Essential Grammar Rules to Know for the TOEFL Exam

If you're preparing for the TOEFL exam, mastering grammar is essential. Strong grammar skills not only enhance your writing and speaking but also play a crucial role in improving your TOEFL Reading Score and overall communication. Whether you struggle with tenses, sentence structure, or subject-verb agreement, understanding key grammar rules will help you perform better in all exam sections. Enrolling in TOEFL Coaching in Chennai offered by FITA Academy can provide structured learning and expert guidance to strengthen your grammar for TOEFL success.

Let’s dive into the most important grammar rules you need to know for the TOEFL exam.

1. Subject-Verb Agreement Matters

One of the most common grammar mistakes in TOEFL writing and speaking is incorrect subject-verb agreement. The subject and verb in a sentence must always match in number.

✅ Correct: The student studies for the exam.
❌ Incorrect: The student study for the exam.

This rule is particularly important in the writing section, as minor grammar mistakes can lower your TOEFL reading score and impact clarity in essays.

2. Master the Use of Tenses

Using correct verb tenses is crucial in both writing and speaking. The TOEFL exam evaluates your ability to convey ideas clearly, and incorrect tense usage can confuse the reader or listener.

• Present Simple: Used for facts and general truths.
  

• Example: The TOEFL exam tests English proficiency.
  

• Past Simple: Used for completed actions in the past.
  

• Example: She studied TOEFL last year.
  

• Present Perfect: Used for actions that happened at an unspecified time or continue into the present.
  

• Example: I have improved my grammar skills through practice.
  

3. Avoid Run-on Sentences and Fragments

A run-on sentence occurs when two independent clauses are joined without proper punctuation or conjunctions.

❌ Incorrect: I studied for TOEFL I want to pass the exam.
✅ Correct: I studied for TOEFL because I want to pass the exam.

On the other hand, a sentence fragment lacks a subject or verb and doesn’t form a complete thought.

❌ Incorrect: Because I studied hard.
✅ Correct: I scored well on TOEFL because I studied hard.

4. Use Proper Sentence Structure in Writing

Grammar plays a huge role in TOEFL writing. One of the best methods to improve TOEFL writing is to use varied sentence structures. Instead of writing simple sentences, try using complex or compound sentences to improve clarity and coherence.

✅ Example: Although TOEFL is challenging, consistent practice helps students achieve a high score.

Using different sentence types will enhance the quality of your responses in both the speaking and writing sections.

5. The Importance of Prepositions and Articles

Prepositions (in, on, at, by, with, etc.) and articles (a, an, the) are small but crucial grammar elements in English. Incorrect usage can lead to confusion and errors in sentence construction.

• Preposition Mistake:
  ❌ I am interested for learning English.
  ✅ I am interested in learning English.
  

• Article Mistake:
  ❌ I saw elephant in zoo.
  ✅ I saw an elephant in the zoo.
  

These minor mistakes can impact fluency and understanding, which is why it's essential to practice correct usage.

Grammar plays a critical role in TOEFL success, from sentence structure to verb tenses and subject-verb agreement. Understanding these rules will improve your TOEFL Reading Score and help you express ideas clearly in both writing and speaking sections. If you want expert guidance, joining Language Classes in Chennai can provide the structured learning you need to excel in TOEFL.

By focusing on grammar, vocabulary, and effective writing strategies, you’ll boost your confidence and achieve your desired TOEFL score. Keep practicing, and success will follow!