TOEFL Grammar: Top Grammar Rules,  Grammar Guide, Best Tips, and Sample Questions 

TOEFL Grammar: In TOEFL exam, grammatical skill holds immense weight. It can be the decisive factor that elevates your performance and translates your diligent efforts into a desirable score. Conversely, neglecting grammar can have detrimental consequences, jeopardizing your test results.

Therefore, achieving proficiency in English grammar is a crucial prerequisite for TOEFL success. Mastering essential grammatical principles and demonstrating your command with confidence equips you with a powerful tool to navigate the diverse challenges of the exam. Conversely, weak grammar skills can prove to be a significant obstacle, potentially hindering your ability to effectively communicate and showcase your knowledge across the various test sections.

Top 5+ Grammar Rules to Ace Your TOEFL Exam

TOEFL Grammar Rules: Mastering grammar holds immense weight in achieving a desirable score on the TOEFL exam. A firm grasp of grammatical principles benefits all sections – reading, listening, writing, and speaking – as each assesses your understanding and application of different grammar rules. Incorrect grammar or careless mistakes can significantly impact your overall performance. Therefore, focusing on key grammatical areas can significantly strengthen your preparation and pave the way for TOEFL success. Here are some essential TOEFL grammar rules and concepts to keep in mind. 

Importance of Using Continuous Aspect

You can use the continuous aspect whenever referring to a progressive or temporary action. The continuous aspects, particularly the present and past continuous, are particularly useful for describing actions that are ongoing at or around a specific point in time. However, when employing them in your TOEFL speaking or writing tasks, it’s crucial to carefully consider the specific action you’re aiming to convey through your verb choice. Ensure that the chosen verb tense accurately reflects the ongoing nature of the action about the specified time frame.

Example:

•  He is climbing that mountain right now.
• She has been writing for the past 40 minutes.

Use Definite Articles

Definite articles, or ‘the’ is primarily used for denoting things/places/people. However, you can use these articles when you know what exactly these ‘things’ or ‘places’ are. 

Example: 

• I bought a new car yesterday. The car broke down halfway through the journey. 
• Thanks for giving me the book. The book was quite interesting. 

Use Adjectives To Describe People/Places/Things

You can use adjectives while describing someone, something, or some place. 

Have a look at this sentence: I love action films. 

Here, the term ‘action’ describes the noun, i.e., ‘films’. That being said, you can adhere to the following structure whilst implementing adjectives: ‘(Noun) + to be + Adjective’

Examples: 

• The chicken curry is delicious. 
• The movie is boring

In the aforestated examples, the terms ‘Delicious’ and ‘Boring’ describe the nouns, i.e chicken curry and movie. 

Use Adverbs

You can use adverbs to describe verbs, adjectives and other adverbs. Adverbs are formed by adding ‘ly’ to adjectives. That being said, have a look at an example. 

‘Rahul plays soccer energetically’. Here, the adverb ‘energetically’ describes the verb ‘plays’. You can even use adverbs to describe other adverbs. For example: She scorned him very harshly. 

Here, the adverb ‘verb’ describes the adverb ‘harshly’. 

Avoid Changing “Who,” “Whom” and “Which”

Interchanging the terms ‘who’, ‘whom’ and ‘which’ can change the context or meaning of the sentence. You can use ‘who’ whilst referring to people, ‘which’ for things and ‘that’ for both people and things. Now, consider the following examples : 

• The book which you wrote is lying on the bookshelf. 
• The book that you wrote is lying on the bookshelf. 

Both the aforestated examples are grammatically correct as you can use either ‘which’ or ‘that’ for inanimate objects. 

Now coming to the topic of who vs whom. You can use ‘who’ while referring to the subject of a clause and ‘whom’ for referring to the object of a clause. 

For example: 

• Whom are you going to invite?
• Who wrote the email?
  

You must implement ‘who’, ‘which’, and ‘whom’ correctly in TOEFL sections. 

Avoid using Conditional or Time Clauses While Referring to the Future

You should avoid using time or conditional causes while referring to the future. For example, you should refrain from using ‘will’ or ‘would’ to refer to the future. Conversely, you can use present simple tenses instead of future simple tenses to refer to the future. Let us understand this by looking at the following example. 

‘After she will return, we can talk’ 

This is a grammatically incorrect sentence. To rectify this, what you can do is simply change the future simple with the present simple tense. 

For example: After she returns, we can talk. 

This is a correct example of using present simples for referring to the future. Additionally, you may even use present continuous tenses rather than future continuous to refer to the future. This practice may come in handy during the TOEFL Speaking assessments wherein you may be asked to describe or talk about the future. 

TOEFL Grammar Guide PDF: Download Now

TOEFL Grammar Guide PDF: Conquering TOEFL grammar can be a challenging journey for many aspiring test-takers. This is where a well-structured and comprehensive TOEFL Grammar Guide becomes an invaluable resource. By diligently utilising such a guide, you can significantly strengthen your existing grasp of English grammar and its intricate nuances, equipping yourself for success on the TOEFL exam. Therefore, it is encouraged that test takers download the TOEFL Grammar Guide PDF provided below. This guide promises to streamline your preparation and empower you to confidently navigate the complexities of English grammar, ultimately paving the way for a successful TOEFL experience. 

TOEFL Grammar Guide

Click Here To Download

How to Improve Your Grammar for TOEFL? 

TOEFL Grammar Tips: TOEFL test takers must work on their grammar to score better in the TOEFL exam. That being said, here are some tips to help you improve your grammar for TOEFL. 

Work on the Grammar Rules

While acing the TOEFL exam demands proficiency across various language skills, grammar stands as a pillar of paramount importance. A firm grasp of grammatical principles proves essential to achieving a desirable score. Conversely, grammatical errors can significantly impede progress and mar your performance. Therefore, it is incumbent upon those seeking TOEFL success to prioritise a comprehensive understanding of fundamental grammar rules and their accurate application within diverse contexts.

Practice each rule separately

The adage “practice makes perfect” rings true for mastering grammar, particularly in the context of TOEFL preparation. Aspiring test-takers seeking to excel in their exams must diligently work on each grammatical rule individually. Striving for a meticulous understanding of these rules, to the point where they become second nature, is crucial for acing the TOEFL exam.

One effective approach to achieve this depth of understanding involves actively constructing your own sentences. This practical exercise fosters a stronger grasp of the rules and their appropriate application in diverse contexts. By actively engaging with the concepts through sentence crafting, you solidify your understanding and pave the way for a more accurate grammatical usage on the TOEFL exam.

Learn from Your Mistake 

Solving practice questions on a regular basis is critical for TOEFL preparation. By consistently tackling diverse sample questions, you gain valuable insights into areas where your knowledge might fall short. This self-assessment allows you to prioritise your focus and rectify any gaps in understanding that could potentially hinder your exam performance.

Remember, encountering incorrect answers on practice problems should not be a source of discouragement. Instead, approach each error as a learning opportunity. Analyse where your reasoning took a wrong turn and actively seek clarification on the correct concepts. By meticulously dissecting your mistakes and seeking corrective measures, you effectively eliminate the possibility of repeating the same errors in the actual exam.

Perseverance is the Key

Do not jump topics to expedite your preparation, especially when you are honing your grammar.  

Rushing through essential topics can lead to superficial understanding and ultimately compromise your exam performance. Instead, prioritise a slower, more deliberate pace that allows you to truly grasp each grammatical concept. Remember, mastering grammar is not a sprint, but a marathon. Dedicate sufficient time to systematically understand and practise each rule, ensuring you leave no gaps in your knowledge. This focused approach lays a solid foundation, empowering you to confidently tackle progressively more advanced concepts.

Top 10+ TOEFL Grammar Sample Questions (with answers) 

Here are some questions that’ll require students to implement their understanding and knowledge of the different Grammar rules. Solve them to get a better understanding of grammar and its nuances. 

• My cat ___ (drink) all the milk by the time we got home.
• She ___ (think) about buying a new car because the one she has is old.
• I ___ (write) an email, so I can’t help you do the dishes.
• He ___ (write) a lot of emails as part of his job.
• It’s almost 10 p.m. and we still ___ (decided) what to eat yet.
• ___ price of gas has doubled in the past three days.
• We can’t predict which way ___ global economy is going.
• I don’t like ___ chocolate, but I love ___ candy that you brought.
• Please pass me ___ sugar. It’s in ___ white bowl.
• ___ people don’t like it when you talk back to them.
• She ___ (careful) took the baby out of the car.
• The puzzle was ___ (extreme) difficult.
• She remained ___ (calm) despite the turbulence.
• The ___ (recent) launched product was much better than the ___ (old) version.
• She made an ___ (unfortunate) mistake.

Answer Key

So that was all about TOEFL Grammar. Hope the blog has covered all your queries regarding the topic. 

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