The basic forms of these verbs can also be a bit tricky. The following table shows how each verb is con- jugated. PRESENT PRESENT PARTICIPLE PAST PAST PARTICIPLE (with am, is, are) (with have, has, had) lie, lies lying lay lain lay, lays laying laid laid sit, sits sitting sat sat set, sets setting set set rise, rises rising rose risen raise, raises raising raised raised Consistent Tense To help make sure your readers are clear about when actions occur, it’s important to make sure your verbs are consistent in tense. A passage that begins in the present tense, for example, should stay in the present tense. Do not mix tenses as you write. Otherwise, your readers will be confused about whether actions are taking place in the present or took place in the past. Incorrect: The officer unloc ked the trunk and searches for contraband. Correct: The officer unloc ke d the trunk and s earched for contraband. Incorrect: When we inc rease advertising expenses, we reduced profits. Correct: When we inc rease advertising expenses, we reduce profits. Agreement An important element of English grammar is agreement. In all sentences, verbs should agree with their sub- jects. Singular subjects need singular verbs; plural subjects need plural verbs. Incorrect: He always do a very good job. (singular subject, plural verb) Correct: He always does a very good job. (singular subject, singular verb) Incorrect: Sally and Vladimir is going to the movies. (plural subject, singular verb) Correct: Sally and Vladimir are going to the movies. (plural subject, plural verb) To make sure subjects and verbs agree, you need to make sure you are clear about the subject of the sentence. One of the chairs is broken. – STRUCTURE: GRAMMAR AND STYLE– 66 In this sentence, the subject is one, not chairs. Chairs is part of the prepositional phrase (of the chairs), and subjects are never found in prepositional phrases. Thus, the verb must be singular (is, not are) to agree with one. Here are some other subject-verb agreement guidelines: ■ If a compound, singular subject is connected by and, the verb must be plural. ■ If a compound, singular subject is connected by or or nor, the verb must be singular. ■ If one plural and one singular subject are connected by or or nor, the verb agrees with the closest subject. Both A rt and Elaine want to learn more about the Industrial Revolution. Neither Art nor Elaine knows much about the Industrial Revolution. Neither Art nor his cousins know much about the Industrial Revolution. Neither the boys nor their coach knows much about the Industrial Revolution. ■ When the subject comes after the verb (an inverted sentence), it can be tricky to determine correct subject-verb agreement. In sentences that begin with there is and there are, for example, the subject comes after the verb. The verb (is/are) must agree with that subject. Subjects come after the verb in questions, too. Make sure you correctly identify the subject of the sentence. Incorrect: There’s many reasons not to go. Correct: There are many reasons not to go. Incorrect: Here’s the statistics they compiled. Correct: Here are the statistics they compiled. Incorrect: What is the terms of the agreement? Correct: What are the terms of the agreement? Gerunds and Infinitives Two tricky aspects of English grammar are gerunds and infinitives. Gerunds, as we noted earlier, look like verbs because they end in -ing, but they actually function as nouns in sentences: Trevor enjoys t raveling. Here, the “action” Trevor performs is enjoys. The thing (noun) he enjoys is traveling. In the following sentence, however, traveling is the action Trevor performs, so it is functioning as a verb: Trevor is t raveling to Jamaica on Friday. Infinitives (to + verb base), on the other hand, are often part of a verb chain, but they are not the main verb (main action) of a sentence: – STRUCTURE: GRAMMAR AND STYLE– 67 Angela wants to see that movie. In this example, wants is the main verb; what Angela wants (the action she wants to take) is to see the film. WHEN TO USE INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS It can be tricky trying to determine whether you should use an infinitive or a gerund after a verb. Here are a few helpful guidelines: ■ Always use a gerund after a preposition. You will save time and money b y taking the train. He is always frustrated aft er meeting with his lawyer. ■ Always use a gerund after the following verbs: I just missed cat ching that train! I am considering j oining the Army. Sam and Amy are discussing thr owing a party for Javier. We practiced danc ing for weeks before the reunion. ■ In general, use an infinitive after these verbs: I asked him t o attend the lecture with me. He claims t o know the president personally. Don’t pretend t o be someone you are not. She offered t o help me study for the exam. agree ask beg bother choose claim decide expect fail hope manage need offer plan pretend promise refuse venture want wish admit appreciate avoid can’t help consider delay deny discuss dislike enjoy escape finish imagine keep miss postpone practice put off quit recall resist risk suggest tolerate – STRUCTURE: GRAMMAR AND STYLE– 68 ■ With a verb + noun/pronoun construct, use an infinitive after these verbs: Enron’s bankruptcy c onvinced many c ompanies t o diversify their 401K investments. His mother w arned him not to buy that used car. Practice 4 Here are more questions to practice verbs. You will find the Answer Key in Appendix A. 1. After the Grimm Brothers ha d collected “housewives tales” from around the country, they edit them AB C into stories ap propriate for children. D a. A b. B c. C d. D 2. Ryan ask the question that the rest of us were afraid to ask. AB CD a. A b. B c. C d. D BECAUSE verbs are the driving force in every sentence, and because verbs can take so many different forms, you can be sure that many questions in the structure section will be about verbs. Here are five tips to help you prepare for those questions: 1. Memorize irregular and troublesome verb forms. 2. Remember that verbs should be consistent in tense. 3. Make sure that verbs agree with their subject. 4. Make sure the correct helping verbs are used to convey the intended meaning. 5. Use infinitives and gerunds correctly. advise allow ask cause command convince encourage expect force need order persuade remind require tell urge want warn Study Tips for Verbs and the TOEFL Exam – STRUCTURE: GRAMMAR AND STYLE– 69 3. The center fielder catch the ball and threw it to home plate, but the throw was too late. AB CD a. A b. B c. C d. D 4. I can’t help ______ that we made the wrong decision. a. to think b. think c. thinking d. thought 5. If I was a little taller, I could be an astronaut, but I don’t meet the height requirement. ABCD a. A b. B c. C d. D 6. Huey ______ in bed for another hour after the alarm went off. a. lie b. lay c. lied d. lain 7. The sun was raising over the mountain when I rose out of bed and sat at the table. AB C D a. A b. B c. C d. D 8. I expect ______ to the meeting. a. to go b. go c. goes d. going – STRUCTURE: GRAMMAR AND STYLE– 70 9. The key is ______ on the table under the envelope. a. lying b. laying c. lay d. laid 10. Lukas and Elliot said that only one of the solutions mak e sense, and Evan said he agrees. ABCD a. A b. B c. C d. D 11. After Peter b reaks his promise, Wendy vowed never to trust him again. AB C D a. A b. B c. C d. D 12. The doctor suggests ______ less red meat and more fresh vegetables. a. to eat b. eat c. eaten d. eating 13. “What ar e the value of these jewels?” Kim asked as she held them up to the light. AB C D a. A b. B c. C d. D 14. I told Henderson that I ______ have the report ready by noon, but things didn’t go as I’d planned. a. would b. could c. might d. should – STRUCTURE: GRAMMAR AND STYLE– 71 . chain, but they are not the main verb (main action) of a sentence: – STRUCTURE: GRAMMAR AND STYLE– 67 Angela wants to see that movie. In this example, wants is the main verb; what Angela wants (the. find the Answer Key in Appendix A. 1. After the Grimm Brothers ha d collected “housewives tales” from around the country, they edit them AB C into stories ap propriate for children. D a. A b agree with their subject. 4. Make sure the correct helping verbs are used to convey the intended meaning. 5. Use infinitives and gerunds correctly. advise allow ask cause command convince encourage expect force need order persuade remind require tell urge want warn Study