Toefle Grammar 2

 Addition – Besides

•        Remember that besides means in addition to. Beside means near.

                                       noun

besides           adjective

Besides           our dog,         we have two cats and a canary

Beside                white,               we stock green and blue

 

                                    beside                         noun

We sat            beside                    the teacher

       

Avoid using beside instead of besides to mean in addition.

Examples

Incorrect:  Beside Marge, three couples are invited.

Correct  :  Besides Marge, three couples are invited.

Incorrect:  Beside Domino’s, four other pizza places deliver.

Correct  :  Besides Domino’s, four other pizza places deliver.

Incorrect:  To lead a well-balanced life, you need to have other

                    interests beside studying.

Correct  :  To lead a well-balanced life, you need to have other

                   interests besides studying.

Incorrect:  Beside taxi service, there isn’t any public transportation

                   in town.

Correct  :  Besides taxi service, there isn’t any publictransportation          

in town. Incorrect:  Janice has lots of friends beside her roommate.

Correct  :  Janice has lots of friends besides her roommate.

 Exception – But  and Except

                          

•        Remember that when it is used as a preposition, but means except.

                                                  but               

                                                except        noun                                 

All of the students       but       the seniors       will receive their grades

All of the students     except    the seniors      will receive their grades

Avoid using exception, except to or excepting instead of except.

Examples

Incorrect:  All of the group exception Barbara went to the lake.

Correct  :  All of the group but Barbara went to the lake.

                                    or

                 All of the group except Barbara went to the lake.

Incorrect:  You can put everything but for those silk blouses in the washer.

Correct  :  You can put everything but those silk blouses in the washer.

                                    or

                  You can put everything except those silk blouses in the washer.

Incorrect:  Everyone except  to Larry wants sugar in the tea.

Correct  :  Everyone but Larry wants sugar in the tea.

                                    or

                   Everyone except Larry wants sugar in the tea.

Incorrect:  No one excepting Kathy knows very much about it.

Correct  :  No one but Kathy knows very much about it.

                                    or

                  No one except Kathy knows very much about it.

Incorrect:  The mail comes at ten o’clock every day not Saturday.

Correct  :  The mail comes at ten o’clock every day but Saturday.

                                    or

                   The mail comes at ten o’clock every day except Saturday.

 Replacement – Instead of and Instead

•           Remember that instead of  and instead both mean in place of, but instead of is used before a noun, adjective, or adverb, and instead is used at the end of a sentence or a clause to refer to a noun, adjective, or adverb that has already been mentioned.

                         noun                             noun

                        adjective                     adjective

                         adverb                instead of  adverb

  We went to     Colorado     instead of          abroad     on our vacation this year  You should be          firm        instead of   patient                        in this case

Treat the dog   gently                  instead of   roughly          

  

                                      noun                                    

                                   adjective                                             

                                    adverb                    instead

  We went to              Colorado                 instead      

You should be                            firm                     instead      

Treat the dog               gently                                instead                  

      Avoid using instead before a noun.

Examples

Incorrect:  Bob’s father wanted him to be an engineer instead a geologist.

Correct   :  Bob’s father wanted him to be an engineer instead of a geologist.  or

                 Bob’s father wanted him to be an engineer instead.

Incorrect:   Could I have rice instead potatoes, please?

Correct   :  Could I have rice instead of potatoes, please?              or

                 Could I have rice instead, please?

Incorrect:  Paula’s problem is that she likes to go to the movies stead of to class.

Correct  :   Paula’s problem is that she likes to go to the movies instead of              to class.

                        or

                 Paula’s problem is that she likes to go to the movies instead.

Incorrect:  We chose Terry instead from Gene as our representative.

 Correct   :  We chose Terry instead of Gene as our representative.           or

                 We chose Terry instead.

Incorrect:  It is important to eat well at lunchtime in place buying snacks      

                  from vending machines.

Correct  :   It is important to eat well at lunchtime instead of buying snacks 

                 from vending machines.   Or    It is important to eat well at lunchtime

                  instead.