Skill Builder 1: Adverbs like Only Directions: Write a “C” on the line if the sentence is correct.. Write an “X” on the line if the adverb is not placed as closely as possible to the wor
Trang 2P ART III TOEFL WRITING REVIEW
.
Trang 4OVERVIEW
• Adverbs like only
• Split infinitives
• Dangling modifiers
• Adjective/adverb confusion
• Adjectives after verbs of sensation
• Noun adjectives
• Hyphenated or compound adjectives
• Demonstratives
• Few, little, much, and many
• Cardinal and ordinal numbers
• Sameness and similarity
• Comparatives
• Superlatives
• Cause and result
• Articles
• Too, very, and enough
• Negation
• Summing it up
This chapter deals with words that are modifiers—that is, they modify other
words in a sentence
chapter
27
Trang 5ADVERBS LIKE ONLY
Adverbs such as only should be placed as close as possible to the adjectives, verbs, or other
adverbs they modify
She has only
ADV.
three
ADJ.
dollars
He only
ADV.
saw
VERB
her; he did not speak to her
Only
ADV.
downstairs
ADV.
can one find a real bargain
Error Examples
WRONG: We only have four hours to finish this paper
RIGHT: We have only four hours to finish this paper.
WRONG: She just wants to take one class
RIGHT: She wants to take just one class.
WRONG: That house nearly costs sixty thousand dollars
RIGHT: That house costs nearly sixty thousand dollars.
WRONG: She was so quiet that hardly he noticed her
RIGHT: She was so quiet that he hardly noticed her.
WRONG: They almost drove six hundred miles
RIGHT: They drove almost six hundred miles.
Skill Builder 1: Adverbs like Only
Directions: Write a “C” on the line if the sentence is correct Write an “X” on the line if
the adverb is not placed as closely as possible to the word it modifies
1 If you go to window five, you will have to wait only five minutes.
2 You can use these machines only between 9 a.m and 5 p.m.
3 He hardly knows any English.
4 That shirt almost cost twenty dollars.
5 Just ten people will be able to go today.
6 You hardly have enough time to do the first exercise.
7 We had to wait nearly ten minutes for the movie to begin.
8 She scarcely slept five hours last night.
9 We want to borrow only ten dollars.
10 The soldiers only killed one person during the battle.
28 PART III: TOEFL Writing Review
NOTE
Some other
adverbs are—just,
nearly, hardly,
almost, and
scarcely.
www.petersons.com
Trang 6C 1.
C 2.
X 3 (hardly any English) Hardly
modifies any.
X 4 (almost twenty dollars).
Almost modifies twenty.
C 5.
X 6 (hardly enough time) Hardly
modifies enough.
C 7.
X 8 (scarcely five hours) Scarcely
modifies five.
C 9.
X 10 (only one person) Only
modifies one.
SPLIT INFINITIVES
The infinitive is to 1 the simple form of the verb (V) Do not put an adverb between to and V.
He refused to fill out
TO 1 V
the form completely
ADV.
They have decided to repeat
TO 1 V
the directions carefully
ADV.
We hope to inform
TO 1 V
him quickly.
ADV.
Error Examples
WRONG: He wanted to carefully read the directions
RIGHT: He wanted to read the directions carefully.
WRONG: To thoroughly understand the subject, ask an expert
RIGHT: To understand the subject thoroughly, ask an expert.
WRONG: He was looking for a way to rapidly complete the job
RIGHT: He was looking for a way to complete the job rapidly.
Skill Builder 2: Split Infinitives
Directions: Write a “C” on the line if the sentence is correct Write an “X” on the line if
any word comes between to and the simple form of the verb.
1 We decided to leave the area quickly.
2 He seemed to easily understand the situation.
3 To really make him happy would be impossible.
4 She used a scale to accurately weigh the vegetables.
5 Do not try to completely finish your homework before dinner.
6 To hastily read the material is not enough for good comprehension.
7 He began to chatter about the event excitedly.
8 Please try to entirely revise your work before you leave.
9 The teacher wanted to know positively whether or not the students could come
to the picnic
10 Bob is going to soon decide on his future course of study.
Chapter 3: Modifiers 29
www.petersons.com
Trang 7C 1.
X 2 (to understand the situation
easily)
X 3 (To make him really happy)
X 4 (to weigh the vegetables
accurately)
X 5 (to finish your homework
completely)
X 6 (To read the material hastily)
C 7.
X 8 (to revise your work entirely)
C 9.
X 10 (to decide soon)
DANGLING MODIFIERS
The subject of the main clause must be the same as the understood subject of the introductory phrase In other words, the introductory phrase modifies the subject of the main clause
Looking at his watch, Mr Jones
SUBJECT
got up and left.
Who looked at his watch? Mr Jones
Who got up and left? Mr Jones
Compared to his father, John
SUBJECT
is a tall man.
Who is compared to his father? John
Who is a tall man? John
To make a collect phone call, Mary
SUBJECT
must speak to the operator.
Who is making a collect phone call? Mary
Who must speak to the operator? Mary
While a dancer in New York, Kathy
SUBJECT
injured her leg.
Who was a dancer in New York? Kathy
Who injured her leg? Kathy
30 PART III: TOEFL Writing Review
www.petersons.com