Peterson’s master toefl writing skills part 6 potx

P
ART III

TOEFL WRITING REVIEW

CHAPTER 3 Modifiers
CHAPTER 4 Verbs
CHAPTER 5 Pronouns
CHAPTER 6 Basic Patterns
CHAPTER 7 Style
Modifiers
OVERVIEW
• Adverbs like only
• Split infinitives
• Dangling modifiers
• Adjective/adverb confusion
• Adjectives after verbs of sensation
• Noun adjectives
• Hyphenated or compound adjectives
• Demonstratives
• Few, little, much, and many
• Cardinal and ordinal numbers
• Sameness and similarity
• Comparatives
• Superlatives
• Cause and result
• Articles
• Too, very, and enough
• Negation

• Summing it up
This chapter deals with words that are modifiers—that is, they modify other
words in a sentence.

chapter 3
27
ADVERBS LIKE ONLY
Adverbs such as only should be placed as close as possible to the adjectives, verbs, or other
adverbs they modify.
She has only
ADV.
three
ADJ.
dollars.
He only
ADV.
saw
VERB
her; he did not speak to her.
Only
ADV.
downstairs
ADV.
can one find a real bargain.
Error Examples
WRONG: We only have four hours to finish this paper.
RIGHT: We have only four hours to finish this paper.
WRONG: She just wants to take one class.
RIGHT: She wants to take just one class.
WRONG: That house nearly costs sixty thousand dollars.

RIGHT: That house costs nearly sixty thousand dollars.
WRONG: She was so quiet that hardly he noticed her.
RIGHT: She was so quiet that he hardly noticed her.
WRONG: They almost drove six hundred miles.
RIGHT: They drove almost six hundred miles.
Skill Builder 1: Adverbs like Only
Directions: Write a “C” on the line if the sentence is correct. Write an “X” on the line if
the adverb is not placed as closely as possible to the word it modifies.
1. If you go to window five, you will have to wait only five minutes.
2. You can use these machines only between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
3. He hardly knows any English.
4. That shirt almost cost twenty dollars.
5. Just ten people will be able to go today.
6. You hardly have enough time to do the first exercise.
7. We had to wait nearly ten minutes for the movie to begin.
8. She scarcely slept five hours last night.
9. We want to borrow only ten dollars.
10. The soldiers only killed one person during the battle.
28 PART III: TOEFL Writing Review


NOTE
Some other
adverbs are—just,
nearly, hardly,
almost, and
scarcely.
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Answers
C

1.
C
2.
X
3. (hardly any English). Hardly
modifies any.
X
4. (almost twenty dollars).
Almost modifies twenty.
C
5.
X
6. (hardly enough time). Hardly
modifies enough.
C
7.
X
8. (scarcely five hours). Scarcely
modifies five.
C
9.
X
10. (only one person). Only
modifies one.
SPLIT INFINITIVES
The infinitive is to 1 the simple form of the verb (V). Do not put an adverb between to and V.
He refused to fill out
TO 1 V
the form completely
ADV.

.
They have decided to repeat
TO 1 V
the directions carefully
ADV.
.
We hope to inform
TO 1 V
him quickly.
ADV.
Error Examples
WRONG: He wanted to carefully read the directions.
RIGHT: He wanted to read the directions carefully.
WRONG: To thoroughly understand the subject, ask an expert.
RIGHT: To understand the subject thoroughly, ask an expert.
WRONG: He was looking for a way to rapidly complete the job.
RIGHT: He was looking for a way to complete the job rapidly.
Skill Builder 2: Split Infinitives
Directions: Write a “C” on the line if the sentence is correct. Write an “X” on the line if
any word comes between to and the simple form of the verb.
1. We decided to leave the area quickly.
2. He seemed to easily understand the situation.
3. To really make him happy would be impossible.
4. She used a scale to accurately weigh the vegetables.
5. Do not try to completely finish your homework before dinner.
6. To hastily read the material is not enough for good comprehension.
7. He began to chatter about the event excitedly.
8. Please try to entirely revise your work before you leave.
9. The teacher wanted to know positively whether or not the students could come
to the picnic.

10. Bob is going to soon decide on his future course of study.


Chapter 3: Modifiers 29
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Answers
C
1.
X
2. (to understand the situation
easily)
X
3. (To make him really happy)
X
4. (to weigh the vegetables
accurately)
X
5. (to finish your homework
completely)
X
6. (To read the material hastily)
C
7.
X
8. (to revise your work entirely)
C
9.
X
10. (to decide soon)
DANGLING MODIFIERS

The subject of the main clause must be the same as the understood subject of the introductory
phrase. In other words, the introductory phrase modifies the subject of the main clause.
INTRODUCTORY PHRASE MAIN CLAUSE
Looking at his watch, Mr. Jones
SUBJECT
got up and left.
Who looked at his watch? Mr. Jones
Who got up and left? Mr. Jones
INTRODUCTORY PHRASE MAIN CLAUSE
Compared to his father, John
SUBJECT
is a tall man.
Who is compared to his father? John
Who is a tall man? John
INTRODUCTORY PHRASE MAIN CLAUSE
To make a collect phone call, Mary
SUBJECT
must speak to the operator.
Who is making a collect phone call? Mary
Who must speak to the operator? Mary
INTRODUCTORY PHRASE MAIN CLAUSE
While a dancer in New York, Kathy
SUBJECT
injured her leg.
Who was a dancer in New York? Kathy
Who injured her leg? Kathy
30 PART III: TOEFL Writing Review


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