STRUCTURE AND

WRITTEN EXPRESSION
The second section of the TOEFL tesl is the Strtrcture and Written Expression
section. This section consists of fortv questions (some tests may be longer). You
have twentv-five mir-rtrtes to complete the fort.v questions in this section.
There are tu,o tvpes of questions in the Stmcture and Written Erpression sec-
tion of the TOEFL test:
1. Structure (questions 1-15) consists of fifteen sentences in rihich part of the
sentence has been replaced u,ith a blank. Each sentence is followed by four
answer choices. \brr rnust choose the anssrer that completes the sentence in
a grammaticallv cot-rect rt,a):.
2. Written Expression (questions 16-40) consists of tu,entr.-five sentences in
which four u,ords or grollps of u'ords have been underlined. You must
choose the underlined r,lord or groLlp of rvords that is not correct.

GENERAL STRATEGIES

1. Be familiar with the directions. The directions on every TOEFL test are the same, so
itis not necessary to spend time reading the directions carefully when you take the
test. You should be completely familiar with the directions before the day of the test.

2. Begin with questions 1 through 15. Anticipate that questions 1 through 5 will be
the easiest.Anticipate that questions 11 through 15 will be the most difficult. Do
not spend too much time on questions 11 through 15.There will be easier
questions that come later.
3. Continue with questions 16 through 40. Anticipate that questions 16 through 20
will be the easiest. Anticipate that questions 36 through 40 will be the most
difficult. Do not spend too much time on questions 36 through 40.
4. lf you have time, return to questions 11 through 15. You should spend extra time
on questions 11 through 15 only after you spend all the time that you want on the
easier ouestions.

5. Never leave any questions blank on your answer sheet. Even if you are not sure of
the correct response,you should answer the question.There is no penalty for
guessing.

62
 STRUCTURE 63

THE STRUCTURE QUESTIONS

Questions 1 through 15 in the Structure and Written Expression section of the
TOEFL test measure volrr knowledge of tl-re correct str-trcture of English sentences.
The questions in this section are multiple-choice questions in which you must
choose the letter of the ans\\'er that best completes the sentence.

Example
sreeted r-ne enthusiasticallv at the fi"ont door.
(A) Parental
(B) rl
(C) Mv l'riends
(D) Them

In this example, vou should notice immediatelv that the sentence has a verb,
greeted, and that the verb needs a subject. Ansr.l,ers (A), (B), and (D) are incorrect
because pttrental, if, and thern are not subiects. The correct ans\ve r is ansuer' (C).

STRATEGIES FOR THE STRUCTURE QUESTIONS

1. First study the sentence. Your purpose is to determine what is needed to complete
the sentence correctly.
2. Then study each answer based on how well it completes the sentence. Eliminate
answers that do not complete the sentence correctly.
3. Do not try to eliminate incorrect answers by looking only at the answers. The
incorrect answers are generally correct by themselves.The incorrect answers are
generally incorrect only when used to complete the sentence.
4. Never leave any answers blank. Be sure to answer each question even if you are
unsure of the correct response.
5. Do not spend too much time on the Structure questions. Be sure to leave
adequate time for the Written Expression questions.

The tollou,ing skills will help 1,'ou to implement these strategies in the Structure
section of the TOEFI- test.
 STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION

Srcrr 1: SUBJECTS AND VERBS

You know that a sentence in English should have a subiect and a verb. The most
common tvpes of ploblems that you '"vill 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 extrar subject
or verb.

Example I
rr,as ritrsins contintrouslv for houls.
(A) Loudlv
(B) In the mor-ning
(C) The phone
(D) The bells

In this example, should notice immediatell'that there is a ve'rb, was rirtgittg,

_v-ou
but there is no subject. Answer (C) is the best answer because it is a singular sub-
ject that agrees u,ith the singular verb u,as ringing. Ansu,er (,\), loudh, and answer
(B), in the moning, are not subjects, so they are no[ con"ect. Although answer (D),
bells, could be a subject, it is not correct because bells is plural and it does not
agree with the singular ver-b rvas rirryirry.

Example II
Nenspapers everv morning and everl er,'ening.
(A) deliverl
(B) -
are delivered
(C) on time
(D) regularly

In this example, \,ou should notice immediateh'that the sentence has a subject,
neu,spaperg but that there is no rterb. Because ans\ver (B), are delh,ered, is a verb, it
is the best ansu'er. Ansrvers (A), (C), and (D) are not verbs, so thev are not correct.

Example III
The plane landing at the airport in fir,e minutes.
(A) it is
(B) it leallv is
(C) is descending
(D) r,r"ill be

This sentence has a sub.ject, plane, and has part of a verb, landing; to be correct,
some form of the verb be is needed to make the verb cotnplete. Answers (A) and
 STRUCTURE 65

(B) are incorrect because the sentence alreadv has a subject, plane, and cloes not
need the extra strbject ir. Ansrver (C) is incorrect because descentling is an extra
part of a r''et-b that is unnecessarv because of landing. Ansr.r,er (D) is the best
answer; t,ill be together rvith lardirzg is a complete verb.
The follor'i,ing chart otttlines the key information that vou should remember
about subiects arrd verbs.

SUBJECTS AND VERBS

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 iito find
the subjecf and the yerb.

EXERCISE 1: Ur-rdetline the sr-rbjects once and the rrerbs turice in each of the fol-
lorving sentences. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

I l. M:- best fliend alu'avs hetpful u,ith problems.

C 2. The bus scheclule be!:lAlgA since lasr u,eek.

3. Accidentallv dropped the glass on the {loor.

4. The custonrer paying the clerk lbr the clothes.

5. The professor handed the svllabus to the stlrdents.

6. Each dav practiced the piano [or hours.

7. The basketball pla-u-er rossed the ball into the hoop.

B. The nelrr student ir-r the class very talkatirre and triendlv.

9. Walking u'ith the children to school.

10. The u'hales headed south for the r.rrinter-.

--
66 STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION

Sxnr 2: OBJECTS OF PREPOSITIONS

An object of a pre-position is a noun or a pronoun that comes after a preposition
such as ht, at, ol', to, bv, behhd, zind on to form a prepositional phrase.
The trip (to the island) (on Sotttrdar) rvill last (for three hours).

This sentence contains three objects of prepositions. Island is the object of the
preposition to; Saturdar is the object of the preposition ott', hours is the object of
the preposition lbr:
An object of a prepositior-r can cause confusion in the Structure section of the
TOEFL test because it can be rnistaken for the subiect of a sentence.

Example
To Mike \\/as a big surprise,
(A) reallv
(B) the partv
(C) funnv
(D) rvhen

In this example, .vou should look first for the subiect and the verb. You should
notice the verb r,r.,as and should also notice that there is no subject. Do not think
Lhat Mike is the subject; Mike is the object of the preposition /o, and one noun
cannot be both a strb.ject ancl an object at tl-re same time. Because a subject is
needed in this sentence, zlnswer (B), tlrc part\,, is the best ansu'er. Answers (A), (C),
ar-rd (D) are not correct because they cannot be sr-rbjects.

The follou,ir-rg chart outlines the kev information that you should remember
about objects of prepositions.

OBJECTS OF PREPOSITIONS

A preposition is followed by a noun or pronoun that is called an object of the preposition.

ff a word is an object of o preposition, it is not the subject.

NOTE: A list of prepositions and exercises to practice recognizing

these prepositions can be found in Appendix B at the back of the
text. You may want to complete these exercises before continuing
with Exercise 2.
 STRUCTURE 67

EXERCISE 2: Each of the following sentences contains one or more prepositional

phrases. Underline the subjects once and the verbs tu'ice. Circle the prepositional
phrases that come before the verb. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C)
or incorrect (I).

c 1. The name @@@ is Jack.

t2. f the clast) need to turn in the papers.

3. The directions to the exercise on pa_se 20 unclear-.

4. Because of the heavy rain throughout the night, tire rvalkrvavs are muddr.

5. During the week eat lunch in the school cafeteria.

6. In the morning after the concert u'as tired.

7. In the summer the trip to the motrntains is our favorite trip.

B. In a bor on the top shelf of the cabinet in the hallu,ay of the house.

9. With her purse in her hand ran through the door.

10. At 1:00 in the morning the alarm clock on the table beside the bed rang.

EXERCISE (Skills 1-2): Underline the subjects once and the verbs trvice. Circle
the prepositional phrases that come before the verb. Then indicate if the sentences
are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

1. During the meeting in the office discussed the schedule.

2. The doctor gave the patient a pr-escr-iption.

3. The tall evergreen trees along the road.

4. The watch in the jewelry box needs a new batteryr.

5. Pleasantly greets everyone in all the offices ever\,/ nrorning.

6. In the office of the building across the street from the park on the corner.

7. The dishes in the sink reallv need to be rvashed as soon as possible.

8. In a moment of worrv about the problem with the cash in the account.
68 STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION

9. The plane fr-om Neu'York cir-cling the airport.

10. On a regular basis the plants in the boxes under the u,indou, in the kitchen
----
are rvatered and fecl.

TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills l-2): Choose the letter of the u'ord or grolrp of u,orcls
that best con-rpletes the sentence.

l. Mark T\i'ain the vears afier the 6. The larse carotid arter-r, to the
Cir,ii War the "Gilded Age." main parls ol the brain.
(A) callecl (A) carrying blood
(B) czrlling (B) blood is carried
(C) he c:rlled (C) carries blood
(D) his calls (D) blood carries

2. Earlv toes instead of hoor,es on 7. radio as the first nractical

their: f'eet. svstem of rvireless telegraphv
(A) horses
-(A) Marconi'.s der,elopment
(B) had horse's (B) The der,elopment b1, Marconi
(C) l-rorses had (C) Dercloping Marconi
(D) horses l-raving (D) Marconi developed

3. grort' closc 1o the ground in the 8. In 1975, the llrst successful space
shor:t Arctic sllmmer. probe to beginning to send
-(A)Al)O\e lunclra plalils
in{ormation
-_ back to Earth.
(B) Tundra plants (A) Venus
(C) Tr-rndrer plants :rre found (B) Venus the
(D) tror tundra plants (C) Venus rl,as
(D) Venus it uas
:1. In1867, Aiaska ii'on-r the
Russians for $7.2 rnillion. 9. The two biggest resolt Arkansas
-
(A) purchased the United States are Hot Springs and Eureka Springs'
(B) to pr-rrchase the United States (A) in
(C) the Unitcd States'ptrrchase of (B) torvns in
(D) the United States purchased (C) to'uvns are
(D) tor,',,ns are in
5. Be-tr,r'een 1725 and 1750, Nerv
En-eland u'itnesse'd an increase in the 10. NASAs Lyndon B. Johnson Space
specizrliz:rtion of Center- control center for the
Mercun'; Gemini' and Apollo space
(A) occupations
(B) occupies -. flights' -
(C) thev occr-rpied (A) it rvas at the
(D) it occupicd them (B) it u,as the
(C) u,as the
(D) the