Grammar and Sentence Structure Flashcards
6 cards from real TOEFL practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Grammar and Sentence Structure flashcards as text
Which of the following is a COMPLEX sentence?
Answer: Although she ran fast, she missed the bus.
A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause; Option B has 'Although she ran fast' (dependent) + 'she missed the bus' (independent).
Which sentence correctly uses a GERUND as a subject?
Answer: Swimming is excellent exercise.
A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun; in Option B, 'Swimming' is a gerund functioning as the subject of the sentence.
Which sentence is an example of PARALLEL STRUCTURE?
Answer: She likes running, swimming, and cycling.
Parallel structure requires that items in a series use the same grammatical form; Option B consistently uses gerunds (running, swimming, cycling).
Which of the following correctly uses an APPOSITIVE phrase?
Answer: Albert Einstein, a renowned physicist, developed the theory of relativity.
An appositive is a noun phrase that renames or elaborates on a nearby noun; 'a renowned physicist' correctly identifies and elaborates on 'Albert Einstein,' set off by commas.
Identify the sentence with a MISPLACED MODIFIER:
Answer: Graded quickly, the students received their papers within a day.
In Option B, 'Graded quickly' is a participial phrase that modifies 'the students,' but it was the papers that were graded — this is a misplaced modifier.
Which sentence uses PASSIVE VOICE correctly and appropriately?
Answer: The experiment was conducted by the researchers over a period of six months.
Option A uses passive voice correctly: 'was conducted' (be + past participle) with the agent named in a 'by' phrase — a standard academic writing construction.