ONE DAY WORKSHOP ON TOEFL

STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION

5-6 December 2022
 The second section of TOEFL test is the structure
and Written Expression section. It consists of
forty (40) questions (some tests may be longer).
You have twenty five minutes to complete the
forty questions in this section.

 There are two types of questions in the Structure

and Written Expression section of TOEFL test:
1. Structure questions (15 questions)
2. Written Expression questions (25 questions)
GENERAL STRATEGIES

1. Be familiar with the direction.

2. Begin with question 1 through 15.
3. Continue with question 16 through 40.
4. If you have time, return to question 11 through
15.
5. Never leave any questions blank on your answer
sheet.
 THE STRUCTURE QUESTIONS
Strategies for structure questions

1. First study the sentence.

2. Then study each answer based on how well it
completes the sentence.
3. Do not try to eliminate incorrect answers by
looking only at the answers.
4. Never leave any answer blank.
5. Do not spend too much time on the structure
questions.
EXAMPLE OF STRUCTURE
QUESTIONS

…………… greeted me enthusiastically at the

front door.
a. Parental
b. If
c. My friends
d. Them
SKILL 1: SUBJECTS AND VERBS
Example 1
…..was ringing continuously for hours.
a. Loudly
b. In the morning
c. The phone
d. The bells

Example 2
Newspapers…..every morning and every evening
e. Delivery
f. Are delivered
g. On time
h. Regularly

Example 3
The plane…….landing at the airport in five minutes.
i. It is
j. It really is
k. Is descending
l. Will be
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 is to find
the subject and the verb.
SKILL 2: OBJECTS OF PREPOSITIONS
Example:
To mike,…….was a big surprise.
a. Really
b. The party
c. Funny
d. When

A preposition is followed by a noun or pronoun

that is called an object of the preposition. If a
word is an object of preposition, it is not the
subject.
SKILL 3: PRESENT PARTICIPLE
Example:
The film…….appearing at the local theater is my favorite.
a. Now
b. Is
c. It
d. Was

A present participle is the-ing form of the verb. The present

participle can be (1) part of the verb or (2) an adjective. It is
part of the verb when it is accompanied by some form of the
verb be. It is an adjective when it is not accompanied by
some form of the verb be
SKILL 4: PAST PARTICIPLES
Example:
The bread …….baked this morning smelled delicious.
a. Has
b. Was
c. It
d. Just

past participle often ends in –ed, but there are also many irregular
past participles. For many verbs, including –ed verbs, the simple
past and the past participle are the same and can be easily
confused. The –ed form of the verb can be (1) the simple past, (2)
the past participle of a verb, or (3) an adjective.
SKILL 5: COORDINATE CONNECTORS
Example:
I forgot my coat,………….I got very cold.
a. Then
b. So
c. Later
d. As a result

And but or so

S v coordinate connector S V
It was raining, but Bill went out to play
SKILL 6: ADVERB CLAUSE CONNECTOR
………arrived at the library, he started to work immediately
(a) The student
(b) When

(c) He
(d) After the student

time cause condition Contrast

After until Because If Although
As when since whether Even though
Before while Though
since While

S V adverb connector S V
Matt felt good because he passed
Adverb connector S V , S V
Because Matt passed, he felt good
SKILL 7: NOUN CLAUSE CONNECTORS
Example
The citizens worry about……………..is doing.
a. What the government
b. The government
c. What
d. What the government it

NOUN CLAUSE CONNECTORS

-What, when, where, why, how

-Whether, if
-That

S V noun clause connector S V

Sally explained why she did it
SKILL 8: NOUN CLAUSE CONNECTOR/SUBJECTS
Example:
The company was prepared for……..happened with the economy.
a. It
b. The problem
c. What
d. When

Who what which

S V noun clause connector /subject V

All told me what happened
SKILL 9: ADJECTIVE CLAUSE CONNECTORS
Example:
The job……….started yesterday was rather difficult.
a. When
b. Was
c. After
d. That he

Whom (for people) Which (for things) That (for people or

things)

S V adjective clause connector S V

I like the dress that you are wearing

S adjective clause connector S V V

The dress that you are wearing is beautiful
SKILL 10: ADJECTIVE CLAUSE CONNECTORS/SUBJECTS
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

Who (for people) which (for things) that (for thing/people

S V adjective clause connector/subject V

I bought the dress that was on sale

S adjective clause connector/subject V V

The dress that was on sale was beautiful
THE WRITTEN EXPRESSION QUESTIONS
Strategies for the Written Expression Questions

1. First look at the underlined word or groups of

words.
2. If you have been unable to find the error by
looking only at the four underlined expression,
the read the complete sentence.
3. Never leave any answers blank.
EXAMPLE OF WRITTEN EX. QUESTIONS

the result of the study are not accurate

A B C D

-Question 16 to 40
-choose the letter of the word or group of
words that is not correct
SKILL 11: AGREEMENT AFTER PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES

Example:
The door (to the room) are* locked
The doors (to the room) is* locked

S (Prepositional Phrase) V

When a prepositional phrase comes between the subject and the verb,
be sure that the verb agrees with the subject.
SKILL 12: AGREEMENT AFTER EXPRESSION OF QUANTITY

Example:
Most (of the meal) was delicious
Most (of the meals) were delicious

All
Most
Some OF THE (OBJECT) V
Half
part
When an expression of quantity using of is the subject, the verb agrees
with the object
 SKILL 13: AGREEMENT AFTER CERTAIN WORDS

Example:
Not correct: everybody in the theater are watching the film attentively
Correct one: every body in the theater is watching the film attentively

Subject/verb agreement after certain words

These words or expressions are grammatically singular, so they take

singular verbs:

Anybody everybody nobody somebody each(+noun)

Anyone everyone no one someone every(+noun)
Anything everything nothing something
SKILL 14: PARALLEL STRUCTURE WITH COORDINATE
CONJUNCTION

He discussed the problem with the nurse and the doctor

She hikes, jogs, or rides her bicycle whenever she can

(Same structure) and (same structure)

but
or
(same structure), (same structure), and (same structure)
but
or
SKILL 15: PARALLEL STRUCTURE WITH PAIRED
CONJUNCTION

The lecture was both informative and enjoyable

They want either to play tennis or golf

Both and
Either or
Neither (same structure) nor (same structure)

Not only but also

SKILL 16:PAST PARTICIPLE AFTER HAVE

Example:

We had completed the work

Whenever you see the verb have in any

of its forms (have, has, having, had) be
sure that the verb that follows it is in
the past participle form.
SKILL 17: PRESENT PARTICIPLES OR PAST PARTICIPLES
AFTER BE

Example:
They are turn on the lamps.

The office door is lock in the evening.

(1) Present Participle

BE +
(2) Past Participle
SKILL 18: BASE FORM VERBS AFTER MODAL
Example:

You must telling her the truth.

The child may comes in now.

MODAL + base form of the verb

SKILL 19: SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS
Example:
He just finished several book

She studied each chapters

For Singular Nouns Each every single one a

For Plural Nouns Both two may several various

SKILL 20: COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE

Example:

They have taken much trips recently

There was not many water in the pool

For singular nouns Many number few fewer

For uncountable nouns Much amount little less

SKILL 21: SUBJECT AND OBJECT PRONOUNS
Marie saw the film with Barry

She saw it with him

SUBJECT OBJECT
I Me
You You
He Him
She Her
It It
We Us
They Them
SKILL 22: POSSESSIVE

Beth gave us her television

Beth gave us hers

Possessive Adjectives Possessive Pronouns

My Mine
Your Yours
His His
Her Hers
Its -
Our Ours
their theirs
SKILL 23: PRONOUN REFERENCE

The cookies are for you, so please take it*.

Each person has to sign their* application form.

1. Be sure that every pronoun and possessive agrees with the noun
it refers to.

2. You generally check earlier in the sentence for agreement.

SKILL 24: ADJECTIVE AND ADVERB
It is a delicious meal

He write quickly

It is an extremely quickly written letter.

Adjectives Adjectives describe nouns, or pronoun

Adverbs Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs

SKILL 25: ADJECTIVES AFTER LINKING VERBS
 Generally
She spoke nicely

 After linking verb

She looks nice

SUBJECT + (Regular verb ) + (adverb)

a regular verb is followed by an adverb. The adverb describe the verb

SUBJECT + (Linking verb) + (adjective)

A linking verb is followed by an adjective. The adjective describe the subject

SUBJECT + (linking verb) + (adverb) + (adjective)

It is possible for a linking verb to be followed by an adverb and an adjective.
The adverb describes the adjective, and the adjective describes the subject