A relative clause functions as an adjective. Each relative clause, which has its own
subject and verb, is introduced by one of the following words: who, whom, which, that,
and whose.
I do not know the lady who
S
lives
V
next door.
He is a man (whom)* I
S
respect
V
.
That is a fern plant, which
S
never blooms
V
.
This is the book (that)* I
S
borrowed
V
from John.
That is the couple whose house
S
burned down
V
.
An adverb clause functions as an adverb. Each adverb clause has its own subject and
verb. The following is a list of commonly used words that introduce adverb clauses:
before, after, because, since, while, when, if, and although. Introductory adverb clauses

late.
I have not seen him since he
S
arrived
V
.
They met him when they
S
were
V
at college.
• Be sure that every dependent clause is attached to an independent clause.
• Remember that all clauses, independent and dependent, have their own subject and
finite verb.
• A finite verb is one that can be conjugated and shows tense, that is, ends in -ed,-s,
etc. A gerund (V 1 ing) or an infinitive (to 1 V) is not a finite verb.
• In this grammar explanation, when any word appears in parenthesis, it is optional
in the sentence.
• Remember that two independent clauses are joined by coordinate conjunctions (and,
but, etc.). They cannot be joined by a comma only.
*Note: Whom and that, when used as objects, are optional.
122 PART III: TOEFL Writing Reviewwww.petersons.com
Error Examples
WRONG: Give my regards to everyone asks about me.
RIGHT: Give my regards to everyone who asks about me.
WRONG: Thinking for many centuries that the world was flat.
RIGHT: It was thought for many centuries that the world was flat.

life.
6. That Columbus was not the first man to set foot in the New World.
7. He found the book he had been looking for under the sofa.
8. We went to San Diego, we spent many happy hours on the beach.
9. To think that everyone needs some form of physical exercise.
10. The store had a huge end-of-summer sale, and hundreds of people were at the
door when it opened.
11. If any questions, please ask me for help.
12. That he survived that terrible accident surprised everyone who heard the news.
13. There is the artist whose painting received an award.
14. She is the only person in this country knows how to operate that new
equipment.
15. I noticed that the new couple next door not at home last week.
Answers
C
1.
X
2. (It was learned that). See rule
3 and note b.
C
3.
X
4. (I cannot understand why he
quit his job.). See rule 3,
(noun clause).
X
5. (thing that could). See rule 3,
(relative clause).
X
6. (Columbus was not the first


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EXERCISES: BASIC PATTERNS
Error Identification
Directions: Each sentence below contains four underlined words or phrases. Select the
one word or phrase that must be changed in order for the sentence to be correct. Circle
your answer in the book or mark your answer on a separate sheet of paper.
1. I did not understand their
(A)
predicament
until
(B)
John explained me
(C)
all the details
of the mishap
(D)
.
2. Even though we had been
(A)
to her house
several times before, we did not remember
(B)
exactly what
(C)
street was it
(D)
on.
3. We are never
(A)

6. Mr. Shimoto was planning to send
(A)
to me
(B)
a package from Japan as soon as
(C)
he arrived home
(D)
from his trip to
Hawaii.
7. I was surprised to hear
(A)
that the store
charged Dr. Brown
(B)
an extra amount
when it delivered
(C)
to his office
(D)
his new
sofa.
8. When John asked Tomoko, the Japa-
nese student, what she did think
(A)
of the
museum, she quickly
(B)
replied that it
had taught

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Sentence Completion
Directions: In the sentences below, one or more words are left out of each sentence.
Under each sentence, you will see four words or phrases. Select the one word or phrase
that completes the sentence correctly, then write it in the space provided in the book or
on a separate sheet of paper.
1. ________ is indispensable to the
economy of that region.
(A) That copper mining
(B) It is copper mining
(C) Although copper mining
(D) Copper mining
2. She read ________.
(A) several chapters in the library
last night
(B) last night several chapters in
the library
(C) last night in the library several
chapters
(D) in the library several chapters
last night
3. Doris went to the nicest store in the
city ________ presents for her
children.
(A) for to get
(B) for getting
(C) to get
(D) to getting
4. The man on the horse ________ a
famous movie star.

France.
(A) who is
(B) he is
(C)
is
(D) is he
10. They ________ to our proposal.
(A) have not still responded
(B) have not responded still
(C) have still not responded
(D) still have not responded
126 PART III: TOEFL Writing Reviewwww.petersons.com
ANSWER KEY AND EXPLANATIONS
Error Identification
1. C
2. D
3. C
4. C
5. D
6. B
7. D
8. A
9. D
10. A
1. The correct answer is (C). See
Indirect Objects, page 111.
2. The correct answer is (D). See

2. The correct answer is (A). See
Order of Adverbs, page 113.
3. The correct answer is (C). See
To/For (Purpose), page 118.
4. The correct answer is (D). See
Double Subjects, page 120.
5. The correct answer is (B). See
Order of Adverbs, page 113.
6. The correct answer is (C). See
Embedded Questions, page 116.
7. The correct answer is (C). See
Indirect Objects, page 111.
8. The correct answer is (A). See
Embedded Questions, page 116.
9. The correct answer is (C). See
Double Subjects, page 120.
10. The correct answer is (D). See
Order of Adverbs, page 113.
answers
exercisesChapter 6: Basic Patterns 127
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SUMMING IT UP
• Some verbs may be followed by two objects: an indirect object and a direct object.
• In general, place adverbs (or adverbial phrases) after the verb or after the object, if any.
• Do not separate the subject from the verb or the verb from its object.
• Patterns for expressing purpose are for 1 noun phrase and to 1 simple form of the verb.
128 PART III: TOEFL Writing Review