Writting toefl detail 7 docx

72 TOEFL EXAM ESSENTIALS Irregular Verbs with the Same Present and Past Participle Forms Present Past Past Participle come came come overcome overcame overcome run ran run Review these common errors involving verb tense, so that you can identify them on the structure test: ■ Mixed verb tenses—Switching tense within a sentence can change its meaning. Generally, a passage that begins in the present tense should continue in the present tense. ■ Improper past tense—Don’t use past tense to make a statement about a present condition. Incorrect: Zelda met the new director. He was very tall. (Isn’t he still tall?) Correct: Zelda met the new director. He is very tall. ■ Subjunctive mood—The subjective mood of verbs expresses something that is imagined, wished for, or contrary to fact. The subjunctive of was is were. If I were rich, I’d quit my job and move to Tahiti. (I am not rich.) If you were a dog, you would be entirely dependent upon human beings. (You are not a dog.) STRUCTURE 73 Practice Circle the correct verb in each sentence. Find the answers on page 83. 21. Statistics was/were my most difficult course in high school. 22. The clerk rings/ring up the sales while the customers waits/wait in line. 23. Has/Have either of the tenants paid the rent? 24. If I was/were on the school board, I’d abolish the dress code. 25. I stayed at a bed and breakfast inn in Vermont. The building is/was Victorian. TRICKY VERBS The sets of verbs on the next page confuse even native speakers of English. To keep them straight, think about which verb in each pair needs an object. For example, lie describes an action per- formed by a subject: I will lie down. Lay, on the other hand, needs an object to make sense: He lays the baby in the crib. To make things more confusing, the past tense of lie is lay! Review this chart and practice using these tricky verbs in context. PREPOSITIONAL IDIOMS Knowing which preposition (to, of, about, for, with, about, on, upon, etc.) is appropriate in a sentence is a challenging part of master- ing English. Review these common prepositional idioms: according to depend on/upon next to afraid of equal to of the opinion 74 TOEFL EXAM ESSENTIALS anxious about except for on top of apologize to (someone) fond of opposite of apologize for (something) from now on prior to approve of from time to time proud of ashamed of frown on/upon regard to aware of full of related to blame (someone) for glance at/through rely on/upon Lie/Lay Lie means to rest, to recline.” Don’t just lie there like a (subject) lump, do something! past tense: lay, had lain Last night, he lay on the couch and fell asleep. Lay means “to place, to set I always lay my keys on the down.”(needs an object) counter. (The object is keys.) Past tense: laid, had laid Ruben laid the blankets on the bed yesterday. Sit/Set Sit means “to rest.”(subject) She always sits behind her desk. Set means “to put or place.” He set the files on my desk. (needs an object) (The object is files.) Rise/Raise Rise means “to go up.” After it is filled with hot air, (subject) the balloon rises. Raise means “go move The town officials are raising something up.” (needs property taxes this year. an object) (The object is taxes.) STRUCTURE 75 blame (something) grateful to (someone) respect for on grateful for (something) responsible for bored with in accordance with satisfied with capable of incapable of similar to compete with in conflict sorry for complain about inferior to suspicious of composed of insist on/upon take care of concentrate on in the habit of thank (some- concerned with in the near future one) for congratulate on interested in tired of conscious of knowledge of with regard to consist of QUICK QUIZ Answer the questions below. If the question has a blank, select the correct answer to fill in the blank. If the question has four under- lined words or phrases, choose the underlined word or phrase that is incorrect. Find the answers on page 83. 1. Louise r ead the book very thorough, but she performed ABC poorly on the test. D a. A b. B c. C d. D 76 TOEFL EXAM ESSENTIALS 2. If your interested in pleasing customers, don’ t make them ABC wait for ser vice. D a. A b. B c. C d. D 3. In 1868, newspapers were filled with the accounts of men ________ claimed to have become rich overnight in Cal- ifornia’s gold fields. a. whom b. that c. which d. who 4. Each of the managers want to renew her contract before AB C D the new fiscal year. a. A b. B c. C d. D STRUCTURE 77 5. The city doesn’t need no more taxes; everyone pays too AB C much alr eady. D a. A b. B c. C d. D 6. The distinct geology of Cape Cod began ________ about 20,000 years ago. a. formed b. form c. to form d. was forming 7. In contrast to its soft body and muscular feet , some mol- AB C lusks have hard shells. D a. A b. B c. C d. D . 72 TOEFL EXAM ESSENTIALS Irregular Verbs with the Same Present and Past Participle Forms Present. common prepositional idioms: according to depend on/upon next to afraid of equal to of the opinion 74 TOEFL EXAM ESSENTIALS anxious about except for on top of apologize to (someone) fond of opposite. r ead the book very thorough, but she performed ABC poorly on the test. D a. A b. B c. C d. D 76 TOEFL EXAM ESSENTIALS 2. If your interested in pleasing customers, don’ t make them ABC wait for