These are some examples I found on the old Toefl practice test

[belly_ttt]

These are some examples I found on the old Toefl practice test ( I'm not going to take this take, just skim through grammar in order to be sure for other exams)
1) An increasing number of office workers use computer as daily rountine
What do you think about the structure of the sentence? It sounds awkward to me.
Are we supposed to replace increasing with increased since I only saw increased in the entry of Oxford dictionary but not increasing. Do they have differences?
2)People who live in small towns tend to be more warm and friendly than people who live in big cities.
Are we supposed to replace warmer and friendlier here?
And by the way, how should we link a short adj with a long adj using and:
ex: They are nicer and more beautiful
or are we supposed to use the sentence's way?
3) Before bridges were built, all transport across rivers in the US were by ferryboat
I believed it was a misprint but it is not. However, the structure of the whole sentence sounds clumsy to me

4) SHould you go out to day, please__ forget to lock the door
a) not to
b) don't
I know b was right. But anybody know any situation that a can also be used?

[ladybird987]

1) an increasing number - it is a number that is increasing.
increasing - participle I
2)more warm and friendly - more refers to both adj.
if you say "more warm and frienlier" it sounds strange,
warmer and friendlier is better then. I think, if only it is possible you should use the shorter form, so "warmer and friendlier" would be my answer.
3) why clumsy?
4) don't
not to - a very strange imperative; I haven't met it so far.

[belly_ttt]

1)So when to use and increased number and increasing number?
2)
I wonder because the sentence seems to violate the rule of English grammar. Why don't we just replace more warm and friendly with warmer and friendlier?
3) Because of "were"... Were what?

[bhaisahab]

Originally Posted by belly_ttt

1)So when to use and increased number and increasing number?
2)
I wonder because the sentence seems to violate the rule of English grammar. Why don't we just replace more warm and friendly with warmer and friendlier?
3) Because of "were"... Were what?

1. Use "increased" when the number has stopped increasing i.e. is static at an increased level.
Use "increasing" when the number has not stopped rising i.e. is not static and is continuing to increase.

2. "Warmer and friendlier" is better.

3. Should be "was" here.

[belly_ttt]

1) Is it so? I'm a bit sektical about it (desolé)
3)Ah yes, it is was. But besides it, the whole sentence seems awkawrd, this is the first sentence of a kind I've ever seen