Download SOME GRAMMAR TIPS

SOME GRAMMAR TIPS
TOEFL
Section I: Modifiers
1. Adverbs like only, hardly, nearly, almost, scarcely should be placed as close as
possible to the words they modify. She has only three dollars.
2. Split Infinitives: the infinitive is to+ the simple form of the verb. Do not put an adverb
between to and the verb. We hope to inform him quickly.
3. Dangling Modifiers: The introductory phrase modifies the subject of the clause. Looking
at his watch, Mr.Jones got up and left.
http://www.english.uiuc.edu/cws/wworkshop/grammar/dangling_modifiers.htm
4. Adjective/Adverb Confusion: He is intelligent. He spoke intelligently. NB! late/last/fast
5. Verbs of sensation feel, look, seem, appear, taste, smell, sound are followed by
adjectives. The soup smells delicious.
6. Many nouns are used as adjectives: police station, term paper, world situation
7. Nouns in hyphenated adjectives are never plural. He bought a three-hundred-dollar suit.
8. Demonstratives: this/that, these/those
9. Few, many: followed by count nouns. Little, much: followed by non-count nouns.
10. Two patterns with numbers: the + ordinal number + noun the first book
noun + cardinal number gate five
11. Sameness and similarity: like/ the same as; the same + noun (height, age) + as; as +
adjective (tall, clever) +as
12. Comparatives: busier/more beautiful/better/worse than
13. Superlatives: the most beautiful/ the best/the worst
14. Cause and Result: so tired that, so slowly that; so bad a headache, such a bad headache
15. Articles: a. an, the, zero article
16. Very intelligent (a high degree), too sick to come (impossibility), he is tall enough (after
adjectives); he had enough money or he had money enough
17. Negation: words with negative meaning – scarcely, seldom, without, only, rarely,
hardly; He no longer lives here.
Section II: Verbs
1. -2. Tense: Present Perfect- I have been in the United States before. (relates to the present);
Past Perfect- We visited several museums in Spain (the action occurred in the past); Past
Perfect – I had already left when he called (happened before another past activity)
3. In time clauses (introduced by as soon as, while, after, before, when) use the simple
present tense (not will). When I see him, I will give him your message.
4. The simple verb is used after demand, insist, require, suggest, recommend, urge,
advise, be necessary/essential/required/important. I demand that she go.
5. -6. Present wishes are expressed in the past: Mary wishes that she lived in London.
Use were for to be. I often wish that I were in Hawaii.
Past wishes are expressed in the Past Perfect. I wish that I had studied more (but I
didn’t).
7. Conditionals: Avoid using will/would in the if-clause. The correct form of the verb to
be for all forms is were. If I were rich, I would go to Europe to study.
If he comes, I will give him your message. (tuleb, annan)
If he came, I would give him your message. (tuleks, annaksin)
If he had come, I would have given him your message. (oleks tulnud, oleksin andnud)
8. Modals: I had to go (obligation). The ground is wet. It must have rained (conclusion).
9. Verbals: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_verbals.html
10. Past Participles (been, begun): be sure to revise the three forms of the verb!
http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/irregulars.htm (see also the link Grammar Links)
11. Present and Perfect Participles and (Present and Perfect) Infinitives:
Looking out of the window, I saw John. (action of the same time as in the main verb)
Having taken a shower, I went to bed. (action that occurred prior to the main verb’s
action). I hope to pass the test tomorrow. (action that occurs at the same time as or
future to the main verb). I hope to have passed the test I took yesterday. (action that
occurred prior to the main verb’s action).
Section 3: Pronouns
1. Relative Pronouns: who, whom, which, that, whose
Here is the man that can answer your question. This is the book that you wanted to
buy. The 104 bus, which is always late, should arrive at 4 pm.
2.-3. Personal Pronouns: Subject pronouns (I, you, he…) Object pronouns (me, you, him…).
He is as tall as I (am tall). They are more diligent than we(are).
4. Who (whoever) + verb Give the money to whoever needs it.
Whom (whomever)+ subject + verb Give it to whomever you like.
NB! Phrases like “I think”, “we know” sometimes separate the constructions
He is the student who we believe can do the job.
5. Use the possessive case with gerunds: I resented their interrupting me.
6.-7. False Reference: the antecedent of the pronoun must be clearly understood.
8. Person: One should brush one’s/ his/her/ his or her teeth daily.
9. Number: singular pronouns are each, either, neither, one, and the ones ending in
-thing, -one, -body. Everyone should do his (her) work himself (herself).
Neither…nor, either…or: the pronoun will agree with the subject nearer the verb.
Either my sisters or my mother will lend me her typewriter.
10. Those Modified: the wrong forms “they who…”, “for them who…”
Section 4: Basic Patterns
1. Indirect Objects: Certain patterns: 1. explain, announce, describe, deliver, mention,
say, report, return He explained his idea to us. 2. ask, cost, charge I asked Mary a
question. http://www.teachertraining.net/companion/gg/sentences/sendiobject.htm
2. Order of Adverbs: http://www.selfstudybooks.com/students_freq_adverbs.shtml
3. -4. Embedded Questions: a) Statements or questions that start with a phrase “Do you
know”, “I wonder”, etc. b) Do not use “do”, “does”, “did” (except in negative
sentences) c) Word order- as in affirmative sentences.
What does the sign say?
I cannot see what the sign says.
Where did Tom go?
Tell me where Tom went.
5. Purpose:
a) for + noun phrase John went to California for a rest.
b) to + simple form of the verb She moved to NY to get a better job.
6.-7. Clauses: That he was a criminal surprised me. It is believed that smoking causes
cancer.
Section 5: Style
1.-2. Active Voice: the actor is important We watched the news. Passive Voice: discussing
history The war was fought over gold. Avoid using both voices in the same sentence!
3. Parallelism: Items in a series must have the same form (nouns, gerunds, infinitives)
http://www.english.uiuc.edu/cws/wworkshop/grammar/parallelism.htm
4. Wordiness: the general rule is “shorter is better” The tall man bought the car.
(Weak: The man who is tall bought the car).
5. Substandard: wrong forms- ain’t, mad with, nowheres, different than, alright, is when/is
where, kind of a/sort of a
6. Usage: amount (non-count)/number (count); between (two)/among (three or more);
in/into (motion); lie/lay (with an object); rise/raise (with an object); can (ability)/may
(permission); hanged (persons)/hung (things).
7. Conjunctions: both …and (used for two); not only… but also; neither …nor;
either… or; whether …or
8. Subject/Verb Agreement: The price of all items is twenty dollars. Mr.Jones, along with
his wife and six children, is going to Paris. (more such phrases: as well as, besides,
like, including) Over the fireplace hang several small paintings. Betty is one of the
women who are
responsible for that. Either my sisters or my mother is coming
(also: neither…nor)
9. Parts of Speech: image/imagine; product/produce; reality/realize; chronic/chronically
10. Prepositions http://www2.actden.com/writ_den/tips/sentence/preposit.htm
11. Prepositions in Combinations: see the handout
Guide to grammar and writing
http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/index.htm
Some quizzes for practising:
http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/quiz_list.htm