Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Structure (1)

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Directions: The questions here test your knowledge of the grammatical structure of English. Each question consists of a short written conversation, part of which has been omitted. Four words or phrases, labeled 1, 2, 3, and 4, are given below the conversation. You are to choose the word or phrase that will correctly complete the conversation. Click the answer button to see the correct answer. If you need a hint, press the arrow button next to the hint.

Look at the example.

"Why do you always want to use _____ pens?"

1) to one
2) of my
3) that my
4) one of my

We would say: "Why do you always want to use one of my pens?" Therefore you should press "4."

Click the answer button to see the correct answer.

1.

When did Mary _____ college?
1) graduate
2) graduate from
3) graduating
4) graduating from
Answer 2
hint "Graduate," in this context, is used with "from." A question with "did" does not take the -ing form of the verb.

2.

You look pale. You had better _____ a doctor.
1) consult
2) consult to
3) consult with
4) consult by
Answer 1
hint "Consult" is a transitive verb, so it is not used with a preposition.

3.

New York is a large city, _____?
1) aren't it
2) doesn't it
3) won't it
4) isn't it
Answer 4

4.

Japanese houses are made of wood, so they easily _____.
1) catch to fire
2) catch the fire
3) catch on fire
4) catch with fire
Answer 3
hint This means "start burning," using "catch" in an idiomatic expression.

5.

Do you enjoy _____?
1) to hike
2) hiking
3) hike
4) to hiking
Answer 2
hint "To" is not usually followed by -ing forms. "Enjoy" takes a gerund.

6.

Mary has trouble _____.
1) to remember her homework
2) to remembering her homework
3) remember her homework
4) remembering her homework
Answer 4
hint An infinitive means the future in this context. "To" isn't followed by -ing forms. Since "has" is the verb here, another verb isn't.

7.

Do you have _____ to do this afternoon? If not, I'd like to take you to a movie.
1) many work
2) much work
3) many works
4) much works
Answer 2
hint "Many" is not used with an uncountable noun. "Work" is an uncountable noun.

8.

Our friends will _____ for two nights.
1) provide us up
2) provide us in
3) put us up
4) put us in
Answer 3

9.

When will the conference _____?
1) hold on
2) hold place
3) take on
4) take place
Answer 4
hint This means when the conference will be held. This sentence is an active form. Which idiom is used in this context?

10.

The meeting was held _____.
1) at Tuesday
2) on Tuesday
3) with Tuesday
4) in Tuesday
Answer 2
hint The preposition "at" is used with 3 o'clock, and "in" with October. What preposition is used with a day of the week?

11.

Why don't you _____ us?
1) go to the party with
2) go together the party with
3) go the party with
4) together the party with
Answer 1
hint "Go" needs "to" before the destination. A sentence needs at least one verb, and "together" is not a verb.

12.

That accident occurred _____.
1) before three weeks
2) three weeks before
3) three weeks ago
4) three weeks past
Answer 3
hint "Before" or "ago" is used with a past event. Which is used when the present time is the starting point?

13.

Many people like my plan. Will you _____ it?
1) agree with
2) agree to
3) agree
4) agree about
Answer 2
hint "Agree" is not a transitive verb and needs a preposition. "With" is used when referring to a person.

14.

The minister _____ a member of the church who was ill.
1) called to the house of
2) called on the house of
3) called to
4) called on
Answer 4

15.

Tomorrow is Mary's birthday. Let's _____ it.
1) celebrate
2) praise
3) honor
4) congratulate
Answer 1
hint Some verbs are used with people; others are used for occasions. Which of these words would we use for a birthday?

16.

If you don't understand, don't hesitate _____.
1) ask a question
2) to ask a question
3) asking a question
4) to asking a question
Answer 2
hint Since "hesitate" is the verb in this sentence, there should not be another verb. "To" is not followed by -ing forms.

17.

It's snowing. Would you like to _____ this weekend?
1) skiing
2) go to ski
3) go skiing
4) go ski
Answer 3

18.

Our company didn't pay _____ for that advertisement.
1) much funds
2) many funds
3) many money
4) much money
Answer 4
hint "Funds" is used for money saved for a certain purpose. Is "money" countable or uncountable?

19.

Do you feel like _____ now?
1) dancing
2) to dance
3) dance
4) to go dancing
Answer 1
hint The main verb of this sentence is "feel."

20.

Tom was happy to be _____ such a famous person.
1) introduced
2) introduced at
3) introduced with
4) introduced to
Answer 4
hint "Introduce" takes a direct object and indirect object. I'd like to introduce you to Mary.

21.

"What happened to you last night?"
"I don't think _____ happened."
1) nothing
2) everything
3) something
4) anything
Answer 4
hint The answer is a negative form. Which answer fits in the negative form?

22.

"It is not very cold. I don't think it will snow tomorrow."
"I don't think so, _____."
1) anyway
2) neither
3) either
4) too
Answer 3
hint The first person's statement is negative. The second person agrees, also with a negative statement.

23.

"Tom is not doing well."
"You must _____, though, that he is just a beginner."
1) keep minding
2) keep to mind
3) keep in mind
4) keeping in mind
Answer 3
hint This mean that you must remember.... What is the idiom with that meaning? What form of the verb follows "must?"

24.

"Where is the bus terminal?"
"It is _____ the Red Cross hospital."
1) opposite
2) opposed to
3) opposite with
4) opposite to
Answer 1
hint Which means across the street from the Red Cross hospital?

25.

"Those students will perform a play."
"Yes, it is _____ for next week."
1) due
2) scheduled
3) time-tabled
4) put on
Answer 2
hint This refers to a plan, not a deadline. You cannot add -ed after nouns. Think about the correct meanings of the words.

26.

"Why did you go downtown today?"
"I _____."
1) go to shop
2) go shopping
3) went to shop
4) went shopping
Answer 4
hint The question is asked with "did". What is the idiom for going somewhere in order to shop?

27.

"You missed a good chance in your career."
"Yes, I _____ that job when Mr. Johnson offered."
1) shall take
2) shall have taken
3) should take
4) should have taken
Answer 4
hint They are talking about something in the past. Which answer refers to the past?

28.

"What time will you arrive in San Francisco?"
"I will _____ there at 7:30."
1) arrive
2) arrive at
3) reach
4) reach at
Answer 1

29.

"Believe or not, I have seven brothers and three sisters. We really have _____."
1) large family
2) a large family
3) much family
4) many families
Answer 2
hint The speaker is talking about the size of a unit.

30.

"I heard that you bought some land."
"Yes, we _____ build a house soon."
1) plan on
2) planning
3) plan to
4) planning on