70
Ace the TOEFL Essay (TWE)
We said earlier that an infinitive of reason is to + verb 1
(v1). All we did was take out the words in order. As a result,
what remains is to + v1. The first verb immediately after to
is almost always base form, referred to as v1. The infinitive
of reason can be repositioned in the sentence and continue to
function in the same capacity. Here again, this is the com-
mon denominator in most of the structures we have learned
so far. There always seems to be another possibility in the
positioning of a phrase or clause in the sentence. Note the
patterns that emerge below as we analyze the possibilities.
Syntactic positions: Initial = at the beginning of the sentence
Final = at the end of the IC.
Initial:
In order to learn, we study daily.
To learn, we study daily.
In order to be there on time, we must leave early.
To be there on time, we must leave early.
In order to study the material successfully, you must take organized notes.
To study the material successfully, you must take organized notes.
The first verb after the word to is the first form (v1) in all
of the sentences. This is true even if the verb is five words
after
to. If you include the first part of the phrase in order,
it is still necessary to use v1 after the word
to. We only omit
in order.
Final
I went to the store in order to shop.
I went to the store to shop
.
We turned off the radio in order to sleep better.
T
HE
:
RE
N
OTE
:
THE
:
RE
G
RAMMAR
N
OTE
:
TOEFL Internals flowed 7/13/07 3:36 PM Page 70
71
Sample Essays
We turned off the radio to sleep better.
I am here in or
der to set things straight.
I am here to set
things straight.
We can add an object to many of these patterns.
Ex:
To see the game, we went higher.
To buy the car, I worked more hours.
I saved room to eat dessert.
I practiced more to run the race.
To understand a person, you must try. (Can be moved to DO in final position)
One should read more to know his history.
I encouraged him more to benefit myself.
To win the race, we trained harder.
These are usually, but not always, interchangeable from
final to initial positions, and vice versa.
For: The Use of For as Reason: Syntactic Repositioning
Earlier, we viewed for in respect to use with a gerund functioning to sig-
nal reason in a sentence.
Pattern: IC = S–V + (optional) + For + Gerund
Ex: We are only here for learning.
I go there daily for relaxing.
He uses it for e
xercising.
T
HE
:
RE
N
OTE
:
THE
:
RE
N
OTE
:
TOEFL Internals flowed 7/13/07 3:36 PM Page 71
72
Ace the TOEFL Essay (TWE)
It is possible to use for in the same sentence construction with the use
of a noun. However, in the following sentences, we can replace the word
for with the phrase to get, and the meaning does not change. The implica-
tion in each of these sentences then is that the subject performs an action
to receive something in return.
Pattern: IC = S–V + (optional) + For + Noun
Ex: I went to the store for bread.
He went to the hospital for a checkup.
I work here for (the) money.
I walked to town for cigarettes.
He stopped for fuel.
He goes there for (the) admiration.
But, in the next few sentences, the subject is doing something without
a tangible benefit. In other words, the subject is simply performing an
action, but not for bread, cigarettes, money, and so on.
I go to church for prayer. (Can mean “to pray” or “to receive prayer”)
I went there for penance.
I attend the service for confession.
He goes there for mass.
Also, these above are not appropriate in the initial position.
Additionally, it is acceptable to indicate a holiday, festival, or celebration
with
for + noun.
He went for Easter.
He left for Christmas.
He stays for his birthday.
I always prepare for New Year’s Day.
TOEFL Internals flowed 7/13/07 3:36 PM Page 72
73
Sample Essays
So = Cause/Effect: Syntactic Repositioning
For the most part, it is easy to view a sentence with the word so, if it con-
tains two different clauses, in terms of cause and effect.
Cause/so/Effect
The first clause is the cause, and the second clause is the effect.
I want to be trim, so I exercise every day.
I needed a haircut, so I went to the barber.
We should have been home at 8:00, so we’re leaving right now.
We were very tired, so we went to bed early.
Effect/so/Cause
It is possible to invert most of these structures with so, adding the word
because and replacing the modal. The second clause tells why the first
clause happened. The second clause, consequently, is the reason the first
clause took place.
We arrived extremely early, so we could surprise my friend.
I sought out the best teachers, so I could learn Arabic.
I called John, so he would bring my books.
We went to the sea, so we could relax.
Effect/Because/S–V
It is common to replace the so with the word because, which actually means
the cause is . . .
Sometimes, it’s mandatory to change the wording for the sentence to
be grammatical. Compare the sentence patterns with what we have dis-
cussed so far.
We arrived extremely early, because we wanted to surprise my friend.
We got our coats, because it became cold.
We were angry, because they were not nice.
TOEFL Internals flowed 7/13/07 3:36 PM Page 73
74
Ace the TOEFL Essay (TWE)
We got up early, so we could go to the park.
We woke up earlier, because we were going to the lake.
So we could go to the lake, we got up early.
Because we were going home, we arose earlier than usual.
Do not use because and so in the same superstructure if
there are only two clauses.
So
and because can be subordinators when placed in the initial position
syntactically, thereby making an IC dependent.
IC
Because I was impatient, I called the man myself
.
Sub.
So I can get more sleep, I go to bed at 9:00.
Sub.
However, so and because can also be conjunctive adverbs (CA).
I went to the store. So, she went, too. (Therefore)
Why are you eating? Because
, I am hungry.
In both sets of sentences, the conjunctive adverbs link the ideas
between the ICs. If these conjunctive adverbs are linking two ICs into one
giant sentence (superstructure), they are c/cs. See the chapters on punctu-
ation and transitions
. Commas must offset these, or else they make the IC
a sentence fragment.
THE
:
RE
N
OTE
:
TOEFL Internals flowed 7/13/07 3:36 PM Page 74