TOEFL Grammar Study Module: A Comprehensive Guide for Scoring High
Introduction
Grammar plays a critical role in the TOEFL exam, particularly in the Writing, Speaking, and Reading sections. Mastering key grammar topics helps convey ideas clearly, avoid errors, and achieve a higher score. This module covers essential grammar topics with rules, examples, and practical applications.
Key TOEFL Grammar Topics
1. Sentence Structure
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- Rule: A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.
- Example:
- Correct: The boy plays soccer.
- Incorrect: The boy play soccer.
- Example:
- Common Errors:
- With collective nouns (e.g., “The team is playing well”).
- With indefinite pronouns (e.g., “Everyone is invited”).
- Rule: A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.
- Sentence Types:
- Simple: “She runs every morning.”
- Compound: “She runs every morning, and she enjoys it.”
- Complex: “Although she runs every morning, she prefers to walk in the evening.”
2. Verb Tenses
- Present Tenses:
- Simple Present: For facts and habits.
- Example: Water boils at 100°C.
- Present Continuous: For ongoing actions.
- Example: She is studying for her exam.
- Simple Present: For facts and habits.
- Past Tenses:
- Simple Past: For completed actions.
- Example: He finished his homework yesterday.
- Past Perfect: For actions completed before another past action.
- Example: He had already eaten before we arrived.
- Simple Past: For completed actions.
- Future Tenses:
- Simple Future: For future intentions.
- Example: She will call you tomorrow.
- Future Perfect: For actions completed by a specific future time.
- Example: By 2025, they will have built a new library.
- Simple Future: For future intentions.
3. Modals and Auxiliary Verbs
- Modal Verbs: Express ability, possibility, necessity, or permission.
- Examples:
- Ability: She can speak Spanish.
- Necessity: You must complete the form.
- Permission: You may leave early.
- Examples:
- Usage Tips:
- Avoid “to” after modals.
- Incorrect: She must to study harder.
- Correct: She must study harder.
- Avoid “to” after modals.
4. Active and Passive Voice
- Active Voice: The subject performs the action.
- Example: The chef cooked the meal.
- Passive Voice: The subject receives the action.
- Example: The meal was cooked by the chef.
- Rule for Conversion:
- Active: Subject + Verb + Object.
- Passive: Object + Auxiliary Verb (to be) + Past Participle.
5. Articles
- Definite Article (the): Refers to specific nouns.
- Example: She read the book you recommended.
- Indefinite Articles (a, an): Refers to non-specific nouns.
- Example: I saw a cat in the garden.
- Rules:
- Use “a” before consonant sounds and “an” before vowel sounds.
- Example: An hour, a university.
- Use “a” before consonant sounds and “an” before vowel sounds.
6. Prepositions
- Common Prepositions: at, on, in, by, with, for.
- Usage Examples:
- Time: “She arrived on Monday.”
- Place: “He is in the room.”
- Direction: “She walked to the park.”
7. Conditionals
- Zero Conditional: For universal truths.
- Example: If you heat water, it boils.
- First Conditional: For real future possibilities.
- Example: If it rains, we will cancel the trip.
- Second Conditional: For unreal present situations.
- Example: If I were rich, I would travel the world.
- Third Conditional: For past regrets.
- Example: If she had studied, she would have passed.
8. Punctuation
- Periods (.): End declarative sentences.
- Commas (,): Separate items in a list or clauses.
- Example: I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.
- Apostrophes (‘): Show possession or contractions.
- Example: It’s a sunny day (It is).
9. Gerunds and Infinitives
- Gerunds: Verb + -ing used as a noun.
- Example: Swimming is good exercise.
- Infinitives: “To” + Base Verb.
- Example: I want to swim today.
- Usage Rules:
- After certain verbs (enjoy, avoid): Use gerunds.
- After certain adjectives: Use infinitives.
10. Common Errors to Avoid
- Misplaced Modifiers: Ensure modifiers are near the words they describe.
- Incorrect: She almost drove her kids to school every day.
- Correct: She drove her kids to school almost every day.
- Redundancy: Avoid repeating ideas unnecessarily.
- Incorrect: He returned back to the office.
- Correct: He returned to the office.
Practical Applications
- Writing Practice:
- Use a variety of sentence types in essays.
- Avoid overly simple structures.
- Speaking Practice:
- Use modals to express opinions (e.g., “I should practice daily.”).
- Use conditionals for hypothetical scenarios.
Conclusion
By mastering these TOEFL grammar topics, candidates can confidently navigate the exam’s challenges. Practice regularly, review rules, and apply these structures to excel in grammar-focused tasks.
20 English Grammar MCQs with Answers and Explanations on “TOEFL Grammar Topics for Scoring High”
1. Which sentence uses the correct subject-verb agreement?
A. The team are playing well this season.
B. The team is playing well this season.
C. The team was playing well these seasons.
D. The team have played well this season.
Answer: B. The team is playing well this season.
Explanation: “Team” is a collective noun and is treated as singular when the group acts as one entity.
2. Choose the correct form of the verb to complete the sentence: “She ____ to the library every Saturday.”
A. go
B. going
C. goes
D. gone
Answer: C. goes
Explanation: In the simple present tense, a singular subject takes the verb with an “s” ending.
3. Identify the sentence in the active voice:
A. The cake was baked by the chef.
B. The chef baked the cake.
C. The cake is being baked.
D. The cake had been baked by the chef.
Answer: B. The chef baked the cake.
Explanation: Active voice has the subject performing the action directly.
4. Select the correct conditional sentence:
A. If I will go to the store, I would buy milk.
B. If I went to the store, I would buy milk.
C. If I go to the store, I would buy milk.
D. If I gone to the store, I would buy milk.
Answer: B. If I went to the store, I would buy milk.
Explanation: This is a second conditional sentence, used for hypothetical situations in the present.
5. Which sentence correctly uses an article?
A. I saw an university near my house.
B. She is reading a interesting book.
C. He bought an umbrella yesterday.
D. I ate a apple after lunch.
Answer: C. He bought an umbrella yesterday.
Explanation: Use “an” before words starting with vowel sounds.
6. Choose the sentence with correct punctuation:
A. My brother, who lives in London loves to travel.
B. My brother who lives in London, loves to travel.
C. My brother who lives in London loves to travel.
D. My brother, who lives in London, loves to travel.
Answer: D. My brother, who lives in London, loves to travel.
Explanation: Non-essential clauses are set off with commas.
7. Complete the sentence: “She enjoys ____ in her free time.”
A. read
B. reading
C. to reading
D. to read
Answer: B. reading
Explanation: After the verb “enjoys,” a gerund (-ing form) is used.
8. Which sentence uses the correct verb tense?
A. I had finish my homework before dinner.
B. I finish my homework before dinner.
C. I had finished my homework before dinner.
D. I will finish my homework before dinner.
Answer: C. I had finished my homework before dinner.
Explanation: Past perfect tense (“had finished”) is used to indicate an action completed before another past event.
9. Identify the sentence with a misplaced modifier:
A. The woman gave the scarf to her friend with a smile.
B. With a smile, the woman gave the scarf to her friend.
C. The woman, with a smile, gave the scarf to her friend.
D. The woman gave the scarf with a smile to her friend.
Answer: A. The woman gave the scarf to her friend with a smile.
Explanation: The modifier “with a smile” seems to describe “her friend” instead of “the woman.”
10. Choose the correct preposition: “He is interested ____ learning new languages.”
A. of
B. to
C. in
D. for
Answer: C. in
Explanation: “Interested” is always followed by “in.”
11. Select the correctly punctuated sentence:
A. It is, however necessary to complete the task on time.
B. It is however, necessary to complete the task on time.
C. It is, however, necessary to complete the task on time.
D. It is however necessary, to complete the task on time.
Answer: C. It is, however, necessary to complete the task on time.
Explanation: Use commas before and after “however” when it interrupts the sentence.
12. Which sentence correctly uses a modal verb?
A. He can to play the guitar.
B. She must completes her homework.
C. They should arrive by noon.
D. You might be to late.
Answer: C. They should arrive by noon.
Explanation: Modals are followed by the base form of the verb.
13. Complete the sentence: “If she ____ harder, she would have passed the exam.”
A. studied
B. had studied
C. has studied
D. studies
Answer: B. had studied
Explanation: This is a third conditional sentence referring to past regrets.
14. Which sentence uses correct word order?
A. Never I have seen such a beautiful sunset.
B. Such a beautiful sunset I have never seen.
C. I have never seen such a beautiful sunset.
D. I never seen have such a beautiful sunset.
Answer: C. I have never seen such a beautiful sunset.
Explanation: The adverb “never” comes after the auxiliary verb.
15. Choose the correct sentence with parallel structure:
A. She likes reading, to jog, and cooking.
B. She likes reading, jogging, and cooking.
C. She likes to read, jogging, and to cook.
D. She likes reading, jogging, and to cook.
Answer: B. She likes reading, jogging, and cooking.
Explanation: Parallel structure ensures consistency in verb forms.
16. Select the correct conditional sentence:
A. If I was you, I would take the job.
B. If I were you, I would take the job.
C. If I will be you, I would take the job.
D. If I am you, I would take the job.
Answer: B. If I were you, I would take the job.
Explanation: In second conditionals, “were” is used for all subjects.
17. Identify the correctly written passive sentence:
A. The project completed by the team.
B. The project has been completed by the team.
C. The project is completed by the team.
D. The project was completing by the team.
Answer: B. The project has been completed by the team.
Explanation: The passive voice uses “be” + past participle.
18. Choose the correct tense: “By the time they arrive, we ____ our work.”
A. finish
B. have finished
C. will have finished
D. had finished
Answer: C. will have finished
Explanation: Future perfect tense is used to indicate completion before a specific future moment.
19. Which sentence has correct article usage?
A. She is an unique person.
B. This is a honest effort.
C. He is an honorable man.
D. They bought an house.
Answer: C. He is an honorable man.
Explanation: “An” is used because “honorable” starts with a vowel sound.
20. Identify the sentence with the correct use of a gerund:
A. To swimming is a great exercise.
B. Swimming is a great exercise.
C. Swim is a great exercise.
D. To swim is a great exercise.
Answer: B. Swimming is a great exercise.
Explanation: A gerund (verb + -ing) acts as a noun.
These questions provide targeted practice to strengthen key TOEFL grammar skills.
