Tips & Tricks

on TOEFL® Structure and Written Expressions

The TOEFL® Test Structure and Written Expressions

Section Questions Time

Structure 15 multiple-choice
25 minutes
Written Expressions 25 multiple-choice

GENERAL
STRUCTURE

WRITTEN EXPRESSIONS

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SKILL 1 : SUBJECT AND VERB

A sentence in English must have at least one subject and one verb. Think about the
following example, and try to identify the subject and the verb.

Example:
(1) After her exams, Mary always goes to the cinema with her friends.

(2) Sally, one of the best students in the class, has got an A on the exam.

On the TOEFL test, present and past participles can cause confusion. They do not
serve as verbs in a sentence.

Example:
(1)

(2)

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).

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Choose the answer that best completes the sentences.

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SKILL 2 : MULTIPLE CLAUSES

I. COMPOUND SENTENCE
When there are two or more clauses, those clauses must be connected correctly to
form a grammatical sentence. One way to connect them is using coordinate conjunctions,
such as and, but, or, so, or yet. Study the example below.

Example:

Jack is going to have a football match next week, so he practices everyday with his team

mates.

Exercise:
Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice in each of the following sentences. Circle
the connectors. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

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II. COMPLEX SENTENCE

Another way to connect clauses is using subordinate conjunctions. There are three
types of clauses where subordinate conjunctions appear.

1. Adverbial Clause

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Exercise:
Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice in each of the following sentences. Circle
the connectors. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

Choose the answer that best completes the sentences.

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2. Noun Clause

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Exercise:
Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice in each of the following sentences. Circle
the connectors. Put boxes around the noun clauses. Then indicate if the sentences are
correct (C) or incorrect (I).

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3. Adjective Clause

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Exercise:
Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice in each of the following sentences. Circle
the connectors. Put boxes around the adjective clauses. Then indicate if the sentences are
correct (C) or incorrect (I).

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Choose the answer that best completes the sentences.

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Choose the answer that best completes the sentences.

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SKILL 3 : PARALLEL STRUCTURE

Exercise: Underline the parts that should be parallel. Then indicate if the sentences are
Correct (C) or Incorrect (I)

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Choose the answer that best completes the sentences.

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Choose the answer that best completes the sentences.

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