TOEFL STRUCTURE TEST SAMPLE

The following is one of the toefl test structure samples.

01. If a ruby is heated it ________ temporarily lose its color.
A. would
B. will
C. does
D. has

The correct answer of the question above is B. will. The explanation is as follows:

The question above belongs to the problem of conditional sentence. We know that there are 3 types of conditional sentences. The type above is called conditional sentence type 1. The pattern of the conditional sentence type one is :

If + V (present), S + will + V1....

The if clause of the conditional sentence above contains a verb which is present (is heated); therefore the verb of the main clause is will . That is why the correct answer is B. will .

- Conditional Sentence Type 3

Conditional sentence type 3 is used to express the situation or something which is not true with or the opposite of the real fact in the past. In this sentence, the past perfect tense is used in the " if clause" and the past future perfect is used in the main clause. The pattern is as follows:



If + S + V (Past Perfect/had + VIII)..... , S + would + have + VIII....

Examples:

1. If I had had enough money at that time, I would have bought the car.
.....(In truth, I didn't have enough money)

or

-- I would have bought the car if I had had enough money at that time.



2. If She had been here yesterday, She would have known your condition.
.....(In truth, She was not here yesterday)

or

-- She would have known your condition if she had been here yesterday.

Conditional Sentence Type 2

Conditional sentence type 2 is used to express the situation or something which is not true with or the opposite of the real fact at present. In this sentence, the simple past tense is used in the " if clause" and the past future is used in the main clause. The pattern is as follows:



If + S + V (Simple Past Tense)..... , S + would + V1....

Examples:


1. If I had enough money, I would buy this car. (In truth, I don't have enough money)

or

-- I would buy this car if I had enough money.



2. If She were here, She would know your condition. (In truth, She is not here)

or

-- She would know your condition if she were here.



Note: were (not was) is used for all types of subjects in conditional sentence type 2.

Conditional sentence Type 1

Conditional sentence type 1 is used to express something which possibly happens in the future if the condition is fulfilled. The simple present is used in the "If clause", and the present future is used in the main clause. The pattern is as follows:

If + S + V (Simple Present tense) +.... , S + Will + V1 ....

Examples:

-- If I have a lot of money, I will buy a new car.
(kalau saya punya banyak uang, saya akan membeli mobil baru)
or
-- I will buy a new car if I have a lot of money.
(Saya akan membeli mobil baru kalau saya punya banyak uang)

The sentence above talks about the situation which has not happened yet. It talks about something which can happen (I will buy a car) if the condition (I have much money) is fulfilled.