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TOEFL Written Expression Questions
TOEFL Written Expression Questions
Each question in this section consists of one sentence in which four words or
groups of words have been underlined.
You must choose the letter of the word or group of words that is not correct
Example :
1) The final delifery of the day is the importantest.
A
B
C
D
2) The books that I read was
A
B
C
interesting.
D
First look at the underlined word or groups of words. You want to see if
you can spot which of the four answer choices is not correct.
If you have been unable to find the error by looking only at the four
underlined expressions, then read the complete sentence often an
underlined expression is incorrect because of something in another part
of the sentence
Example :
Prepositional phrases can come between the subject and the verb
If the object of the preposition is singular and the subject is plural, or if the
object of the preposition is plural and the subject is singular.
Example :
( prepositional phrases )
when a prepositional phrases comes between the subject and the verb, be sure
that the verb agrees with the subject
Exercises :
Indicate if the sentences are correct (c) or incorrect (i)
1. The climbers on the sheer face of the mountain need to be rescured ( c / i)
2. The interrogation, conducted by three police officers, have lasted for
several hours. ( c / i )
3. The tenants in the apartment next to mine is giving a party this evening (
c/i)
Skill 21 : make verbs Agree After Expressions of Quantity
Example :
All ( of the
singular
All ( of the
plural
uncountable
of the ( object )
When an expression of quantity is the subject, the verb agrees with the object
Exercise :
Indicate if the sentences are correct (c) or incorrect (i)
1. The witness saw that most of the fire in the hills was extinguished ( c / i )
2
2. Some of the animals from the zoo was released into the animal preserve. (
c/i)
3. All to the students in the class taught by Professor Roberts is required to
turn in their term papers next Monday ( c / i )
Skill 22 : Make Inverted Verbs Agree
We have seen that sometimes in English the subject comes after the verb.
When the subject and verb are inverted, it can be difficult to locate them,
and it can therefore be a problem to make them agree
Example :
Exercise :
Indicate if the sentences are correct (c) or incorrect (i)
1. Only once this morning were the letters delivered by the campus mail
service ( c / i )
2. Around the corner and to the right is the rooms that have been assigned
to that program ( c / i )
3. what in the world is the children trying to do ? ( c / i )
Skill 23 : Make Verbs Agree After Certain Words
Certain words in English are always grammatically singular, even though they
might have plural meanings.
Example : Everybody is going to the theater
The following chart lists the grammatically singular words that have plural
meanings :
3
I like to sing
I like to sing and to dance C
I like dancing
I like singing and dancing C
I like to singing and dancing ( it is not parallel ) I
Mr Brown likes to go home early, but his wife prefers to stay late
Parallel Structure with coordinate conjuction :
( same structure )
and
but
or
( same structure )
and
but
or
( same structure )
Exercise :
Indicate if the sentences are correct (c) or incorrect (i)
1. She held jobs as a typist, a house could keeper, and in a restaurant ( c / i )
5
2. The report you are looking for colud be in the file or on the desk ( c / i )
3. She works very hard but usually gets below average grades ( c / i )
Exercise 25 : Use parallel structure with Paired conjunctions.
The paired conjunctions both .............and, either........or, neither............nor
and not only.....but also require parallel structures
Example :
I know both where you went and what you did
Either Mark or Sue has the book
The tickets are neither in my pocket nor in my purse
He is not only an excellent student but also an outstanding athlete
He wants either to go by train or to go by plane
He wants to go either by train or by plane
He wants to go by either train or plane
He wants either to go by train or by plane (it is not parallel, so it is not correct)
The following chart outlines the use of parallel structure with paired conjuction:
Parallel Structure with Paired Conjuctions
both
either
neither
not only
and
or
nor
but also
( same structure )
(same structure)
Exercise :
Indicate if the sentences are corect (c) or incorrect (i)
1. According to the syllabus, you can either write a paper or you can take an
exam ( c / i )
2. It would be both noticed and appreciated if you could finish the work
before you leave ( c / i )
3. She would like neither to see a movie or to go bowling ( c / i )
Skill 26 : Use Parallel Structure With Comparisons
When we make a comparison, we point out the similarities or differences
between two things, and those similarities or differences must be in parallel
form.
We can recognize a comparison showing how two things are different from
the er ............ than or the more ...... than
6
Example :
My school is farther than your school
To be rich is better than to be poor
What is written is more easily understand than what is spoken
A comparison showing how two things are the same might contain as ..... as
or expressions such as the same as or similar to
Example :
Their car is as big as a small house
Renting those apartments cost about the same as leasing them
The work that I did is similar to the work that you did
The following chart outlines the use of parallel structures with comparisons :
Parallel Structure with comparisons
( same structure )
( same structure )
Exercise :
Indicate if each sentence is correct ( c ) or incorrect ( i )
1
His research for the thesis was more useful than hers ( c / i )
2
Dining in a restaurant is more fun than to eat at home ( c / i )
3
I want a new secretary who is as efficient as the previous one ( c / i )
Problems with comparative and superlatives :
Skill 27 : Form Comparatives And Superlatives Correctly
The comparative is formed with either er or more and than
In the comparative, -er is used with short adjectives such as tall, and more is
used with longer adjectives such as beautiful
Example : Bob is taller than Ron
Sally is more beautiful than Saron
The superlative is formed with the, either -est or most, and sometimnes in,
of, or a that- clause.
In the superlative, -est is used with short adjectives such as tall , and most is
used with longer adjectives such as beautiful
Example :
Comparative
Superlative
than
maybe in, of, that
Exercise :
Indicate if the sentneces are correct (c) or incorect (i)
1. Oxygen is abundanter than nitrogen (c / i )
2. The directions to the exercise say to choose the most appropriate response
3. The lesson you are stadying now is the most importantest lesson that you
will have (c / i )
Skill 28 : Use Comparatives and Superlatives Correctly
The comparative and superlative have different uses, and we should
understand these different uses to answer such questions correctly !
The comparative is used to compare two equal things.
Example :
The superlative is used when there are more than two items to compare and we
want to show the one that is the best, the biggest, or in some way the most
outstanding.
Example :
In this type of sentence, the and the comparison can be followed by a number of
different structures.
Example :
The more children you have, the bigger the house you need
The harder you work, the more you accomplish
The greater the experience, the higher the salary
-er
more
-er
more
(same structure)
9
This type of sentence may or may not include a verb
Exercise :
Indicate if the sentences are correct ( c ) or incorect ( i )
1. The hotter the food is, harder it is to it ( c / i )
2. The warmer the weather, the greater the attendance at the outdoor cocert
(c/i)
3. The more you say, the worst the the situation will be ( c / i )
It is common in the Written Expression part of the TOEFL test for the
verbs to be formed incorrectly
Therefore, we should be familiar with the following verb forms :
Base Form
Present
walk
hear
cook
sing
come
begin
walk (s)
hear (s)
cook (s)
sing (s)
come (s)
begin (s)
Present
Participle
walking
hearing
cooking
singing
coming
beginning
Past
walked
heard
cooked
sang
came
began
Past
Participle
walked
heard
cooked
sung
come
begun
We should be sure that if we have a subject and a past participle, we also have
the verb have
10
This problem is particularly common with those verbs ( such as sing, sang,
sung) that change from present to past to past participle by changing only the
vowel.
Example :
The following chart outlines the use of verb forms after have
Verb forms after have
Exercise :
Indicate if the sentences are correct (c) or incorrect ( i )
1. The young girl drunk a glass of milk ( c / i )
2. Befor she left, she had asked her mother for permission ( c / i )
3. Having finished the term paper, he began studying for the exam ( c / i )
Skill 31 : After Be, use the Present Participle or Past Participle
The verb be in any of its forms (am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being) can be
followed by another verb. This verb should be in the present participle or the past
participle form.
Example :
1. We are doing our homework
2. The homework was done early
3. Tom is taking the book
4. The book was taken by Tom
The following chart outlines the use of verb forms after be:
Be + ( 1 ) present participle
( 2 ) past participle
Exercise :
Indicate if the sentences are correct ( c ) or incorrect ( i )
1.
2.
3.
Skill 32 : After will, would, or other modals, use the base form of the verb.
11
Whenever we see a modal, such as will, would, shall, should, can, could, may,
might, or must we should be sure that the verb that follows it is in its base form.
Example :
The following chart outlines the use of verb forms after modals :
Verbs forms after modals
Modal + main form of the verb
Exercises :
Indicate if the sentences are correct ( c ) or incorrect ( i )
1. The salesclerk might lower the price ( c / i )
2. The television movie will finishes in a few minutes ( c / i )
3. Should everyone arrive by 8:oo ? ( c / i )
Problem with the use of the Verb
Skill 33 : Know when to use the past with the present
Many different problems in using the correct verb tense are possible in
English
If a sentence has both a past tense and a present tense, the sentence is
incorrect.
Example :
12
When we see a sentence on the TOEFL test with both the past and the present
tense, we must check the meaning of the sentence carefully to see if it is
logical in English.
The following chart outlines the use of the past tense with the present tense in
English.
1
2
3
Exercises :
Indicate if the sentences are correct ( c ) or incorrect ( i )
1. I tell him the truth when he asked me the question ( c / i )
2. I understand that you were angry ( c / i )
3. When he was a child, he always goes to the circus ( c / i )
Skill 34 :
Two tenses that are often confused are the present perfect (have + past
participle ) and the past perfect (had + past participle)
The present perfect ( have + past participle) refers to the period of time from
the past until the present
Example :
The past perfect (had + past participle) refer to a period of time that started
in the past and ended in the past, before something else happened in the
past
Example :
Sue had lived in Los Angeles for ten years when she moved
to San Diego
Because the present perfect refers to period of time from the past until the
present, it is not correct in a sentence that indicate past only.
13
Example :
Because the past perfect begins in the past and ends in the past, it is generally
not correct in the the same sentence with the present tense.
Example :
Tom had finished the exam when the teacher collects the
paper
collected
The following chart outlines the uses of the present perfect and the past perfect :
Using (have + past participle) and (had + pas participle)
Tense
Present
perfect
Form
Meaning
use
** Except when the time expression since is part of the sentence (see skill 35)
Exercises :
Indicate if the sentences are correct ( c ) or incorrect ( i )
1. I have always liked the designs that are on the cover ( c / i )
2. Because her proporsal had been rejected, she is depressed ( c / i )
3. The students have registered for classes before the semester started ( c / i )
Skill 35 : Use the correct tense with time expressions
Often in sentences in the Written Expression section of the TOEFL test there is
a time expression that clearly indicates what verb tense is needed in the
sentence.
Examples :
Some additional time expressions that clearly indicate the correct tense are ago,
last and lately
Examples :
14
The following chart list time expression that indicate the correct verb tense :
Using correct Tenses with Time Expression
Past Perfect
Simple Perfect
Present Perfect
by (1920)
Since (1920)
Lately
Exercises :
Indicate if the sentences are correct ( c ) or incorrect ( i )
1. The phone rang incessantly lat night ( c / i )
2. They have finished contacting everyone by 4:oo yesterday ( c / i )
3. The pilgrims have arrived in the New World in 1612 ( c / i )
The present should be used with will and the past should with would, they
generally should not be mixed.
Example : I know that he would arrive soon
It was certain that he will graduate
incorrect
incorrect
The following chart outlines the use of tenses with will and would :
Verb
15
Use
will
would
Note :
Example : I would like to know if you have a pencil that I could borrow
Exercises :
Indicate if the sentences are correct ( c ) or incorrect ( i )
1. He knew that he will be able to pass the exam ( c / i )
2. I think that I will be able to pass the exam ( c / i )
3. Paul did not say when he will finish the project ( c / i )
Problem with passive verbs
The difference between an active and a passive verb is that the subject in a
active sentence does the action of the verb and the subject in a passive
sentence receives the action of the verb.
To convert of the active to passive, two changes must be made.
1. The subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive
sentence, while the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of
the passive sentence.
2. The verb in the passive sentence is formed by putting the helping verb be
in the same form as the verb in the active sentence and than adding the
past participle of this verb.
Example :
by Margaret
Passive
S + be + V3 + by Agent
16
Note : In the scientific tect, a sentence is often written in a passive form because
the important idea is not who did something but what is done
17
(none)
Active
Simple Present
Present Progresive
Present Perfect
Simple Past
Past Progresive
Past Perfect
Simple Future
be going to
Future Perfect
Passive
A research
A research
A research
A research
A research
A research
A research
A research
A research
18
is conducted
is being conducted
has been conducted
was conducted
was being conducted
had been conducted
will be conducted
is going to be conducted
is going to be conducted
by Mary
by Mary
by Mary
by Mary
by Mary
by Mary
by Mary
by Mary
by Mary
The professor of Fluid dynamics will be invented to the International Conference in ITS
Flowcharting cant be restricted by a particular program on any particular
The components should be restored in one box to avoid damage
Synthetic polymers may be used to increase flammability
This theory had better be applied to the next experiment
This research ought to be completed before June 1st
The program has to be conducted in proper working order
The plenary is supposed to be held after dinner
THE PAST-PASSIVE FORM : modal + have been + past participle
(i)
(j)
(k)
The final report of steel acrh should have been sent last week bridge design
This harbour must have been constructed over 200 years ago
The road ought to have been asphalted two days ago
19
Exercises :
Indicate if the sentences are corect ( c ) or incorrect ( i )
1.
2.
3.
When there is no object (with or without by after a verb, we must look at the
meaning of the sentence to determine if the verb should be active or passive.
Example :
To determine that such a sentence is incorrect, your must study the meaning
of the subject and the verb.
We must ask ourselves if the subject does the actin of the verb (so an active
verb is needed) or if the subject receives the action of the verb (so a passive
verb is needed)
The following chart outlines the difference in meaning between active and
passive verbs :
Active and Passive Meanings
Active
Passive
Exercises :
Indicate if the sentences are correct ( c ) or incorrect ( i )
1.
2.
3.
20
In the written expression section of the TOEFL test, we should watch very
carefully for key words, such as each, every, a, one, and single that indicate
that a noun should be singular
We should also watch carefully for such key words as many, several, both,
various, and two (or any other number except one) that indicate that a noun
should be plural.
The following chart list the key words that indicate to you whether a noun should
be singular or plural :
Key words for singular and Plural Nouns
For singular Nouns
each
every
single
one
two
two
many
several
a
various
Exercises :
Indicate if the sentences are correct ( c ) or incorrect ( i )
1.
2.
3.
The outomotive shop stocked many part for the various types of Hondas
(c/i )
Every receipt must be removed from the cashiers drawer and tallied ( c / i)
The salesclerk demonstrated various additional way that the machine could
be used ( c / i )
21
Uncountable Nouns:
The following chart lists the key words that indicate to you whether a noun
should be countable or uncountable :
Key words for Countable and Uncountable Nouns
For Countable nouns
many
number
few
fewer
much
amount
little
less
Exercises :
Indicate if the sentences are correct ( c ) or incorrect ( i )
1.
2.
3.
He received little notice that the bill would have to be paid in full ( c / i )
The police had view opportunities to catch the thief who had committed a
large amount of crimes ( c / i )
You will have fewer problems with your income taxes if you get
professional help ( c / i )
Skill 41 :
Example :
Different criteria were used to evaluate the performers.
The following chart lists the irregular plurals that you should become familiar
with :
22
Irregular Plurals
Vowel change
Add ......en
Same as singular
- is - es
Ends in A
- us -i
Skill 42 :
man/men
woman/women
child/children
deer/deer
fish/fish
analysis/analyses
axis/axes
crisis/crises
bacterium/bacteria
curriculum/curricula
alumnus/alumni
bacillus/bacilli
cactus/cacti
foot/feet
tooth/teeth
ox/oxen
salmon/salmon
sheep/sheep
diagnosis/diagnoses
hypothesis/hypotheses
parenthesis/parentheses
datum/data
phenomenon/phenomena
fungus/fungi
nucleus/nuclei
radius/radii
goose/geese
mouse/mice
trout/trout
synthesis/ syntheses
thesis/theses
creterion/criteria
stimulus/stimuli
syllabus/syllabi
Example :
Ralph Nader is an authorization in the field of consumer affairs
(incorrect)
Ralph Nader is an outhority in the field of consumer affairs (correct)
There are many job opportunities in accountant . (incorrect)
There are many job opportunities in accounting. (correct)
Problems with Pronouns
Pronouns are words, such as he, she, or it, that take the place of Nouns
The following pronoun problems are the most common on the TOEFL test :
1 distinguishing subject and object pronouns
2 distinguishing possessive pronouns and possessive adjectives
3 checking pronoun reference for agreement
Skill 43 :
Object
23
me
you
you
he
him
she
her
It
it
we
us
they
them
Example :
Skill 44 :
Possessive adjectives and pronouns both show who or what owns a noun
A possessive adjective describes a noun : it must be accompanied by a noun
Example :
- They lent me their book
Possessive Pronouns
my
your
his
mine
yours
his
24
her
hers
its
our
ours
their
theirs
must be accompanied by cannot be accompained by a
noun
noun
Skill 45 : Check Pronoun Reference for Agreement
After we have checked that the subject and object pronouns and the
possessive are used corrctly, we should also check each of these pronouns
and possessives for agreement.
Example :
The boys will cause trouble if you let them
The boys will cause trouble if you let him
Everyone must give his name
Everyone must give their name
correct
incorrect
correct
incorrect
Adverb
recently
publicity
evidently
There are three skills involving adjectives and adverbs that will help us on
the written expression section of the TOEFL test :
knowing when to use adjectives and adverbs
using adjectives rather than adverbs after linking verbs
positioning adjectives and adverbs
25
26
Skill 46 :
is
beautiful
adjective
She
is
pronoun
woman
noun
beautiful
adjective
sings
beautifully
She
is
adj
beautifully
dressed
adverb
She
is
adj
woman
noun
a truly
beautifully
dressed
woman
adv
adv
adj
noun
The following chart outlines the important information that we should remember
about the basic use of adjectives and verbs :
Basic use of Adjectives and Adverbs
Adjectives
Adverbs
spoke
nicely
27
verb
looks
subj
adv
nice
adj
seems
subj
unusually
adv
nice
adj
The following chart list commonly used linking verbs and outlines the different
uses of adjectives and adverbs after regular verbs and linking verbs :
Adjectives and Adverbs after Verbs
( Subject ) + (regular verb ) + ( adverb )
A regular verb is followed by an adverb. The adverb describes the verb
( Subject ) + (lingking verb ) + ( adjective )
A lingking verb is followed by an adjective. The adjective describes the
subject
(subject)
(lingking verb)
(adverb)
(adjective)
appear
be
become
fell
look
prove
28
seem
smell
taste
There are two common errors of position adjectives and adverbs that we
should bewere of :
the position of adjectives with the nouns they describe
the position of adverbs with objects
Examples :
The information important is on the first page
noun
(i)
(i )
(c)
(c)
(c)
adj
object
The following chart outlines the key points that we should remember about the
position of adjectives and adverbs :
Adjectives
Adverbs
Recognize ly adjectives
29
report
noun
The following chart lists common -ly adjectives that can appear in English :
-ly adjectives
costly
early
friendly
kindly
Skill 50 :
likely
lively
lonely
manly
daily
hourly
monthly
nightly
quarterly
weekly
yearly
lovely
northerly
easterly
southerly
westerly
(c)
(i)
The following chart lists some common predicate adjectives and the
coresponding forms that can be used in front of the noun :
Predicate Adjectives
alike
alive
alone
afraid
asleep
like, similar
live, living
lone
frightened
sleeping
Skill 51 :
verb
Verbal adjectives ending in -ed and an -ing can be confused in the written
expression section of the TOEFL test
The cleaning car ...............
(the cleaning car is not correct because a car cannot do the action of
cleaning)
The cleaned woman .....
(the cleaned woman is not correct because a woman cannot receive
the action of the verb clean )
The following chart outlines the key information that we should remember about
-ed and -ing adjectives :
-ED and -ing Adjectives
-ing active It does the action of the
......the happily playing
verb
children...... (the children
play)
-ed passive It receives the action of
.....the frequently played
the verb
record.... (someone plays the
record )
Problems with Articles
Countable
Singular
31
Countable
Plural
Uncountable
Nouns
Nouns
Indefinite
(General)
a dollar
an apple
the dollar
Definite (specific)
the apple
Skill 52 : Use Articles with Singular Nouns
Nouns
-- dollars
-- apples
the dollars
the apples
---money
-----juice
the money
the juice
We can see from the chart that if a noun is either countable plural or
uncountable, it is possible to have either the definite article the or no
article (indefinite)
With all countable singular nouns, however we must have an article (unless
we have another determiner such as my or each )
Example :
I have money (uncountable no article needed)
I have books (countable plural no article needed )
I have a book (countable singular article needed)
The following chart outlines the key information that we should remember
about articles with singular nouns :
Articles with Singular Nouns
A singular noun must have an article (a, an, the ) or some other
determiner such as my or each. ( A plural noun or an uncountable noun
may or may not have an article.
Skill 53 :
Distinguish A and AN
There are two expressions to this rule : u and h. When u is pronounced like
the consonant y ( as in usual ), it is preceded by the article a rather than
an
32
a university
a unit
an unhappy man
an understanding
a hospital
a heart
an honor
an herb
The following chart outlines the key information about the use of a and
an :
a and
an
an
an
Skill 54 :
The definite article (the) is used for both singular and plural nouns
The use of the indefinite article is different for singular and plural nouns :
Example :
( singular )
( plural )
( singular )
( plural )
( singular )
( plural )
The following chart states the key point for us to remember about the agreement
of articles with nouns :
Agreement of Articles with Nouns
You should never use a or an with a pliral Noun
Skill 55 :
33
With countable singular nouns it is possible to use either the definite or the
indefinite article, but they have different meaning.
The definite article is used to refer to one specific noun :
Example :
Tom will bring the book tomorrow
( There is one specific book that Tom will bring tomorrow)
He will arrive on the first Tuesday in July
( There is only one first Tuesday in July )
He sailed on the Pacific Ocean
( There is only one Pacific Ocean )
The definite article is used when the noun could be one of several different
different nouns
Tom will bring a book tomorrow
( Tom will bring any one book )
He will arive on a Tuesday in July
( He will arrive on one of four Tuesdays in July)
He sailed on an ocean
(He sailed in any one of the worlds oceans)
The following chart outline the key information that you should
understand about specific and general ideas :
Specific and General Ideas
Article
Meaning
a or an
general idea
the
specific idea
Uses
Use when there are many , and we do not
know which one is it
Use when there are many, and we do not
care which one is it
Use when it is the only one
Use when there are many , and you
know which one is it
Example :
The boy ran up the hill
( The boy went in the direction up rather than down )
She went in the house
( She went into rather than out of the house )
Skill 56 :
( incorrect )
( to visit )
( correct )
( canceled )
( incorrect )
( correct )
( incorrect )
( correct )
( incorrect )
( correct )
Skill 58 :
Distinguish make
and do
Like, alike and unlike are easily confused because they look so similar
and they have many different uses.
There are several structures with like, alike and unlike that we should be
familiar with.
The adjective alike and like (see Skill 50 )
Example :
John and Tom are alike
(alike as a predicate adjective means similar)
John and Tom worked in a like manner
( like as adjective form means similar )
36
The prepositions like and unlike, which have apposite meanings and they
must be followed by objects.
Example :
John is like Tom
( like as preposition means that Tom and John are similar )
John is unlike Tom.
( unlike as preposition means that Tom and John are not similar )
The preposition like and unlike can also be used at the beginning of a
sentence
Example :
Like Tom, John is tall
( like as a preposition means that Tom is tall )
Unlike Tom, John is tall
(unlike as preposition means that Tom is not tall )
The following chart outlines the structures and meanings of sentences with
like, alike and unlike :
Grammar
adjective
adjective
similar
similar
like
alike
Skill 60 :
To decide how to use each of them correctly, we must consider three things:
1 If it is singular or plural
2 If it is definite ( the ) or indefinite (a, an )
3 If it is a pronoun ( it appear by itself )
Singular
Indefinite
Definite
Plural
(adjective) I have other books (adj)
(pronoun) I have others
(pron)
I have the other books (adj)
(adjective)
I have the others
(pro)
(pronoun)
38