¿Cuáles son algunos de los errores de forma y contenido que comúnmente cometen los hispanohablantes en la redacción de textos para el TOEFL®? En este artículo se identifican y analizan distintos tipos de errores tomando como base redacciones hechas por hablantes nativos del español.
What are some of the typical form and content errors made by Spanish speakers in the Independent Writing section of the TOEFL® test? In this article, diverse types of errors are identified and analyzed, based on actual writings made by native Spanish speakers.
For the sample texts that we will be analyzing, the prompt was:
Some students prefer to study at a library. Other students prefer to study at home. What is the best place to study? Give specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
Let’s see the introductory paragraph written by a student (the words and phrases that have problems are underlined):
I would prefer study at a library than study at home becase at a library I have better
1 2 3
conditions than at home. I need to be focus on what am I doing and because of my studies, I
4 5 6
need specific materials that I can´t have at home.
7
| Problem number | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 1 | “Would prefer” is followed by the infinitive with to. Correct: “prefer to study…” |
| 2 | Spelling mistake: “becase” → “because.” |
| 3 | Awkward construction. Better: “…because conditions in a library are better than at home.” |
| 4 | Incorrect verb form. Use active voice: “I need to focus…” |
| 5 | Subject-verb inversion only occurs in questions. Correct: “…what I am doing…” |
| 6 | Use commas to separate sentence elements: “…and, because of my studies, I…” |
| 7 | “Can’t” implies impossibility. Better: “that I do not have at home.” |
Now, let’s analyze a paragraph written by another student, who believes that studying at home is better:
When you’re at home it’s easier to concentrate because you’re alone and there isn’t anyone
1
arround you. Most of the time people who goes to the library are making some noise such a
2 3 4 5
turn de pages, getting out or in the library, searching and moving some books and making
6 7 8
noises with pens, pencils, etc.
9
| Problem number | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 1 | A comma is needed between “home” and “it’s.” Correct: “When you’re at home, it’s easier…” |
| 2 | Spelling mistake: “arround” → “around.” |
| 3 | Subject-verb agreement: “people go to the library,” not “goes.” |
| 4 | Use present simple for habitual actions. Replace “are making” with “make.” |
| 5 | Correct expression: “such as,” not “such a.” |
| 6 | Use gerunds after “such as”: “turning the pages…” |
| 7 | Spelling mistake: “de” → “the.” |
| 8 | Correct preposition for motion: “into the library,” not “in.” |
| 9 | Better phrasing: “…and using pens or pencils” avoids repetition of “making noise.” |
