ITP TOEFL Structure
& Written Expression
SENTENCES WITH MULTIPLE CLAUSES
SKILLS:
9. NOUN CLAUSE 11. ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
CONNECTORS CONNECTORS
10. NOUN CLAUSE 12. ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
CONNECTOR/SUBJECTS CONNECTOR/SUBJECTS
9. NOUN CLAUSE
CONNECTORS
What is a noun clause?
I don’t know why he said such things.
NOUN CLAUSE AS OBJECT OF A VERB
I am thinking about why he said such things.
NOUN CLAUSE AS OBJECT OF A PREPOSITION
A NOUN CLAUSE: a clause that functions as a noun
Used as an object after a verb or preposition
9. NOUN CLAUSE
CONNECTORS
NOUN CLAUSE CONNECTORS
• what, when, where, why, how
• whether, if
• that
S V noun clause connector S V
Sally explained WHY she did it.
10. NOUN CLAUSE
CONNECTOR/SUBJECTS
Study the following sentences:
I know what happened yesterday.
NOUN CLAUSE AS SUBJECT OF A VERB
We are thinking about what happened yesterday.
NOUN CLAUSE AS SUBJECT OF A PREPOSITION
10. NOUN CLAUSE
CONNECTOR/SUBJECTS
NOUN CLAUSE CONNECTOR/SUBJECTS
who what which
S V noun clause connector/subject V
Al told me WHAT happened.
11. ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
CONNECTORS
What is an adjective clause?
This is the house that I want to buy.
ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
The house that I want to buy is quite expensive.
ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
An adjective clause describes a noun.
positioned directly after an object that is described
11. ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
CONNECTORS
ADJECTIVE CLAUSE CONNECTORS
whom which that
(for people) (for things) (for people or things)
S V adj. clause connector S V
I like the dress THAT you are wearing.
S adj. clause connector
S V V
The dress THAT you are wearing is beautiful.
NOTE: The adjective connectors can be omitted. The omission is common in spoken English or in
casual written English. It is not common in formal English or in structure questions on the TOEFL test.
12. ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
CONNECTOR/SUBJECTS
We are looking at a house house that is quite expensive.
ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
The house that is quite expensive seems like a great house.
ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
12. ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
CONNECTOR/SUBJECTS
ADJECTIVE CLAUSE CONNECTOR/SUBJECTS
who which that
(for people) (for things) (for people or things)
S V adj. clause connector/subject V
I bought the dress THAT was on sale.
S adj. clause connector/subject
V V
The dress THAT was on sale was
beautiful.
NOTE: Although adjective connectors (the previous skill) can be omitted in informal English, adjective
clause connector/subjects can never be omitted.
Exercises
There are three exercises in the next four slides. Do all the
exercises. Answers are discussed in the next G meet.
A) SKILLS 9-10 Each of the following sentences contains more than one clause. Underline the subjects and the
verbs. Circle the connectors. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
C 1. It is unfortunate that the meal is not ready yet. (example)
I 2. She told me when I should pick her up. (example)
I 3. The instructor explained where the computer lab was located. (relocate
was)
I 4. We never know whether we will get paid or not. (missing subject)
I 5. This evening you can decide what do you want to do. (omit do)
C 6. Of the three movies, I can’t decide which is the best.
C 7. He saw who took the money.
I 8. The advisor informed her that she needed to add another class. (missing
subject)
I 9. I would like to ask if you could come over for dinner this weekend.
(connectors)
I 10. We forgot when did the movie started. (omit did)
B) SKILLS 11-12 Each of the following sentences contains more than one clause. Underline the
subjects and the verbs. Circle the connectors. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or
incorrect (I). Numbers 1 & 2 have been done as examples.
C 1. I did not believe the story that he told me.
I 2. Ms. Brown, whom you recommended for the job, will start work soon. (omit
did)
I 3. The lecture notes which you lent me were not clearly written. (missing subject)
I 4. The phone number that you gave me. (not a sentence)
I 5. She is able to solve all the problems which did she caused. (omit did)
C 6. The day that she spent on the beach left her sunburned.
I 7. She forgot to attend the meeting which it began at 11:00. (omit it)
I 8. The people who came in late had to sit at the back. (connectors)
I 9. The courses that satisfy the graduation requirements they are difficult. (omit
they)
C 10. After dinner she went to visit her parents, who were living down the street.
C) SKILLS 9-12 Choose the letter of the word or group of words that best
completes the sentence.
1. Today the true story of __C__ at Little Bighorn remains a mystery. (A.
happened; B. it happened; C. what happened; D. what happening)
2. For more than a decade, __C__ that certain species are becoming scarce. (A.
the warnings of bird-watchers; B. warn the bird-watchers; C. bird watchers
have warned; D. a warning for bird-watchers)
3. Early in the 18th century, Halley accurately predicted when __A__ of 1682
would return. (A. the comet; B. was the comet; C. the comet was; D. had the
comet)
4. No single factor explains why __B__ vary so greatly among individuals. (A.
aging effects; B. the effects of aging; C. aging has an effect; D. the aging
effect)
5. Lack of clarity about __D__ the party in the coming year will be removed at
the party’s convention. (A. will lead; B. lead; C. they will lead; D. who will
lead)
6. Modern humans, who first appeared about 600,000 years ago, __B__ Homo
sapiens. (A. calling; B. were called; C. they called; D. they were called)
7. The first writing ____ evidence of is on Mesopotamian clay tablets. (A. we; B.
that we; C. has; D. that we have)
8. ____ drought-resistant plants which store water in fleshy tissue. (A. Succulents
are; B. Succulents; C. They are succulents; D. Succulents which are)
9. Benjamin Kabelsky, whom ____ as Jack Benny, was a famous comedian in
vaudeville and on radio and television. (A. most people’s knowledge; B. most
people know; C. knowing most people; D. the knowledge of most people)
10. ____ that hunted other animals tended to have very narrow, sharp, curved
claws. (A. For dinosaurs; B. Dinosaurs are known; C. Dinosaurs; D. Like
dinosaurs)
Thank you.
