Summary of Grammar Patterns in Error Identification Part of TOEFL 1. If the subject is underlined, check the verb form of the sentence Example: The primary sources of lake water is precipitation entering the lake’s depression directly A B C through runoff, or by way of underground springs. D The sentence should read, “The primary source of lake water is precipitation entering the lake’s depression directly through runoff, or by way of underground springs.” Therefore, you should choose (A) 2. If the verb of the sentence is underlined, check : Subject (Singular or Plural) Time signal Active or Passive voice Example: In the nineteenth century, moving from crowded Britain to relatively sparsely populated North A
B
America were seen by many British as an act of patriotism. C
D
The sentence should read, “In the nineteenth century, moving from crowded Britain to relatively sparsely populated North America was seen by many British as an act of patriotism. Therefore, you should choose ( C) 3. Word form Adjective: Adjective is used to modify noun, therefore it should come before Noun. The pattern is Adjective + Noun Example: Education in the state of Missouri was conducted primarily in private institutions until after the A B C mid-1860’s, when free education public became widely available. D
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The sentence should read: “Education in the state of Missouri was conducted primarily in private institutions until after the mid-1860’s, when free public education became widely available. Therefore, you should choose (D) Example: The continental shelf, covered by waters of limited deep, is the part of the ocean floor that is A B C adjacent to the shore of a continent. D The sentence should read: “The continental shelf, covered by waters of limited depth, is the part of the ocean floor that is adjacent to the shore of a continent”. Therefore, you should choose (B)
Adverb: Adverb is used to modify verb and adjective, therefore the patterns are - Adverb + Verb or Verb + Adverb Example: Snapping turtles are easy recognized because of the large head the long tail and the shell A B C that seems insufficient to protect the body. D The sentence should read:” Snapping turtles are easily recognized because of the large head the long tail and the shell that seems insufficient to protect the body”. Therefore you should choose (A) -
Adverb + Adjective and Adverb + Adjective + Noun Example: The water moccasin is a high venomous and extremely dangerous pit viper A B C D The sentence should read: “The water moccasin is a highly venomous and extremely dangerous pit viper”. Therefore you should choose (A)
4. Preposition There are four patterns of preposition in TOEFL question: - Prep + (the, a/an, my, your, its, her, his, their, our)+ Noun/ Adj+Noun/Adv+Adj+Noun - Prep + Ving - N of N - In : Month, year, or month and year On : Day and date Compiled by: Rhearosman
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At : Hour Example: Philosophy tries to discover the nature of true and knowledge and to find what is of basic A B C value and importance of life. D The sentence should read: “Philosophy tries to discover the nature of truth and knowledge and to find what is of basic value and importance of life.
Example: Psychoanalysis is a form of therapy that attempts to eliminate conflict by alter A B C the personality in a positive way. D The sentence should read:” Psychoanalysis is a form of therapy that attempts to eliminate conflict by altering the personality in a positive way Example: Rodney, a town on the Mississippi River, was chartered in the 1828 and was at its A B most populous about 30 years later. C D The sentence should read: “Rodney, a town on the Mississippi River, was chartered in 1828 and was at its most populous about 30 years later. “ Therefore, you should choose (B) 5. Modal, ex: can, may, must, should, might, etc. -Modal + V1 (base form of the verb) -Modal + be +V3 (Past Participle) Example: Reptiles are found on land and in water, but they cannot alive in frigid climates because they A B C need the Sun’s warmth to give them energy. D
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The sentence should read:” Reptiles are found on land and in water, but they cannot live in frigid climates because they need the Sun’s warmth to give them energy. Therefore, you should choose (B). 6. Expression of Quantity - One, a/an, each, any, every, and another are followed by Singular form of a Noun. - Two, three, .., both, several, various, numerous, most, all, some, between, among, many, few, a few, a number of, one of, a group of, a lot of, lot of, other are followed by Plural form of a Noun. P.S: every, any, and each + other + Singular Noun - Many, few, a few, a number of are followed by Plural of a Countable Noun - Much, little, a little, a large amount of are followed by Uncountable Noun - Most, all, and some are followed by Plural Noun while Most the All my Some + of+ your + Singular or Plural + Verb Part her Half his, our, they, its When an expression of quantity using of is the subject, the verb agrees with object. Example: Most (of the meal) was delicious Singular Most (of the meals) were delicious Plural Most (of the food) was delicious Uncountable Example: Much artists have formal arrangements with galleries that act as their agents or dealers, A B C showing the artists’ work and taking a percentage of the selling price. D The sentence should read: “Many artists have formal arrangements with galleries that act as their agents or dealers, showing the artists’ work and taking a percentage of the selling price.” Therefore, you should choose (A) Barium is a soft, heavy, silvery white metallic element that readily reacts with another A B C Compiled by: Rhearosman
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elements to from useful compounds. D The sentence should read: “Barium is a soft, heavy, silvery white metallic element that readily reacts with other elements to form useful compounds”. Therefore, you should choose (C). 7. Begin + Present Participle (Ving)/ Infinitive( to+V1) Example: The Atlantic cable, which began to operating in 1866, linked the United States to London and to A another cable stretching eastward to India and beyond. B C D The sentence should read: “The Atlantic cable, which began operating/ to operate in 1866, linked the United States to London and to another cable stretching eastward to India and beyond. Therefore, you should choose (A) 8. Because + Subject +Verb Because of + Noun or Noun Phrase Example: In addition to their usefulness as scavengers, birds are of enormous value to humans because of A B C they eat insects and control the spread of weeds. D The sentence should read, “In addition to their usefulness as scavengers, birds are of enormous value to humans because of they eat insects and control the spread of weeds. Therefore, you should choose (C ) 9. Adjective Clause WHO + Verb WHICH/THAT + (Subject) + Verb WHOM, WHOSE, WHEN, WHERE + Subject + Verb Example: Nevada lies almost entirely within the Great Basin, a large desert area where extends into A
B
C
D
Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, California, and Utah. Compiled by: Rhearosman
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The sentence should read:” Nevada lies almost entirely within the Great Basin, a large desert area that extends into Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, California, and Utah. Therefore you should choose (D) 10. Parallel Construction Same structure
and but or
same structure
Example: The world water’s balance is regulated by constant circulation of water in liquid and vapor form A B C among the oceans, the atmospheric, and the land. D The sentence should read: “The world water’s balance is regulated by constant circulation of water in liquid and vapor form among the oceans, the atmosphere, and the land. Therefore you should choose (D) 11. Paired Conjunction Both _ and Either _ or Neither _ nor Not only _ but also From _ to Between _ and One _ into another Example: For the purposes of the fine and decorative arts, metals have been used either in their simple A
B
C
state and in uncomplicated alloys. D The sentence should read:” For the purposes of the fine and decorative arts, metals have been used either in their simple state or in uncomplicated alloys. Therefore, you should choose (D). 12. Pronoun Reference Example: Modern digital synthesizers, based on microprocessors, are virtually unlimited in the number A B C and range of musical sounds it can produce. Compiled by: Rhearosman
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D The sentence should read:” Modern digital synthesizers, based on microprocessors, are virtually unlimited in the number and range of musical sounds they can produce. Therefore, you should choose (D). 13. Comparison More/less _ than The most + Adjective / Adjective + Noun / Adverb + Adjective + Noun as Adjective as the more_ the more Example: A most useful tool for analyzing the elemental composition of fossils is the electron probe, a A
B
C
modified electron microscope. D The sentence should read:” The most useful tool for analyzing the elemental composition of fossils is the electron probe, a modified electron microscope. Therefore, you should choose (A). 14. Verb forms in Perfect Tense Have/ has/ had + Past Participle (V3) Have/ has/ had + been + Past Participle (V3) Have/ has/ had + been + Present Participle (Ving) Example: The sands dollars are a distinctive group of sea urchins that have adapt especially to life on A
B
C
D
sandy shores. The sentence should read:” The sands dollars are a distinctive group of sea urchins that have adapted especially to life on sandy shores. Therefore, you should choose (D). 15. Adverb Clause ( a clause used to connect two sentences)/ Adverb Phrase Though Although Even though Because Since Unless Until Compiled by: Rhearosman
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When Where Once While Whereas Meanwhile So So that As As if As though If Whether Before After
Example: Alexander Graham Bell was twenty nine during his basic telephone patent was granted in 1876 A
B
C
D
The sentence should read:” Alexander Graham Bell was twenty nine when his basic telephone patent was granted in 1876. Therefore, you should choose (B)
Example: Water droplets in clouds are very small so they must coagulate or grow before they falling as A
B
C
D
rain or snow. The sentence should read:” Water droplets in clouds are very small so they must coagulate or grow before falling as rain or snow. Therefore, you should choose ( C ) 16. Unnecessary Words Example: While push-ups build your arms, shoulders and chest, sits-ups they strengthen your abdominal A B C muscles. D The sentence should read:” While push-ups build your arms, shoulders and chest, sits-ups strengthen your abdominal muscles. The word they is omitted. Therefore, you should choose (B). 17. Reversed Words Example: Compiled by: Rhearosman
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Specialization in industry creates workers lack who versatility in their ability to step in to other A B C D jobs. The sentence should read:” Specialization in industry creates workers who lack versatility in their ability to step in to other jobs. Therefore, you should choose (C ). 18. Omitted Words Example: Yosemite National Park is most well known its beautiful spouting geysers of all sizes. A B C D The sentence should read:” Yosemite National Park is most well known for its beautiful spouting geysers of all sizes. Therefore, you should choose (B). 19. Articles A / an is used to make a generalization or to describe a general idea of something The is used to describe a specific thing Example: In the United States, the attorney general is a cabinet member in charge with the administration A B C D of the Department of Justice The sentence should read: “In the United States, an attorney general is a cabinet member in charge with the administration of the Department of Justice. Therefore, you should choose (A).
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