GRAMMAR

FOR TOEFL
THE FORMS OF VERBS, PASSIVE VERBS,
AND PRACTICE
 CONTENTS
TABLE OF
01 THE FORMS
OF VERBS

02 PASSIVE
VERBS

03 TOEFL
PRACTICE
THE FORMS
OF VERBS

01
Verb Forms

It is common in the written expression questions for the verbs to be formed

incorrectly. To be able to know which verb form to use, you need to study tenses.

It would be better if you are familiar with the following verb forms:

Base form Present (v1) Present participle Past (v2) Past participle (v3)

work work(s) working worked worked

reach reach(es) reaching reached reached

build build(s) building built built

catch catch(es) catching caught caught

run run(s) running ran run

 Tenses

Simple Present : S + V1 Present Perfect : S + have/has + V3

Simple Past : S + V2 Past Perfect : S + had + V3
Simple Future : S + will + V1 Future Perfect : S + will have + V3

Present Continuous : S + am/is/are + V-ing

Past Continuous : S + was/were + V-ing
Future Continuous : S + will be + V-ing

Present Perfect Continuous : S + have/has been + V-ing

Past Perfect Continuous : S + had been + V-ing
Future Perfect Continuous : S + will have been + V-ing
Tenses

Tenses Sentence Tenses Sentence

Simple Present She studies French. Past perfect She had studied French.

Present continuous She is studying French. Past perfect continuous She had been studying French.

Present perfect She has studied French. Simple future She will study French.

Present perfect
She has been studying French. Future continuous She will be studying French.
continuous

Simple Past She studied French. Future perfect She will have studied French.

Future perfect
Past continuous She was studying French. She will have been studying French.
continuous
Correct the errors related to verb
forms/tenses in the following sentences.

1. I have gave you all the money I have.

2. The TV repairman will finishes his job at 3 p.m. tomorrow.
3. The bridge will has been completed by next year.
4. Before the speaker finished, the audiences have risen from
their seats.
5. The selection panel is have a meeting to decide who
passes the interview.
Problem 1. Know when to use the past
and the present

Using the past with the present

1. If you see a sentence with one verb in the past and one verb in the present, the
sentence is probably incorrect.
2. However, it is possible for a sentence to have both past and present together.
3. If you see the past and present together, you must check the meaning to determine
whether or not the sentence is correct.

For example:
• He took the money when he wants it. (incorrect)
• He took the money when he wanted it. (correct)
• He takes the money when he wants it. (correct)
• I know that he took the money yesterday. (correct)
Determine if the following sentences are
correct or incorrect. Find the clue.
1. Tom keeps studying hard because he intended to go to dental school.
______

2. Steve wakes up early every morning because he went to work early.

______

3. Last semester he read seven books and wrote five papers. ______

4. He put some money in his account when he goes to the bank. ______

5. She is where she is today because she worked hard when she was a
student. ______
Problem 2. Use the tenses with the correct
time expressions

Tenses Time Signals Example

Past Perfect By (past time) We had left there by 1980.

(two years) ago
We moved to New York in
Simple Past Last (year)
1996.
In (2000)
Since (1990) We have stayed in New York
Lately since 2001.
Present Perfect
Recently I have lived here for twenty
For (seven weeks) years.
Correct the errors related to verb
forms/tenses in the following sentences
according to the time signals.

1. Since the law was passed, it was difficult to estimate taxes.

2. The students are writing many compositions lately.

3. All the votes had been counted last week.

4. The pilgrims have arrived in the New World in 1620.

5. By the time the main course was served, all the guests have arrived and
been seated.
PASSIVE
VOICE

02
Passive Voice

You need to be able to recognize the correct form of the passive and to be able to
determine when a passive verb is needed in a sentence rather than an active verb.

You must look at the meaning of the sentence to determine if the verb should be
passive or active.
Active = the subject does the action of the verb.
Passive = the subject receives the action of the verb.

Examples: The form of the passive:

We sent the package at the post office. (Active) Be + past participle (verb 3)
The package was sent by us at the post office. (Passive)
Changing Active to Passive
(active → passive)

Simple Present
The form of the passive:
(S + V1) → (S + are/am is + V3)
Be + past participle (verb 3)
Simple Past
(S + V2) → (S + was/were + V3)
Simple Future
(S + will + V1) → (S + will be + V3)

Present Continuous:
(S + is/are/am + V-ing) → (S + is/are/am + being + V3)
Past Continuous:
(S + was/were + V-ing) → (S + was/were + being + V3)
Future Continuous:
there is no passive form for Future Continuous. We can use Simple Future in passive form for
the same purpose.
Changing Active to Passive
(active → passive)

Present Perfect The form of the passive:

(S + has/have + V3) → (S + has/have + been + V3) Be + past participle (verb 3)
Past Perfect
(S + had + V3) → (S + had + been + V3)
Future Perfect
(S + will have + V3) → (S + will have + been + V3)

Present Perfect Continuous

(S + has/have been + V-ing) → (S + has/have been + being + V3)
Past Perfect Continuous
(S + had been + V-ing) → (S + had been + being + V3)
Future Perfect Continuous:
(S + will have been + V-ing) → (S + will have been + being + V3)
Changing Active to Passive
(active → passive)

To The form of the passive:

Active : To + V1 Be + past participle (verb 3)
Passive : To + be + V3

Modals
Active : Modals + V1
Passive : Modals + be + V3

Modals:
will, would, can, could, shall, should, may, might
Decide if the following sentences are active
or passive
1. The police investigated him because of his unusual behaviors. ______

2. The car was parked in a non-parking zone. ______

3. The package containing the necessary samples has just been sent. _____

4. The night crew thoroughly cleaned the offices last evening. _____

5. The topic of your research paper should have been approved by your
advisor. ____
Decide if the following sentences are correct
or incorrect. Find the clue.
1. During the lightning storm, he struck in the head by a falling tree. ______
2. After the old radiator had be replaced, the travelers continued their trip.
______

3. I found out that the real estate agent had already been leased the
apartment. ______

4. A book on the history of Apache tribe will be published in the fall. ______

5. The horses can’t be taken out now because they have been rode for the
past few hours. ______
TOEFL
PRACTICE

03
TOEFL Practice: Part A

1. In the stringed instruments, the tones _____ 2. The famous architect, Frank Lloyd
by playing a bow across a set of strings that Wright, was greatly ______, who wanted
may be made of wire or gut. him to study architecture.
A. They produce A. Influenced by his mother
B. Producing B. From his mother’s influence
C. Are produced C. His mother influenced him
D. That are producing D. Influencing for his mother

4. Phosphates _______ to most farm

3. Recently, computers ________ a necessity in
lands in America.
every house.
A. Need added
A. Became
B. Need to add
B. Have been become
C. Need to adding
C. Have become
D. Need to be added
D. Will become
TOEFL Practice: Part B
Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is not correct.

1. Electric impulses may also picked up by the optic nerve.

A B C D
2. The report could not be turned in on time because all the needed work lost.
A B C D
3. During this period, $206 was spend annually on food by families in the lower third income bracket.
A B C D
4. From now on, new buildings in level one earthquake zones in America are to constructed to withstand a tremor without suffering
A B C D
structural damage.

5. If a rash occurs within twenty-four hours after taking a new medication, the treatment should discontinued.
A B C D
6. Financial planners are recommended that an individual saves two to six months’ income for emergencies.
A B C D
THANK YOU
AND LET’S
DISCUSS