Language Form and Meaning: verbs, agreement and comparison
Introduced| English | Meaning |
|---|---|
| subject/ˈsʌbdʒekt/ | subject |
| agreement/əˈɡriːmənt/ | agreement |
| comparative/kəmˈpærətɪv/ | comparative |
The nearest noun is not always the subject
- "The box of old photos ___ on the shelf." Photos is next to the gap, but the subject 主语 is box. So the answer is is, not are.
- Language Form and Meaning tests exactly this kind of careful reading.
How the section works
- 42 questions in 25 minutes, about 35 seconds each. You read emails, notices and short articles.
- Some sentences have a box with four choices (A–D). Choose the one that makes the sentence correct and fits the text.
"After a long vote, our class decided [ (A) visit (B) visited (C) to visit (D) visiting ] the science museum." After decide we use to + verb, so the answer is (C) to visit.
The section has 42 questions in 25 minutes. About how many seconds is that per question? (Round to the nearest whole number.)
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25 × 60 = 1,500 seconds; 1,500 ÷ 42 ≈ 35.7, so about 36 seconds.
Time words decide the verb
- Look for time words: yesterday and last week (past simple), since and already (present perfect), next week and tomorrow (future).
- The clue may come after the box. Read the whole sentence before you choose.
"My cousin [ (A) lives (B) lived (C) has lived (D) is living ] in Canada since 2022." Since 2022 means from then until now → (C) has lived.
Our school ___ a robotics club since last September.
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Since last September means from then until now, so the present perfect has had.
When the bell rang yesterday, we ___ our science test.
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An action in progress at a past moment (when the bell rang) uses the past continuous.
Verb patterns
- Some verbs take to + verb (want, decide, hope, plan to go); some take -ing (enjoy, finish, avoid going).
- Make and let take the base form: The teacher made us rewrite it. After a preposition use -ing: interested in joining.
Complete with the right form of join: "Are you interested in ____ the chess club?"
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After a preposition (in) we use the -ing form.
The coach made us ___ the drill three times.
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Make + person + base form (repeat).
Agreement
- Agreement 一致: the verb matches its subject. Words like of the students, with his friends or that I bought sit between them and do not change the subject.
- Each, every, everyone and nobody take a singular verb: Everyone in both classes gets a ticket.
Singular or plural verb?
Make subjects and verbs agree, even when words come between them
The list of winners ___ on the noticeboard.
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The subject is list (singular); of winners does not change it.
"Everyone in the two classes have a ticket" is correct.
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Everyone takes a singular verb, so it should be has.
Comparison
- Two things: comparative 比较级 (taller than, more useful than). Three or more: superlative (the tallest, the most useful).
- Equal: as tall as. Irregular: good → better → best, bad → worse → worst, far → farther → farthest.
Of all the planets, Jupiter is ___.
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Comparing with all the planets needs the superlative the largest.
Complete: "The weather today is ____ than yesterday." (comparative of bad)
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Bad, worse, worst is irregular.
Common mistakes
- Agreeing the verb with the nearest noun (The keys to the lab is… ✗ → are).
- Double comparatives (more busier ✗) and than after a superlative (the best than ✗).
- Choosing quickly before reading the clue at the end of the sentence.
Recap
- Read the whole sentence; find the subject and the time words.
- Learn the verb patterns: want to, enjoy -ing, make someone do.
- Two things → comparative + than; three or more → the + superlative.
Put the steps for a Language Form and Meaning box in order.
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Clues can come after the box, so read everything before choosing.
Official sources
- Section format checked on 15 November 2026: TOEFL Junior test content (ETS) and the Test Taker Handbook (ETS, PDF).
- Try the free Language Form and Meaning sample questions (ETS). The examples here are original.