Booster Parts of a Sentence | Simulator 7

Booster Parts of a Sentence | Simulator 7

Parts of a Sentence — Simulator 7

Parts of a Sentence — Simulator 7

Level 7 / 10 • mixed active/passive • clause traps

Choose the direct object of the MAIN verb in each sentence. Some sentences include passive voice, two verbs, or clauses. Focus on the main clause.

strategy:
1) find the main verb (not inside a clause)
2) ask: what/whom does the subject act on?
3) ignore “by + agent”, prepositional phrases, and clause details

1. the nurse explained the plan, and the instructions were emailed later.

  • the nurse
  • the instructions
  • the plan
  • later

2. the report that you submitted was reviewed by the manager.

  • the report
  • you
  • the manager
  • was reviewed

3. the instructor suggested that students review the notes before class.

  • the instructor
  • review the notes
  • before class
  • that students review the notes

4. the nurse reminded the patient to take the medication, which was prescribed yesterday.

  • the nurse
  • the patient
  • the medication
  • which was prescribed yesterday

5. the committee approved the proposal after the results were analyzed.

  • the committee
  • the results
  • the proposal
  • after the results were analyzed

6. the doctor ordered blood tests, but the imaging was delayed.

  • blood tests
  • the doctor
  • the imaging
  • ordered

7. the manager asked the staff to send the files that were requested by finance.

  • to send the files
  • finance
  • the manager
  • the staff

8. the patient said that the pain was improving, and the nurse documented the statement.

  • that the pain was improving
  • the statement
  • the nurse
  • documented

9. the new schedule was sent to everyone, so students checked the email immediately.

  • the new schedule
  • students
  • the email
  • immediately

10. the instructor explained the steps while the video was being recorded.

  • the steps
  • the video
  • the instructor
  • while the video was being recorded

Your Score

interpretation:
9–10 = excellent main-clause focus
7–8 = review clause boundaries (main vs dependent)
≤6 = re-train: find main verb first

Answer Key

1) the plan
2) the report
3) that students review the notes
4) the patient
5) the proposal
6) blood tests
7) the staff
8) the statement
9) the email
10) the steps

review — level 7 main clause vs clause traps

Most wrong answers come from choosing a noun inside a dependent clause. On MET/TOEFL, you must identify the main clause first.

what to ignore (common traps)

  • by + agent: reviewed by the manager
  • relative clauses: the report that you submitted
  • time/condition clauses: after…, while…, so…
  • passive background info: was recorded / were analyzed

how to find the main clause fast

  • remove the extra clause (that/which/while/after) and see what sentence remains
  • focus on the verb that still makes a complete sentence
test trick: if your choice is inside “that / which / while / after,” it is usually a trap (unless the whole “that…” clause is the object).