TOEFL : Structure and Written Expression (Skill 1 and 2)

TOEFL XII

Structure and Written Expression

1. 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 is to find the subject and the verb. 

Example 1

... ... was ringing continuously for hours.
A. Loudly
B. In the morning
C. The phone
D. The bells

In the example above, you should notice that there is a verb 'was ringing', but there is no subject. The correct answer is C.

Explanation to Example 1

• Answer A : Loudly is an adverb, so it is not correct. 

• Answer B : In the morning is adverb of time, so it is incorrect.

• Answer C : The phone is subject. This is the best answer because "The phone" is a singular subject that agrees with the singular verb 'was ringing'.

• Answer D : Bells could be a subject, but it is incorrect because "bells" is plural and it does not agree with the singular verb 'was ringing'.

Example 2

Newspapers ... ... every morning and every evening.
A. delivery
B. are delivered 
C. on time
D. regularly

In this example, you should notice immediately that the sentence has a subject 'newspapers' but there is no verb. The correct answer is B.

Explanation to Example 2

• Answer A : delivery is a noun, so it is incorrect because what we need is a verb 

• Answer B : are delivered is verb phrase, it consists of to be (are) and verb 3 (delivered). So, it is the best answer.

• Answer C : on time is adverb, so it is not correct.

• Answer D : regularly is adverb of frequency, so it is not correct.

Multiple Choice

Identify the verb in the sentence below:

The bus schedule has changed since last week.

• bus

• has

• has changed

• changed

Multiple Choice

The basket ball player tossed the ball into the hoop.

The subject in the sentence above is ...

• The basket ball player

• The basket ball

• The player

• The

Multiple Choice

Identify what is missing in the sentence below:

Accidentally dropped the glass on the floor.

• verb

• subject

• object/complement

• adverb

Multiple Choice

The customer paying the clerk for the clothes.

What is missing from the sentence above?

• subject

• verb

• object/complement

• the sentence is correct

Objects of Preposition

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".

Continue...

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.

A preposition is followed by a noun or pronoun that is called an object of preposition. If a word is an object of a preposition, it is NOT the subject.

Example 3

To Mike ... ... was a big surprise.
A. really
B. the party
C. funny
D. when

The correct answer is B.

Explanation to Example 3

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.

Multiple Select

Identify the prepositional phrases that come before the verb in the sentence below. (More than one correct answer is possible)

The name of the baby in the crib is Jack.

• the name

• is Jack

• of the baby

• in the crib

Multiple Select

Identify the prepositional phrases that come before the verb in the sentence below. (More than one correct answer is possible)

In the summer the trip to the mountains is our favourite trip.

• in the summer

• the trip

• to the mountain

• our favourite

Multiple Select

Identify the prepositional phrases that come before the verb in the sentence below. (More than one correct answer is possible)

The watch in the jewellery box needs a new battery.

• a new battery

• needs

• the watch

• in the jewellery box

Multiple Select

Indicate which of the sentences below is correct! (More than one correct answer is possible)

• During the meeting in the office discussed the schedule.

• In the morning after the concert was tired

• The directions to the exercise on page twenty is unclear.

• The doctor gave the patient a prescription.

• The plane from New York is circling the airport.

Multiple Choice

The plane ... landing at the airport in five minutes.

• it is

• it really is

• is descending

• will be

WELL DONE!

Keep on practising :)