TOEIC Lesson T1W1

TOEIC Reading

Subjects and Verbs

Term 1 Week 1

Subject Noun Question

Some questions in the TOEIC reading section ask you to put the right word in the blank. Sometimes, that word needs to be a noun (명사).

There are several different kinds of nouns:

• Noun (명사)

• Noun phrase (명사구)

• Pronoun (대명사)

• Gerund (동명사)

• Infinitive (to부정사)

• Noun Clause (명사절)

Tips for Choosing Nouns

• Noun (명사)

  • Look for a simple noun (singular or plural) - ends in ~tion, ~sion, ~ment, ~ant

  • "Applications are available online from July 1."

• Noun phrase (명사구)

  • Sometimes, this is a simple noun plus an adjective

  • "A special luncheon will be held in honor of the advertising team."

• Pronoun (대명사)

  • Pay attention to the main subject!

  • "Team A is planning their next staff meeting in July."

Multiple Choice

_________ for changes to the conference program will be considered on November 1.

• Requested

• Requests

• Requesting

• To request

Multiple Choice

Special _______ are currently being accepted for the annual office charity drive.

• donates

• donating

• donation

• donations

Multiple Choice

The mechanics became more efficient as _________ began using new technology.

• themselves

• them

• their

• they

Tips for Choosing Nouns

• Gerund (동명사)

  • A noun that ends in "-ing"

  • "Conducting a survey is the best way to find out about your customers."

• Infinitive (to부정사)

  • Always begins with "to" as in "to study"

  • "To increase employee productivity is the aim of the new program."

• Noun Clause (명사절)

  • A certain phrase or words attached to a noun

  • "What the builder likes about this contract is the early completion bonus."

Multiple Choice

_________ for the blender properly will ensure that it continues to function well.

• Care

• Cares

• Cared

• Caring

Multiple Choice

_________ quietly on the subway is common etiquette in many Asian countries.

• Talks

• To talk

• Talked

• Talk

Multiple Choice

The main ________ of the new electronic notepad is Internet use.

• function

• functioning

• to function

• functional

Singular vs. Plural Nouns

Nouns that are countable singular will almost always have the following words

• The -> "The paper was due last night."

• A/an -> "A contest will be held tomorrow."

Nouns that are plural do not need articles such as "the, a, an." "The" can be used if it is a specific group.

• "Saturdays are relaxing."

• The -> "The boys were very competitive."

Watch for the signs of a plural or singular noun!

Multiple Choice

A key ___________ still missing from the upcoming presentation to the client is an estimate of the total project cost.

• elementary

• element

• elements

• elemental

Multiple Choice

_________ to Lotus Restaurant heave nearly doubled the size of the seating area.

• Improved

• Improvement

• Improvements

• Improving

Multiple Choice

The _________ for the MacNeill project is hanging on the wall in the first floor conference room.

• schedule

• scheduled

• schedules

• schedulers

Infinitives and "that"

• Sometimes, the infinitive noun is found later in the sentence

  • "To follow the guidelines for the construction work is important." -> "It is important to follow the guidelines for the construction work."

  • "That mild weather will continue throughout September is likely." -> "It is likely that mild weather will continue throughout September."

• When you see a structure like "it is important that..." or "it is important..." followed by other information, it may be an infinitive noun (to부정사구)

Multiple Choice

It is usually most effective _______ a meeting agenda to the attendees in advance.

• circulate

• circulating

• circulates

• to circulate

Multiple Choice

Revenue has fluctuated over the last two quarters, so it was a surprise ________ that expenses have nevertheless remained fairly steady.

• learned

• to learn

• learns

• is learning

Multiple Choice

Structural engineers have determined that it is technically impossible ________ a building on the proposed site.

• construct

• to construct

• constructed

• can construct

There + be/remain/exist

• If you see anything like what is below, you will most likely have a noun come after that:

  • There is ____

  • There are ____

  • There remains ____

  • There exists ____

  • Etc.

• The question you have to ask yourself is: is this a singular or plural noun... The noun after the "there is/are/remains/exists" will almost always be a regular noun (명사), not gerund (동명사).

Multiple Choice

Last year, there was fierce ______ for covered parking in the winter months.

• competition

• competitions

• competitively

• competitor

Multiple Choice

When shows are sold out, theater policy is to start a waiting list and call customers if there are _______.

• canceled

• cancellations

• cancels

• canceling

Multiple Choice

There have been no major _______ since you last reviewed the report.

• revision

• revisions

• revising

• revised

Verb Question

Sometimes, a TOEIC question will need a verb (동사) instead of a noun.

There are 12 verb tenses, but they can be separated into three categories: past, present, and future.

All sentences must have a verb! We just need to choose the right one.

Look for clues, like time words: last week, tomorrow, now...

Gerund versus Verb

Sometimes, a verb ends in -ing. So how do you know the difference?

Gerund: only has the -ing verb.

Verb: am/is/are/was/were + -ing word

Going to the store is fun. = gerund

I am going to the store. = verb

Multiple Choice

Please ______ the enclosed survey and return it to our office as soon as possible.

• to complete

• complete

• completing

• completed

Multiple Choice

Seating in the Bogor Stadium completely _______ the field so that all visitors are afforded excellent views of events.

• surround

• surrounds

• surrounded

• surrounding

Multiple Choice

Daily guided tours of the warehouse ________ at 10:00 A.M. in the reception area on the first floor.

• begin

• begins

• to begin

• beginning

Multiple Choice

Dajdor Industries ________ the new product line at a press conference next Monday.

• announcing

• will announce

• announced

• being announced

Multiple Choice

Last year, the Hansford Automobile catalog _________ air-conditioning and digital radios as standard features in all automobiles.

• listed

• list

• listing

• to list

Multiple Choice

Our team ________ every Monday, so please do not schedule other appointments then.

• having met

• meeting

• meets

• met

Passive versus Active Voice

Active voice: Subject comes first.

"The dog likes the ball."

Passive voice: Object comes first followed by "to be" + past participle verb

"The ball is liked by the dog."

Multiple Choice

The Blake X40 is a reliable car, but the passenger space is poorly _______.

• design

• designed

• designer

• designing

Multiple Choice

The outstanding balance must _________ promptly or else we will have to close the account.

• to pay

• be paid

• paying

• have paid

Multiple Choice

The manufacturer ________ the warranty on its latest camera models by twelve months.

• extend

• was extended

• extended

• has extended

Good Job!

Next time, we will take a practice test (but don't be nervous!).