TOEFL Grammar and Sentence Structure 3

Question 1

Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement with a complex subject?

Accepted Answer

The committee, along with its advisors, has reached a decision.

Answer

When a singular subject is followed by a phrase beginning with "along with," "as well as," or "together with," the verb agrees with the singular subject, not the phrase. "The committee" is singular, so the correct verb is "has."

Question 2

Identify the sentence with a dangling modifier:

Accepted Answer

Running through the park, the sound of birds filled the air.

Answer

A dangling modifier occurs when the phrase does not logically modify the subject of the main clause. In Option B, "Running through the park" implies the sound was running, which is illogical. The children were running, not the sound.

Question 3

Which sentence correctly uses a restrictive relative clause?

Accepted Answer

The professor who published a controversial study was dismissed.

Answer

A restrictive relative clause (no commas) is essential to identify which specific person or thing is being discussed. Option B identifies which professor (the one who published a controversial study) without commas, making it restrictive. "That" is used for restrictive clauses with things, not people.

Question 4

Choose the sentence that correctly uses parallel structure:

Accepted Answer

She enjoys hiking, swimming, and reading novels.

Answer

Parallel structure requires that elements in a series use the same grammatical form. In Option C, all three activities use the gerund form (-ing): hiking, swimming, reading. The other options mix gerunds and infinitives, violating parallelism.

Question 5

Which sentence correctly uses the past perfect tense?

Accepted Answer

By the time the results arrived, the team had already celebrated.

Answer

The past perfect tense ("had + past participle") is used to show that one past action was completed before another past action. "Had already celebrated" correctly shows that the celebration was completed before the results arrived.

TOEFL Practice Test

TOEFL Practice Test

TOEFL Grammar and Sentence Structure 3