Avoiding TOEFL grammar issues will help you to show better control of your language use. Therefore, you will be able to score higher on the independent and integrated speaking and writing tasks. Specifically, to improve your sentence structure, avoid 1) comma splices, 2) run-ons, and 3) unnecessary subjects. You should also avoid grammatical errors such as 4) parallelism, 5) mixed constructions, and 6) awkward verb tense and 7) point of view shifts.
TOEFL Grammar: 1) Comma Splices
A comma splice occurs when you join two independent clauses with a comma:
“Businesses, according to the author, should encourage employees to read all documents in their entirety, in addition, the author in the reading passage suggests that employees will benefit from reading all of the documents.”
You can easily repair this type of error. 1) Put a period after the first independent clause. 2) Join the two independent clauses with a semi-colon. 3) Insert a coordinating or subordinating conjunction in between the two sentences.
Using a period: Businesses, according to the author, should encourage employees to read all documents in their entirety. In addition, the author in the reading passage suggests that employees will benefit from reading all of the documents.
Using a semi-colon: Businesses, according to the author, should encourage employees to read all documents in their entirety; in addition, the author in the reading passage suggests that employees will benefit from reading all of the documents.
Using a coordinator: Businesses, according to the author, should encourage employees to read all documents in their entirety, and the author in the reading passage suggests that employees will benefit from reading all of the documents.
TOEFL Grammar: 2) Run-ons
A run-on sentence occurs when you combine two independent clauses with no punctuation:
“Studying alone allows me to concentrate on what I need to memorize it also helps me to learn my course content faster.”
You have several options when repairing a run-on sentence. 1). Put a period after the first independent clause. 2) Use a coordinating or subordinating conjunction to connect the two sentences. 3) Put a semi-colon after the first independent clause. 4) Omit the subject in the second independent clause and use a conjunction to connect it to the previous independent clause.
Using a period: Studying alone allows me to concentrate on what I need to memorize. It also helps me to learn my course content faster.
Using a conjunction: Studying alone allows me to concentrate on what I need to memorize, and it also helps me to learn my course content faster.
Using a semi-colon: Studying alone allows me to concentrate on what I need to memorize; it also helps me to learn my course content faster.
Reducing the second sentence: Studying alone allows me to concentrate on what I need to memorize and also helps me to learn my course content faster.
TOEFL Grammar: 3) Unnecessary Subjects
This error occurs when you add an unnecessary subject in an independent or dependent clause:
“My friends and John they are going shopping later on today.”
“John talked to both John and Larry, who they will also attend the graduation ceremonies.”
To repair this sentence structure error, simply remove one of the subjects:
My friends and John are going shopping later on today.
John talked to both John and Larry, who will also attend the graduation ceremonies.
TOEFL Grammar: 4) Parallelism
A parallel structure error occurs when your sentence is not balanced grammatically:
“Kent Rogers enjoys hiking, running, swimming, and to ride bicycles. (“To ride,” an infinitive, is not parallel to the gerunds used in the sentence.”
“Not only does Kent like riding bicycles but also likes surfing at Huntington Beach. (“Not only + does + Kent” is not parallel to not only + also + surfing.)”
Repairing this type of error requires practice. Your goal is to make the different parts of your sentences as grammatically balanced as possible.
Kent Rogers enjoys hiking, running, swimming, and riding bicycles.
Kent not only likes riding bicycles but also likes surfing at Huntington Beach.
Not only does Kent like riding bicycles but he also likes surfing at Huntington Beach.
Kent likes not only riding bicycles but also surfing at Huntington Beach.
TOEFL Grammar: 5) Mixed Constructions
Similar to parallelism, mixed constructions occur when part of the sentence does not match the grammar used in another part of a sentence. A particularly common mixed construction error occurs when you try to use a prepositional phrase as the subject of a sentence during the integrated speaking and writing tasks:
“In the reading passage discusses three ways businesses can be successful.”
Repairing this error involves either 1) omitting the preposition at the beginning of the sentence or 2) adding a subject after the prepositional phrase.
Deleting a preposition: The reading passage discusses three ways businesses can be successful.
Adding a subject: In the reading passage, the author discusses three ways businesses can be successful.
TOEFL Grammar: 6) Verb Tense Shifts
Unnecessarily shifting verb tenses or changing points of view are not only grammatical errors but also cohesion issues because it can affect how you are organizing your sentences in paragraphs:
Verb tense error: “The author in the reading passage explains that several misconceptions about older workers may even be believed by the older workers themselves. First, the author mentioned that many believe that older workers are not as technologically savvy as their younger counterparts.”
Speakers and writers can repair this error by keeping all the verbs in the simple present during the integrated tasks:
The author in the reading passage explains that several misconceptions about older workers may even be believed by the older worker themselves. First, the author mentions that many believe that older workers are not as technologically savvy as their younger counterparts.
TOEFL Grammar: 7) Point of View Shifts
Point of view error: “Studying in groups helps students to discuss the course content with others. In addition, discussing course content with others helps you to get clarity on parts of the course that you do not understand.”
You can avoid this type of error by deciding beforehand which points of view work most effectively during the independent and integrated speaking and writing tasks.
- Use the first and third person points of view during the independent speaking and writing tasks.
- Use the third person point of view during the integrated speaking and writing tasks.
- Do NOT use the second person point of view during the independent and integrated speaking and writing tasks.
In addition, make sure that the point of view in each sentence and paragraph is consistent. Change any points of view which are not consistent with what you have already said or wrote:
Studying in groups helps students to discuss the course content with others. In addition, discussing course content with others helps them to get clarity on parts of the course that they do not understand.
TOEFL Grammar: Practice, Practice, and Practice
Of course, just because you study and learn the 7 common types of sentence structure and grammar errors that occur doesn’t mean you will automatically stop having these problems with your speaking and writing. You will need to practice recording and writing responses to speaking and writing tasks during the heat of the moment. This means that you should record speaking practice tests under the 45 and 60 second time constraints. Furthermore, you should be completing writing tasks within the 30 and 20 minute time constraints for the independent and integrated writing tasks. Then, after these timed speaking and writing practice tests, you can listen to and read your responses to see whether or not you are having any problems in these and other areas in your grammar or sentence structure.
TOEFL Grammar: Seek Professional Help
Many students are unable to diagnose their language-use errors in their TOEFL speaking and writing practice tests and rely on TOEFL speaking and writing tutors to help them improve. I am one of those tutors. In fact, if you join my Online TOEFL Course, you will be able to send me speaking and writing practice tests daily for one low monthly price. After each speaking or writing practice test, I will provide feedback to help you monitor your progress.
Good luck!
Michael Buckhoff, http://onlinetoeflcourse.com
mbuckhoff@aol.com