Structure and Written Expressions of TOEFL, Free Practice Tests, Tips and Strategies

Friday, February 1, 2013

Skill 1 Be Sure the Sentence Has a Subject and a Verb


Some sentences in English have just one subject and verb, and it is very important for you to find the subject and verb. In some sentences it is easy to find the subject and verb. However, certain structures such as objects of prepositions, appositives, and participle can cause confusion in locating the subject and verb because each of these structures can look like a subject or verb. The object of the preposition can be mistaken for the subject; an appositive can also be mistaken for the subject; a participle can be mistaken for a verb.

Therefore , you should be able to do the following in sentences with one subject and verb: (1) be sure the sentence has a subject and verb, (2) be careful of objects of prepositions, (3) be careful of appositives, and (4) be careful of participles.
 
You know that a sentence in English should have a subject and a verb. The most common problem that you will encounter in the structure section of the TOEFL is that the sentence is missing either the subject or the verb or both, or has an extra subject or verb.
.... was backed up for miles on the freeway.
(A) Yesterday
(B)  In the morning
(C)  Traffic
(D) Cars
In this example you should notice immediately that there is a verb (was), but there is no subject. Answer (C) is the best answer because it is a singular subject that agrees with the singular verb was. Answer (A) yesterday and answer (B) in the morning are not subjects, so they are not correct. Although answer (D) cars could be a subject, it is not correct  because cars is plural and it does not agree with the singular verb was.
Engineers ... for work o the new space project.
(A) necessary 
(B)  are needed
(C)  hopefully
(D) next month
In this example you should notice immediately that the sentences has a subject (engineers), and that there is no verb. Because answer (B) are needed is a verb, it is the best answer. Answer (A), (C), and (D) are not verbs, so they are not correct.
The boy ... going to the movies with a friend.
(A) he is
(B)  he always was
(C)  is relaxing
(D) will be
This sentence has a subject (boy) and has a part of a verb (going); to be correct, some form of the verb be is needed to make the verb complete. Answer (A) and (B) are incorrect because the sentence already has a subject (boy) and does not needed the extra subject he. Answer (C) is incorrect because relaxing is an extra verb that is unnecessary because of going. Answer (D) is the best answer, will be together with going is a complete verb. 

Now, test your comprehension about the subject and verb agreement in English. Just click the "start" to join this online test :) 




Skill 1 Be Sure the Sentence Has a Subject and a Verb Rating: 4.5 Diposkan Oleh: Eko Wahyudi

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