TOEFL summery

SKILL 1

Subject and Verb

A sentence in English must have at least one subject and one verb.

A subject of a sentence can be a noun, pronoun, or a noun clause.

SKILL 2

Object of Preposition

Object of Preposition is a noun or pronoun that comes after a preposition. If a word is an object of preposition, it is not a subject.

SKILL 3

Appositive

An Appositive is a noun that comes before or after another noun and has the same meaning. Apposition means placing near. An appositive is used in three cases,

1. Subjective/Nominative case, Sardar Daud , the president of Afghanistan in 1970s, was killed.

2. Accusative/ Objective case, yesterday I met Najibuallah M, the Star of Afghan.

3. Genitive case; have you seen Monalesa, the artist’s painting.

SKILL 4

Participles

Participles is a word which partakes the nature of a verb or an adjective. Or it is a word which is partly a verb and partly and adjective.

It is of three kinds.

1. Present participles ( ends in ING)

• As a verb; the director of this company is leaving New York for goods.

• As an adjective; the director leaving New York for good will conduct his final test.

2. Past participles ( which usually ends with –ed, -d, -t, en or n)

• As a verb; The students of TOEFL have copied this book.

• As a verb passive; the TOEFL book was copied by students.

• As an adjective. The program conducted by him was interesting

3. Perfect participles.

• Perfect participles are used for completed action at some past time.

Having seen the films once, I don’t want go there again.

SKILL 5

Exercise

SKILL 6

Sentence with multiple clause

When sentence contains more than one clause,

• Make sure your clause contains subject and verb.

• Next check that various clause are correctly joined. Be familiar with all patterns.

SKILL 7

Correct usage of Time and Cause connectors

SKILL 8

Other adverb connectors

SKILL 9 and 10

Noun clause connector usage

A. Noun clauses perform the same functions in sentences that nouns do:

A noun clause can be a subject of a verb:

What Billy did shocked his friends.

A noun clause can be an object of a verb:

Billy’s friends didn’t know that he couldn’t swim.

A noun clause can be a subject complement:

Billy’s mistake was that he refused to take lessons.

A noun clause can be an object of a preposition:

Mary is not responsible for what Billy did.

A noun clause (but not a noun) can be an adjective complement:

Everybody is sad that Billy drowned

B. You can combine two independent clauses by changing one to a noun clause and using it in one of the ways listed above. The choice of the noun clause marker (see below) depends on the type of clause you are changing to a noun clause:

To change a statement to a noun clause use that:

I know + Billy made a mistake =

I know that Billy made a mistake.

To change a yes/no question to a noun clause, use if or whether:

George wonders + Does Fred know how to cook? =

George wonders if Fred knows how to cook.

To change a wh-question to a noun clause, use the wh-word:

I don’t know + Where is George? =

I don’t know where George is.

C. Except for that, noun clause markers cannot be omitted. Only that can be omitted, but it can be omitted only if it is not the first word in a sentence:

correct: Billy’s friends didn’t know that he couldn’t swim.

correct: Billy’s friends didn’t know he couldn’t swim.

correct: Billy’s mistake was that he refused to take lessons.

correct: Billy’s mistake was he refused to take lessons.

correct: That Billy jumped off the pier surprised everyone.

not correct: * Billy jumped off the pier surprised everyone.

D: Statement word order is always used in a noun clause, even if the main clause is a question:

not correct: * Do you know what time is it? (Question word order: is it)

correct: Do you know what time it is? (Statement word order: it is)

not correct: * Everybody wondered where did Billy go. (Question word order: did Billy go)

correct: Everybody wondered where Billy went. (Statement word order: Billy went)

Skill 11 & 12

Adjective clause connector

Adjective clause modifies a noun gives extra information about a noun. Adjective connectors are as follows,;

• Who , used for people ( as subject and object)

• Whom, used for people ( as object)

• That, used for people and thing ( ( as subject and object)

• When, used specifying times

• Where, used specifying place

• Whose, used specifying possession

• Of which, used specifying possession ( for things)

• Which , used to modify the whole sentence.

Note: if an adjective clause modifies a noun , it is called Restrictive clause. No comma is used in Restrictive Clause.

If an adjective clause gives extra information about a noun, it is called non restrictive clause, comma is used.

• The teacher who teaches TOEFL class is my fried.

• Ustad Fazli, who teaches TOEFL class, is my friend.

Skill 13

Reduced adjective clause.

A noun can also be modified by an adjective phrase. When an adjective clause is reduced to adjective phrase the following procedures are applied.

1. If adjective clause contains relative pronoun and to be verb, delete Relative pronoun and Be verb.

• The man who is playing football is from USA.

The man playing football is from USA.

• My car which is in the parking lot is red

My car in the parking lot is red.

• The story which was written by the head of university was published five times.

The story written by head of university was published five times.

2. If adjective clause does not contain Be Verb, delete the relative pronoun and change the verb in ING form.

• The boy who played well last night, scored three goals.

The boy playing well last night , scored three goals.

3. If the relative Pronoun of adjective clause is used as object , it is not possible to be changed to reduce adjective phrase.

• The man whom I saw last night was killed. ( not possible to be changed).

Skill 14

Reduced adverb clause.

An adverb clause can also be reduced.

1. If reduced, unlike adjective clause the adverbs remains undeleted while the subject and to be verb got deleted.

• When you are in class , ask any question you may have.

When in class , ask any question you may have.

• Although he was very sick , he joined the class.

Although very sick, Ali joined the class.

2. If there is no be verb in adverb class, delete subject and change the verb in ING form as below,

• Since I joined this class, I have learned a lot.

Since joining this class, I learned a lot.

• Because I have seen this film , I will not go there again.

Having seen this film, I will not go there again.

Note : if the subject o f adverb clause and main clause are different , it is not possible to be changed to reduced adverb clause.

e.g. when the teacher into the class, all the students stood up. ( no change)

Skill 15

Inverted subject and verbs

Subjects and verb are inverted in a variety of situation in TOEFL. They are inverted in formation of question.

Confusion rise about when to invert subject and verb after question words like what, when, why and how.

These question words have two different functions. If they introduce a question , the subject and verb are

Inverted. If they combine two clauses, the subject and verbs are not inverted.

• what do you want to buy?

• When shall the students leave?

• I donot know where Ahmad is.

• Do you know when you are leaving?

The question words used with inverted subject and verbs are , who, what, when, where, why and how.

Skill 16

Inverted subject and verbs with Place expression

Single words expressing place such as Here, There, Nowhere, are sued in inverted subject and verb patterns.

• Here comes the champion .

• There was the care that I bought.

• Nowhere can you escape from your lord.

After prepositional phrases expressing place, the subject and verb can be inverted.

• On the top of the table were some beautiful jars.

• At the corner of the road stood a bull dog.

• Under the tree lies a lion looking at him.

NOTE: usually at the beginning of a sentence If expression of place is necessary to complete an idea ,the subject and verb are inverted. However, if The sentence is complete without expression of place, then the subject and verb are not inverted.

• On the long high way were some police officers.

• On the long high way, I drove carelessly.

Skill 17

Inverted subject and verb with negatives

1. Subject and verbs are inverted with Negative words and related expressions such as No, not , never,

• Not once have I made this mistake.

• Never is Mr. Fazli late for his class.

• At no time could a woman be selected as the president of Afghanistan.

2. Words such as hardly , barely, scarcely, only , seldom act as negative. If they are used at the beginning of a sentence , the subject and verbs are inverted.

• Hardly ever did he perform well.

• Only once was Mr. Karzai right.

3. Sometimes with negative in middle of a sentence , the subject and verb are inverted preferably with Neither and Nor.

• I donot know English, and Neither does my brother.

• She is not beautiful , nor is her younger sister.

Skill 18

Inverted subject and verb with conditionals

When the helping verb of conditional clause is Had, Should or Were, the subject can be inverted and the if

Should be deleted.

• If you had seen him, this could not have happed.

Had you seen him, this could not have happened.

• If I were in your position, I would support him.

Were I in your position, I would support him.

• If you should come early, please give me a call.

Should you come early, please give me a call.

Skill 19

Inverted subject and verb in comparison

Inversion after the comparison is optional , but can be seen in recent TOEFL exams, therefore, you should be

Familiar with this very formal pattern.

• She receives more calls in the afternoon than Marry.

• She receives more calls in the afternoon than Marry does.

• She receives more calls in the afternoon than does Marry.

Skill 20

Subject and Verb agreement ( after prepositional phrases)

When a prepositional phrase comes between the subject and the verb, be careful to use the correct verb ( consider verb and subject agreement.

• The boys in the classes are smart.

• The boy seen in those play grounds is smart.

Skill 21

Verb agreement with expression of quantity

When the subject of a sentence is expression of quantity such as (some, all, most , half) which are followed by OF , Confusion is made. These subjects can be singular or plural depending on what is used after Of.

If the noun after of is countable , the verb should be plural and if it is uncountable , the verb should be

Singular.

• Some of the students in the garden are week.

• Some of the milk in the can is rotten.

• All of the information you have provided is incorrect.

• All of the TV speakers come to night.

• Most of these chairs cost a lot of money.

• Most of coffee imported to our country comes from Colombia.

Skill 22

Verb agreement after inversion

After question word, Negatives, expression of place, prepositional phrase, condition without if and comparisons, verb agrees with subject.

• In the park, lives a small panda.

• In the forests live a lot of man eaters.

Skill 23

Verb agreement with certain words.

Certain words such as , ( anybody, anyone, anything- everybody, everything, everyone – no one, nobody, thing – somebody, someone, something- each and every) are singular. They should therefore, be used with

Singular verbs.

• No one is here.

• Everybody should be ready.

• Some one is in the room.

• Each student in TOEFL class is ready to leave.

Skill 24, 25

Use of parallel structure with coordinate conjunction and paired conjunction.

A standard language is always fair. This balance in language structure is called Parallel structure.

Parallel structures are combined by coordinate conjunction. These conjunction combines two, nouns, verbs,

Adjectives, phrases, sentences.

• For my breakfast I usually take cake or cookies. ( Noun + noun0

• Ustad Fazli is tall and handsome. ( adjective + adjective)

• When we were on picnic, Assad only ate or slept. ( verb + verb )

• During the parade the soldiers could be seen on the roads and on the avenue. ( phrase + phrase)

• I do not know if he is both smart and polite.

• He would go either by train or by bus.

• Neither John nor his brother is present.

Skill 26

Parallel structure with comparisons

The following patterns make parallel comparisons;

• More……. Than ( my house is more expensive than your house.

• Er……… that ( to be in TOEFL class is better that to be in BBA class.

• Less……..that ( to join a swimming class is less important than to enroll in golf club.

• As………. As (your computer is as expensive as four wheel wagon. )

• The same …………as ( in Ramadhan , reciting quran gives you the same Sawab as reading quran.

• Similar …………to ( the apartment you bought is similar to one that I bought.

Skill 27 and 28

Comparative and superlative formation and usage

1. Comparative degree

• One syllable adjectives ( adj+ er - comparative degree)

• More than one syllable adjectives ( more/less + adj – comparative degree)

2. Superlative Degree

• The + est + one syllable adjectives

• The + most/ lest + more than one syllable

Skill 29

Double comparatives

Double comparative is used to compare two equal comparison. Unlike simple comparative degree , double is used with THE .

• the faster you run , the sooner you reach.

• The more you eat , the fatter you become.

• The more question you answer, the higher number you score.

Skill 30

Problems with Verb

( HAVE)

After any form of HAVE ( have , has, had, having, ) a past participle is used.

• I have gone there,

• Having seen the film , I do not want go there again.

• He should have done his homework.

• She has been in top form.

Skill 31

BE + present and past participles

After any form of BE ( is, am , are, was , were, being , been, be ) either Present participle or past participle is used.

• We are doing this exercise.

• There were punished.

• The job was done.

Skill 32

Verb after Modal auxiliary

After all modal auxiliary the base form of verb should be used.

( for special usage of auxiliary , please refer to the auxiliary table below

Skill 33

When to use Past with present.

1. If you come across to a sentence with one Past and one present Verb, the sentence is probably wrong.

2. The sentence should have both verbs in Present or Past.

3. If past and present are used together focus should be made on logical meaning.

• He put his books in bag when he goes to school. ( incorrect)

• The master keeps studying as he wanted to past the test. ( incorrect)

• I really donot know when Khalid joined this class.

• He is not sure if he was given a scholarship.

Skill 34

Present and past perfect

For complete reference of past perfect and present perfect please refer to power point presentation below.

AUXILIARY

USES

PRESENT/FUTURE

PAST

may

(1) Polite requests

May I borrow your pen?

(2) formal permission

You may leave the room.

(3) less than 50% certainty

Where's John?

He may be at the library.

He may have been at the library.

might

(1) less lhan 50% certainty

Where's John?

He might be at the library.

He might have been al the library.

(2) polite requests (rare)

Might I borrow your pen?

should.

(I) advisability

1 should study tonight

I should have studied last night.

(2) 90% certainly

She should do well on the lesl. (future only, no present

She should have done well on ihc lesl.

Ought to

(1) advisability

I ought to study tonight.

I ought to have studied last night.

(2) 90% certainly

She ought to do well on the test, (future only, not present.)

She ought to have done well on the test.

AUXILIARY

USES

PRESENT/FUTURE

PAST

had better

(1) advisability with threat of bad result,

You h3d better be on lime, or we will start without you.

past form uncommon

be supposed to

(1) expectation

Class is supposed to begin at 10.

Class was supposed lo bc-gin at 10.

be to

(I) strong expectation

You are to be here at 9:1X1.

You were to be here at 9:00.

must

(1 )strong expectation

I must go to class today.

1 had lo go lo class yester­day.

(2) prohibition (negative)

You must not open that door.

(3) 95% certainty

Mary isn't in class. She must be sick, (present only)

Mary must have been sick yesterday

have to

(1) necessity

1 have to go to class today.

I had to go to class yester­day.

(2) lack of necessity (negative)

1 don't have lo go lo class today.

I didn't have to go to class yesterday.

have got to

(1) necessity

I have got to go to class today.

I had to go to class yesterday

will

(1) 100% certainty

He will be here at 6:00 (future only)

(2) willingness

The phone's ringing. I'll get it.

(3) polite request

Will you please pass the sail?

be going to

(I) 100% certainty

He is going to be here at 6:00. (future only)

(2) definite plan

I'm going to paint my bed­room. (future only)

I was going to paint my room, but 1 didn't have hint.

can

(1) ability/possibility

I can run fast.

1 could run fast when I was a child, but now I can't

(2) informal permission

You can use my car Tomorrow

(3) informal polite request

Can I borrow your pen?

(4) impossibility

That can’t be true

That can’t have been true

AUXILIARY

USES

PRESENT/FUTURE

PAST

could

(I) past ability

I could run fast when I was a child.

(2) polite request

Could 1 borrow your pen? Could you help me?

(3) suggestion

1 need help in math. You could talk lo your teacher.

You could have talked to

your teacher.

(4) less than 50% certainty

Where's John? He could be at home.

He could have been at home.

(5) impossibility (negative only)

Thai couldn't be true!

Thai couldn't have been true!

be able to

(1) ability

I am able to help you. I will be able to help you.

I was able lo help him.

would

(1) polite request

Would you please pass the salt? Would you mind if I left early?

(2) preference

I would rather go lo the park than slay home.

1 would rather have gone lo the park.

(3) repeated action in the past

When I was a child, I would visit my grandpar­ents every weekend.

used to

(1) repeated action in the past

I used lo visit my grandparents every weekend.

shall

(1) polite question to make a suggestion

Shall I open the window?

(2) future with "I" or "we" as subject.

I shall arrive at nine. (will = more common)

Skill 35

Correct tense with time expression

Usage of time expression in TOEFL exam is common. One should consider correct usage of them. Time expression such as recently, lately , ago , last , by are frequently used. Specific time expression should be used with Past while unspecified time expressions are sued with Present perfect.

• I wanted to tour the world in three months last year.

• He had been married for forty years by 1999.

• Have you seen John lately.

Skill 36

Usage of correct tense with will and would

Many combinations of verbs are commonly used in English. One common combination is usage of will with present tense and another is would with past tense.

Errors should be avoided to use past tense with will and Present with would.

Would is used with present to make a polite request.

• I am not sure that he will pay me off.

• It was certain that Karzai would not help the people of Afghanistan.

• I would like to have a glass of juice. s

Skill 37 and 38

Passive verb and meaning

Skill 39

Problem with nouns

( singular and plural noun)

Same type of problem appears in TOEFL exam , therefore, you should be familiar with the following;

1. Correct usage of singular and plural noun.

2. Distinguish countable and non count noun.

3. Recognize regular and irregular singular or plural noun

4. Distinguish between person and thing.

One common problem is the usage of singular noun where a plural is required or vice versa.

• I do not think you need many cans of fish.

• He really wants to spend a lot to buy a single tire.

Skill 40

Countable and uncountable noun

Nouns in English are classified in Countable and uncountable. To distinguish between is very essential. Countable nouns come in quantities of one , two or more , while uncountable nouns come in indeterminate quantity or mass. Uncountable nouns are often liquids or abstracts such as oil, milk, beauty, hope etc.

Skill 41

Irregular Plural noun

Examinees in TOEFL test will be confused unless they are familiar with irregular plural nouns which do not end with, S. Examinees should familiarize themselves with such irregular plurals.

Skill 42

Distinguish between person and things

Sometimes a person is used in place of things in TOEFL exam or vice versa. This should be avoided.

• The sculpture made by Indian artist was nominated for best award.

• I have read so many poets in my life( in correct)

The Count Noun

Nouns name people, places, and things. Many nouns have both singular and plural forms. If you can add a number to the front of a noun and put an s at the end of it, you have a count noun.

• John offered Jeremy a chocolate-chip cookie.

• Jeremy, an impolite pig, grabbed all seventeen cookies off of the plate.

Cookie is a count noun. You can have one cookie, or you can have more.

Remember that some nouns are non count.

You cannot count all nouns. To make a non count noun plural would be illogical. Read the following sentence:

• Jeremy apologized for his rudeness, but his growling stomach stopped him from returning any of the cookies to the plate.

Rudeness is an example of a non count noun. Jeremy does not have five rudenesses. Such a statement would make absolutely no sense!

Look over this chart contrasting count and non count nouns:

The Noncount Noun

Nouns name people, places, and things. Many nouns have both a singular and plural form: a surfer/surfers, a restaurant/restaurants, a pickle/pickles. Some nouns, however, have only a singular form; you cannot add a number to the front or an s to the end of these words. This group of nouns is called noncount.

Read the following examples:

• After two months of rainstorms, Farid carries his umbrella everywhere in anticipation of more bad weather.

Rainstorms = count noun; weather = noncount noun.

• Because the dog ripped all four chairs with his claws, Ali wants to buy new furniture and find the cat another home.

Chairs = count noun; furniture = noncount noun.

• When Mrs. Russell postponed the date of the research paper, smiles lit up the faces of her students, filling the room with happiness.

Smiles = count noun; happiness = noncount noun.

• Because the beautiful Heena will help Abo with his calculus assignments, he never minds the homework from Dr. Marry class.

Assignments = count noun; homework = noncount noun.

The Different Categories of Noncount Nouns.

The chart below illustrates the different types of noncount nouns. Remember that these categories include other nouns that are count. For example, lightning, a natural event [one of the categories], is noncount, but hurricane, a different natural event, is a count noun. When you don't know what type of noun you have, consult a dictionary that provides such information.

Know How To Indicate Number With Noncount Nouns

Thunder, a noncount noun, cannot have an s added at the end. You can, however, lie awake in bed counting the number of times you hear thunder boom during a storm.

When you want to indicate number with a noncount word, you have two options.

1. You can put of in front of the noncount word and then attach the resulting prepositional phrase to an appropriate count word. For example, you can write that you heard seven claps of thunder.

(Container, Piece, and Measurement Words)

Container Words:.

a can of..., a box of..., a bowl of ..., a glass of ..

.i.e. I bought two boxes of cereal.

Piece Words:

a piece of, a slice of..., a bar of ...i.e. A slice of pizza. Who needs a piece of paper?

Measurement Words:

a quart of..., a liter of...: i.e. She has to get two quarts of milk.

2. A second option is to make the noncount noun an adjective that you place before a count noun. Then you could write a sentence like this:

• Thunderheads filled the sky.

• 3 software packages... (the word software is now an adjective)

• 3 homework assignments...

• 3 postage stamps...

Understand That Some Nouns Are Both Noncount And Count

Sometimes a word that means one thing as a noncount noun has a slightly different meaning if it also has a countable version.

Time is a good example. When you use this word to mean the unceasing flow of experience that includes past, present, and future, with no distinct beginning or end, then time is a noncount noun. Read this example:

• Time passes rapidly.

When time refers to a specific experience which starts at a certain moment and ends after a number of countable units [minutes, hours, days, etc.], then the noun is count. Here is an example:

• On his last to Afghanistan, The King rode his horse twenty-seven times.

Times = count because a ride on horse is a measurable unit of experience, one that you can clock with a stopwatch.

Here are some more examples.

Alternatives to Using Noncount Nouns

There is often a countable noun that could be used in place of the noncount noun if more specific reference is desired.

Using Articles with Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Choosing which article to use (if any) with a noun is a complex matter because the range of choices depends on whether the noun in question is 1) count or noncount and 2) singular or plural. Both count nouns (whether singular or plural) and noncount nouns take articles.

A countable noun always takes either the indefinite (a, an) or definite (the) article when it is singular. When plural, it takes the definite article if it refers to a definite, specific group and no article if it is used in a general sense.

• The guest of honor arrived late.

• You are welcome as a guest in our home.

• The guests at your party yesterday made a lot of noise.

• Guests are welcome here anytime.

Uncountable nouns never take the indefinite article (a or an), but they do take singular verbs. The is sometimes used with uncountable nouns in the same way it is used with plural countable nouns, that is, to refer to a specific object, group, or idea.

• Information is a precious commodity in our computerized world.

• The information in your files is correct.

• Sugar has become more expensive recently.

• Please pass me the sugar.

The following chart shows which articles go with which kinds of nouns. Notice that this, that, these, and those have been included because, like the, they mark the noun that they modify as definite, which means that the noun refers 1) to a unique individual or 2) to some person, event, or object known to both the writer and reader from their general knowledge or from what has been previously mentioned in a piece of writing.

Examples:

Count Singular:

• I ate an apple.

• I rode the bus.

• Does she live in this house? No, she lives in that house over there.

Count Plural:

• I like to feed the birds.

• Do you want these books? No, I want those books up there.

• Cats are interesting pets.

Noncount:

• The water is cold.

• This milk is going sour.

• Music helps me relax.

Quantity Adjectives with Countable and Uncountable Nouns

The following chart shows which quantity words go with which kinds of nouns. Note that quantity words can be used in combinations such as many more, many fewer, much more, and much less, any of which can be preceded by how to form questions or relative clauses. Negatives like not and no can also be applied to many of these terms.

Some, Any: Both words modify either countable or uncountable nouns

• There are some cookies in the jar. (countable)

• There is some water on the floor. (uncountable)

• Did you eat any food? (uncountable)

• Do you serve any vegetarian dishes? (countable)

Much, Many: Much modifies only uncountable nouns. Many modifies only countable nouns.

• How much money will we need?

• They ate so much cake that they started to feel sick.

• Much effort will be required to solve this problem.

• How many children do you have?

• They had so many books that they had to stack them in the hall.

• Many Americans travel to Europe each year.

A lot of, Lots of: These words are informal substitutes for much and many.

• Lots of effort will be required to solve this problem. (uncountable)

• A lot of Americans travel to Europe each year. (countable)

Little, Quite a little: Little and quite a little modify only uncountable nouns.

• We had a little ice cream after dinner.

• They offered little help for my problem. (meaning "only a small amount")

• They offered quite a little help for my problem. (meaning "a large amount") (See quite a bit of, below.)

Few, Quite a few: Few and quite a few modify only countable nouns.

• A few doctors from the hospital play on the softball team.

• Few restaurants in this town offer vegetarian dishes. (meaning "only a small number")

• Quite a few restaurants in this town offer vegetarian dishes. (meaning "a large number")

A little bit of, Quite a bit of: These informal phrases usually precede uncountable nouns. Quite a bit of has the same meaning as quite a little and is used more commonly.

• There's a little bit of pepper in the soup. (meaning "a small amount")

• There's quite a bit of pepper in the soup. (meaning "a large amount")

Enough: This word modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

• I don't have enough potatoes to make the soup.

• We have enough money to buy a car.

Plenty of: This term modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

• There are plenty of mountains in Switzerland.

• She has plenty of money in the bank.

No: This word modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

• There were no squirrels in the park today.

• We have no time left to finish the project.

SKILL 43, 44 and 45

Subject and object pronoun

Skill 46

Problems with adjective and adverbs

Some times in TOFEL an adjective is used in place of adverb and vise versa.

Adjective describes Noun or Pronoun while adverbs describes verbs, adjectives and other adverbs.

• She is beautiful ( adjective Beautiful describes pronoun)

• I have a nice auto. ( nice is adjective describing auto)

• Our master talks quickly. ( quickly adverb and modifies verb talk)

• He was extremely unhappy( adverb describes adjective)

• He drives quite dangerously. ( adverb modifies adverb)

Skill 47

Usage of adjective after verb

An adverb general comes after verb since it describes a verb. However, one must be careful when the verb is linking verb. A liking verb is followed by adjective rather that an adverb directly.

1. Subject + Linking verb + adjective

2. Subject + Linking verb + adverb + adjective

Linking verbs are ( appear, be , become, feel , look, prove, seem , smell, taste)

• The food tastes awful.

• The boys felt extremely depressed after the wild game.

Skill 48

Position of adjective and adverb

1. An adjective is used in two different positions with a noun.

• Before a noun ( attributive position)- he is was so sick.

• After a noun ( Predicative position) I meet a tired man.

2. And adverb is used in three different position

• I have recently sent a letter to this organization

• Recently I sent a letter.

• I sent him a letter recently.

Skill 49

Adjective with LY

Normally an adverb is made when LY is added at the end of an adjective( adverb of manner) whereas some adjective end with LY. This is very confusing and attention should paid to differences between such adjective and adverbs. These adjectives are as follows;

( costly, early, friendly, kindly, likely, lively, lonely, manly, daily, hourly, monthly, yearly, quarterly, weekly, nightly, lovely, northerly, easterly, westerly, southerly)

• I recite holy Quran daily.

• Please send me your weekly report as soon as possible.

Skill 50

Correct usage of predicate adjective

A predicate adjective is used after the linking verb BE, it does not directly come in front of noun that it describes. e.g. ( alike , alone, alive, afraid, asleep)

• I fall asleep during day time.

• He is still alive.

• A living snake sting him.

Skill 51

Suing ED and ING adjective correctly

1. ING adjective conveys an active idea or it does the action of the verb.

The working man, Ali, is working late at night.

2. ED adjective conveys a passive idea or it receives the action o f the verb.

The painted picture of Karzai was sold for 1 million Afs.

Skill 52 , 53, 54 and 55

Article with singular noun

A singular noun must have a definite or indefinite article or some determiners such as my or each while a plural noun or an uncountable noun may or may not have an article.

Distinguish A and AN

A is used in front of a singular noun with a consonant sound.

AN is used in front of a singular noun with a vowel sound.

( NOTE: words beginning with letters such as U, O, E, X, or H may begin with either a vowel or consonant sound.)

( a university, a hand, a one way street, a euphemism, a Xerox machine, )

( an unhappy man, an hour, an omen, an event, an X-ray machine)

Articles agreement with Nouns

Agreement of definite article is not so complicated because The can be used with singular or plural noun. Attention should be paid to usage of indefinite article and noun agreement with it. A singular noun can be used with indefinite article a or an. Indefinite article should be avoided with plural noun.

• I bought a new book for my son.

• He bought two new books for me.

Specific and general Ideas with Articles

The usage of definite or indefinite article is possible with singular nouns , but the meaning would be different.

• I will drive a car during the picnic tomorrow. ( it is not define which type of car. – any car)

• I will drive the car during the picnic tomorrow. ( it is define which car the speaker meant).

Skill 56 and 57

Recognize incorrect Preposition and omission of preposition

A preposition can be used in two ways. It can be used in a literal way and in an idiomatic way. In Literal use, the preposition means exactly what is expected. In idiomatic way it gives special meaning.

• My house is in front of Super market ( literal meaning)

• Some one broke into my house. ( idiomatic meaning)

Skill 58

Problem with USAGE

Distinguish between Make and Do

1. Make often use the idea of creating or constructing. E.g. make clothes, make a cake, make mistakes etc

2. Do often has the idea of completing or performing. E.g. do the dishes, assignment , do the work, do the cleaning etc

3. Some usage of DO or MAKE are idiomatic and are difficult to classify.

Skill 59

Distinguish between Like, Alike , Unlike and dislike

There are several structures with like, unlike, alike or dislike. It is important to use them correctly.

1. ( like and alike ) they are used as adjectives.

• Abo and Heena are alike.

• Abo an Heena eat in a like manner.

2. ( like and unlike) they are preposition therefore, they should be followed by objects. Some times these preposition can be used at the beginning of a sentence.

• Afghanistan is like Switzerland.

• Pakistan is unlike Afghanistan very hot.

• Like Afghanistan , Switzerland is very beautiful.

• Unlike Afghanistan, Pakistan is very hot.

3. ( like and dislike) used as verbs.

• I really like ice cream.

• My children dislike meat.

Skill 60

Distinguish between other , others and another

To avoid confusion you should remember that they are;

1. If it is Singular or plural

2. If it is Definite or indefinite

3. If it is an adjective ( if so it is used with a noun)

Examples:

• Some people like English, while others like Spanish. ( more than one , unspecified)

• There are three books. One is English. The others are Spanish. ( more than one, specific)

• I have an English book. I want another ( one more, specific)

THANK YOU

TOEFL

MAAZULLAH HIDAYAT HAMEEDI

Maazullah2011@hotmail.com

Contact: + 79 8985 468-83-97

Skype: Maazullah.hidayat