THE SECOND SECTION OF THE TOEFL TEST IS THE

STRUCTURE & WRITTEN EXPRESSION SECTION.

You can follow 5 general strategies:

GENERAL STRATEGIES.

1. Be familiar with the directions.

2. Begin with questions 1 through 15. (Structure)

3. Continue with questions 16 through 40 . (written

expression)

4.If you have time, return to question 1 through 15.

5. NEVER LEAVE ANY ANSWERS BLANK ON

YOUR ANSWER SHEET.

STRUCTURE QUESTIONS. 1 -15, TEST YOUR

KNOWLEDGE OF THE CORRECT STRUCTURE OF ENGLISH

SENTENCES. THIS ARE MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS.

STRATEGIES FOR THE STRUCTURE

QUESTIONS.

1. First study the sentence. Your purpose is to

determine what is needed to complete the sentence

correctly.

2. Then study each answer based on how well it

completes the sentence.

3. Do not try to eliminate incorrect answer by

looking only at the answer.

4. Never leave any answers blank. Even if you are

unsure.

5. Do not spend too much time on the structure

questions. Leave space for the written.

SENTENCES WITH ONE CLAUSE.

SKILL 1 BE SURE THE SENTENCE HAS A SUBJECT

AND A VERB.

BE SURE the SENTENCE HAS SUBJECT AND

VERB

Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice in

each of the following sentences. Then indicate if

the sentences are correct © or incorrect (i)

Monday, August 24th, 2009.

1-__i__last week went fishing for trout at the nearbymountain lake.

2-_____ A schedule of the day´s events can be obtainedat the front desk.

3_____ A job on the day shift or the night shift at the plantavailable.

4_____ The new computer program has provides a variety of helpful applications.

5- ___The box can be opened only with a specialscrewdriver.

6-____ The assigned text for history class it containsmore than twenty chapters.

7-_____ The papers in the wastebasket should beemptied into the trash can outside.

8. _____ Departure before dawn on a boat in the middleof the harbor.

9._____Yesterday found an interesting article onpollution.

10.- ____ The new machine is processes 50% more thanprevious machine.

1.- I missing subject (he) 8.-I missing verb (departschedule

2.-C 9.-I missing subject (I)

3.-I missing verb (is available. 10.- I 2 verbs (is-prov)

4.-I two verbs (has provide)

5.-c

6.-2 subjects

7.- c

OBJECTS OF PREPOSITIONS An object of preposition is a noun or a pronoun that

comes after a preposition, such as

PREPOSITIONS

About Behind Except On Under

Above Below For Onto Underneath

Across Beneath From Outside Unlike

After Beside In Over Until

Against Between Inside Past Up

Along Beyond Into Since Upon

Among By Like Through Versus

Around Despite Near Throughout With

As Down Of To Within

at during off toward without

AN OBJECT OF A PREPOSITION CAN CAUSE CONFUSION IN THE

STRUCTURE SECTION OF THE TOEFL EXAM, IT CAN BE MISTAKEN

FOR THE SUBJECT OF A SENTENCE

EXAMPLE:

With his friend_______ found the movie theater.

a)Has

b)He

c)Later

d)When

IF A WORD IS AN OBJECT OF A PREPOSITION IT

IS NOT THE SUBJECT

EXERCISE 2. EACH OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES CONTAINS ONE OR

MORE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES. UNDERLINE THE SUBJECT ONCE, THE VERB

TWICE AND CIRCLE THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES THAT COME BEFORE THE

VERB. THEN INDICATE IF THE SENTENCES ARE CORRECT OR INCORRECT

___ 1. The interviews by radiobroadcasters werecarried live by the station.

___2. In the last possible moment before takeoff tookhis seat in the airplane.

___3. At the neighborhood flower shop, flowers in quantities of a dozen or a half dozen can bedelivered for free.

___4. The progressive reading methods at this schoolare given credit for the improved test scores.

___5. For the last three years at various hospitals in the country has been practicing medicine.

APPOSITIVES

AN APPOSITIVE IS A NOUN OR PRONOUN — OFTEN WITH MODIFIERS — SET BESIDE

ANOTHER NOUN OR PRONOUN TO EXPLAIN OR IDENTIFY IT. HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES

OF APPOSITIVES (THE NOUN OR PRONOUN WILL BE IN BLUE, THE APPOSITIVE WILL BE

IN RED).

Your friend Bill is in trouble.

My brother's car, a sporty red convertible with bucket seats, is the envy of my friends.

The chief surgeon, an expert in organ-transplant procedures, took her nephew on a hospital tour.

An appositive phrase usually follows the word it explains or identifies, but it may also precede it.

A bold innovator, Wassily Kadinsky is known for his colorful abstract paintings.

The first state to ratify the U. S. Constitution, Delaware is rich in history.

A beautiful collie, Skip was my favorite dog.

PUNCTUATION OF APPOSITIVES

In some cases, the noun being explained is too general without the appositive; the information is essential to the meaning of the sentence. When this is the case, do not place commas around the appositive; just leave it alone. If the sentence would be clear and complete without the appositive, then commas are necessary; place one before and one after the appositive.

Here are some examples.

The popular US president John Kennedy was known for his eloquent and inspirational speeches.

Here we do not put commas around the appositive, because it is essential information. Without the appositive, the sentence would be, "The popular US president was known for his eloquent and inspirational speeches." We wouldn't know which president was being referred to.

John Kennedy, the popular US president, was known for his eloquent and inspirational speeches.

Here we put commas around the appositive because it is not essential information. Without the appositive, the sentence would be, "John Kennedy was known for his eloquent and inspirational speeches." We still know who the subject of the sentence is without the appositive.

John Kennedy the popular US president was quite different from John Kennedy the unfaithful husband.

Here we do not put commas around either appositive because they are both essential to understanding the sentence. Without the appositives, the sentence would just be John Kennedy was quite different from John Kennedy. We wouldn't know what qualities of John Kennedy were being referred to without the appositive.

EXERCISE 3: EACH OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES CONTAINS AN

APPOSITIVE. UNDERLINE THE SUBJECT ONCE AND THE VERBS TWICE. CIRCLE

THE APPOSITIVE PHRASES. THEN, INDICATE IF THE SENTENCES ARE CORRECT

( C ) OR INCORRECT ( I )

1. The son of the previous owner, the new owner is

undertaking some fairly broad changes in

management policy.

2. Last semester, a friend, graduated cum laude from

the university.

3. Valentine´s Day, February 14, is a special holiday

for sweethearters.

4. At long last, the chief executive officer, has

decided to step down.

5. Tonight´s supper, leftovers from last night, did not

taste any better tonight than last night.

6.The only entrance to the closet, the door was kept

locked at all times.

7. In the cold of winter, a wall heating unit, would not

turn on.

8. The new tile pattern, yellow flowers on a white

background, really brightens up the room.

9. The high-powered computer the most powerful

machine of it´s type, was finally readied for use.

10. A logtime friend and confident, the psycologist

was often invited over for Sunday dinner.

PRESENT PARTICIPLES. IS THE –ING

FORM OF THE VERB. IT CAN BE PART OF THE

VERB (WHEN IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME

FORM OF THE VERB BE) OR AN ADJECTIVE.

The man is talking to his friend.

The man talking to his friend has a beard.

EACH OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES CONTAINS ONE OR MORE PRESENT

PARTICIPLES. UNDERLINE THE SUBJECTS ONCE, THE VERBS TWICE . CIRCLE THE

PRESENT PARTICIPLES AND LABEL THEN AS ADJECTIVES OR VERBS. THEN INDICATE

IF THE SENTENCES ARE CORRECT OR INCORRECT.

1.___ The companies offering lowest prices will have the

most customers.

2.___ Those travelers are completing their trip on Delta

should report to Gate Three.

3.___ The artisans were demonstrating various

handicrafts at boths throughout the fair.

4.___ The fraternities are giving the wildest parties attract

the most new pledges.

5.___ The first team winning four games is awarded the

championship.

6.___ The speaker was trying to make his point was often

interrupted vociferously.

7.___ The fruits were rotting because of moisture in

the crates carrying them to market.

8.___ Any students desiring official transcripts should

complete the appropiate form.

9.___ The advertisements were announcing the half-

day sale recived a lot of attention.

10.___ The spices flavoring the meal were quite

distinctive.

PAST PARTICIPLES OFTEN ENDS IN ED, BUT THERE ARE ALSO IRREGULAR

PAST PARTICIPLES. THE –ED FORM OF THE VERB CAN BE- THE SIMPLE PAST, -

THE PAST PARTICIPLE OF A VERB OR –AN ADJECTIVE

EXAMPLES:

The family has purchased a television.

The poem was written by Paul.

The television purchased yesterday was expensive

The poem written by Paul appeared in the magazine.

EACH OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES CONTAINS ONE OR MORE PAST PARTICIPLES.

UNDERLINE THE SUBJECTS ONCE, THE VERBS TWICE . CIRCLE THE PAST PARTICIPLES

AND LABEL THEM AS ADJECTIVES OR VERBS. THEN INDICATE IF THE SENTENCES ARE

CORRECT OR INCORRECT.

1.___ The money was offered by the client was not

accepted.

2.___ The car listed in the advertisement had already

stalled.

3.___ The chapters were taught by the profesor this

morning will be on next week´s exam.

4.___ The loaves of bread were baked in a brick oven

at a low temperature for many hours.

5.___ The ports were reached by the sailors were

under the control of a foreign nation.

6.___ Those suspected in the string of robberies were

arrested by the police.

7.___ The pizza is served in this restaurant is the tastiest

in the country.

8.___ The courses are listed on the second page of the

brochure have several prerequisites.

9.___ All the tenants were invited to the Independence

Day barbecue at the apartment complex.

10.___ Any bills paid by the first of the month will be

credited to your account by the next day.

AN IDIOM IS A MULTIWORD CONSTRUCTION THAT

IS A SEMANTIC UNIT WHOSE MEANING CANNOT BE DEDUCED FROM

THE MEANINGS OF ITS CONSTITUENTS, AND

HAS A NON-PRODUCTIVE SYNTACTIC STRUCTURE.

_____ 1.-