Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Expression
General Strategies
Be familiar with the directions.
Begin with questions 1-15 (Structure). Questions
1-5 are easier and 11-15 are harder.
Continue with questions 16-40 (Written
Expression). Questions 16-20 are easier and 36-
40 are harder.
Do not take too much time with each item. If you
have time left you can go back and check 11-15
and 36-40.
Do not leave any blank answers on the answer
sheet.
Strategies for Structure Questions
First, study the sentence.
Then study each answer choice based on how well it
completes the sentence.
Do not try to eliminate incorrect options by looking only
at the answers.
Be aware that in this section most of the items will
require you to identify the subject or the verb (or both) in
the correct order of subject + verb (except on items with
inverted structure).
Do not spend too much time on this section. Leave
enough time for the Written Expression Section.
Characteristics of a Sentence
A sentence can be formed by one or more clauses.
Clauses can be independent and dependent/subordinate
clauses. All sentences must have subject and verb.
Sentences can be: simple, compound, complex, and
compound-complex.
A simple sentence is formed by only one independent
clause.
I went to the movies, and I had a great time because the movie
Indep. Clause conj. + Indep. Clause + connector + Dep. Cl.
was terrific.
Characteristics of a Clause
Every clause must have a subject and a verb. A
complement is optional.
There are two types of clauses: independent
and dependent (or subordinated).
Independent clauses have a complete idea and
can stand alone in a sentence.
Dependent clauses complement the
independent clause, but do not have a complete
idea and cannot stand alone in a sentence.
There are three types of dependent clauses:
Noun clauses: function as a noun, so they can be
subjects, objects of a verb, or objects of a preposition.
I understand how you feel.
Adjective clauses: function as an adjective and
describe a noun or pronoun from the main clause.
I know the man who works in that office.
Adverb clauses: function as an adverb and give
additional information about the verb (how, when, where,
and why)
I know that man because he works with my father.
there + to be + subject
There are many books about Phyllis Wheatley today.
There was a big storm yesterday.
In these clauses the verb to be and the subject must agree on person.
Expletive:
Function: noun
1 a : a syllable, word, or phrase inserted to fill a vacancy (as in
a sentence or a metrical line) without adding to the sense;
especially : a word (as it in "make it clear which you prefer")
that occupies the position of the subject or object of a verb in
normal English word order and anticipates a subsequent word
or phrase that supplies the needed meaningful content.
Source: Merriam Webster Online Dictionary: http://www.m-w.com/
SKILL 4: BE CAREFUL OF PRESENT PARTICIPLES (Adjectives):
Do not confuse them with present progressive:
Indirect/embedded/polite questions:
Where is the bank?
Could you tell me where the bank is?
Does he work here?
Do you know if he works here?
We can also change the position of the adjective clause and put it at
the beginning of the sentence.
The president, (who is) now preparing to give a speech, is meeting with
his advisors.
Now preparing to give a speech, the president is meeting with his
advisors.
2) Adverb Clauses: Only adverb clauses that have the same
subject as the main clause can be reduced.
Clauses with a form of be : Keep the connector and omit the
subject and the form of be of the adverb clause.
Although he is rather unwell, the speaker will take part in the
seminar.
Although rather unwell, the speaker will take part in the seminar.
Cannot be reduced:
Once you arrive, you can start the exam.
Can be reduced:
Once the exercises are answered, they are checked by the
teacher.
Once answered, the exercises are checked by the teacher.
Adverb clauses of cause cannot be reduced:
as, because, inasmuch as, now that, since
Skills 15-19: Subject and verb inverted
Yes/No questions:
With verb to be Are you a teacher?
V S
With other verbs: Did you go to the beach?
Aux. S V
Information questions:
With verb to be Where are you?
QW V S
With other verbs: What did you do?
QW A S V
2) Subject and Verb inverted after place expressions: When we
have place words or expressions at the beginning of a clause
we have to invert the normal order of subject + verb.
.
2) Make verbs agree after expressions of quantity:
all/most/some/half of the.
Singular count noun: All of the book was interesting
Plural count noun All of the books were interesting
Non-count nouns All of the information was
interesting.
3) When we have structures where we have to invert the normal
order of subject + verb we have to be careful to make the verb
agree with the subject. Remember this inversion is applied in
questions, after expressions of place, after negative or almost
negative words, in conditional clauses without if, and after
comparisons. After these structures the order is:
With verb to be: verb + subject
With other verbs: aux. + subject + verb
Never is she late to class.
Should Mary eat candy, she must brush her teeth.
In the first drawer is the book you are looking for.
How many times have your parents warned you to be careful?
* Source: http://www.evergreen.edu/writingcenter/handouts/grammar/parallel.pdf
Skill 27-29: Form Comparatives and
Superlatives Correctly
Comparative: We compare two persons or things.
1) Add er to one syllable words: harder, darker, faster.
2) Double the consonant and add er to one syllable words with
v+c: bigger, hotter.
3) Change y to i and add er to words with two syllables that
end in y: happier, easier.
4) Use more/less before words with two or more syllables: more
beautiful, more intelligent.
5) Add than after the comparative if you specify the second
person or object you are comparing:
Peter is taller than Joe.
Superlative: We compare more than two persons or things.
(add the before the adjective)
1) Add est to one syllable words: the hardest, the darkest, the
fastest.
2) Double the consonant and add est to one syllable words with
v+c: the biggest, the hottest.
3) Change y to i and add est to words with two syllables that
end in y: the happiest, the easiest.
4) Use the most/least before words with two or more syllables: the
most beautiful, the most intelligent.
5) We can also use the words in, of and that after the
superlative forms:
Youre the most beautiful girl in the world.
Yourre the most beautiful of all the girls in the group.
Youre the most beautiful girl that I have ever seen.
Use Comparatives and Superlatives Correctly.
Wrong: It is the better sports car that Ive seen.
Right: It is the best sports car that Ive seen.
Use the Irregular er, -er Structure Correctly: Two parrallel
comparatives introduced by the:
The more you read, the more you learn.
The harder you try, the more youll accomplish.
Sometimes a verb is not necessary:
The greater the experience, the higher the salary.
The rules to form the comparative of adverbs are similar to
adjectives except with two syllable adverbs that end in y. The
comparative is formed with more/less, the most/least: more
easily.
The comparative of nouns is formed only adding: more/less,
the most/least: more work, the most work.
Skills 30-32: Problems with the Form of the
Verb
After any form of be: am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being the verb
can be in:
Present participle: for progressive tenses:
I am playing. He is playing. I was playing.
We were playing. I have been playing. I had been playing.
Tip: The subject does the action.
2) Past participle: for the passive voice:
I am checked by the doctor every year.
The water is bought every day.
The mail has been delivered on time.
The movie will be filmed in Mexico.
Present Have + Past Past up to Not with a Sue has lived in L.A. for
perfect Participle now past tense ** 10 years.
Past Had + Past Before Not with a Sue had lived in L.A. for
perfect Participle past up to present 10 years when she
past tense moved to San Diego
**Except when the time expression since is part of the sentence, see skill 35.
SKILL 35: USE THE CORRECT TENSE WITH
TIME EXPRESSIONS
PAST PERFECT SIMPLE PAST PRESENT PERFECT
Adverb clause simple in 1990, ago, last since 1990, for already,
past tense: when, before, year, yesterday, lately, just, yet, recently, so
until, since, etc. far, many times, ever,
never, still
SKILL 36: USE THE CORRECT TENSE WITH
WILL AND WOULD
VERB MEANING USE EXAMPLE
Will After the Do not use I think that I will leave
present with past tomorrow
NOTE: When would is used to make polite requests, it is used with the present tense:
I would like to have a cup of coffee please.
SKILL 37- 38: USE THE CORRECT FORM OF
THE PASSIVE
Active Voice: The subject does the action.
The man bought the books.
Subject Verb Object
Passive Voice: The subject receives the action:
The books were bought by the man.
Subject verb Agent
It should be:
He has seen many foreign films.
He didnt have much fun at the movies.
Many nouns in English have irregular plurals; the irregular forms that are the
most problematic are plural forms that do not end in S.
In this example the plural criteria looks singular because it does not end in S.
However, criteria is a plural noun, so the singular verb was used is incorrect.
The verb should be in the plural form were used.
IRREGULAR PLURALS
SUBJECT OBJECT
I Me
You You
He Him
She Her
It It
We Us
They Them
POSSESSIVE POSSESSIVE
ADJECTIVES PRONOUNS
My Mine
Your Yours
His His
Her Hers
Its -
Our Ours
Their Theirs
Must be accompanied by Cannot be accompanied
noun by a noun
Skill 45: CHECK PRONOUN REFERENCE FOR
AGREEMENT
After we check that the subject and object pronouns and the
possessives are used correctly, we should also check each of
these pronouns and possessives for agreement.
PRONOUN AGREEMENT
1. Be sure that every pronoun and possessive agrees with the
noun it refers to.
2. You generally check back in the sentence for agreement
ADVERBS An adverb can appear in many positions. It cannot be used between a verb
and its object.
Here the adjective important should come before the noun information,
this is because important describes information.
-LY ADJECTIVES
costly likely daily quarterly northerly
In the first example, cleans is the verb of the sentence. In the second
example, cleaning is a verbal adjective describing woman. In the third
example, cleaned is a verbal adjective describing car.
The cleaning* car is not correct because a car cannot do the action
of cleaning. (active)
The cleaned* woman is not correct because a woman cannot
receive the action of the verb clean. (passive)
SKILL 51: USE ED AND -ING ADJECTIVES
CORRECTLY
The definite article the is for both singular and plural nouns
The indefinite article a/an is used only with singular nouns.
One very common agreement error is to use the singular
indefinite a/an with a plural noun.
A or An (versus) THE
A or An:
1. Use it when there are many, and you dont know which one it
is.
2. Use it when there are many, and you dont care which one it is.
Tom will bring a book tomorow. (any book)
THE:
1. Use it when it is the only one.
2. Use it when there are many, and you and your listener
know which one it is.
Prepositions
Example
1. Verb + Preposition
depend on lead to
2. Adjective/Participle + Preposition
surprised at famous for
3. Noun + Preposition
example of possibility of
4. Other Combinations with Prepositions
as a result of in addition to
5. Prepositions of Time and Place
on May 16 in Washington
6. Prepositions in Common Expressions
at present in general
VERB + PREPOSITION
account for contribute to insist on plan on
believe in depend on lead to rely on
belong to detach from obtain from result in
confined to fight for overcome by withdraw from
ADJECTIVE/PARTICIPLE + PREPOSITION
accustomed to different from necessary for responsible for
afraid of expert at opossed to successful in
based on free from possible for surprised at
compared to famous for related to typical of
NOUN + PREPOSITION
cause of equivalent of influence on result of
cost of evidence of need for use of
danger of example of possibility of solution to
effect on increase in reason for supply of
OTHER COMBINATIONS WITH PREPOSITIONS
according to in the process of
as a consequence of in view of
as a result of on account of
because of on behalf of
by means of on the basis of
in addition to prior to
in spite of with the exception of
in terms of with the purpose of
PREPOSITIONS IN COMMON EXPRESSIONS
at times by land/sea/air
at present by far
at first/last by chance
at the moment by accident
by day/night
in common on fire
in general on the other hand
in existence on the whole
in the future/past on purpose
in theory on land
PREPOSITIONS OF TIME AND PLACE
Prepositions of Time
at time of day (at 8 a.m.)
noon, night midnight
in parts of the day (in the
morning/evening/afternoon)
month (in July)
season (in the fall)
year (in 1980)
decade (in the 1980s)
century (in the nineteenth century)
on days of the week (on Monday)
dates (on March 20)
for/since duration of time (for three days)
point in time (since March 20)
from . . . to from beginning time . . . to ending (from 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m.)
PREPOSITIONS OF TIME AND PLACE
Prepositions of Place
at address (at 200 Main Street)
on street/road/avenue (on Kings Road)
in building (in the drugstore)
city (in Los Angeles)
state (in California)
country (in Japan)
continent (in Africa)
from . . . to from beginning point . . . to ending
point (from Alaska to California)
Skill 56-57: Problems with Prepositions
http://www.epcc.edu/ftp/Homes/tracyvm/dovsmake.html
Skill 59: Distinguish like, alike, unlike, and
dislike
Like, alike, unlike and dislike sometimes are confused because
they look so similar but they have many different uses.
As you see like and alike are adjectives that have similar
meaning.