Skill 7 Use Sentence Connectors Correctly 1st Pattern

Study the clauses and the connectors in the following sentences. The following patterns are very common in the Structure section of the TOEFL. 

I will sign the check before you leave.
Before you leave, I will sign the check.

In each of these sentences there are two clauses: you leave and I will sign the check. These two clauses are joined with the connector before. In the first sentence the connector before comes in the middle of the sentence. In the second sentence the connector before comes at the beginning of the sentence. In this pattern, when the connector comes at the beginning of the sentence, a comma (,) is required in the middle of the sentence. 

The following words can be used as connectors in this type of sentence pattern:

after
although
because
before
if
provided
since
though
unless
until
when
whenever
where
wherever
whether
while

Here is an example of how this sentence pattern can be tested on the TOEFL.
... was late, I missed the appointment.
(A) I
(B) Because
(C) The train
(D) Since he

In this example you should recognize easily that there is a verb was that needs a subject. There is also another clause I missed the appointment. If you choose answer (A) or answer (C), you will have a subject for the verb was, but you will not have a connector to join the two clauses. Because you need a connector to join two clauses, answers (A) and (C) are incorrect. Answer (B) is correct because there is no subject for the verb was. Answer (D) is the best answer because there is a subject he for the verb was, and there is a connector since to join the two clauses. 

Skill 7 Use Sentence Connectors Correctly 1st Pattern 2013-03-01T22:48:00-08:00 Rating: 4.5 Diposkan Oleh: Eko Wahyudi