
A hand
A one- way
street
A
euphemism
A xerox
machine
An unhappy
man
An hour
An omen
An event
An x-ray
machine
The definite article the is for both singular and plural nouns
The indefinite article a/an is used only with singular nouns.
One very common agreement error is to use the singular
indefinite a/an with a plural noun.
He saw a new movies. (incorrect)
He saw a new movie. (singular)
He saw new movies (plural)
A or An:
1. Use it when there are many, and you dont know which one it
is.
2. Use it when there are many, and you dont care which one it is.
Tom will bring a book tomorow. (any book)
1.
2.
THE:
Use it when it is the only one.
Use it when there are many, and you and your listener
know which one it is.
Tom will bring the book tomorow. (a specific book.)
Idiomatic way
Means exactly
what you expect
Literal
v/s
Idiomatic meaning
I call up my friend.
Prepositions
Prepositions are not only used to show time, place, and
agent, but are also used in combination with verbs,
adjectives, nouns, and in many common set expressions. We
cannot list all prepositions, but some important groups are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Verb + Preposition
depend on lead to
Adjective/Participle + Preposition
surprised at famous for
Noun + Preposition
example of possibility of
Other Combinations with Prepositions
as a result of in addition to
Prepositions of Time and Place
on May 16 in Washington
Prepositions in Common Expressions
at present in general
VERB + PREPOSITION
account for contribute to
believe in
depend on
belong to
detach from
confined to fight for
insist on
lead to
obtain from
overcome by
plan on
rely on
result in
withdraw from
ADJECTIVE/PARTICIPLE + PREPOSITION
accustomed to
different from necessary for
afraid of
expert at
opossed to
based on
free from
possible for
compared to
famous for
related to
NOUN + PREPOSITION
cause of
equivalent of
cost of
evidence of
danger of
example of
effect on
increase in
influence on
need for
possibility of
reason for
responsible for
successful in
surprised at
typical of
result of
use of
solution to
supply of
SINGULAR
INDEFINITE
DEFINITE
PLURAL
I have another
book.
I have other
books.
I have another.
I have others.
Bibliography:
Broukal, Milada. In-A-Flash: Grammar for the TOEFL Test. New
Jersey: Thomson Learning, Inc. 2001.
Phillips, Deborah. Longman Preparation Course for the TEFL Test.
The Paper Test. New York: Pearson Education, 2003.