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TOEFL Grammar (Part 3: Subject-Verb Agreement and Passive Voice.)

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Subject-Verb Agreement


Third person singular -s

Use the -s form of a verb in the present tense when the subject is third person singular.
For all other subjects, use the base form in the present tense.
Example:
base form
I live in Athens.
They live in Crete.
The Smiths live in Rome.
-s form
He lives in Cyprus.
She lives in Malta.
Tim lives in Naples.
Ms. Conner lives in Milan.
The verb have
The -s form of the verb have is has.
We have a winner.
He has a trophy.
The verb be
The -s form (present tense) for be is is. For the past tense, it is was.
Was is also used with first person singular subjects (I) in the past tense.
(Am is used in the present tense. Are is used with other subjects in the present, and were is used in the past.)
She is here.
He is not here.
I am here too.
You are right.
They are wrong.
She was home yesterday.
Ron wasn't home yesterday.
I was here yesterday.
We were here too.

Auxiliary verbs

When auxiliary verbs are used, only the first verb carries the third person singular -s.
Jean does not like spaghetti. (Correct)
Jean does not likes spaghetti. (Wrong!)
Jean do not likes spaghetti. (Wrong!)
Elsa is eating her dinner. (Correct)
Elsa is eats her dinner. (Wrong!)
Leo is going to eat later.
Frank has eaten lunch already. (Correct)
Frank have eaten lunch already. (Wrong!)

Modals

Do not use the -s form of the verb with modals, regardless of the subject.
Ian can eat twelve bowls of rice. (Correct)
Ian can eats twelve bowls of rice. (Wrong!)

Passive Voice

TOEFL Grammar Part 2 Conjunctions and Linking Words, Coordinators, and Subordinators

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Conjunctions and Linking Words

Coordinators

    Coordinators connect elements of equal importance.
    S + V , but S + V
    (and, but, so, or, nor, for*, yet)
    S + V and V
    S and S + V
    N and N
    Adj. and Adj.
    Phrase and Phrase
    Can be used in a series: A, B, C, or D

Examples:

    He drinks coffee, but she drinks tea.
    (S + V , coordinator S +V)
    Gary lives in Ohio, and Deana lives in Michigan.
    She loves to dance, so she bought a studio.
    You could buy a car, or you could put the money in the bank.
    When there is a new subject and verb, a comma is used before (not after) the coordinator.
      I hate to sing but, I love to dance. (Incorrect)
      I hate to sing, but I love to dance. (Correct)
    John and George both play football.
    Paul listens to music and reads books.
    John, Paul, George, and Harry are classmates.
    (two subjects)
    (two verbs)
    (series)
*For is also commonly used as a preposition. Yet can sometimes be used as an adverb.

Subordinators

    Subordinators connect elements of unequal importance. One clause is not as strong as the other.

    The most common subordinators are:

      although, even though,
      because, since*, so that,
      when, while, before*, after*, whenever,
      wherever, anywhere,
      if, unless, whether [or not]
      as, as [adjective] as,
      whereas
      (to show slight contrast)
      (to give reasons)
      (to indicate time relationships)
      (to indicate place)
      (to indicate conditions)
      (to give comparisons)
      (to show major contrast)

    Subordinators have an interesting effect on words in a sentence. A clause (S +V) without a subordinator can stand alone as a complete statement.
      I went to the store yesterday.
      (Complete statement)
    However, when a subordinator is added, the statement seems incomplete.
      When I went to the store yesterday, . . .
      (Well, what happened?)
    The subordinating clause becomes dependent on something else to complete its meaning:
      When I went to the store yesterday, I saw an old friend.
      (Idea is complete)

    Subordinating or "dependent" clauses can occur at the beginning or end of asentence. When used at the beginning of a sentence, a comma is necessary after the clause itself.
    In English, the subordinator always comes before the subject and verb in a clause.

      Example:
      I went to the grocery store after, I stopped at the bank.
      After I went to the grocery store, I stopped at the bank.
      (Incorrect)
      (Correct)

    Subordinators and coordinators should not be used in the same sentence to introduce clauses. Choose one or the other, but do not use both together.
      *These words can also be used as prepositions.
      S + V although S + V
      Although S + V , S + V

      Example
      Although Nina won the prize, but she was not happy.
      Although Nina won the prize, she was not happy.
      Nina won the prize, but she was not happy.
      (Wrong)
      (Correct)
      (Also correct)

Sentence Connectors

    Sentence Connectors connect paragraphs or show relationship between very different ideas.
    S + V . However, S + V
    (however, therefore, thus, moreover,
    nevertheless, first*, then*, next*, still*
    S + V ; however, S + V
    besides, consequently, furthermore)
    Example:
    She drinks coffee. He drinks tea.
    She drinks coffee, but he drinks tea.
    She drinks coffee, and he drinks tea.
    She drinks coffee; he drinks tea.
    Although she drinks coffee, he drinks tea.
    She drinks coffee although he drinks tea.
    Although she drinks coffee, but he drinks tea.
    She drinks coffee; however, he drinks tea.
    She drinks coffee. However, he drinks tea.
    She drinks coffee. He, however, drinks tea.
    (Two separate sentences)
    (Coordination)
    (Both ideas are equal)
    (Closely related ideas)
    (Subordination)
    (One idea is stronger)
    (INCORRECT!)
    (Sentence connector)
    (Stronger break between ideas)
    (Variation)
    Remember:
      A period (.) provides the strongest break between ideas.
      A semicolon (;) is next, and a comma (,) provides the weakest separation.
    Coordinators provide connection between equal ideas.
      (and, but, or, nor, so, for, yet)
      Examples:
      Mom and Dad
      red or green
      She stayed, but he left.
    Subordinators provide connection between unequal ideas.
      (because, although, when, while, if, as, since, whenever, wherever?)

      Example:

      He didn't go to work because he was sick.
      Although John was unhappy, he still smiled.
    Sentence Connectors provide connection between large groups of ideas/sentences. (usually paragraphs)
      (therefore, otherwise, thus, in conclusion, furthermore?)

Prepositions

    Prepositions show relationship among elements of a sentence. They are followed by noun phrases only and cannot take on a S + V.
    Prepositions indicate relationships between words or ideas. Most prepositions deal with location and are easy to learn.
      above
      inside
      beside
      near
      up
      before*
      with
      into
      between
      like
      despite
      below
      outside
      beyond
      nearby
      down
      after*
      without
      out (of)
      among
      as
      in spite of
      over
      around
      behind
      by
      toward
      during
      within
      off
      except
      than
      beneath
      under
      through
      in front of
      next to
      along (side)
      since*
      until*
      upon
      but*
      about
      underneath
      *These can also be used as conjunctions.
    Some prepositions, however, have more than one meaning and can be very confusing.
      in
      to
      on
      from
      at
      for
      of

      S + V (prep. phrase)
      (durat
      despite, in spite of, for*, since*, by
      (Prep. phrase), S + V
      like, except, but*, about, to*, from
      between [A and B], among, with
      (Prep. phrase) V + S (unusual)
      within, without, beside, near, next to)

    Generally, in, on and at indicate location. See also: Prepositions of Location
    To and from imply movement toward or away from something. However, to can also function as part of an infinitive. See also: invintives, To V or Not To V
    To and for can introduce indirect objects. See also: Indirect Objects
    For and since can also indicate duration. See also: Present Perfect Progessive
    Of is used in partitives (all of, some of . . .) and other expressions. See also: Quantifiers
    Many prepositions are also used in expressions. 





    See Also:


Preposition Collocations with Be

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be absent from
be absolved of
be accepted as/to
be according to
be accused of
be accustomed to
be acquainted with
be adamant about
be addicted to
be affected by
be afraid of
be after
be alarmed at
be aligned with
be (all) set for
be amazed at/by
be an authority on
be angry about/at/with
be annoyed at/with
be anxious about
be appropriate for
be armed with
be around
be arrested for
be ashamed of
be associated with
be astonished at/by
be at it (again)
be attached to
be attracted to
be aware of
be away from


be back (from)
be bad at
be bad for
be banned from
be based (up)on
be behind (schedule)
be bent on
be biased about
be big on
be blamed for
be blessed with
be bored with
be bound for



be capable of
be carried away about/with
be caught up in
be centered around
be certain of
be charged with
be classified as
be clear about
be clear to
be clever at
be close to
be cluttered (up) with
be a combination of
be compared to
be compensated for
be composed of
be comprised of
be concerned about/with
be confident of
be confused about
be congratulated for/on
be connected to/with
be conned into
be considerate of
be considered for
be content with
be contrary to
be convenient for/to
be convinced of
be convicted of/for
be coordinated with
be covered with
be crammed into
be crazy about
be credited with
be criticized for/as
be crowded with



be dedicated to
be delighted with
be dependent (up)on
be devoted to
be different from/than
be disappointed about/at/in/with
be discouraged about
be discriminated against
be disgusted with
be disillusioned with
be disqualified for
be disposed of
be distinguished from
be divided into
be divorced (from)
be done with
be down
be down on/with
be dragged into
be dressed (up) in
be drunk with/on

be east of
be elected as/to
be eligible for
be embarrassed about/at
be encouraged by
be entailed in
be engaged to/in
be entrusted with
be envious of
be equal/equivalent to
be equipped with
be estranged from
be evicted from
be excited about
be expelled from

be faithful to
be faced with
be familiar with/to
be famous for
be fanatic(al) about
be fascinated with
be fed up with
be filled with
be finished with
be fired for/from
be followed by
be fond of
be for the sake of
be fraught with
be free from/of
be friendly to/with
be frightened by/at
be full of
be furnished with



be glad to
be good at
be good to
be gone to/with
be grateful for/to
be guilty of

be half-hearted about
be hailed as
be happy about/with
be hard on
be headed for/to/toward
be hired as/for
be hitched to



be immersed in
be imposed (up)on
be impressed by/with
be in
be in accordance with
be in agreement with
be an indication of
be an issue of
be in back of
be in bed with
be in cahoots with
be in charge of
be in common with
be in conjunction with
be in contact with
be in control of
be in danger of
be in exchange for
be in favor of
be in front of
be in honor of
be in hope(s) of
be in love with
be in need of
be in on
be in place of
be in possession of
be in proximity to
be in reference to
be in regard to
be in response to
be in return for
be in search of
be in store for
be in sync with
be in tandem with
be in the habit of
be in the middle of
be in the midst of
be in the vicinity of
be in time for
be in touch with
be in trouble with/for
be in tune with
be incensed with
be inducted into
be inferior to
be infested with
be informed about
be innocent of
be insecure about
be insistent (up)on
be interested in
be into
be involved in
be irritated at/with
be isolated from

be jealous of



be kind of
be kind to
be knowledgeable about
be known as/for



be labeled as
be leery of
be left of/with
be less than
be limited to
be located at/near
be lower than



be mad at/about
be made of/from
be married to
be a matter of
be the matter with
be mean to
be meant to
be a measure of
be mindful of
be more than



be named as/after
be next to
be nice to
be notorious for
be north of
be nuts about

be obedient to
be oblivious about/to
be obsessed with
be obvious to
be off
be okay with
be on
be on behalf of
be on the brink of
be on the edge of
be on the verge of
be on time for
be on to
be on top of
be open about/for/to
be opposed to
be opposite from
be oppressed by
be out
be out of
be out of concern for
be out of contact with
be out of sync with
be out of touch with
be outraged about
be outspoken about
be over with

be parallel to
be partial to
be patient with
be a pattern of
be pegged as
be perturbed at/about
be pleased with
be polite to
be popular with
be praised for/about
be precious to
be preoccupied with
be prepared for
be prohibited from
be promoted to
be provided with
be proud of
be psyched about
be punished for
be put off by


be qualified for
be a question of


be ready for
be regarded as
be related to
be relevant to
be relieved of
be remembered for
be rescued from
be reserved for
be responsible for
be retired from
be rid of
be rife with
be right to
be riled up (about)
be roped into
be rude to



be satisfied with
be saved from
be scared of
be selected as/for
be sensible about
be separated from
be set on
be shocked at
be short of
be sick of/about
be a sign of
be similar to
be soft on
be sorry about/for
be sort of
be south of
be specialized in
be spoken for
be startled at
be strange to
be a stranger to
be stressed out about
be stuck on/with
be stunned at
be subject to
be sufficient for
be suitable for
be superior to
be sure of
be surprised at/about
be suspected of
be suspended from
be a symbol of

be taken aback by/at
be taken in by
be tantamount to
be tapped as/by
be terrified of/with
be there for
be a threat to
be through with
be ticked off about
be tired of
be tuned (in)to
be to the left of
be to the right of



be uncalled for
be under arrest
be under fire for
be under investigation for
be up against
be up front with
be up in arms about
be up on
be up to
be upset about/with
be uptight about
be used for
be used to
be useful to


be valued as/at
be vindicated of


be wary of/about
be west of
be whipped into
be wiped out
be with it
be with reference to
be with respect to
be worked up about
be worried about
be wrapped up in
be wrong with


be zealous about