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PARTNER A TOEFL: Be careful of present participles (the ing form of the verb) In TOEFL grammar sections the present

participle can cause confusion because it can either be a verb or an adjective. When it is part of a verb it needs to be preceded by a form of TO BE Example: The man is talking to his friend Verb A present participle can also be an adjective not accompanied by TO BE Example: The man talking to his friend has a beard Adjective Verb TOEFL confusion: Is the present participle an adjective or part of a verb structure? The Child ________ playing in the yard is my son A. now B. is C. he D. was In this sentence the correct Answer is A because as we have a verb later in the sentence we dont need B (is) or D (was). Furthermore, we dont need to repeat the subject (C- he) The man _______________ with his children A. playing B. is playing C. who playing D.whose playing In this sentence B (is playing) is correct because here we need a verb as we dont have one later in the sentence. A and C are incorrect because they are missing TO BE. A should be is playing and C, who is playing (Adjective clause). D has no verb and the wrong relative pronoun (who not whose)

PARTNER B TOEFL: Be careful of past participles (go- went- gone) (work worked worked). These can cause confusion because the can either be part of a verb (with TO BE or TO HAVE) or adjectives (without TO HAVE or TO BE) Example: The family has purchased a TV Verb Here purchased is a verb as it is accompanied by TO HAVE Example: The poem was written by Paul Verb Here written is a verb as it is accompanied by TO BE A past participle as an adjective is one not accompanied by TO HAVE or TO BE The TV purchased yesterday was expensive The poem written by Paul is amazing In both cases these are adjectives as neither are accompanied by an auxiliary (TO Be or TO HAVE) TOEFL confusion: Is it a verb in past participle or an adjective The packages ____________ mailed at the post office will arrive tomorrow A. have B. were C. them D. just Is this example D is the correct answer. A and B are auxiliary verbs and are not necessary as we have a verb later in the sentence. Therefore in this sentence mailed is an adjective. C is incorrect as we dont repeat the subject. The packages ____________ to the post office A. were sent B. have sent C. sent D. have be sent The correct answer is A. C is incorrect because we need a verb structure and it is missing an auxiliary. B is incorrect because it should be in a passive form as the packages are receiving the action. D is incorrect because it isnt a correct passive structure (have been sent)

PARTNER C: Be careful of ed and ing ending adjectives Excited or exciting? Verbal adjectives ending in ed or ing can be confused in the TOEFL grammar section. The difference between an ed and ing adjective is similar to the difference between active and passive voice An ing adjective (exciting or interesting) is like the active tense in that it is describing a noun which is doing an action. Example: The cleaning woman is here. In this sentence the woman does the action (cleaning) and therefore we need an ing adjective An ed adjective (interested or excited) means the noun which it is describing is receiving an action. Example: The cleaned car is outside in the parking lot This means that the car has been cleaned by someone. In other words, it is receiving the action. TOEFL confusion : ing or ed adjective? The ____________ children enjoyed the film A. exciting B. excited C. were excited D. excitement Here B is correct as the children are receiving the action from the film (the doer). A is incorrect as the film is the doer so we need a past participle as in passive voice. C is incorrect as we have a verb later in the sentence (enjoyed). D is incorrect because we do not need a noun (excitement) as children (noun) is already there.

PRESENT AND PAST PARTICIPLES Adjectives ed- ing Each of the following sentences contains either an ed or ing adjective. Find the adjective and indicate if the sentences are I (incorrect) C (correct) 1. The teacher gave a quiz on the just completed lesson (c) 2. There is a fascinating movie at the theater tonight (C) 3. They thought that it had been a very satisfied dinner 4. The empty bottles are to the left , and the filling bottles are to the right 5. For lunch at the restaurant she ordered a mixed salad 6. The students thought that it was an interesting assignment 7. The shoppers were impressed by the reducing prices 8. He cant afford to take long vacations to exotic places because he is a worked man 9. I recently received several annoying phone calls from the insurance agent 10. Today the bookkeeper will work on the unpaying bills Present participles Each of the following sentences contains one or more present participles. Underline them and decide if they should be adjectives or verbs. Then indicate if they are (I) incorrect or (C) correct. 1. The companies offering the lowest prices will have the most customers Adjective (C) 2. Those travelers are completing their trip on Delta should report to Gate 3 verb (I) 3. The artisans were demonstrating various handicrafts at booths 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

7. The fruits were rotting because of the moisture in the crates carrying them to the market 8. Any students desiring official transcripts should complete the appropriate form 9. The advertisements were announcing the half-day sale received a lot of attention 10 The spices flavoring the meal were quite distinctive Past participles Each of the following sentences contains one or more past participles. Underline the past participles and decide if they should be verbs or adjectives. Then indicate if the sentences are (I) incorrect or (C) correct. 1. The money was offered by the client was not accepted adjective / verb (I) 2. The car listed in the advertisement had already stalled adjective / verb (C) 3. The chapters were taught by the professor this morning will be on next weeks exam (adjective) (I) 4. The loaves of bread were baked in a brick oven at a low temperature for 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 10. Any bills paid by the first on the month will be credited to your account by the next day.
TOEFL: PRESENT AND PAST PARTICIPLES: GRADED ACTIVITY NAMES: _________________________________ 1. A pride of lions ______________ up to forty lions, including one to three males, several females, and cubs A. can contain B. it contains C. contain D. containing 2. Each object _____________________ Jupiters magnetic field is deluged with electrical charges A. enters B. it enters C. entering D. enter 3. As its name suggests, the Prairie Wetlands Resource Center ____________ the protections of wetlands on the prairies of the Dakotas, Montana, Minnesota, and Nebraska A. it focuses B. focuses on C. focusing D. to focus on 4. Richard Wright enjoyed success and influence ________________among Black American writers of his era. A. were unparalleled B. are unparalleled C. unparalleled D. the unparalleled 5. Alaska found the first years of its statehood costly because it had to take over the expense of services _____________ previously by the federal government. A. to provide B. be provided C. providing D. provided 6. Relative humidity is the amount of water vapor the air contains at a certain temperature ____________ with the amount it could hold at that temperature.

A. to compare

B. compared C. comparing D. compares

7. The food _____________ by the mouse was poisonous A. was eaten B. it was eaten C. it eaten D. eaten 8. _______________ conducted by the government did not indicate true public opinions A. The survey was B. The survey C. It was D. The survey it was 9. The musician ________________ at Harvard performed at the concert hall A. teached B. he was taught C. was taught D. taught 10. Traits ____________from a parent organism to its offspring through genes. A. are passed on B. passing on C. passes on D. are passing on 11. Juana Inez de la Cruz ______________ Mexico's greatest female poet. A) considered B. considered to be C. is considered to be D. is consideration 12. A talk show _______________ to improve its ratings may plan a fight A. is trying B. it is trying C. trying D. are trying 13. The Golden Gate Bridge designed by joesph Strauss _____________ many tourists A. It attracts B. attracting C., attract D. attracts 14. The man _______________ in the lake is my father A. swimming B. he swims C. he is swimming d. was swimming 15. ____________ lying on the floor belong to me A. The clothes are B. The clothes C. Are D. The clothes they are 16. Financier Matthew Mellon donated most of his magnificent art collection to the National Gallery of Art, where it is now locating. 17. Until the invention of the telephone, skyscrapers were not consider very practical. 18. The interesting film went on for over three hours but the time flew on

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