TOEFL Structure & Written Expression - Intermediate

Advanced TOEFL Grammar Structures

1. Parallel Structure

Items in a series must be grammatically parallel.

Correct Parallel Structure:

• The job requires typing, filing, and answering phones. (all gerunds)


• She likes to swim, to run, and to cycle. (all infinitives)


• The course was informative, challenging, and rewarding. (all adjectives)

Incorrect Examples:

• ❌ The job requires typing, filing, and to answer phones.


• ❌ She likes swimming, to run, and cycles.

2. Conditional Sentences

Type 1: Real Present/Future

If + present simple, will + base verb

• If it rains, we will cancel the picnic.


• If she studies hard, she will pass the exam.

Type 2: Unreal Present

If + past simple, would + base verb

• If I had more time, I would travel more.


• If she were here, she would help us. (Note: use "were" for all persons)

Type 3: Unreal Past

If + past perfect, would have + past participle

• If I had studied harder, I would have passed the test.


• If they had left earlier, they would have arrived on time.

3. Subjunctive Mood

Used after verbs of suggestion, recommendation, requirement, and importance.

Common Verbs:

• suggest, recommend, propose


• require, demand, request


• insist, urge


• it is essential/necessary/important/vital

Structure: verb + that + subject + base verb

• The professor suggests that she study more. (not "studies")


• It is essential that he be present. (not "is")


• The rules require that all students wear uniforms.

4. Relative Clauses

Defining Relative Clauses (no commas):

• The book that I borrowed is excellent.


• Students who work hard usually succeed.


• The house where I grew up was demolished.

Non-Defining Relative Clauses (with commas):

• My brother, who lives in Paris, is visiting next week.


• The Eiffel Tower, which was built in 1889, attracts millions of visitors.

Relative Pronouns:

• who/whom: for people


• which: for things


• that: for people or things (defining clauses only)


• whose: for possession


• where: for places


• when: for time

5. Passive Voice

Formation: be + past participle

All Tenses:

• Present: The report is written weekly.


• Past: The building was constructed in 1950.


• Future: The results will be announced tomorrow.


• Present Perfect: The work has been completed.


• Past Perfect: The letter had been sent before he arrived.


• Modal: The problem can be solved easily.

6. Inversion

Used for emphasis with negative adverbs at the beginning of a sentence.

Negative Adverbs:

• Never, Rarely, Seldom, Hardly, Scarcely


• Not only, No sooner, Only when/after


• Under no circumstances, In no way

Structure: Negative adverb + auxiliary/modal + subject + verb

• Never have I seen such a beautiful sunset.


• Rarely does she make mistakes.


• Not only did he win the race, but he also broke the record.


• Only when the rain stopped did we leave the house.