Skills of Structure Question in TOEFL Test

The ten problems or  skills are:

1. Problem with  Subject 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.

2. Problem with  Objects of Prepositions

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.‎

3. Problem with Present Participles

Present participles can-cause confusion inthe 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).

4. Problem with Past Participles

Past participles can cause confusion in theStructure 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.‎

5. Problem with Coordinate Connectors

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 theStructure 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.‎

6. Problem with  Adverb Clause Connectors

Sentences with adverb clauses have two basic patterns in English. Study the clauses and connectors in the following sentences:

He is tired because he has been working so hard.

Because he has been working so hard, he is tired.

In each of these examples, there are two clauses: he is tired and he has been working so hard. The clause he has been working so hard is an adverb clause that is introduced with the connector because. In the first example, the connector because comes in the middle of the sentence, and no comma (,) is used. In the second example, the connector because comes at the beginning of the sentence. In this pattern, when the connector comes at the beginning of the sentence, a comma (,) is required in the middle of the sentence.

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

Example

_____ arrived at the library, he started to work immediately.

(A) The student
(B) When
(C) He
(D) After the student

In this example, you should recognize easily that the verb arrived needs a subject. There is also another clause, he started to work immediately. If you choose answer (A) or answer (C), you will have a subject for the verb arrived, but you will not have a connector to join the two clauses. Because you need a connector to join two clauses, answers (A) and (C) are incorrect. Answer (B) is incorrect because there is no subject for the verb arrived. Answer (D) is the best answer because there is a subject, student, for the verb, arrived, and there is a connector, after, to join the two clauses.‎

7. Problem with Noun Clause Connectors

A noun clause is a clause that functions as a noun; because the noun clause functions as a noun, it can be used in a sentence as an object of a verb (if it follows a verb) or an object of a preposition (if it follows a preposition). Study the clauses and connectors in the following sentences.

A. I don't Know
B. Why did she like facebook

If we combine them:

I don't Know why she like faccebook

In the first example, there are two clauses, I don’t know and she liked facebook . These two clauses are joined with the connectorwhy. Why changes the clause he said such things into a noun clause which functions as the object of the verb don’t know.

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

Example

The citizens worry about ____ is doing.

(A) what the government
(B) the government
(C) what
(D) what the government it

In this example, the sentence contains the main subject and verb, the citizens worry, and it also contains an additional verb, is doing. The sentence needs a subject for the verb is doing and a connector to join the two clauses. The best answer is answer (A)because it has the connector what and the subject government. Answer (B) is incorrect because it does not have a connector. Answer (C) is incorrect because it does not have a subject for is doing. Answer (D) is incorrect because it has two subjects for is doing.‎

8. Problem with Noun Clause Connectors/Subjects

In Skill 7 we saw that noun clause connectors can be used to introduce noun clauses. In Skill 8 we will see that in some cases a noun clause connector is not just a connector; a noun clause connector can also be the subject of the clause at the same time. Study the clauses and connectors in the following sentences.

I know what happened yesterday

            NOUN CLAUSE AS OBJECT OF VERB

We are thinking about what happened yesterday.

                                  NOUN CLAUSE AS OBJECT OF PREPOSITION

In the first example, there are two clauses: I know and what happened yesterday. These two clauses are joined by the connector what. It is important to understand that in this sentence the word what serves two functions. It is both the subject of the verb happened and the connector that joins the two clauses.

 

In the second example, there are two clauses. In the first clause we is the subject of are thinking. In the second clause what is the subject of happened. What also serves as the connector that joins the two clauses. The noun clause what happened yesterday functions as the object of the preposition about.

9. Problem with Adjective Clause Connectors

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

A, This is the house
B, I want to buy it

If we combine them:

This is the house that/which I want to buy

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/which is the adjective clause connector that joins these two clauses, and the adjective clause that I want to buy describes the noun house.

A, The house is big
B. I want to buy it

If we combine:

The house that/which I want to buy is big


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.

10. Problem with Adjective Clause Connectors/Subject

In Skill 9 we saw that adjective clause connectors can be used to introduce clauses that describe nouns. In Skill 10 we will see that in some cases an adjective clause connector is not just a connector; an adjective clause connector can also be the subject of the clause at the same time.

A. We a re looking for a house
B. The house is quite expensive

If we combine them:

We are looking for a house that/which is quite expensive

In the first example, there are two clauses: we is the subject of the verb are looking, and that is the subject of the verb is. These two clauses are joined with the connector that. Notice that in this example the word that serves two functions at the same time: it is the subject of the verb is, and it is the connector that joins the two clauses. The adjective clause that is quite expensive describes the noun house.

A. The house seems like a great house
B. The house is quite expensive

If we combine them:

The house  that  is quite expensive   seems like a great house

In the second example, there are also two clauses: house is the subject of the verb seems, and that is the subject of the verb is. In this example, that also serves two functions: it is the subject of the verb is, and it is the connector that joins the two clauses. Because that is quite expensive is an adjective clause describing the noun house, it directly follows house.

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

Example

______ just dropped off a package for you is my sister.

(A) The woman
(B) The woman who
(C) Because the woman
(D) With the woman

In this example, you should notice immediately that the sentence has two verbs, dropped and is, and each of them needs a subject. The only answer that has two subjects is answer (B), so answer (B) is the correct answer. The correct sentence should say: The woman who just dropped off a package for you is my sister. In this sentence woman is the subject of the verb is, and who is the subject of the verb dropped. Who is also the connector that joins the two clauses?

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