Closerconnections Find the Error Tips

Closerconnections

TOEFL TIPS

By Melvin M. Duke

In ‘Find the error’ questions, check for the following as you read each question.

1. NOUNS/ VERBS
A) Subject/verb or verb/subject: [singular/plural]
B) Verb form: [Example- being or been]
C) Verb tense: [present, past, etc.] [Maintain the same verb tense in sentences]
[Mixing verb tenses]
D) Countable/uncountable nouns [uncountable nouns always take singular
verbs]

2. PRONOUNS
A) Type of pronouns [subject pronouns, object pronouns, possessive pronouns,
possessive adjectives] Know the difference.
B) Missing pronoun [sentence missing a pronoun]
C) Extra pronoun [sentence has an extra pronoun]
D) Wrong pronoun [sentence has the wrong pronoun]
E) Indefinite pronouns/verbs (anybody, everybody, nobody, somebody, etc.)
[These always take a singular verb.]

3. ADJECTIVES
A) Adjective word order [adjective + noun]
B) Adjective clauses [Review this.]
C) Adjective phrases [usually begin with a present participle or past participle]
D) Comparatives/ superlatives

4. ADVERBS
A) Adverb/verb [Review: adverb modifying verb]
B) Adverb/adjective [Review: adverb modifying adjective]
C) Adverb/adverb [Review: adverb modifying another adverb]

5. PREPOSITIONS
A) Preposition + noun [Example: at home]
B) Preposition + modifier + noun [Example: in a big house]
C) Preposition + noun clause [Example: about what they were doing]

6. CONJUNCTIONS
A) Coordinate conjunctions: and, or, but, for, so, nor, yet [Join two parallel
structures]
B) Paired conjunctions: not only … but also; either... or; neither … nor; both ... and
[Join parallel structures]

7. RECOGNIZE STRUCTURES
A. Parallel structures [Please review.]
B. Clauses [Very important. Please review.] Noun clause, adverb clause,
adjective clause
C. Prepositional phrases

ANALYZING “FIND THE ERROR” SENTENCES IN A TOEFL EXAM

1. Begin by finding the subjects and verbs in each sentence. Make sure that a verb or
subject is not missing.

2. Always check to make sure that singular subjects have singular verbs, and plural
subjects have plural verbs.

3. Each subject must have its own verb. So, 2 subjects would have 2 verbs, etc.
4. Check the tense of the verbs, that it is correct. There’s got to be some time

indication in the sentence that would let you know what the correct tense of the
verb should be.
5. Check how a sentence begins. If it begins with a negative word or a place word,
check that the verb is before the subject, and that they agree (singular-singular or
plural – plural.)
6. Check whether the subject is doing the action or receiving it. If the subject is doing
the action of the verb, then it’s an active sentence. On the contrary, if it’s receiving
the action, it’s passive.
7. Passive sentences must have passive verbs (to be + a past participle.)
8. You may find problems with “word order.” For example, adjectives and nouns.
Which goes first? ADJECTIVE + NOUNS or ADVERB + ADJECTIVE + NOUN
9. Articles usually go before nouns. (The articles are: a, an, the). A TOEFL question
may be missing an article.
10. The best tip is to practice. If you fail to prepare, it’s because you´ve prepared to fail
the exam. So, do a lot of practice.