1

GRAMMAR

NOUN 1

Countable Noun

Singular

><

Plural

Uncountable Noun

without a/an/ -s

a /an/the
Regular

Irregular

Noun s/ es

Note 1
a means/series/species means ..
a child children
a foot feet
a tooth teeth
a louse lice
a person people
a goose geese
a mouse mice
a man men
a woman women
on ox - oxen
a fish - fish
a carp carp
a cod cod
a salmon salmon
a deer deer
a sheep - sheep
a crisis crises

a thesis theses
a diagnosis - diagnoses
a hypothesis hypotheses
a parenthesis - parentheses
an axis - axes
an oasis - oases
a phenomenon phenomena
a criterion - criteria
a memorandum memoranda
a curriculum curricula
a bacterium - bacteria
a syllabus syllabi
a cactus cacti
a fungus fungi
a stimulus stimuli
a radius radii
an appendix appendices
an index indices

Note 2: Twelve nouns ending in f or fe drop the f or fe and ad ves

a calf - calves

a life lives

a shelf - shelves

a half - halves

a loaf - loaves

a thief - thieves

a knife - knives

-self - -selves

a wife - wives

a leaf - leaves

a sheaf - sheaves

a wolf wolves

a hoof hooves/hoofs

a roof roofs

a cliff cliffs

a safe safes

a handkerchief handkerchiefs

a belief- beliefs

But:

NOUN 2: Compound Nouns

1. Normally the last word is made plural
boyfriends

river banks

November fogs

travel agents

city streets

church bells

shop windows

corner shops

college libraries

hitch-hikers

street markets

driving licenses

traffic wardens

spring flowers

2. But when man and woman is prefixed both parts are made plural
men drivers

women drivers

3. The first word is made plural with compounds formed of verb + er or compounds
composed of noun + preposition + noun
lookers-on

runners-up

sisters-in-law

NOUN 3: Quantifiers
1. Many/several/various/numerous/diverse

><

Much

2. A number of/numbers of

><

An amount of/amounts of

3. (A) few

><

(A) little

4. Fewer/ the fewest

><

Less/ the least

NOUN 4: Numbers
1. a /two/three hundred/thousand/million/billion/trillion + Noun
2. hundreds/thousands/millions/billions + OF + Noun
3. Compound adjectives
A three-year-old boy
A 16,000-page book
4. one/two/three percent (no s) of Noun ; but a/the percentage of Noun

VERB
(1) Subject _ Verb Agreement
(2) Tenses
(3) Active

><

Passive

Transitive V + Obj

V + No Object /Prepositional phrase (by, in, with)

(4) Form
a. After modal verb + Bare inf (can, could, may, might, shall, should, must, will,
would, would rather, had better, have to, ought to, be to, be supposed to)
V- ing ( active/ continuous tenses)
b. After be
P. P (passive)
c. After have + P. P (perfect tenses)
d. Gerund >< Infinitive
e. Finite Verb >< Participle ( Present Participle >< Past participle)

PARALLEL STRUCTURE
1. ,
2. and
3. but
4. or
5. either or
6. neither nor
7. not only but also
8. both and
9. rather than
10.

whether or

11.

as well as

PRONOUN
1. Pronoun/Noun Agreement

they >< it/he/she/we

their >< its/his/her/our
them>< it/him/her/us
themselves><itself/himself/herself/ourselves
who/whom>< which
that (of )

>< those (of) (plural)

2. Which type?
a. Subjective Pronouns (I/You/He/She/It/ We/You/They)
-

Subject of a Verb

After Be

b. Objective Pronouns (me/you/him/her/it/us/you/them)

-

Object of a Verb

Object of a Preposition

c. Possessive Adjectives (my/your/his/her/its/our/your/their)

-

Before a Noun

Before a Gerund: We are surprised by their nesting in such harsh

conditions

d. Possessive Pronouns (mine/yours/his/hers/ours/yours/theirs)

e. Reflexive Pro

(myself/yourself/himself/herself/itself/ourselves/yourselves/themselves)

3. Wrong spelling ( hisself/ theirselves/ ourself/ themself)

4. The >< Possessive Adjective
Ex: His snake is a reptile.
He devoted the life to science.

5. Double subject/object
Ex: Black Island in Long Island Sound it is surrounded by cold, dangerous waters.

6. Unnecessary relative pronoun >< Necessary relative pronoun

Ex: Certain types of turtles that may live as long as 100 years.
The woman lives next door is too nosy.

WORD FORM
1. Adjectives
a. Before nouns
Ex: an important meeting
b. After be and other linking verbs

- be/become
- look/seem/appear/sound
- taste/feel/smell
- stay/remain ( = continue to be)
- turn/get/grow/go (= become)
- prove/find
Ex: She looks angry.

c. Some adjectives end in ly: friendly/costly/cowardly/lovely/lively/

lonely/likely/ugly/early/monthly/weekly/daily/hourly/nightly/year
ly/quarterly/timely/scholarly/womanly/manly/motherly/fatherly/
kindly
2. Adverbs
a. Modify verbs:

Ex: Ann eagerly accepted the challenge.

b. Modify adjectives

Ex: Ted seemed extremely curious about that topic.

c. Modify participles

Ex: A rapidly changing situation / A brightly colored dress.

d. Modify prepositions/ clause markers: soon after / immediately after/ long before/
shortly before
e. Modify adverbs:
f.

Ex: The accident occurred incredibly quickly.

Modify the whole sentence

- general

><

generally

- possible

><

possibly

- basic

><

basically

- probable

><

probably

- particular

><

particularly

- usual

><

usually

- original

><

originally

- innate

><

Ex:

Generally, I like my class

innately

3. Note
a. fast (adj)
fast (adv)
b. long (adj)
long (adv)
c. hard (adj)
hard >< hardly
d. high (adj)
high >< highly (figurative meaning)
e. early (adj)
early (adv)
f. good (adj)
well (adv)

VERB

NOUN

ADJECTIVE

VERB

NOUN

ADJECTIVE

Differ

Difference

Different

Restrict

Restriction

Restrictive

Invent

Invention

Inventive

Cultivate

Culture

Cultural

Compete

Competition

Competitive

Agriculture

Agricultural

Fertilize

Fertilizer/fertility Fertile

Power

Powerful

Decide

Decision

Decisive

Importance

Important

Prohibit

Prohibition

Prohibitive

Significance

Significant

Prevent

Prevention

Preventive

Analyze

Analysis

Analytical

Beautify

Beauty

Beautiful

Familiarize

Familiarity

Familiar

Originate

Origin

Original

Popularize

Popularity

Popular

Emphasize

Emphasis

Emphatic

Classify

Classification

Classifiable

Glorify

Glory

Glorious

Categorize

category

Categorical

Mystify

Mystery

Mysterious

Absent

Absence

Absent

Socialize

Society

Social

Interest

Interest

Interesting

Generalize

Generalization

General

Bore

Boredom

Boring

Simplify

Simplicity

Simple

Fascinate

Fascination

Fascinating

Free

Freedom

Free

Produce

Production

Productive

Construct

Construction

Constructive

Necessitate

Necessity

Necessary

Live

Life

Live/living

Collect

Collection

Collective

Empower

FIELD

PERSON

FIELD

Music

Musician

Surgery

Poetry

Poet

Administration Administrator

PERSON
Surgeon

FIELD

PERSON

Dentistry

Dentist

Architecture Architect

Engineering

Engineer

Farming

Farmer

Finance

Financier

Photography

Photographer Biology

Biologist

Physics

Physicist

Athletics

Athlete

Theory

Theorist

Science

Scientist

Philosophy

Philosopher

Chemistry

Chemist

Invention

Inventor

Creation

Creator

Politics

Politician

Crime/criminology Criminal

Law

Lawyer

Humor

Humorist

Mathematics

mathematician

History

Historian

Biography

Biographer

Manufacture

Manufacturer

Editing

Editor

Writing

Writer

Acting

Actor/actress

Magic

Magician

Geography

Geographer Collection

Collector

Forecast

Forecaster

Hunting

Hunter

Employment

Employee/er

Training

Trainer

Dance

Dancer

Competition

Competitor

Contest

Contestant

Beauty

Beautician

Labor

Laborer

Discovery

Discoverer

Carpentry

Carpenter

NOUN

VERB

ADJECTIVE

NOUN

VERB

ADJECTIVE

Strength

Strengthen

Strong

Heat

Heat

Hot

Hardness

Harden

Hard

Light

Lighten

Light

Softness

Soften

Soft

Brightness

Brighten

Bright/brilliant

Depth

Deepen

Deep

Thickness

Thicken

Thick

Ripeness

Ripen

Ripe

Richness

Enrich

Rich

Solidity

Solidify

Solid

Humidity

Humidify

Humid

Length

Lengthen

Long

Flatness/flat

Flatten

Flat

Shortness

Shorten

Short

Height

Heighten

High

Weight

Weigh

Weighty/weightless Darkness/dark

Darken

Dark

Blackness

Blacken

Black

White/whiteness Whiten

White

Fat

Fatten

Fat

Largeness

Large

Nouns: hearing/sight/smell/taste/touch
Verbs: hear/see/smell/taste/touch

Enlarge

WORD CHOICE
1. Wrong choice of MAKE or DO
1) MAKE

an agreement/ an announcement/ an attempt/an effort/ a

decision/a discovery/ an offer/a profit/ a promise/ advances in/ a

comparison/ a contribution/ a distinction/ a forecast/ a law/ a point/ an
investment/ a plan/ a prediction/ a sound/ noise/use of/ a choice/ a
loan/an appointment
2) MAKE UP OF (= be composed of ); MAKE UP (= compose)

3) DO

an assignment/the dishes/ the washing-up/the shopping/ the

ironing/the cooking/a favor/homework/the laundry/ a paper//research/

a job/ ones work/ business with/ justice to/ wrong/ a kindness/ones
duty/harm/ones best/a service/damage/ wonder

2. Wrong choice of like/ alike/like or as

1) Like/Unlike A, B + Verb
2) A, like/unlike B, + Verb
3) A is like/unlike B
4) A and B are alike
5) Like + Noun

Ex: My results were much like Pauls

6) As + Subject +Verb

Ex: I did my experiment just as Paul did

7) As + Noun (=in the role of)

8) serve as/ function as/ use sth as/ be used as/ be thought of as/ be
referred to as
9) regard/consider/name/choose/elect/select/designate/appoint/declare/
nominate/proclaim/announce s.o/sth (as) s.o/sth

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3. Wrong choice of so, such, too

1) so + adjective/adverb + that Subject + Verb

2) so + many/few + Noun (c) that Subject + Verb
+ much/little + Noun (u) that Subject + Verb
3) so + adjective + a/an + Noun (c, singular) that Subject + Verb
4) such + (a/an) + Noun that Subject + Verb
5) too adjective + (for someone) + to do something
6) enough + noun +( for someone) to do something
7) adjective/adverb + enough + (for someone) to do something

4. Wrong choice of because or because of; although or in spite

of /despite; when/while or during
Adverb clause markers + S+ V

Preposition + Noun/NP

because

because of/ due to/ on account of

although/though/even though

in spite of/ despite

when/while/as

during

5. Wrong choice of ANOTHER or OTHER

Another

Adjective

another + Noun (singular)

Other
other + Noun (plural)
Determiner (the, some, any,
every, one, no) + other + Noun
(sing)

another (an additional one)

Pronoun

Ex: Give me another.

the other/the others

Ex: Of the two teachers, one is
experienced, and the other is not.

Note:

each other / one another

from one

to another

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6. Other word form problems

BE CAREFUL WITH THESE PAIRS OF WORDS
1) no + noun >< not any
2) no longer >< not any longer/any more
3) most + Noun
most of the Noun
almost all of the Noun/ almost no + Noun/almost every + Noun
the most +adj/adv (superlative)
4) almost + quantifier/adjective/adverb (Word Order)
5) twice (adjective) >< double (verb)
Note: be twice as as
6) earliest >< soonest
7) one /two/threepercent of >< a /the percentage of
8) after >< afterward (adv = after that )
9) ago >< before
10) tell so that >< say that/say to so that
Note: tell a story/a lie/lies/the truth/ a secret
11) hardly ever >< never
12) hard/hardly
13) and/but/or
14) be alive >< live + Noun
15) old > < of age
16) near (=close to) >< nearly (=almost)
17) some + Noun >< somewhat + adjective
18) affect so/sth >< effect of sth on so/sth
19) already (adv) >< be all ready ( adjective)
20) among (3 or more) >< between ( 2)
21) and (conjunction) >< also (adverb)
22) beside (=next to) >< besides (= in addition)
23) costume (=clothing) >< custom (traditional practice)
24) farther/further (distance) >< further (= more)
25) formally (=officially) >< formerly (=previously)
26) hard >< hardly

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27) imaginary (= not real/fictional) >< imaginative (=creative)
28) later >< latter
29) lay

laid

laid

laying +Object (= put/place)

lie

lay

lain

lying (= be situated/located)

lie

lied

lied

lying (= not tell the truth)

30) loose (adj) >< lose (verb)

31) no>< not>< none
32) pass (verb) >< past (adj/noun/preposition)
Note: pass = go/come past
33) quiet (adj) >< quite (adv)
34) raise + object/ be raised (passive) >< rise (without an object)
35) set + object (=put/place) >< sit (without an object)
36) thorough (adj) >< through (adv)
37) out >< out of +Noun
38) away>< away from + Noun
39) out/in (preposition) >< outer/inner (adjective)
40) listen to >< hear
41) lone/live/sleeping + noun >< be alone/ alive/asleep

7. Redundancy
-

connect together

important significant

repeat again

carefully cautiously

join together

established founded

proceed forward

protect guard

advance forward

original first

only unique

rarely seldom

new innovations

transmit send out

reread again

single only

return back

around

same identical

sufficient enough

chief main

separated away from

such as for example

incorrect mistake

necessary needed

progress forward

approximately

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Inversion
a) Inversion of the verb after certain adverbs
Hardly ever

On no account

Hardly when

Only by/in/ at/once/recently

In no circumstances

Only in this way

Neither/nor

Rarely

Never

Seldom

No sooner than

Scarcely ever

Not only

Scarcely when

Nowhere

(So) + adj or participles

(Such) + be + Noun

Ex:

I havent got a ticket. Neither/Nor have I.

Never before had I been asked to accept a bribe.
Not only do they rob you, they smash everything too
On no account must this switch be touched
Only by shouting was he able to make himself heard.
Only in an emergency should you use this exit.
Rarely did this remedy fail
So suspicious did he become that
So confusing was the map that we had to ask a police officer for directions.
Such is the popularity of the place that the theater is likely to be full every night.

b) The subject and verb of the second clause ( not the first clause) are inverted
when the following expressions occur at the beginning of a sentence
Not until

Only if

Only until

Only when

Only because

Only after

Ex:

Not until he got home did he realize that he had lost it.
Only if you study hard can you pass the final exam.

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c) In written English adverb phrases introduced by preposition (down, from, in, on,
over, off, out of, round, up .etc.) can be followed by verbs indicating position
(crouch, hang, lie sit, stand, be etc.), by verbs of motion.

Ex:

From the rafters hung strings of onions.

In the door way stood a man with a gun.
On a perch beside him sat a blue parrot
Over the wall came a shower of stone.
In front of the museum is a statue.
Off the coast of California lie the Channel Islands.

Note: Prepositional Phrase, S + V

Ex:

Across the United States, the general movement of air masses is from west to east.

d) If + Subject + auxiliary can be replaced in formal English by inversion of auxiliary

and subject with if omitted.

Ex:

If I were in his shoes

Were I in his shoes

If you should require anything

Should you require anything

If he had known

Had he known

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Double Comparison
The + comparative + S + (V), the +comparative + S + (V)
Note: the worse (not the worst), the less (not the least), the better (not the best)

Ex: The more he plays, the more he improves.

Incorrect Article Choice

><

Ex:

an

A eclipse of the sun may be either total or partial

a/an

><

without a/an (uncountable noun)

a/an

><

the

Ex:

Rose Bird was a first woman in the history of California to serve on the State Supreme

Court

a/an/the
Ex:

><

without a/an/the

Slag consists of waste material and impurities which rise to top of melted metals.
The most asteroids are beyond the orbit of the planet Mars.

the

><
Ex:

possessive adjectives

The Ozark Mountains of Arkansas are known for the rugged beauty

Note:
- a university/ a European/ a one-parent family/a union/a unicorn/ a unique character
- an hour/ an honest man/ an honor/ an heir/ an heiress/ an MP/ an FBI

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1.

Clause marker (a) S+ V(f)

(b) Present P

, S+V

(c) Past P
(d) Adjective
Common clause markers:
a. Time: after , as, as long as, as soon as, before, by the time, now that,
once, since, until, when, while, whenever
b. Concessions/Contrast: although, even though, though, even if,
whereas, while, despite the fact that, in spite of the fact that, except
that/however
c. Reason: as, because, since, in that, in case
d. Results: so that, so that, such that
e. Manner: as if, as though
f. Place: wherever
g. Conditions: if, even if, only if, provided, unless

(,) (1) Clause marker

2. S + V + (Object)

Conjunctions:

Conjunctive advs -

(2) Conjunction

(3) conjunctive adverbs

S + V + (Object)

and, but, yet, for, so, or

besides, likewise, moreover, in addition, additionally
however, nevertheless, on the other hand, in contrast, in spite
this

therefore, as a result, accordingly, consequently

otherwise

then, meanwhile

similarly, correspondingly, likewise

for example, for instance

of

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ARTICLES
A/AN
1. Before singular countable nouns
Ex: Australia is a continent
2. To introduce a subject that has not mentioned before
Ex: I saw a tiger.
3. With certain expressions
a dozen

a/one half

a couple

a/one third

a/one hundred/thousand/million

a/one quarter

a great many

fifty miles an/per hour

a great deal

ten kilometers an/per hour

a lot of

$10 a/per day

4. With names of professions

Ex: He is an engineer.

She is a doctor.

THE
1. Only one example of the thing/person or the identity of the person or thing is clear
Ex:

The moon is full today.

Please open the door.

2. With certain expressions

the morning/afternoon/evening
the past/present/future
the front/back/center/top/bottom
the beginning/middle/end
the north/south/east/west
3. Before a singular noun representative of a class of things ( usually names of animals, plants,
inventions, musical instruments, and parts of the body)
Ex:

The tiger is the largest cat

The heart pumps blood
The Wright brothers invented the airplane.
She plays the guitar.

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4. Before ordinal number (Note: No article is used before expressions with cardinal
numbers.)
Ex:

The First World War (But: World War One)

The second chapter (But: Chapter Two)
The third gate

(But: Gate Three)

The seventh volume (But: Volume Seven)

5. Before decades and centuries
Ex:

the 1930s

the fifties

the sixties

the twenty-first century

the 1800s

the twentieth century

6. Before superlative adjectives

Ex:

The biggest island on earth is Greenland.

7. Quantifier + of + the + noun

Many/ some/all/much/most/a few/all/... of the + Noun
Note: These expressions can also be used without the phrase of the
Ex:

Many books

not much paper

Some water

a few pictures

8. Before a group of people or a nationality

Ex:

The Vietnamese are very hardworking

The Swedish are proud of their ancestors, the Vikings.

Note: No article is used before the name of a language

Ex:

She learned to speak Vietnamese when she lived in Hanoi.

9. The + adjective (= people who are...)

Ex:

The rich should help the poor.

10. Before a specific noun

Ex:

The coffee I had this morning was Brazilian (specific)

Coffee originated in Ethiopia. (general)
The rice that I bought today is in the bag. (specific)
Rice is a staple in many countries.(general)
The trees in this park are mostly evergreens. (specific)
Trees provide shade. (general)

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11. The + subject + of NP
Subject (used alone) --> no article
Adjective + Subject --> no article
Ex:

The literature of the twentieth century

The history of The United States.

But:

I major in literature
I study American history.

12. Before names of countries, states, cities, universities, colleges, and schools that
contain the word "of" or before countries that have a plural name or an adjective in the
name, except for Great Britain
Ex:

The United States of America

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam (but: Vietnam)
The State of Florida (But: Florida)
The city of Boston ( But: Boston)
The University of Texas ( But: Boston University)
The Netherlands/ The Philippines

13. Before
a. oceans:

Ex:

The pacific Ocean

b. seas

Ex:

The Black Sea

c. gulfs

Ex:

The Gulf of Mexico

d. rivers

Ex:

The Nile

e. plural names of mountains

Ex:

The Appalachian Mountains (But: Mount Everest)

f. plural names of islands

Ex:

The Hawaiian Islands (But: Manhattan Island)

g. plural names of lakes

Ex:

The Great Lakes (But: Lake Michigan)

14. Before the names of ships, planes, trains and people's family names
Ex:

The Titanic
The Orient Express
The Browns

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GERUND AND INFINITIVE

I. VERB + TO INF
afford
agree
appear
arrange
ask
attempt

beg
care
consent
decide
desire
deserve

Ex:

expect
fail
forget
hesitate
hope
learn

manage
mean
need
offer
plan
prepare

pretend
promise
refuse
seem
struggle
swear

threaten
want
wish
try
intend

Tom wants to become a doctor.

Susan pretended to sleep.
David promised not to be late again.

II. VERB + OBJECT + TO INFINITIVE

advise
allow
ask
beg
cause

challenge
convince
dare
encourage
expect

forbid
force
hire
instruct
invite

order
permit
persuade
remind
require

teach
tell
urge
want
warn

invite
recommend
enable
lead
motivate
use

Ex: They begged us to come.

I warn you not to drive so fast.

Note: advise/allow/encourage/permit/recommend (1) + object + to inf

(2) + V-ing
Ex: He doesnt allow smoking in his house
He doesnt allow anyone to smoke in his house
Nobody is allowed to smoke in his house

III. VERB + V-ING

admit
appreciate
avoid
complete
consider

Ex:

delay
deny
discuss
dislike
enjoy

finish
cant help
keep
mention
mind

postpone
practice
quit
recall
recollect

I dislike driving long distances

I cant help worrying about it.
Would you mind not smoking in this class?

resent
resist
risk
stop
suggest

miss
tolerate
involve
understand
include

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IV. VERB + V-ING/ TO INFINITIVE

begin
start

continue
cant stand

hate
love

prefer
like

Ex: It began to rain/ raining

Note: would like/love/prefer + to infinitive

Ex: I would like to play tennis today.

V. ADJECTIVE / PARTICIPLE+ TO INFINITIVE

anxious
eager
usual
easy

difficult
hard
dangerous
ready

willing
able
pleased
prepared

boring
interesting

Ex: Tom is anxious to see his family.

It is very dangerous to drive in this weather.
We are ready to leave now.

Note: be busy/worth + V-ing.

Ex: He is busy doing his homework.
The book is worth reading.

VI.

PREPOSITION + V-ING
1. VERB + PREPOSITION + V-ING

approve of
give up
rely on
insist on

succeed in
count on
keep on
think about

think of
depend on
put off
dream about

look forward to
object to
confess to
devote to

dedicate to
commit to

Ex: John gave up smoking three years ago.

I am looking forward to going back to school.

2. ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION + V-ING

afraid of
interested in

capable of
successful in

tired of be/get accustomed to

fond of be/get used to

Ex: She is afraid of getting married now.

To gets used to getting up early.

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VII.

SPECIAL CASES
1. STOP
He stopped smoking (He gave up smoking; he is not going to smoke any more.)
He stopped to smoke (He stopped doing something in order to smoke)

2. TRY
TRY + TO INF: make an effort to do something
Ex: I was very tire. I tried to keep my eyes open, but I couldnt.

TRY + V-ING: do something as an experiment or test

Ex: Ive got a terrible headache. I tried taking an aspirin, but it did not help.

3. REMEMBER
REMEMBER + TO INF: You remember to do something before you do it
Ex: Please remember to post the letter. (= Dont forget to post the letter)

REMEMBER + V-ING: You remember doing something after you do it

Ex: I clearly remember locking the door before I left.

4. NEED
NEED + TO INF (ACTIVE)
Ex: John needs to paint the door.
My friend needed to learn Spanish

NEED + V-ING = NEED + TO BE DONE (PASSIVE)

Ex: The grass needs cutting/ to be cut.
The television needs fixing/to be fixed.

5. MAKE/LET/HAVE + OBJECT + BARE INFINITIVE

Ex: Sad movies always make me cry.
I had the mechanic repair my car. (I had my car repaired by the mechanic
My parents do not let me go out late at night.

6. VERBS OF PERCEPTION + V-ING/ BARE INFINITIVE

see
notice
watch

look at
observe
hear

listen to
smell
feel

Ex: I saw my friend running/run down the street.

7. GO + V-ING
GO

boating
bowling
camping
canoeing

dancing
fishing
hiking
hunting

jogging
climbing
running
sailing

shopping
sightseeing
skating
skiing

swimming

Ex: My sister went sailing yesterday

8. TO INFINITIVE can be used after the first, the second, the last, the only and
sometimes after superlatives.
Ex: She loves parties. She is always the first to come and the last to leave.
He is the second man to be killed in this way.

23
9. TO INFINITIVE can be used after certain nouns
ability
ambition
anxiety
attempt
decision

demand
desire
determination
eagerness
effort

failure
offer
plan
promise
refusal

request
scheme
willingness
wish
readiness

Ex: His ability to get on with people is his chief asset.

Ex: He made an effort to stand up.
10.
catch/find/leave
+
Object
spend/ waste
+
Time
have fun/ a good time
have trouble/difficulty
have a hard time/ difficult time

+
+
+
+
+

V-ing
V-ing
V-ing
V-ing
V-ing

24

WORD ENDINGS
A. COMMON NOUN (THING) ENDINGS
1. ism
: baptism, criticism, organism, heroism, patriotism, alcoholism,
barbarism, dwarfism, parallelism

2. nce

: importance, significance, dependence, arrogance, resistance,

subsistence

3. ness

: bitterness, conceitedness, darkness, hardness, kindheartedness

4. ion

: excision, damnation, pollution, suggestion, a notion, an action,

vexation, concoction, completion.

5. ment

: abridgement, accomplishment, banishment, commencement,

embodiment, enhancement, excitement, fragment, garment, ornament,
treatment

6. (i)ty

: purity, authority, dubiety, majority, superiority, humidity, cruelty,

faculty, honesty, plenty, safety, subtlety

7. age

: baggage, carriage, cartage, damage, dotage, hermitage, homage

language, luggage, marriage, passage, tillage, tonnage, vicarage,
village.

8. ship

: ambassadorship, citizenship, headship, professorship, chairmanship,

fellowship, scholarship, companionship, friendship, hardship,
relationship, craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, horsemanship,
membership, courtship

9. th

: bath, birth, death, oath, growth, stealth, filth, health, length, strength,
truth, depth, breadth, wealth.

10. dom
11. hood

: earldom, freedom, kingdom, officialdom, wisdom

: childhood, falsehood, sisterhood, brotherhood, neighborhood,
likelihood, livelihood

12. ure

: closure, picture, scripture, legislature, nature, failure, pleasure,

treasure

13. cy

: bankruptcy, captaincy, democracy, privacy, delicacy, advocacy,

confederacy, accuracy, obstinacy, piracy, , aristocracy, expectancy,
efficiency, presidency, sufficiency, deficiency

14. (t)ry

rivalry, ancestry, carpentry, industry, greenery, machinery, scenery,

bakery, brewery, bravery, slavery, archery

15. logy
: archaeology, geology, sociology, theology, zoology
16. graphy : bibliography, biography

25

B. COMMON NOUN (PERSON) ENDINGS

1. or
: actor, creator, doctor, monitor, sculptor, successor, guarantor,
conqueror, donor, governor, solicitor, tailor, visitor. bachelor

2. er

: hatter, geographer, astrologer, cottager, foreigner, Londoner,

New Yorker, northerner, villager, airliner, old-timer, sorcerer

3. ee
4. ist

: employee, payee, devotee, escapee, conferee, absentee, refugee.

: chemist, dramatist, economist, geologist; dentist, pianist, tobacconist;
Buddhist, Darwinist, idealist, Marxist, racist, optimist, pessimist

5. ician

: magician, physician, musician, electrician, beautician,

politician, statistician, mathematician, mortician,

6. ant (10%) : assistant, accountant, consultant, contestant, inhabitant

C. ADJECTIVE ENDINGS
1. ent
: independent, sufficient, absent, ambivalent, ancient, apparent,
ardent

2. ant

: arrogant, expectant, important, significant , abundant, ignorant,

brilliant,

3. ful

: beautiful, graceful, powerful, grateful, forgetful, mournful,

Exceptions: handful, mouthful, spoonful are nouns

4. ic
5. less

: civic, classic, historic, artistic, economic,

: doubtless, fearless, hatless, powerless, countless, tireless, faceless,
legless, careless, helpless

6. ive

: authoritative, demonstrative, figurative, imitative, qualitative,

talkative, active, passive, comparative, possessive

7. ous
8. able
9. ible
10. al
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.

: dangerous, glorious, murderous, viscous, ferocious, hilarious,

: charitable, separable, bearable, reliable, comfortable, suitable.
: audible, compressible, edible, horrible, terrible
: central, general, oral, colossal, tropical, tidal
Exceptions : rival, arrival, proposal, withdrawal, survival are nouns
ory
: mandatory, compulsory, predatory, satisfactory
Exceptions : dormitory, promontory, territory are nouns
ary
: arbitrary, budgetary, contrary, primary, temporary, necessary
y
: angry, happy, icy, messy, milky, tidy, chilly, haughty, slippery,
ly
: beastly, cowardly, queenly, rascally
(r)ate (10%): temperate, accurate, considerate, immediate, literate
ish
: boorish, boyish, foolish, womanish, bookish, feverish, bluish, reddish

26

D. COMMON VERB ENDINGS

1. en/ en : listen, happen, strengthen, lengthen, shorten, soften, ripen, deepen,
widen, entrust, enslave, enlighten, entangle, enlarge, encourage,
enable, enrich

2. ate

: assassinate, associate, fascinate, felicitate, hydrate, separate,

vaccinate, evacuate

3. ize

: characterize, idolize, agonize, apologize, sympathize, theorize,

authorize, extemporize, fertilize, fossilize, jeopardize, moralize,
Americanize, carbonize, oxidize

4. ify

: pacify, satisfy, petrify, solidify, horrify

E. COMMON ADVERB ENDING

1. ly
: amusingly, deservedly, firstly, fully, greatly, happily, hourly, truly,
firstly, secondly

2. wise
3. ways
4. ward

: crosswise, lengthwise, otherwise, clockwise

: edgeways, endways, lengthways, sideways
: backward, homeward, inward, onward, skyward, eastward

27

SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT

A. BASIC SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT
1. Singular Subject + Singular Verb
2. Plural Subject + Plural Verb
Ex:

My friend lives in Boston.

Growing flowers is her hobby.
My friends live in Boston.

B. SPECIAL CASES
1.

Sing Subject 1 and Sing Subject 2 + Plural Verb

Ex:

The actor and the singer are coming.

Jean and David are coming back to Australia.

Note: However, phrases connected by and can be followed by singular verbs if we think of them as
making up a single item.
Ex:

Meat pie and peas is Toms favorite at the moment

Fish and chips is my favorite food

2.

Subject 1 +

Ex:

of
in addition to
with
together with + Subject 2 + Verb
along with
as well as
no less than
like/ unlike

One of my friends is here.

You together with Tom are responsible for this failure.

Either

or
+ Subject 1 +

3.

Neither

Ex:

+ Subject 2 + Verb
nor

Neither John nor his friends are going to the beach

28

4.

There + be +

Ex:

Noun

There is a book on the shelf

There are three books on the shelf

5.
There/ Here

Ex:

+ Verb

Noun

Here comes the Queen.

Here lie many unknown soldiers.

6.
Every
Each
Either
Neither
Ex:

Noun (singular)
+

+ Singular Verb
of the Noun (plural)

Each boy/ each of the boys has a gift.

Note: Each boy and each girl is to do this exercise.

7.

Everyone
Everybody
Everything
Someone
Somebody

Something
Anyone
Anybody
Anything
No one

Nobody
Nothing

Ex: Everyone has his or her own idea.

Singular Verb

29

8.

a.

A/the majority of
A number of
A lot of
+
Plenty of
Some of
None of
Half of
No
Ex:

Plural Noun +

Plural Verb

A number of refugees have been turned back at the border.

Plenty of potatoes are grown here.
None of the answers are correct.

b.

The number of +

Ex:

c.

9.

council
association
audience
class
club
college
committee
community

Ex:

+ Singular Verb

The number of books in the library has risen to over five million.

Any of
None of
The majority of
A lot of
Plenty of
All (of)
Some (of)

Ex:

Plural Noun

+ Uncountable Noun +

Singular Verb

All the furniture was destroyed in the fire.

company
crowd
department
electorate
enemy
family
firm
generation

government
group
jury
orchestra
population
press
public
school

staff
team
university
faculty
choir
gang
couple
cabinet

Singular Verb ( if they

are referred to as a group)

Plural Verb ( if they are seen

as a collection of individual)

The team is winning. (the team as a group)

The team are going back to their homes. (meaning individual members of the
team)

30
belongings
clothes
congratulations
earnings
goods
outskirts
particulars
premises

10.

Ex:

riches
glasses
savings
pliers
stairs
pants
surroundings
+ Plural Verb
thanks
scissors
shorts
jeans

The pants are in the drawer.

(A pair of pants is in the drawer)

11.

police
people
cattle
poultry

Plural Verb

The police are looking for the missing child.

Ex:

news
physics
politics
mumps
economics

12.

Ex:

measles
statistics
mathematics
physics
phonetics

rabies
diabetes
gymnastics
athletics
linguistics

Singular Verb

Physics is difficult.
The news is alarming.

13.

The titles of books, plays, movies, etc., always take a singular verb
Ex:

The Los Angeles Times is on the desk.

Gullivers Travels is a well-known childrens book.

14.

Nouns stating an amount of time, money or measurement always take a singular verb
Ex:

Five minutes is not enough to do this exercise.

Thirty-five dollars is too much for this shirt.
Four -hundred miles is too much to drive in one day.

15.

The +
Ex:

Adjective

The poor need help.

Plural Verb

16.

Fluids

Solids

31

Uncountable Noun +

Singular Verb

baggage
garbage
mail

clothing
hardware
makeup

equipment
jewelry
money

food
junk
cash

fruit
luggage
change

furniture
machinery
postage

water
gasoline

coffee
blood

tea

milk

oil

soup

ice
iron

bread
silver

butter
glass

cheese
paper

meat
wood

gold
wool

steam

air

oxygen

nitrogen

smoke

pollution

rice
pepper

chalk
dirt

corn
salt

dust
sand

grass
flour

hair
wheat

beauty
happiness
intelligence
patience
truth

confidence
health
justice
peace
violence

courage
help
knowledge
pride
wealth

education
honesty
laughter
progress

enjoyment
hospitality
music
recreation

fun
importance
luck
sleep

advice
space
vocabulary

information
energy

news
homework

evidence
work

proof
grammar

time
slang

driving

swimming

traveling

working

baseball

soccer

tennis

chess

weather
lightning
darkness

dew
rain
light

fog
sleet
sunshine

hail
snow
electricity

heat
thunder
fire

humidity
wind
gravity

Gases

Particles

Abstraction

Activities

Natural
phenomena

Ex:

Smoking is harmful to your health.

32

PREPOSITIONS
1. PREPOSITIONS OF TIME
A. In

century ( in the twenty-first century)

decade ( in the 1970s; in the nineties)

year (in 2007)

season ( in the summer)

month ( in July)

parts of the day ( in the morning; in the afternoon; in the evening)

the past/ future

amounts of time ( in/within an hour)

B. On

date (on September 11)

day (on Monday; on Sunday morning)

C. At

time of day (at 9:20)

night/ midnight/ noon /dawn/dusk/sunrise/sunset/the moment/the same

time/present/ first/last

D. During
 During is used with periods of time

It snows a lot in Montreal during the winter

His company grew rapidly during the 1980s

 During is NOT used with dates or days of the week.

E. Until
 Until is used with points of time to indicate that an action continues up to that point

Helen practiced the piano until noon

They wont arrive until tomorrow

F. From . To/until and between and

 These phrases are used with starting points and ending points

From 1990 to/until 1993, Mr. Nolan was in charge of the sales division.

Between 1990 and 1993, Mr. Nolan was in charge of the sales division.

33

G. Since/ For
 Since and for are generally used with a perfect tense

We've been waiting here since two o'clock.

The factory has been here since the 1970s.

We had been talking for a good half hour.

2. PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE
A. In

the world

continent (in Asia)

country ( in China)

state/province (in California; in Ontario)

in city ( in Munich)

building (in the Empire State Building)

room (in the living room)

B. On

earth (the origin of life on Earth)

street ( on Wall Street)

coast ( on the East Coast)

floor ( on the second floor)

C. At

address (at 634 Sutter Street)

building (at the museum)

home/school/college/work

D. From to and between and

They're building a new road between Manchester and Sheffield.

They're building a new road from Manchester to Sheffield.

34

3. OTHER COMMON PREPOSITION COMBINATIONS

A. In

clothes ( in a gray suit)

language ( written in Vietnamese)

book ( in the Complete Guide to TOEIC)

newspaper ( in the International Herald-Tribune)

magazine ( in Times)

department ( in the sales department)

field ( in computer science)

ones opinion (in her opinion)

a car / a taxi (I've left my bag in the car.)

trouble (I think I'm in trouble with Dad.)

danger of (The bridge was in danger of collapsing.)

part (The failure of the project was due in part to his lack of leadership.

front of (He walked along in front of me, holding the lantern.)

the middle of (Jo was standing in the middle of the room.)

the back of (Two men were sitting in the back of the car.)

the rear (a passenger traveling in the rear of a car)

line (The kids were standing in line waiting for their teacher.)

the process of (The company is in the process of moving to new offices.)

B. On

a vehicle ( on a bus; on a train; on a plane)

foot (It takes about 30 minutes on foot, or 10 minutes by car.)

a trip (We were all going on a trip.)

business (She's in New York this week on business)

holiday (I'm away on holiday until the 1st of June.)

sale (These gloves were on sale for only $9.)

the market (Handguns are freely available on the open market)

schedule (The majority of holiday flights depart and arrive on schedule.)

time (Jack was worried about whether he'd be able to get there on time.)

(the) television/radio (Later that evening we watched it all on television again.)

the phone (Bridget's on the phone all day long.)

a farm (Joe had worked on the farm all his life.)

the other hand (I'd like to eat out, but on the other hand I want to save money.)

35

purpose (Fire investigators believe the fire was set on purpose.)

C. BY
 By is used before a point of time to indicate the latest time. By, in this case, means no
later than.

I will be home by noon.

 By can mean next to

She is standing by her friend.

 By is used after passive verbs to identify the agent of the action.

This report was written by Peter.

 By is used with means of transportation and communication

by car/plane/e-mail

Note: in a/my car; on a plane

 Other

By chance/ hand/ far/check/credit card/ means of

D. With
 With is used to express the idea of accompaniment or ownership

I went to the restaurant with Andrea.

The man with the briefcase is the vice-president.

 With is also used to indicate the tool or instrument used to complete something

He opened the door with his key.

He paid for the bill with a credit car

E. Without
 Without means not having, experiencing or showing something; not in the company
of someone or not doing the action mentioned

They had gone two days without food.

He found the place without difficulty.

She spoke without much enthusiasm.

Don't go without me.

I don't know what I'd do without you.

The rest of the group set off without him.

Don't go out without your coat.

36

He left without saying goodbye.

You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs.

Suddenly and without any warning, the army opened fire.

He had gone out without his parents' permission.

F. Within
 Within can mean during a particular period of time

We should have the test results back within 24 hours.

He fell sick and died within a matter of weeks.

Within an hour of our arrival, Caroline was starting to complain.

Within the space of a year, three of the town's factories have closed down.

 Within can mean less than a certain distance from a particular place

The invading troops came within 50 miles of Paris.

We live within easy reach of (=close to) the shops.

Adjust the driver's seat so that all the controls are within reach (=close enough to
touch)

 Within can also mean inside the range or limits of something

We have to operate within a very tight budget.

Private security firms have to work strictly within the law.

You can go anywhere you want within reason (=within reasonable limits)

He finds it hard to live within his income.

G. Beyond
 Beyond can mean more or greater than a particular amount, level, or limit

More people are choosing to work beyond retirement age.

Inflation has risen beyond the 5% level.

Such tasks are far beyond the scope of the average school kid.

Expensive luxuries that are beyond the reach of ordinary people

 Beyond can be used to say that something is impossible to do

Scott's equipment was damaged beyond repair.

The town centre had changed beyond all recognition.

Due to circumstances beyond our control the performance has had to be cancelled.

Why Joan ever married such an idiot in the first place is beyond me.

37

READING COMPREHENSION
STRATEGIES

38

READING STRATEGIES
1. OVERVIEW QUESTIONS
The most common overview question asks about the purpose or main topic of the passage. Other
overview questions ask about the writer of the passage or the reader of the passage.
 What does this article/the memo mainly discuss?
 What is this form?
 What is the purpose of this letter/announcement/notice?
 Why was this notice/letter written?
 In what business is the writer of the passage?
 What kind of business is Mr. ________ probably in?
 Who issued/wrote this notice?
 What is the authors opinion of ______?
 Who were these instructions written for?
 Who would be most interested in the information in this announcement?
 For whom is this advertisement/notice intended?
-

Dont answer the initial overview questions until you have answered the other
questions

Usually focus on the title and the first sentence(s) of each paragraph for the
topic and main idea; also focus on the last sentence for the conclusion and a
possible restatement of the topic and main idea.

Skim (read very quickly) the rest of the passage for the key words that will
confirm the topic and main idea.

Read the answer choices and eliminate the distractors which may have one of
these characteristics:
a. too general
b. too specific (detailed)
c.

incorrect

d. irrelevant (not mentioned)

39

II.

DETAIL QUESTIONS
1. Information/Factual Questions often begin with the phrases According to the
passage/the author, wh- questions...
2. Negative Questions contain the words NOT, EXCEPT, or LEAST
-

Focus on one or two key words in the question

Scan the passage looking for the key words or related words (synonyms, word
family)

Carefully read the sentence in which the key words occur. (You may have to
read the sentence preceding or following that sentence as well.)

Choose the correct answer

III. REFERENCE QUESTIONS

1. --------------------------------- . A -------------------------------------

Initial position ---> usually read the previous sentence and find the noun that the
referent replaces

2. ---------------------------------------------------------- A----------------------.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A.
-

Middle/Final Position ---> usually read the whole sentence in which the referent
occurs

3. This/ That usually refer to the whole previous sentence or phrase. So, read the previous
sentence or phrase and summarize it.
4. Another ---> Look for One + Noun
5. Others ----> Look for Some/Many + Noun
6. The former/the later/ respectively

40

IV. VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT

1.

Look for synonyms

in the passage because the author may avoid repeating the

same word.

2. Look for examples

- for exam ple, for instance, such as

3. Look for contrast

- but, yet, still

- how ever, nevertheless, on the other hand, in contrast, in spite of this
- although, even though,
tho ugh, though, even if, w hereas, w hile, despite the
fact that, in spite of the fact that, except that
- not
- rather than, instead of
4.

Focus on the general context and see if context clues in the sentence or in the
sentences before or after can help you guess the meaning

- Literal Meaning >< Figurative meaning

Example: * He grasped my hand firmly
* I dont think you have quite grasped the seriousness of the situation.

V.

INFERENCE QUESTIONS

Inference Questions usually include such words as infer, imply, suggest, guess, probably, or
likely or such phrases as Why mention? What . to do next? Which of these .. is
probably true? and What ..probably do?

Answer choices to inference questions require students to

1. understand what the question is asking and know where to find the answer

in the

passage
2. relate the information in the answer choice to a synonym or paraphrase of information in
the passage; and
3. determine what is true and not true in the answer choices

Note: Answer choices that contain such words as always, never,

all, and only are usually NOT correct.

41

LISTENING STRATEGIES

42

PART 1: Strategies for sentences about photographs

1. Always complete each item as quickly as possible so that you can preview the photograph
for the next item. Dont wait for the statement that says, Now look at photograph number
______
2. If you are previewing a photograph that involves a person or people, ask yourself these
questions
 What are the people doing?
 Where are they?
 Who are they? (Is there a uniform or a piece of equipment or anything else that indicates
their profession or role?)
 What distinguishes them? (Is there a hat, a mustache, a purse, a pair of glasses, a tie or
anything else that differentiates the people?)
 What do the peoples expressions tell you? (Do they look happy? Unhappy? Excited?
Bored? Upset?)
3. If you are previewing a photograph of an object, ask yourself these questions
 What is it?
 What is it made of?
 What is it used for?
 Where is it?
4. I If you are previewing a photograph of a scene, ask yourself these questions
 Where is it?
 What is in the foreground (the front of the picture)?
 What if anything is happening?
 What is in the background (the distant part of the picture)?
5. Dont mark an answer until you have heard all four choices. When you hear a choice that
you think is correct, rest your pencil on that oval on your answer sheet. If you change
your mind and hear a sentence that you think is better, move your pencil to that choice. Once
you have heard all four sentences, mark the oval that your pencil is resting on. (This technique
helps you remember which choice you think is best.)
6. Try to eliminate choices with problems in
 Sound
 Meaning
 Sound & Meaning
7. Never leave any blanks. Always guess before going on to the next item.
8. As soon as you have finished marking the answer, stop looking at and thinking about the
photograph and move on to the next item.

43

PART II: Strategies for Questions/Responses

1. Identifying time
Words you might hear in the questions

Words you might hear in the answers

When did .

When will/ is/ is expected, due / be

V-ing/ can
How long
What time
When did Christopher arrive?
When will the advertising seminar
begin?
When is Marias birthday?
When was Mr. Chen born?
When will my laundry be ready?
When does Mr. Gustavson predict the
construction of the building will be
finished?
How long will this session last?
How long has the photocopying
machine been out of order?
What time does your flight leave?
What time is the news on television?

yesterday/ last/ ago/ in (month, year)/ this

morning
at + time/ tomorrow/next/ in / this afternoon/
on (date)
for/since/ over .
at
Last Wednesday.
At two oclock sharp.

On March 3.
In 1953.
In about two hours.
In about a month.

For another hour, perhaps.

Since 10:00 this morning.

At 7:30.
Its on at 11.

2. Identifying people
Words you might hear in the questions

Words you might hear in the answers

Who

Name/ Occupation title

A man/woman who .

Whose
Who will go with you on the business
trip?
Whos the new chef at the Fontaines
bakery?
Who did Mrs. Martelli pick to fill the
position?
Who can deliver this memo to Mr.
Wantanabe for me?
Whos going to pick him up at the
station?
Whose coffee cup is this on my desk?
Whose scarf is this?

Possessive case (Its + names)

Ms. Preston

A man who worked at the Central Pastry

Shop.
A young intern from the marketing
department was chosen.
I can do it when Ive finished typing this
letter.
I was planning to.

I was wondering where I left it!

Its Frans.

44

3. Identifying a thing, an action or idea

Words you might hear in the questions

Words you might hear in the answers

What ?
What kind/type of

 Something ()
 I dont know

What do you think I should wear to the party

What is the fine for overdue books?
What was that loud noise I just heard?
What kind of work does Ms. Garcia do?
What kind of novel do you like?
Whats the name of the travel agency this
company uses?
What are your total production figures for this
factory?
What do you plan to do when school is
finished?
What do you estimate your firms profit will
be in December?

A suit and a tie.

Its ten cents a day.
I dont know.
Shes a computer programmer.
I prefer adventure stories.
I think its called All Points Travel.

Over 1000 units a week.

Work for my father.

Optimistically speaking, about 20

percent.

4. Identifying an opinion
Words you might hear in the questions

Words you might hear in the answers

How
Whats your opinion of ?
Do you think Tom will .?
What do you think of .?

 Adjectives: great/ good/ terrific/

excellent / wonderful/ happy/ busy/
terrible/ boring
 Verbs: love/like/enjoy/prefer/believe/
 Expressions: Its a good/great idea

How did you like that new movie?

What do you think of Scott Grahams latest
novel?
What do you think of your new supervisor?

I enjoyed it, but my husband didnt.

Its terrific.

I dont know her well enough to say.

45

5. Identifying a choice
Words you might hear in the questions
-

Words you might hear in the answers

 A/B will be repeated in the answer
choice
 Neither one/Both, please
 Either one

. A or B?
. prefer?
like better?

Note: The speaker can offer a third option

-

Which does that artist produce more of

paintings or sculptures?
Will you arrive in the morning or the
evening?
Do you want milk or sugar in your coffee?
Should I wait here at the counter or follow
you back to the warehouse?
What do you think, plain or patterned carpet
in the waiting room?
Will the conference be held here or at the
headquarters?
Should they move the file cabinet to the right
or over by the copy machine?
Shall I put this file on your desk or back in the
filing cabinet?
Can you locate the files on the merger, or
should I ask Mr. Chan to do it?

Lately, she has been doing a lot of

paintings.
In the morning, I think.

Neither one.
Oh, come with me please.

Either one is fine with me.

Its scheduled for this building.

I think it looks good where it is.

Ill take it.

Ill have them ready for you in a minute.

6. Identifying an invitation, offer, request

Words you might hear in the questions
-

Why dont we ?
Why dont you?
Dont you want to..?
I was wondering if youd like to .
Lets .
What/How about .?
Shouldnt we/ Shall we ?
Would/Wouldnt you like me to .?
Can I?
Couldnt you ?

Would you like to join us for a game of

tennis?
Would you like to order a calendar for
next year?
Shall we send you a reminder for your

Words you might hear in the answers











-

OK
Id love to!
Of course
Sure
That sounds like fun/ Thats a good idea/
Great,
Yes, please (accept the offer)
No, thanks . (turn down the offer)
Thank you, but ( turn down the offer)
Sorry, Ive already made plans/ I have other
plans. ( turn down the offer)
Sorry, but ( turn down the offer)
Wed love to thanks!

- Thanks, but I already have one

- Yes, that would be helpful.

46
-

next dental appointment?

Why dont we go out this evening?
Why dont we take the earlier train
home?
How about a movie when we finish up
here?
Would you mind opening you bag so I
can inspect it, sir?
Dont you want to go to the reception
for Miss Gunther?
I was wondering if youd like to join us
for dinner this evening?
Couldnt you stop at the post office
today?
What about visiting the flower show over
the weekend?

- Sorry, Ive already made plans

- Great, Im exhausted.
- Thats a good idea.
- Not at all
- Sorry, but Im not feeling well.
- Sorry, I have other plans.
- I might have time after lunch.
- Wednesday afternoon would be better for me.

7. Identifying a reason
Words you might hear in the questions
-

Why

Why is this train running late?

Why didnt you let us know youd be
late?
Why did the board of directors change its
policy?
Why did the meeting begin so early?
Why didnt Mr. Danforth bring the
situation to the attention of his
supervisor?
Why didnt you get to work on time?
Why does Ms. Ortiz want to see the
invoices?

Words you might hear in the answers

 To do sth
 Because/ Because of
Note: An implied reason ( usually a certain
problem) can be given
- I think there are mechanical problems.
- I couldnt find a phone.
- There had been too many complaints.
- Everyone was in a hurry.
- He though he could handle it himself

- The traffic was terrible.

- Theres a problem with the shipment.

47

8. Identifying a description
Words you might hear in the questions
-

Words you might hear in the answers

What is like?
What does .look like?
What are your new co-workers like?
Whats the weather like here in the winter?

an adjective or adjectives

They seem very pleasant

Its cool and often rainy

9. Identifying manner or a method

Words you might hear in the questions

Words you might hear in the answers

How will/can..?

By ( a means of transport )
With

How will you get to work tomorrow?

How can we be sure that the order will arrive
on time?
How can I get more letterhead and
envelopes?
How do you handle inquiries?

Ill get my car back from the mechanic.

Express service is very reliable.

Contact Ms. McKay in the stockroom.

I send out this pamphlet.

10. Identifying a location

Words you might hear in the questions

Words you might hear in the answers

Where?

How far ?

Where should we meet so we can all go to

the game together?
Where are you staying ion Paris?
Where did Maria leave the Oceanview
contract?
How far would you say Conrad Park is from
here?

Names of the places

Prepositions of places (in/ next to/ near/
beside/ under/ over/ on/ on top of/ at/ from/
behind/ right/ left/ downtown / at the end
of
minutes away/ walk/drive
km
Lets meet at the stadium entrance.

At the Grand Hotel.

She put it in Ms. Garcias mailbox.

Its about 10-minute walk.

48

11.

Yes/No Questions & Tag Questions

Words you might hear in the questions

-

Do/Does/Did/ Have.?

Dont/ Doesnt/ Didnt ?

Words you might hear in the answers

-

Yes /No/ Not

Have they delivered our lunch yet?

Yes, its here.

Has the director already left?

Yes, he had an appointment.

Didnt anyone train the new employee to use -

Mike showed him everything works.

the copier?
-

Did you ask them what time their flight would -

No, I didnt think of it.

arrive?
-

Your managing director resigned yesterday, -

Yes, it was quite a surprise.

didnt he?
-

Wilma gets reimbursed for the cost of driving -

Yes, but she has to submit a claim form.

her car to the meting, doesnt she?

-

This new product should sell well, shouldnt -

Yes, it is priced fairly.

it?
-

You want me to retype this document, dont -

I would appreciate it

you?
-

You dont want to start a new project this late in the day, do you?

I still have time

49

Part 3: Short Conversations

I. Strategies
1. Between each question is an eight-second pause. That means there are twenty-four seconds
between each conversation. You can accomplish quite a bit during this time. You need to mark
your answers for the three questions and then preview the next three questions and answer
choices. They tell you what to listen for.
2. While listening to each conversation, keep your eyes on the corresponding set of three questions
and answer choices. Don't close your eyes or look away. Try to evaluate the four choices as you
are listening.
3. Remember that distractors are sometimes mentioned in the conversations but are not answers to
the question. Don't choose an answer just because you hear a word or two from the answer in
the conversation.
4. If the correct answer is not obvious, try to eliminate answer choices that seem to be incorrect. If
more than one answer choice is left, take a guess.
5. Mark your answers as quickly as possible so that you can preview the next item.
6. Never leave any answers blank. If you are not sure, always guess.

II. Question types

A. Overview questions
B. Detail questions
C. Inference question
A. Overview Questions
Types of over view questions

Question Words

1. Questions about locations

Where..?

2. Questions about occupations

Who?

3. Questions about activities

What doing?

4. Questions about topic

Whattalking about?

50

1. Questions about locations

Tactics

Questions
Where are they?

Examples

Where are the speakers?

Listen for vocabulary that is associated M: We dont have any

with a certain location
reservations. Is it still

Where is the man/woman?

- Terminal /carousel/check-in/departure

Where is the conversation

taking place?

possible for us to get a

lounge/ gate/ hangar /run-way 

table for two?

Airport

F: Youre in luck a party

- Rolls/cake/bread  Bakery

of two just canceled their

- Stage/cast/scene/box office/  Theater

reservations. We can

- Chain/ring/necklace/bracelet  Jewelry

seat you in about fifteen or

store
- Menu/terminal/keyboard  Computer
store
- Bulldozer/hard hat/crane 

twenty minutes.
M: Great! I was worried,
but I guess this is our
lucky night!

Construction site
- Dryer/hangars/detergent 
Laundromat
- Pen/envelopes/letterhead/postcard 
Post office
- Account/balance/statement /checkbook /
deposit/credit/loan/ interest rates 
Bank
- Surf/towel/umbrella/wave/sunbathe 
Beach
- Lawyer/judge/witness/defendant/plaintiff/
jury  Courtroom
- Spectators/ cheer/ clap/ match/ player
 Stadium
- Lane/driver/exit  Freeway
- Suite/front desk/reservation/ room/
receptionist/room service/ housekeeper
 Hotel
- Waiter/waitress/bill/menu/order/table/
seat/ reservation  Restaurant

Where are they?

A. At a theater
B. At a party
C. At an airport
D. At a restaurant

51

2.

Questions about occupations

Tactics

Questions
Who is the man/woman?

Examples

Who are they?

Listen for vocabulary that is associated M1: Theres something

with a certain occupation
wrong with this switch.

What is he/she?

- Kitchen/pot/knife  Cook

Can you fix it?

What are they?

- Parking tickets/law/illegal/fine 

M2: Its not just the switch,

What is the man/womans

profession / occupation/jon?

Police officer

Im afraid. This whole

- Class/exam/student  Teacher

building needs rewiring.

- Software/keyboard/monitor 

M1: But that will cost a

Computer programmer
- Money/deposit/withdrawal  Bank
teller
- Order/tip/guests  Waiter

fortune!
Who is the second
speaker?
A. An electrician

- Runner/training/game  Athlete

B. A banker

- Medicine/nurse/hospital/patient 

C. An engineer

Doctor

D. A jeweler

- Instrument/orchestra/note  Musician
- Stage/drama/theater  Actor

F: I want to put a new

- Passenger/Fare/Tip  Taxi driver

deck on the back of my

- Cash register/change/receipt  Sales

house. Do you know

clerk
- Newspaper/write/report/article 
Journalist

anyone who does that kind

of work?
M: Why dont you ask

- Switch/rewiring/ fix  Electrician

Thomas? He did a great

- Pipe/sink/faucet/leak/drip/fix 

job repairing the wooden

Plumber
- Wood/furniture/ saw/ plane/ chisels/
hammer/nail  Carpenter

stairway in my house.
F: I asked him, but hes
working on a new
construction job.
Who is Tomas?
A. A sailor
B. A mechanic
C. A plumber
D. A carpenter

52

3. Questions about activities

Tactics

Questions
What are they doing?

Examples

What is happening now?

Listen for vocabulary that is associated M: Ive been waiting here

with a certain activity
15 minutes. How often do

What is the man doing?

- Drinking coffee: cup, spoon, sugar,

What is going to happen?

cream, coffee break

- Watching a movie: film, screen,
theater, popcorn
- Going to the post office: mail, stamps,

the buses come?

W: One stops here every
twenty minutes
M: Good, we only have
five minutes to wait, then.

postal clerk, letter, package

- Reading a book: novel, pages, cover,
character
- Making a telephone call: number,
receiver, dial, answer, hang up
- Using a computer: keyboard, monitor,
screen, software, crash
- Ordering food at a restaurant: menu,
waiter, waitress, table, drink
- Buying clothes: suit, pants, dress, skirt,
jeans, dressing room
- Eating dinner:
- Waiting for a bus:
- Moving furniture:
- Buying a plane ticket:
- Parking a car:
- Driving a car:

What are the speakers

doing?
A. Getting on a bus
B. Waiting for a bus
C. Taking a taxi
D. Paying a fare

53
4.

Questions about topics

Tactics

Questions
What/ whom are they discussing?

What are they referring to?

What

is

the

topic

Listen for vocabulary that is

associated

of

Examples

with

certain

topic.

the
-

W: Is there a dress code

at your company?
M: No, but most of the

The answer choices will be

men wear coats and

What are they talking about?

four plausible topics. Incorrect

ties, and the women

What is the conversation about?

answers may include details

wear dresses or suits.

that are mentioned in the

W: Oh, its pretty formal

conversation?

What

is

the

conversation

subject

of

the

conversation but that are not

the

main

conversation

subject

of

then.

the
What are they discussing
A. A new outfit that the
woman is wearing
B. How people dress at
the mans company
C. Where to buy
clothes for work
D. A social event that
the man attended

54

B. Detail Questions
Types of over view

Question Words

Examples

questions
1. Questions about time

When.?

When does Claudia want to go

How often?

to the play?

At what time?

A. Monday

How long?

B. Wednesday
C. Thursday
D. Saturday
W1: I need to call the theater to
order tickets for Wednesday.
W2: Why dont you see the play
over the weekend Claudia?
W1: It runs only Monday through
Thursday.

2. Questions about

Why did happen?

Why is Mrs. Sompong leaving?

reasons

Why is the man/woman going

A. To join another company

B. To start her own business

to?
Why does the man/woman

D. To

want to?
Why

is

C. To enter a race

the

man/woman

upset/ happy/ puzzled?

have

break

from

working
M: Do you hear about Mrs.
Sompongs resignation?

Why did not happen?

Why does the man/woman W: Yes. Our competitors made

her an offer she couldnt resist.
not want to?
M: Ill wonder if theyll appoint
her as their new marketing
manager?
3. Questions about plans

What

man/woman What is the woman going to do?

A. Sell the camera
planning/going to do?
is

the

What does the man/woman

C. Fill out a form

plan to do next?
What

plan

suggested?

B. Pay by check

has

been

D. Write her name on the

card

What does the man/woman M: And how would you like to

pay for the camera?
plan to do?
W: Could I write you a check?
M: Certainly. Ill need some form

55
of identification or a major credit
card.
4. Questions about

What is the matter with ?

What is Ms. Kim worried about?

problems

What is the problem here?

A. Whether she has enough

Whats wrong with

What is the man/woman
concerned/ worried about?
What is the man/womans

money for her vacation.

B. Whether she returned
the book on labor
dispute.
C. Whether the airline will

problem?
What is bothering the

be operating or not.
D. Whether her union will

man/woman?

get higher wages.

M: Are you all set for your
vacation on Friday, Ms. Kim?
W: Yes, but now Im waiting to
see if the airline weve booked
our return flight on will go out
on strike that day.
M: Oh yes. I head thats a
possibility. The company claims
it has no money to meet the
unions demands.
5. Questions about
opinions

What does the man/ woman

think of/ about ?
What is the man/womans
opinion of ?
How does the man/woman
feel about ?

6. Questions about advice

What is the man/womans What does Martha advise Dan

to do?
suggestion?
What does the man/woman
is

the

man/woman

suggesting?
What is the man/womans
advice?

better

work

schedule

advise to do?
What

A. make

B. Walk to the office

C. Turn on the lights
D. Give a shorter report
M: Ill never get this report
finished before the weekend.

56
W: Youve got to allocate your
time more carefully, Dan.
M: I guess youre right. Ill
probably wind up working at the
office all night again.

(See the strategies for part 2)

C. Inference Questions
Tactics

Questions
What does the man/woman imply?

What is the man/woman saying

Examples

The answers for inference

What are they likely to eat

questions are not directly stated

out for lunch?

in the conversations. Instead you

A. Soup

What can be said about?

have to draw a conclusion based

B. Salad

What is known about ?

on the information that is

C. Sandwiches

What can be inferred from the

presented by the speakers.

D. Hamburgers

about ?

conversation?

What does the man/woman mean?

What is probably true about?
What are they likely to?

Read the question carefully and

focus on one or two key words

M: Ive heard nothing but

Listen for key words that help

praise for that new health

you make a logical conclusion

food restaurant.
W: Same here. And Ive
got a coupon for the salad
bar buy one, get one
free.
M: Im always looking to
save some money. Lets
check it out for lunch

57

58