Tips and Trick Structure and Written Expression

STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION

Section II: Structure does not require you to actually write grammatically and stylistically correct sentences. You will have that opportunity in Section IV: Writing (or the Test of Written English™ [TWE®] if you take the paper-based exam). Instead, Section II presents you with a series of sentences in which you have to correctly fill in the blank or identify a grammatical mistake. These sentences will cover a wide range of topics, including history, biology, culture, and art. But you do not need background knowledge in the subject to answer the questions correctly. The sentences will provide enough context to make their meaning clear, but the actual subject of the sentence is not important. What matters is that you can recognize and correct errors in English grammar and style.

KINDS OF STRUCTURE QUESTION ON THE TOEFL EXAM

On both the computer-based and paper TOEFL exams, you will find two types of questions:

Type 1: Incomplete sentences. These sentences will have a blank and ask you to select the correct word or phrase to put in that blank. On the paper-based TOEFL exam, these questions are called Structure questions.

Examples:

1. It is illegal _________ cars on a two-lane road when there is a solid yellow dividing line.
a. passes
b. passing
c. to pass
d. when passing

2. After a female seahorse produces eggs, she gives them to her mate, _________ fertilizes them and carries them in his pouch until they are ready to be born.
a. he
b. who
c. which
d. while
Answers: 1-c, 2-b.

Type 2: Sentences with underlined words or phrases. These sentences will have several underlined words or phrases. You will be asked to choose which of the underlined words or phrases is incorrect. On the paper-based TOEFL exam, these questions are called Written Expression questions.

Examples:

3. Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed Manhattan’s Central Park, wanting the park to be a
                                                           A                                                       B                      C
“democratic playground” where everyone was equal.
                                             D

4. A lack in folic acid, especially in early pregnancy, can lead to serious birth defects.
          A                               B                                              C                        D
Answers: 3-b, 4-a.

Study Tips for Verbs and the TOEFL Exam

BECAUSE verbs are the driving force in every sentence, and because verbs can take so many different forms,

you can be sure that many questions in the structure section will be about verbs. Here are five tips to help you

prepare for those questions:

1. Memorize irregular and troublesome verb forms.

2. Remember that verbs should be consistent in tense.

3. Make sure that verbs agree with their subject.

4. Make sure the correct helping verbs are used to convey the intended meaning.

5. Use infinitives and gerunds correctly

6. Grammar and Style Review

-         - Consistent Tense

To help make sure your readers are clear about when actions occur, it’s important to make sure your verbs are consistent in tense. A passage that begins in the present tense, for example, should stay in the present tense. Do not mix tenses as you write. Otherwise, your readers will be confused about whether actions are taking place in the present or took place in the past.

Incorrect: The officer unlocked the trunk and searches for contraband.

Correct: The officer unlocked the trunk and searched for contraband.

-          - Agreement

An important element of English grammar is agreement. In all sentences, verbs should agree with their subjects. Singular subjects need singular verbs; plural subjects need plural verbs.

Incorrect: He always do a very good job. (singular subject, plural verb)

Correct: He always does a very good job. (singular subject, singular verb)

-          - DOUBLE COMPARISONS AND DOUBLE NEGATIVES

Be sure to avoid double comparisons. Don’t use both -er/-est and more/less or most/least together.

Incorrect: Horace is the most rudest man I know.

Correct: Horace is the rudest man I know

Example Questions (Structure and Written Expression):

1. His mother _______ a lot about him before she heard that he was safe.
a. Worried
b. Worries
c. Had worried
d. Had been worried
The answer is (c.Had worried) because it is the past perfect tense sentences used to express a completed action or something that comes first and the simple past tense occurs later, in the past. Sentences of past perfect tense is:
Had + verb 3 (past participle)

2. My uncle _______ English for ten years when I was ten years old.
a. Has taught
b. Was teaching
c. Has been teaching
d. Had been teaching
The answer is (d. had been teaching) because it is the past perfect continuous tense sentences are used to express a thing or action that occurred, and lasted a period of time in the past. Sentences of past perfect continuous tense is:
Had + been + verb 1 + ing

3. When you come back I ________ all the homework.
a. Will finish
b. Will have finished
c. Finish
d. Had finished
The answer is (b. Will have finished) because it is the future perfect tense sentence be used to express actions which are to be completed by a certain time (in the future). Sentence pattern of future perfect tense is:

Will/shall + have + verb 3

4. He ________ to slave this mathematical problem for the past fifteen minutes.
a. Has been trying
b. Tried
c. Had tried
d. Has tried
The answer is (a. Has been Trying) because it is a sentence that used present perfect continuous yuntuk declare it or act that has occurred since the past that still goes on. Sentences of present perfect continuous sentences are:
Have/has + been + verb 1 + ing

5. The family ________ in london for two years when the war broke.
a. Have lived
b. Had lived
c. Had been living
d. Have been living
The answer is (b. Had lived) as it is the past perfect tense sentences used to express a completed action or something that comes first and the simple past tense occurs later, in the past. Sentences of past perfect tense is:
Had + verb 3 (past participle)

6. After ________ 30 kilometers, we stoped to have a rest.
a. We covered
b. We cover
c. We had covered
d. We has covered
The answer is (c. we had covered) because it is the past perfect tense sentences used to express a completed action or something that comes first and the simple past tense occurs later, in the past. Sentences of past perfect tense is:
Had + verb 3 (past participle)

7. I can’t help ______ that we made the wrong decision.
 a. to think
b. think
c. thinking
d. thought
The answer is (c. thinking) because Use gerunds after can’t help.

8. Huey ______ in bed for another hour after the alarm went off.
 a. lie
b. lay
c. lied
d. lain
The answer is (b. lay) because the past tense of lie is lay

9. I expect ______ to the meeting.
a. to go
b. go
c. goes
d. going
The answer is (a. to go) because use infinitives after expect.

10. The key is ______ on the table under the envelope.
 a. lying
b. laying
c. lay
d. laid
The answer is (a. lying) because the present participle of lie is lying.

Example Questions (Error Analysis) Error Identification

1. After the Grimm Brothers had collected “housewives tales” from around the country, they edit
                                                 A         B                                                                                        C

 them into stories appropriate for children.
                                      D
Answer : C, because the verbs need to be in the past tense.

2. Ryan ask the question that the rest of us were afraid to ask.
               A                         B                          C                 D
Answer : A, because the verbs need to be in the past tense.

3. The center fielder catch the ball and threw it to home plate, but the throw was too late.
                                     A                         B                                               C       D
Answer : A, because the verbs need to be in the past tense.

4. If I was a little taller, I could be an astronaut, but I don’t meet the height requirement.
            A                                 B                            C                 D
Answer : A, because this sentence requires the subjunctive were.

5. The sun was raising over the mountain when I rose out of bed and sat at the table.
                    A       B                                                 C                            D
Answer : B, because the present participle of rise is rising

6.  Lukas and Elliot said that only one of the solutions make sense, and Evan said he agrees.
                                   A                                                    B                                  C          D
Answer : B, because the subject of the verb make is one, so the verb must be the singular form, makes.

7. After Peter breaks his promise, Wendy vowed never to trust him again.
                          A               B                          C                  D
Answer : A, because the verbs need to be in the past tense.

8. “What are the value of these jewels?” Kim asked as she held them up to the light.
                 A           B                                           C                  D
Answer : A, because the subject of the sentence is value, and it requires a singular verb.

9. 1. The players prepared good for the tournament but performed poorly.
                                A           B                                                   C                D
Answer : . b. The sentence needs the adverb well to modify the verb prepared.

10. 3. If your not too busy, and I know everyone is, please read and complete this questionnaire.
                 A                                                 B        C                                  D
Answer : a. The sentence requires the contraction you’re for you are.

Sumber : http://elibrary.bsu.az/kitablar/1095.pdf (diakses pada 22 April 2019 pukul 20.00)