Belajar Toefl » Problem with Verbs

Errors in Verbs Referring to Activities of the Dead

Belajar Toefl Dot Com — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:20:16 +0000

Note that we should always use past verbs to refer to activities of the dead.

Examples:

incorrect : Before he died, the man who lives across the street used to help me with my English.
correct : Before he died, the man who lived across the street used to help me with my English.

incorrect : Until the day she died, the lady who lives next door visits me almost everyday.
correct : Until the day she died, the lady who lived next door visited me almost everyday.

incorrect : Just befor e he died, my friend who writes poetry published his first book.
correct : Just befor e he died, my friend who wrote poetry published his first book.

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Error in Tag Endings

Belajar Toefl Dot Com — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:08:56 +0000

If there is a contraction in the sentence main verb, make sure you know what the contraction stands for. Check for three things in tag ending as the following:

Does the tag ending use the same subject as the sentence main verb?
Does it tag ending use the same tense as the sentence main verb?
If the sentence main verb is positive, is the tag ending negative?

If the sentence main verb is negative, is the tag ending positive?

EXCEPTIONS:

I`m right, aren`t I ?
We ought to go, shouldn`t we ?
Let`s go home, shall we ?
We have to hurry, don`t we ?

Examples:

incorrect : You`d better take your coat, wouldn`t you ?
correct : You`d better take your coat, hadn`t you ?

incorrect : You`d rather go yourself, hadn`t you ?
correct : You`d rather go yourself, wouldn`t you ?

incorrect : She`s been there before, isn`t she ?
correct : She`s been there before, hasn`t she ?

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Error in Negative Agreement of Verbs

Belajar Toefl Dot Com — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:03:17 +0000

Note the two correct forms for negative agreement:
A: I`m not American, and he isn`t either.
B: I`m not American, and neithe is he.

A: My father won`t be there, and my mother won`t either.
B: My father won`t be there, and neither will my mother.

Examples:

incorrect : She hasn`t finished the test yet, and neither I have.
correct : She hasn`t finished the test yet, and neither have I.
or
She hasn`t finished the test yet, and I haven`t either.

incorrect : She is not in agreement, and neither do I.
correct : She is not in agreement, and neither am I.
or
She is not in agreement, and I`m not either.

incorrect : I didn`t know the answer, and he didn`t neither.
correct : I didn`t know the answer, and neither did he.
or
I didn`t know the answer, and he didn`t either.

incorrect : I haven`t seen the film, and she hasn`t neither.
correct : I haven`t seen the film, and neither has she.
or
I haven`t seen the film, and she hasn`t either.

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Errors in Affirmative Agreement of Verbs

Belajar Toefl Dot Com — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:00:54 +0000

Note the two correct forms for affirmative agreement:

A: Susi likes smoking, and so does Rita.
B: Susi likes smoking, and Rita does too.

A: My father will be there, and so will my mother.
B: My father will be there, and my mother will too.

Examples:

incorrect : She took pictures, and I did so.

correct : She took pictures, and I did too.
or
She took pictures, and so did I.

incorrect : Luna wants to go home, and so want we.

correct : Luna wants to go home, and so do we.
or
Luna wants to go home, and we do too.

incorrect : We are going to the concert, and so do they.

correct : We are going to the concert, and so are they.
or
We are going to the concert, and they are too.

incorrect : I have seen the film, and she also has.

correct : I have seen the film, and so has she.
or
I have seen the film, and she has too.

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Errors in Negative Imperative

Belajar Toefl Dot Com — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:06:39 +0000

Note the two correct forms for negative imperative:

A: Please don`t do that.

B: Would you please not do that?

Examples :

incorrect : Would you please don`t smoke here?

correct : Please don`t smoke here
or
Would you please not smoke here?

incorrect : Would you please no worry?

correct : Please don`t worry.
or
Would you please not worry?

incorrect : Please not to park here.

correct : Please don`t park here.
or
Would you please not park here?

incorrect : Would you please not to be late?

correct : Please don`t be late.
or

Would you please not be late?

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