TOEFL Writing Quiz

What's wrong?

Did you see professor Jung? I haven't seen professor Jung in a while. Professor Jung is kind of boring by the way.

• Noun repetition

• Subject-verb agreement

• Verb form

Answer explanation

If we didn't have pronouns, we would have to repeat a lot of nouns.

Pronouns must agree with the nouns they refer to.

This is the correct sentence:

Did you see professor Jung? I haven't seen him in a while. He is kind of boring by the way.

What's wrong?

I have my Biology booklet, and my friend Fred has theirs.

• Missing word

• Subject-verb agreement

• Possessive pronoun

Answer explanation

This is the correct sentence:

I have my Biology booklet, and my friend Fred has his.

Make sure that the possessive pronoun agrees in number with to which it refers.

What's wrong?

Did you know that Sandra believes on ghosts?

• Missing word

• Preposition

• Subject-verb agreement

Answer explanation

This is the correct sentence:

Did you know that Sandra believes in ghosts?

Some verbs and adjectives are usually followed by certain prepositions.

What's wrong?

Sue spent the whole evening writing a essay for professor Jung.

• Pronoun

• Article

• Subject-verb agreement

Answer explanation

This is the correct sentence:

Sue spent the whole evening writing an essay for professor Jung.

Before consonant sounds we use " a ".

Before vowel sounds we use " an ".

Use a/an with countable nouns.

What's wrong?

It is often said that English is more easier than Spanish.

• Confused words

• Wrong form of word

• Comparison

Answer explanation

This is the correct sentence:

It is often said that English is easier than Spanish.

With short adjectives ( usually one syllable ) we include -er at the end.

What's wrong?

carlos speaks portuguese and spanish. i also speak spanish fluently.

• Confused words

• Wrong form of word

• Capitalisation

Answer explanation

This is the correct sentence:

Carlos speaks Portuguese and Spanish. I also speak Spanish fluently.

Proper names and laguages are always capitalised. So is the personal pronoun " I ".

What's wrong?

Many students who attended Economy class today were pleased. You could see him smiling.

• Possessive pronouns

• Pronouns

• Wrong form of word

Answer explanation

This is the correct sentence:

Many students who attended Economy class today were pleased. You could see them smiling.

Some indefinite pronouns are always plural. These include both and many. Other pronouns that refer to them must also be in the plural.

What's wrong?

Whether I attend Chemistry or History classes, they will have to be a wise decision.

• Possessive pronouns

• Pronouns

• Wrong form of word

Answer explanation

This is the correct sentence:

Whether I attend Chemistry or History classes, it will have to be a wise decision.

The noun is singular (Chemistry or History). The singular pronoun it is used.

What's wrong?

The Chemistry lab has it's own equipment.

• Possessive pronouns

• Pronouns

• Wrong form of word

Answer explanation

This is the correct sentence:

The Chemistry lab has its own equipment.

It's means it is. The possessive pronoun its is needed here.

What's wrong?

Mary has gone in the house.

• Possessive pronouns

• Preposition

• Wrong form of word

Answer explanation

This is the correct sentence:

Mary has gone into the house.

We use into to talk about the movement of something, usually with a verb that expresses movement (e.g. go, come). It shows where something is or was going.

We use in to talk about where something is in relation to a larger area around it. E.g. "Mary is in the garden."