English through TOEFL iBT - Writing

Name:
_________________________________
Teacher:____________

Date:

_________________

GRAMMAR REVIEW
A. VERB TENSES - To discuss things in present or past time, use the tenses below.
Time
Tense
Present

/ Present Simple
Dave teaches history
twice a week.

Time/ Past Simple

Tense
Past

Dave taught a history

class yesterday.

Present Continuous

Present Perfect

Right now, Dave is

teaching history in
class.
Past Continuous

Dave has taught

history for ten
years.
Past Perfect

Dave was teaching

history when I arrived
in class.

Dave had taught

archaeology before
he taught history.

EXERCISE 1 - Write the correct form of the verb.

1. When I traveled around Europe, it was one of the best times of my life. I___________________(have)
just finished university and I ___________________(decide) I wanted to see some more of the world. It was
amazing to see so many different cultures in such a small area. While I was____________________(travel)
through Germany, I met some people who, like me, were from America. We had a great time, so we
decided to travel together for the rest of the holiday. It was so much fun.
We_____________________(make) a promise that sometime in the future we would return and do it again,
together.
2. Dublin City is home to the worlds tallest sculpture. The Dublin Spire__________________(be) over 120
being ________________________ (build) in 2002, there were delays because of bad weather. However,
when the strong winds _________________________ (pass), the spire was eventually able to be finished,
and Dublins tallest structure was finally completed.
B. WORD FORMS
Noun (person) ~er, ~or, ~ist, ~ian Noun (thing)
~nce, ism, ~ness, ~logy, ~ion, ~ty,
verb+ing, to+verb
Verb
~ate, ~ize, ~fy
Verbs = Nouns
influence, comment, ruin,
attempt
Examples
Verb:
Noun:
Verb+Noun:

We contributed to the community chest.

We contribution to the community chest.
We made a contribution to the community chest

(Correct)
(Incorrect)
(Correct)

EXERCISE 2 - Find the 5 incorrect words in each of the paragraphs below. Correct the words.
There can be more than one incorrect word within a sentence.
1. One of the best ways to reduction stress is to take up a hobby. At home, sometimes work-related
issues can remain in a persons mind. To prevention this, thinking about something different or doing
something active can help your mind to focus on something else. Some people have a collect of certain
objects or items. Other people preference physical exercise or sports. This can improve your circulate,
which is also good for your health. Either way, it is important to have an activity or hobby to help
reduce the stress in your life.
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English through TOEFL iBT - Writing

2. Some people enjoy bringing some action and adventure into their lives. Many people enjoy sports
like baseball and soccer, but some also enjoy high-risk activities such as sky diving and paragliding. Of
course, with sports like these it is important that you are education properly about them. The risks
involvement are far greater than in regular sports. But with higher risk, there comes greater excite. The
pleasure is far greater than with normal, everyday sports. Of course, you have to payment more with
these activities, but they are usually worth the extra cost. If you want your life to have more entertain,
then these fun pastimes are a great idea.
C. SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
3rd person singular
Uncountable noun
There is/are + noun
Each, every + noun
Any/every/no/some+body/thing/one
Subject with phrases
With quantity expressions

Sheruns to the bus.

A lot of time was wasted.
There isa bar of chocolate on the table.
There werethree chairs in that room.
Everyonewants to be happy.
Nobodyagrees with your opinion.
The nurses in the hospital are angry about the pay cut.
One of the horses has damaged the fence.
Some of the teachers have decided to quit.
A piece of the puzzle was under the chair.

EXERCISE 3 - Write the correct form of the verb. Use the present simple tense.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

The flowers in the garden all __________________(look) beautiful.

Each of the applicants_________________ (have) a very impressive resume.
He_____________________ (appear) to be very unhappy in his new job.
Many witches _____________________ (have) black cats.
Some of the airplanes at the airport __________________ (need) repairs.
Politics______________ (be) one of the more difficult subjects in university.
The manager, as well as the players, __________________ (be) happy with the win.
Each year, the volunteers _________________ (rescue) over one hundred mountain climbers.

9. Each night, the family _________________ (pray) together.

10. All of the firefighters, as well their captain, _________________________ ( think) the fire cannot be
stopped.
D. SENTENCE FRAGMENTS
If a sentence is missing either the subject or verb, it is considered a sentence fragment.
E. RUN-ON SENTENCES
Run-on sentences are two or more sentences written together without proper punctuation or without a
proper connecting word.
EXERCISE 4 - Read the following sentences. Write RO for rub-on sentences. Write F for
sentence fragments. Write CS for complete sentences. Correct the run-ons and the
fragments.
____________1.
____________2.
____________3.
____________4.
____________5.

When the rain stopped, the sun finally came out.

Switzerland is a beautiful country. So too, Ireland.
The tour was not very successful we didnt enjoy it.
Though I waited over an hour for my friend, she never arrived.
I asked my friend to help me with my resume. Didnt help me.

F. NOUN PHRASES AND NOUN CLAUSES

As a subject
Noun
The book is difficult.
To-infinitive
To find a solution for that is difficult.
= It is difficult (for us) to find a solution for that.
Gerund
Finding a solution for that is difficult.
That-clause
(The news) that we found a solution for that is well-known.
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English through TOEFL iBT - Writing

= It is well-known (that) we found a solution for that.
As an object
Noun
To-infinitive
Gerund
That-clause

Id like a present.
Id like to work in a group.
Id like working in a group.
I assumed that I would work in a group.

As a complement
Noun
To-infinitive
Gerund
That-clause

My
My
My
My

idea
idea
idea
idea

is
is
is
is

this.
to get the feedback from everyone.
getting the feedback from everyone.
(that) we should get the feedback from everyone.

EXERCISE 5 Rewrite the sentences. Use that or to as directed.

1. Dave and Casey agreed to share the prize money.(that)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. The decided that they would sell the house.(to)
_______________________________________________________________________________________
3. Andrea realized to paint the wall would take too long.(that)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
4. He expected that she would not flunk the course.(to)
_______________________________________________________________________________________
5. We agreed to spend a week in Greece. (that)
_____________________________________________________________________________________

G. COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS AND COORDINATING ADVERBS

Coordinating Conjunctions
I study English, and I study Japanese.
I mowed the grass, and I washed the car.
I hurt my ankle, so I went to the hospital.

I spent hours studying, but I just couldnt

understand the passage.
I can cook some pasta, or we can go to a
restaurant.

Coordinating Adverbs
With that jacket, you will be warmer.
Also, you wont get wet.
I went to the library first. Then, I did my
homework.
I failed my math test; therefore, I got a lower
score for the semester.
I failed my math test. Therefore, I got a lower
score for the semester.
I did my best; however, it wasnt good enough.
I did my best.However, it wasnt good enough.
We can stay in a hotel. Alternatively, we can stay
in a hostel for much less.

EXERCISE 6 - Use the words below to fill in the blanks. Use each word only
once.
whereas
therefore
but

however
additionally
on the other hand for example
and
although

then
so
or

Week 4 Day 1 - Writing B3

English through TOEFL iBT - Writing

1. Some cities are a lot more expensive to live in than others. For example, a cup of
coffee in Dublin, Ireland can cost you around three euros. ____________________, the
same cup of coffee in Buenos Aires might set you back only seventy cents. Quite a
difference! These days, the most expensive cities to live in are Tokyo, London,
_________________ Moscow. Paris is also very expensive. A two-bedroom apartment
there can cost around 2000 euros per month, _________________ it may cost only 600
euros in Buenos Aires.________________,
a music CD in Buenos Aires sells for around seven euros,____________________ the same
CD may sell for up to 20 euros in Dublin and London. We can see,____________________,
as much as we complain about prices, some cities have it worse than we do.
2. Skydiving is a very exciting sport. Imagine climbing into an airplane with a bag on
you back, flying into the sky, and ___________________ jumping out of the airplane.
______________________ it sounds dangerous, each year, thousands of people pay
money to do this. What is it that makes people want to do this? Is it the excitement
_____________ the fear and danger? Some people,___________________, enjoy the rush
from roller coasters.________________________, others may want to test how brave they
are;_________________________ they put on a parachute and jump out of a plane. Either
way, there must be something special that makes people want to jump
WRITING PROMPT
Describe your childhood home.
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Reference: http://www.eslgold.com/

Week 4 Day 1 - Writing B4