STRATEGY OF STRUCTURE TOEFL

Structure and Written Expression was tested in the second part of the TOEFL test. It is intended to determine your competence English language data. The question being tested is divided into two models of structure and written expression question question. The duration of a good time is provided only for 25 minutes. question structure is used to test your ability to understand the structure of the sentence in the English language correctly. In this model uses sentence completion format that complements the rest of the sentence is still empty. While written expression question you are asked to identify the right part in a sentence.

Structure is whatever the field of science in which you worked, you would know about the concept of structure. In the engineering disciplines, sociology, anthropology, art, mathematics, economics, geography, and all branches of science known concepts and definitions of the term structure of the Different. But if we look carefully, there is a common thread of all the definitions of the different concepts such.

A definite structure presupposes the existence of three main things, namely :

1)   Part / element / elements forming the structure.

2)   Linkages / relationships between elements / elements / sections.

3)   Law / order / specific pattern that binds all the elements / elements / parts.

Therefore, the structure implies three things mentioned above, then the same way the questions on the Structure and Written Expression is also presupposes three things. Therefore, the smallest unit being tested are sentences (not paragraphs as in section 3), then we should be able to identify:

1)   The elements forming sentences

2)   Relationships between elements sentence

3)   Patterns that bind all these elements.

SECTION I

General Strategies

1.    Understand the forms of the command (direction) on each piece (part) well before the H.

2.    Questions Take the first structure.

3.    Continue on issues of Written Expression Specific Strategy How to Respond Problem Structure.

4.    First of all consider the sentence in question in terms of Remember the purpose of the questions is to know or determine the structure kawaban paliing what is right for the complete lack of matter. Therefore, by observing carefully will know the shortcomings and what is needed to complete it. Here you need to identify the components of the sentence. That is, which is the subject (noun), predicate (verb), object (noun), adverbs, and so on.

5.    Consider each answer available, choose the most appropriate to complete the sentence in question you have to pay attention each answer in the answer choices (A), (B), (C), and (D). By looking carefully you will soon find out which one is the right choice to fill the gap in the sentence in question. Of course you need to equip themselves with adequate grammar abilities. So it is advisable to study grammar books.

6. Never eliminate an answer choice just look at the answer without seeing the phrase a matter generally, each answer choice is maing a point when he stood sendiri.Sebuah answer choice is right or wrong will be known after the inserted into sentences. How to Answer Questions Written Expression.

7. First of all note the word or group of words underlined and quickly find the right part which not. Most questions in this section can be identified by simply looking at the word or group of words Example: The final class presentation is the importantest Without reading the full sentence by just looking at the underlined, you can identify which ones are right: The answer is importantest because of the superlative form important but not the most important importantest.

8. When you are dealing with a matter that can not be identified by just looking at the word or group of words underlined, immediately read the full text.

Exercises :

Directions: Question 1-15 are incomplete sentences. Beneath each sentence you will see four words or phrases, marked (A), (B), (C), and (D). Choose the one word or phrase that best completes the sentences. Then on your answer sheet, find the number of the question and fill in the space that corresponds to the letter of the answer you have chosen. Fill in the space so that the letter inside the oval can’t be seen.

1.    The Cyclist _______ he crossed the main street.
(A) Looked with caution after.
(B) Had looked cautiously before.
(C) Was looked cautions when.
(D) looks cautious when.

2.    Here_______ notebook and report that I promised you last week.
(A) Is the.
(B) Are the.
(C) Was the.
(D) Has been a.

3.    Neither Jane nor her brothers _______ a consent from for tomorrow's field    Trip
(A) Need.
(B) Needs.
(C) Is needing.
(D) Has need.

4.    Cuba is _______  sugar-growing areas in the world
(A) One of the larger.
(B) One of largest.
(C) One of the largest.
(D) Largest.

5.    The skiers would rather _______ through the mountains than go by bus
(A) To travel on train.
(B) Traveled by train.
(C) Travel by train.
(D) Travelling by the train.

6.    That magnificent _______ temple was constructed by the Chinese
(A) eight-centuries-old.
(B) Eight-centuries’s-old.
(C) Old-eight centuries.
(D) eight-century-old.

7.    There were two small rooms in the beach house,  _______ served as as a kitchen.
(A) The smaller of which
(B) The Smallest of which.
(C) The Smaller of them.
(D) Smallest of that.

8.    Pioneer men and women endured terrible hardships, and _______                    
(A) So do their children.
(B) Neither did the children.
(C) Also the Childs.
(D) Had he studied more.

9.    Mr. Duncan _______ his brother, who has a better position.
(A) Twice as much as.
(B) Twice more than.
(C) Twice as many as.
(D) Twice as more as.

10. _______, he would have been able to pass the exam.
(A) If he studied more.
(B) If he were studying to a greater degree.
(C) Studying more
(D) He had studied more.

11. Mr. Duncan does not know _______ the lawn mower after they had finished using it.
(A) When did they put.
(B) When they did put.
(C) Where they put.
(D) Where to put.

12. The facilities of the older hospital  _______                                            
(A) is as good of better than the new hospital.
(B) Are as good or better than the new hospital.
(C) Are as good as or better than the new hospital.
(D) Are as good as or better than those of the new hospital.

13. Our flight from Amsterdam to London was delayed _______.
(A) Write a composition on their.
(B) To write composition about the.
(C) wrote some composition of his or her.
(D) Had written any composition for his.

14. The teacher suggested that her students _______ experiences with ESP.
(A) Write a composition on their.
(B) To write composition about the.
(C) wrote some composition of his or her.
(D) Had written any composition for his.

15. Of the two new teachers, one is experienced and _______
(A) The others are not.
(B) Another is inexperienced.
(C) The other is not.
(D) Other lacks experience.

SECTION II

Part-2 is the most difficult part of the entire TOEFL test, although the number of questions that tested relatively few. First of all we need to know about how to work on each part of it. Section II consists of two parts, namely Part A is called Sentence Completion (complete the sentence), and Part B is commonly called Error Identification (identify grammatical errors).

 Part A :

Sentence Completion In this section there are 15 questions, each consisting of 1 piece of sentences with words and / or phrases are omitted. We are asked to choose one of the options (a), (b), (c), or (d) that when inserted into a sentence on it grammatically correct. So in other words we have to choose which one is correct.

Part B :

Error Identification In this section, there are 25 questions. In each sentence there is a word or group of words underlined are marked with (a), (b), (c), and (d). We are asked to identify the parts which are NOT marked grammatically proper. In other words, we are asked to choose WHERE ARE WRONG.

General Strategy
In this section, there is a phrase that is part of the sentence is missing. Of 'structural paradigm' that I described above, then the most appropriate way to do this part is to determine which components are omitted in the sentence, whether the components of Subject, Verb, Complement, Object, Conjuction, Appositive, or a combination of some of their components- these components. If this can not be done, then get to know in advance which components are present, then later look where the removed components. By knowing what components are eliminated, then at least we will be looking into the options that indeed we need and eliminate the wrong choices.

Example :

A camel ______________ 30 gallons of water in ten minutes.
(A) it can drink
(B) a large drink of
(C) can drink
(D) with a drink of

Exercise :

The above problem is typical of Part A (sentence completion), in which we are asked to determine the correct answer from the four choices given. Step  : read in a very short sentence nil. Step 2 : Quickly determine what components removed Step 3 : elimination of the answer choices are not likely to be selected (one) Step 4 : answer the question

If seen, the above sentence contains components Subject ('A camel') but no Verb its components (in Indonesian we know this component as a predicate). So we have to find a Verb in the options provided. Of the four options, there are 2 options are NOT Verb, that option (b) and (d), so that automatically we will ignore these two options. Answer choices (a) contains a Verb, but still contains the Subject, that 'it'. Because the sentence already contains Subject, option (a) is therefore also wrong. The answer to the question above is (c), considering this is the only option that contains the verb. Remember, in the 2nd part TOEFL (Structure) answer to the question should be fit to answer the question, If the omitted verb, then seek Verb, should not be less (no load Verb) or more (contain other components that are not needed). 

About Subject and Verb
The main components of a sentence in English is Subject (S) and verb (V). However, the term Verb (verb) here commensurate with the predicate in Indonesian. Let us look at the following illustration:
Sentence : I am hungry. Subject: I
Predicate : Hungry

The sentence above consists of only two words, 'I' and 'hungry'. In the Indonesian sentence is grammatically acceptable. Judging from the type he says, components subject 'I' is the pronoun (Pronoun or pronouns), and consists of a predicate adjective (adjective) 'hungry'. A sentence which contains only one form of subject pronouns and adjectives form a predicate or noun (N) is possible in the Indonesian.

However, unlike the case in English. The phrase 'I am hungry.' in Indonesian is not the same as "I hungry ', although I = I, and hungry = hungry. sentence should English is" I am hungry. "Now, that sentence contains' am' between I (i) and hungry (hungry). In other words, there is an additional component in the English tongue predicate. During this time we know the 'am' as one of the 'to be'. however, if viewed in the dictionary, the entry 'be' categorized as a verb (verb). therefore, striking differences between the predicate Indonesi Language and English is that the predicates in English must contain a verb (verb), and therefore we will refer to the basic components tongue English sentences as Subject and Verb (S + V), is no longer the S + P .

Now let's see, how many types of verb that can fill the components 'predicate' in English: 1) To be: is, am, are, was, were, be, been, being.2) Finite verb: drive, walk, write, say, and other variants such as says, walks, writes, drives, sleeps, and others. Included in this is kelopok 2nd form of the verb (V2 / past), namely, drove, slept, wrote, said, walked, etc.. 3) modals: can, may, must, should, would. Marshall, will4) Auxiliary verb: do, does, did, as well as other variants such as have, had, has.

There is no regular expressions in English which do not contain any of the groups listed above or a combination thereof. Remember: Verb form-ing (sleeping, driving, walking, writing, etc.) are not included in the above group considering the use of this word has rules of its own.

Now try the following questions :

The President ______________ the election by a landslide.
(A) won
(B) he won
(C) yesterday
(D) fortunately

S - V Agreement, Appositive, and the Object of Preposition
Unlike in Indonesian, in English subject must be in conformity with the Verb. For example, in the sentence 'She is writing a letter' subject 'She' and the verb 'is writing' accords, because if I replace it with 'are writing', then the subject is not in conformity with the verb. Questions relating to the suitability pretty much found the TOEFL.
In general, in the context of some of the Simple Present Tense and the Past, S and V must be compatible. For example :
We are students.
We have been waiting for him for more that five hours.
She was eating dinner when I arrived. 

Consider another example :
The value of precious gems is determined by their hardness and brilliance.

Although the remote location of S and V as in the example sentence above, they still have to be compatible.

In general, a short way to memorize this concept are :

S+ S + V-s     

S-S + V + s

This means that if S contains the letter 's' (plural, eg Brothers) then V is not using the letter 's' (eg work, not works). Vice versa. Examples.

My brothers work at the post office.

My brother works at the post office.

Apposition (Appositive) is a word or group of words that typically do not contain S and V, the meaning of which is equal to the S, or explain S. It can be placed between the S and V are flanked by two commas, or can also be placed before the S and separated by a comma. Example: Influenza, a common disease, has no cure.

Its apposition: 'a common disease' or it could be : A common disease, influenza has no cure.

Meanwhile, an S shall not contain prepositions (preposition) like 'at, on, in, of, with' etc.. If on an S we find the next word, it is not included as part of S. For example, if the S is: 'The value of precious gems' then calculated as S to be adjusted to V (see SV Agreement) is the part before the preposition , namely 'The value' course, remember the words which afterwards preceded by the preposition 'of'.
So if S 'The value of precious gems' have V 'Determines' then S and V are NOT accords. Do not be fooled by the plural form after the preposition. Beware, participants often stuck. 

It should also be noted that there exist some S which requires V is singular or plural. It is however a few exceptions. For example:

The number of single V wants .........

The number of female doctors is ..... (Instead of 'are')

A number of V requires the plural .............

A number of students are ...... (Not 'is')

TENSES

The material on the matter tense is 'creepy' when our junior high or high school, considering there are a lot of patterns and formulas that must be memorized. But let's simplify: Tense it relates to time. Logically, the human experience of time there are only two, namely PAST and FUTURE NOW! What about the FUTURE? And Allaah 'natural bi murodih! No one knows what will happen tomorrow! It had its domain of the Almighty. What is the evidence: for example Tense Simple Future tense: 'I will go to Semarang next week' SURE pronounced in the present! So the shape of the future will be spoken within the framework of the present or the past.

Therefore it is only 2 forms of time alone, PAST and PRESENT, then on the TOEFL questions about tenses only two tenses dwell in this alone. Why is that? Of the four forms of the verb, V1, V2, V3, and V-ing, only V1 and V2 was related to time!! Example:

1) She is writing a letter (PRESENT)

2) She was writing a letter (PAST)

Explanation: in sentence 1): words in V that shows Present is 'is' (V1) is not 'writing'; in sentence 2): words in V that shows is the Past 'was' (V2) instead of 'writing'. Try to see if the form-ing 'writing' to change due to time? He replied NO!! To be honest, we often get caught saying that the existing V-ing it (let alone wear one of salaitu ah not to be) it is PRESENT. From now on let us understand bahw V-ing it has nothing to do whatsoever with the PRESENT!!!

Another example:

1) She has written her thesis.

2) She had written her thesis.

Explanation: in sentence 1) the word 'has' (V1) showed PRESENT, not 'written'; in sentence 2) the word 'had' (V2) shows the PAST, not 'written'. Once again, we sometimes get stuck understood as PAST V3, but V3 is NOT nothing to do with the PAST!!!

In the TOEFL, questions about tenses only revolve around the issue of whether the V shape is in accordance with the context of the sentence or not; and it was just about the only form of PAST and PRESENT. Example:

In the Milkyway Galaxy, the most recently observed supernova has Appeared in 1604.

                                                                                                                                         
Verb 'has Appeared' in the above sentence is not appropriate, given the marker's time is past, namely 1964.

FORMULA relating to USE VERBS

Each verb has four forms, namely V1, V2, V3, and V-ing. Each verb when used as a predicate, it means the verb has an S on the left or right side, there are certain formulas that need to be understood and, of course, be memorized:

S + V1 / s : They write letters every week.

   She writes a letter every week.

The use of V1 directly after the S, can not use to be or has, have, had!!

S + V2 : She wrote a letter last week.

The use of V2 also directly after the S!

S + to be + V-ing : She is writing a letter.

The use of V-ing should always be accompanied by one of the forms to be when used as a predicate. Remember: if NOT as a predicate, then V-ing should not use to be!!

Example : The boy standing in the corner is naughty.

The word 'standing' in the sentence above is NOT the one of a predicate,

S + has / have / had / to be + V3 : She has written a letter.

Use of V3 must always be accompanied by Has / have / had / to be when used as a predicate! Remember: if NOT as a predicate, then V3 must be 'alone'!!!

Example: The letter written last week arrived today.Kata 'written' in the sentence above is NOT a Verb, but only an Adjective. Verb (predicate) sentence above is 'arrived'. 

Gerunds as Subject, Object or Complement

Try to think of gerunds as verbs in noun form.
Like nouns, gerunds can be the subject, object or complement of a sentence:

• Smoking costs a lot of money.
• I do not like writing.
• My favorite occupation is reading.

But, like a verb, a gerund can also have an object itself. In this case, the whole expression [gerund + object] can be the subject, object or complement of the sentence.

• Smoking cigarettes costs a lot of money.
• I do not like writing letters.
• My favorite occupation is reading detective stories.

Like nouns, we can use gerunds with adjectives (including articles and other determiners):

• pointless questioning
• a settling of debts
• the making of Titanic
• his drinking of alcohol

But when we use a gerund with an article, it does not usually take a direct object:

• a settling of debts (not a settling debts)
• Making "Titanic" was expensive.
• The making of "Titanic" was expensive.

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

1.   Subject to the pronouns he, she, it and the pronouns they, we, I, you.

Pronoun	To be	Verb	Has/have	Do/does
He She It	Is Is Is	Verb 1 + s/es	Has	Does
They We I You	Are Are Am Are	Verb 1	Have	Do

A.        The student(s) go to campus every morning

                        S                V

A student go(es) to campus every morning

                        S         V

                       

B.        The students are in the class now

                        S             V

A student is in the class now

                        S      V

He wants to be a teacher, but you don’t want to.

They go to school by bus, but she goes to school on foot.

The car has good wheels, but it doesn’t have enough seats for four.

They play football and he plays badminton.

I am a student, and you are a teacher.

2.     Countable and Uncountable Noun Countable

No	Singular	Plural
1	chair	Chair-s
2	Pen	Pen-s
3	Book	Book-s
4	bag	Bag-s
5	Student	Student-s
6	Teacher	Teacher-s
7	Boy	Boys
8	Girl	Girls

The chair is ...........

The chairs are ..............

The teacher comes ...........

The teachers come .............

Uncountable

No	Singular	Plural
1	Water
2	Sugar
3	money

Water is .........

Sugar is ............

Water creates ........

Sugar produces ...........

3. Single subject with a preposition phrase (together with, accompanied by, along with, as well as); and prepositions such as (on, in, of, etc).

·        The leader of the gangsters is still alive.

·        The president, accompanied by five ministers, often visits market.

·        The flood in many big cities has many bad impacts.

However, be careful :

·        The books in the library are not so interesting.

·        Some rooms of the hotel have been occupied.

4. Gerund /-ing form of a verb that functions sbgai NOUN (subject and object).

·        Smoking cigarettes is not good for our health

·        Using nuclear weapon in wars has made Iraq more powerful.

·        I like swimming a lot.

5. The subject pronoun always considered singular :

Anybody, anyone, everyone, anything, everything, none, no one, nobody, nothing, someone, somebody, something, each, each of.

Nobody is perfect.

Someone has broken my heart.

Everything is all right when you are in my side.

No one cares about him.

Each student gets one book.

6. The subject pronoun always considered plural :

All, some, most.

(depend on the subject that is used, whether plural or singular)

·        Some of the students are clever

·        Some of the water in the river is contaminated.

·        All of the money is lost.

·        All of the bags are expensive.

·        Most of the students are clever.

·        Most of the water in the river is contaminated.

7. Subject to a collective noun (plural noun but use a singular verb) :

Family, government, team, group, organization, committee, congress, class, club, public, ministry, firm, staff, crowd, etc.)

·        The government has decided to raise the fund in education.

·        My family is the happiest family in the world.

·        The committee is still arguing about the winner of the contest.

8.  Subject yang menyatakan jumlah jarak, berat, uang, waktu, prosentase, volume dianggap tunggal.

24 hours is the amount of hours in a day.

12 months has 365 days.

a two-hours trip to Bandung is really tiring.

9. Subject to the noun is always plural :

Trousers, scissors, jeans, shorts, pants, shoes, glasses, parents, etc.

·        These jeans are expensive.

·        My parents are really kind.

But if imbued with a pair of words, a couple of, then the verb must be singular.

·        A pair of shoes is under the table.

·        My shoes are lost

·        A pair of glasses I bought yesterday was very expensive.

10. Subject to the specific noun plural, although not always considered imbued plural-s.

Police, cattle, people.

·        The police have arrested the thief.

·        Cattle were regarded as capital in early society.

·        People of Indonesia are participating in the general election.

11. Subject to specific nouns are always singular even though imbued considered plural-s.

News, means, measles, species, mathematics, politics, economics, etc.

·        This bad news has shocked her.

·        Economics is taught by Mrs. Jenny.

12. The use of  “either ….. or” dan “neither ….. nor”

·        Either Dony or Randi is handsome.

·        Neither Tamara nor my sister goes to school on time.

·        Either Dony or his parents are kind.

·        Neither the teacher nor the students go to school on time.

·    Neither the football players nor the coach was satisfied with the referee’s decision.

13. The use of “not only ….. but also”.

·        She not only loves animal but also cares about the environment.

·        We not only love animal but also care about the environment.

·        The girl is not only beautiful but also smart.

·        The successful athletes got not only medals but also money.

14. Subject to the word “a number of” and “the number of”

·        A number of students are attending the seminar.

·        The number of students in this class is 40.

Exercises

1.     One of the students in UMK ............ scholarship from America

a.     Get

b.    Gets

c.      Got

d.    Gotten

2.     each students .......... one book everyday

a.     bring

b.    brings

c.      brought

d.    bringing

3.     Cheating .......... dishonest students

a.     Creates

b.    Create

c.      Created

d.    Creating

4.     There ............ some sugar in the bottle.

a.     Are

b.    Is

c.      Am

d.    Were

5.     Most people in the world .......... soccer.

a.     Like

b.    Likes

c.      Is liking

d.    Doesn’t like

6.     All of water .......... beneficial for life.

a.     Is

b.    Are

c.      Am

d.    Has 

7.     The number of illiterate people in our country .......... drastically.

a.     to decrease

b.    decrease

c.      has decreased

d.    it decreased 

8.     Five hundred miles .......... a long distance to drive in one day.

a.     Is

b.    Are

c.      Are being

d.    They are

9.     Neither I nor my students .......... at school yesterday.

a.     Is

b.    Are

c.      Was

d.    Were 

10. An increase in the number of students .......... expected next year.

a.     Is

b.    Are

c.      Be

d.    Was

Sources :
http://zoneinggris.com/strategi-structure-toefl.html/
http://belajarpercakapaninggris.com/strategi-structure-toefl.html/
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-gerunds_1.htm