Selasa, 10 April 2012
Skill
4 : Past Participles
Past participles can cause confusion in the Structure
section of the TOEFL test because a
past participle can be either an adjective or a part of the verb.
The past participle is the form of the verb that appears with have or be. It often ends in
-ed, but there are also many irregular past participles in English.
The mailman has left a letter
in the mailbox. (Left is VERB)
The classes were taught by
Professor Smith. (Taught is VERB)
In the first sentence, the past participle left is
part of the verb because it is accompanied by has. In the second sentence, the
past participle taught is part of the verb because it is accompanied by were.
A past participle is an adjective when it is not accompanied by some form of be or have.
The letter left in the
mailbox was for me. (Left is ADJECTIVE)
The classes taught by
Professor Smith were very interesting. (Taught is ADJECTIVE)
In the first sentence, left is an adjective rather than a
verb because it is not accompanied by a form of be or have (and there is a
verb, was, later in the sentence). In the second sentence, taught is an
adjective rather than a verb because it is not accompanied by a form of be or
have (and there is a verb, were, later in the sentence).
The following example shows how a past participle can be confused with the verb in the Structure section of the TOEFL test.
Example
The bread _____ baked this morning smelled delicious.
(A) has
(B) was
(C) it
(D) just
The following example shows how a past participle can be confused with the verb in the Structure section of the TOEFL test.
Example
The bread _____ baked this morning smelled delicious.
(A) has
(B) was
(C) it
(D) just
In this example, if you look only at
the first few words of the sentence, it appears that bread is the subject and
baked is either a complete verb or a
past participle that needs a helping verb. But if you look further in the
sentence, you will see the verb smelled. You will then recognize that baked is
a participial adjective and is therefore not part of the verb. Answers (A) and
(B) are incorrect because baked is an adjective and does not need a helping
verb such as has or was. Answer (C) is incorrect because there is no need for
the subject it. Answer (D) is the best answer to this question.
EXERCISE 4: Each of the following sentences contains one or more past
participles. Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice. Circle the past
participles, and label them as adjectives or verbs. Then indicate if the
sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
1. The food is served in this restaurant is delicious. (Incorrect)
Analysis:
The sentence should be "The food served in this restaurant is delicious".
is served is incorrect, it should be served (past participle as an Adjective).
Subject is The food and Verb is IS
2. The plane landed on the deserted runway. (Correct)
Analysis:
Subject is The place and Verb is landed
Deserted is past participle as an adjective
3. The unexpected guests arrived just at dinnertime. (Correct)
Analysis:
Subject is unexpected guests and Verb is arrived
Unexpected is past participle as an adjective
4. The courses are listed in the catalogue are required courses. (Incorrect)
Analysis:
The sentence should be The course listed in the dialogue are required courses.
Subject is The course and Verb is are required.
are listed is inccorect, but it should be listed (be past participle as an adjective)
5. The teacher found the lost exam. (Correct)
Analysis:
Subject is The teacher and Verb is found
Lost is past participle as an adjective
Source : http://www.toeflskill.com/
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