Structure Part B
Error with Preposition
Errors with Preposition
Prepositions are used in the following ways:
• In adverbial phrases that show time, place, and other relationships
in the morning on Pennsylvania Avenue to the park by a student
• After certain nouns
a cause of a reason for a solution to
• After certain adjectives and participles
different from aware of disappointed in
• After certain verbs
combine with rely on refer to
• In phrasal prepositions (two- or three-word prepositions)
according to together with instead of
• In certain set expressions
by far in general on occasion at last
Intermediate Grammar 3B
Advanced Structure
Errors with Preposition
There are two particular situations involving preposition choice that are often tested in Written Expression:
• Errors with from . .. to and between . .. and
Both these expressions are used to give the starting time and ending time. They can also be used to
show relationships of place and various other relationships.
He lived in Seattle from 1992 to 1997.
He lived in Seattle between 1992 and 1997.
Route 66 ran from Chicago to Los Angeles.
Route 66 ran between Chicago and Los Angeles.
Errors usually involve an incorrect pairing of those words, or the incorrect use of other prepositions:
*between A to B
*between A with B
Advanced Structure B
Errors with Preposition
Sample Items
The pitch of a tuning fork depends of the size and shape of its arms.
A B C D
The correct preposition after the verb depend is on, not of
The Alaskan Pipeline runs between Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic Coastal Plain
A B
to the port of Valdez, a distance of 789 miles.
C D
The correct pattern is from ... to.
Candles were mankind's chief source of illumination since at least 2,000 years.
A B C D
Before a period of time (2,000 years) the preposition for should be used. ...
Advanced Structure B
Incorrect Inclusion or Omission of Prepositions
Sample Items
According many critics, Mark Twain's novel Huckleberry Finn is his greatest work, and is
A B
one of the greatest American novels ever written.
C D
The preposition to has been omitted from the phrase According to.
Some of the most of spectacular waterfalls in the eastern United States
A B C
are found in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.
D
The preposition of should not be used in this phrase. (When most means "majority," it can be used in the phrase most of the.
"Most of the people agree ...," for example.
However, in this sentence, most is part of the superlative form of the adjective spectacular, and so cannot be used with of)
Advanced Structure B
Gerund, Infinitive & Causative
Gerund
Dancing is good exercise. (gerund as subject)
He enjoys going to good restaurants. (gerund as object of a verb)
You can solve this problem by using a calculator. (gerund as object of a preposition)
All two- and three-word verb phrases that can be followed by verbals are used with gerunds, not
infinitives. This is true even when the verb phrase ends with the word to. (This can be tricky because
infinitives always begin with the word to.)
I'm looking forward to going to New Orleans.
John is opposed to our participating.
Advanced Structure B
Gerund, Infinitive & Causative
To Infinitive
To help others is rewarding. (infinitive as subject)
He attempted to swim across the river. (infinitive as object of a verb)
It's important to change the oil in your car frequently.
(infinitive after an adjective)
The first man to land on the moon was Neil Armstrong.
(infinitive used as an adjective after a noun)
She must take this class to graduate.
(infinitive used to show purpose)
Advanced Structure B
Gerund, Infinitive & Causative
Causative Verb
Have, Make, Let & Help
CV + Object + V1
He had the carpenter repair the door.
His father makes him study hard.
She lets her son go on the trip.
Advanced Structure B
Special Verbs with Gerund and To Infinitive
Gerund To Infinitive
admit agree know (how)
avoid allow learn (how)
deny arrange permit
enjoy attempt persuade
finish cause require
justify choose seem
quit decide teach (how)
recommend enable
suggest hope
understand Instruct
tell
use
warn
Advanced Structure B
TOEFL Exercise
TOEFL Practice
Choose between Gerund or Infinitive
1. Sport parachutes are relatively easy (controlling/to control).
2. Sleeve bearings allow pistons (to move/move) back and forth.
3. One of the most important steps in (producing/to produce) a motion picture is film editing.
4. An opera singer is required (having/to have) a powerful and beautiful voice.
5. The Wampanoag Indians taught the Pilgrims how (growing/to grow) corn.
6. Frogs and certain kinds of birds use their tongues (to catch/catch) insects.
7. Isadora Martinez invented a knee implant that lets people with arthritis (to bend/bend) their knees easily.
8. Smells can be more effective than any other sensory stimuli in vividly (bringing/bring) back memories.
Advanced Structure B
TOEFL Practice
Choose between V-ing or V3
1. The largest (knowing/known) insects are found in tropical rain forests.
2. A bill of lading is a (writing/written) receipt for goods that are sent by public transportation.
3. A hummingbird's heart beats at the (astonishing/astonished) rate of 615 beats per minute.
4. At the peak of his jump, a pole vaulter performs a series of (twisting/twisted) body motions to clear the bar.
5. Anyone (working/worked) under conditions that cause a heavy loss of perspiration can suffer heat exhaustion.
6. A mosquito (filled/is filled) with blood is carrying twice its own body weight.
7. The state of Wisconsin has seventy-two counties, many (naming/named) after Indian tribes.
Advanced Structure B
TOEFL Practice
Error Analysis
1. Dynamics is a branch of physics that deals for the relationship between motion and force.
A B C D
2. John Diefenbaker, Prime Minister of Canada during 1957 to 1963, is given much of the credit
A B C
for the adoption of the Canadian Bill of Rights.
D
3. All of the wheat grown throughout the world belongs one of fourteen species.
A B C D
4. Waterwheels, which appeared on the fourth century B.C., were probably the first machines not powered
A B C
by humans or animals.
D
5. In the mid-1900's, an increasing number of jobs in the United States have involved the handling of information.
A B C D
Advanced Structure B
Any Questions?
