Grammar Test (7)

Grammar Basics Practice

 

1. Identifying Nouns

Underline all of the nouns in the following paragraphs. If a noun appears more than once, underline it each time it appears.

 

Exercise A:

Mercury is the planet nearest the sun. Recently, data from spacecraft have shown astronomers that Mercury, like our Moon, is covered with craters. The surface of Venus may also be cratered, but thick clouds of gas hide the landscape from the telescopes. Craters are formed when large meteorites, which are fragments of comets or asteroids, collide with a planet. Some of the craters on the moon are 320 miles wide.

 

Exercise B:

The formation of a volcanic island is a remarkable process. This process often occurs over millions of years. Erupting volcanoes build mountains on the floor of the sea. Each eruption adds more lava to the pile of volcanic rock until, after many years, the volcanic mountain comes within reach of the waves. The submerged island becomes a coral reef. Other islands rise high above the surface of the ocean, forming rugged mountains with ridges, canyons, and cliffs.

 

1. Identifying Pronouns

Each of the following sentences contains two pronouns. Circle each pronoun, and draw an arrow to the noun for which it stands (antecedent).

1. Roberto passed the ball to Elena, who caught it easily.
2. Otis called his sister, but she didn’t answer.
3. When asked about the game, Mike said, “I didn’t see it.”
4. Since Gabriella found the money, the cash belongs to her unless it is claimed.
5. The children said they like the new bus driver who wears the blue hat.
6. Although Elliot studied French in school, he didn’t feel comfortable speaking it.
7. Denise brought sandwiches with her on the hike and carried them in a knapsack.
8. “I,” Jerry said, “surprised myself.”
9. Because Sheila enjoyed musical comedies, she tried to see them as often as possible.
10. Keiko enjoyed volleyball so much she played it every day after school.

 

1. Identifying Adjectives

Underline each adjective in the following paragraph. Do not include the articles a, an. and the.

 

Exercise A:

In Japan, some people grow miniature trees that have a famous history and an important place in horticultural art. Through pruning and fertilization, the trees are trained to keep the shape and proportion of larger trees. The trees often have small leaves and small fruit. The trees have an old and wind-swept appearance, as though they had grown in the outdoors. With bonsai, gardeners can create realistic landscapes in pots and carry scenes of mountain crags or vast plains into their homes.

 

Exercise B: Underline the adjectives and draw an arrow to the word it modifies.

On hot, summer nights, Julio and the other boys sleep out in the yard. They put up a tent in a dark corner, where the trees and bushes are thick. That way the boys can easily imagine they are in a wild, uninhabited country.

One evening Mike suggested that they tell ghost stories or tales of bear hunts. After a particularly spine-tingling story, Mike couldn’t sleep; he was too nervous.

About midnight he saw something move in the shadows. “Yeow!” he cried out. “There is a big bear! It is really huge!”

In the sudden confusion, the small tent collapsed on top of the boys; each one seemed eager to go in a different direction. Anxious parents ran out of the nearby house. They found a coal-black dog. Like a bear, this animal was very curious. It was sniffing at the tangle of arms, legs, and bodies under the tent.

 

1. Identifying and Using Verbs

Underline each verb in the following paragraph. There are twenty-five action verbs.

Mark, Louisa, and Djuana formed an art group. Since they needed a clubhouse, they planned the construction of a small geodesic dome. The group financed the structure through the sale of some of their work. Louisa sold a portrait and an abstract painting. Mark constructed a Tiffany-style lamp, and the Posnicks quickly bought it and placed it in their brownstone apartment across the street. Djuana sketched several local scenes, carved the sketches into linoleum blocks, made greeting cards with the blocks, and sold the cards through a local novelty store. The group carefully studied The Whole Earth Catalog for instructions. Louisa, Mark, and Djuana decided on a 10 ½ x 8 foot building. Louisa, the math whiz, performed the necessary mathematical calculations. Mark, an expert bargain finder, shopped for the materials. With the group’s earnings, he purchased wood struts, spoke hubs, and plastic covering. The group asked Mark’s parents for the use of their back yard. They started the construction work on Monday. Louisa cut the wood to the necessary dimensions. Mark formed the cut wood into triangles, and Djuana fastened the triangles together in the shape of a dome. They finished the skeletal structure on Friday. On Saturday morning, they attached the plastic covering. That evening the group celebrated its success in the new clubhouse.

 

1. Using and Identifying Helping Verbs

Complete the following sentences by writing suitable helping verbs on the lines provided. Then, circle the entire verb phrase.

1. ____________ you ever seen a Kabuki play?
2. His car ________ going too fast for safety.
3. I _________ waiting for Helen.
4. ____________ you met my mother?
5. It ____________ be later than you think.
6. Edena ________ becoming an excellent soccer player.
7. If he _____________ read better, he ____________ learn more.
8. There __________ been serious consequences.
9. Mr. Prinz _______ not ______ persuaded to change.
10. _________ you read “For My People” by Margaret Walker?

 

Each sentence in the following passage contains at least one verb phrase. For each verb phrase, underline the helping verb(s) once and the main verb twice.

Since no one can see the air, some people in the past did not consider it real. The ancient Greek philosopher Anaximenes, however, did not agree with these people. He believed that air must be one of the foundations of all matter.

One evening Anaximenes was walking in the moonlight. While looking up at the sky, he must have seen a rainbow made by the moon. Unlike other Greeks, he did not believe that the rainbow was a goddess. He was not surprised to see the rainbow because he believed that it was made by the effect of light on compressed air.

Like Anaximenes, we must admit that the air does contain something real. Scientists have found nitrogen, oxygen, and other elements in the air. We may discover new facts about air now that we are investigating other planets.

1. Identifying and Using Adverbs

Circle the adverb in each sentence. Then, draw an arrow to the verb it modifies. On the line provided, state whether the adverb tells how, when, where, or to what extent.

_____________________ 1. For weeks merchants cheerfully gave numbered tickets with purchases.

______________________2. My cousin Lorraine and I finally collected forty tickets.

______________________3. “If we’re lucky,” I often told Lorraine, “we will win that camping equipment.”

_____________________ 4. Saturday came, and we eagerly waded through the crowd at the fair.

______________________ 5. The rules stated that the holders of winning tickets must be there.

______________________ 6. Promptly at midnight, they started the drawing.

______________________ 7. “The winner of the camping gear is 6897!” shouted the announcer. “Will the holder of number 6897 come here?”

______________________ 8. Lorraine’s success completely surprised everybody.

______________________ 9. She walked to the platform slowly for her prize.

______________________ 10. She exclaimed, “This is the first prize I have ever won!”

 

1. Identifying Adverbs

Each of the following sentences contains an adverb in italics. Draw an arrow from the adverb to the word it modifies. On the line provided, tell whether the modified word is a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.

______________________ 1. Ms. Katz plays tennis well.

______________________ 2. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., is an exceptionally talented writer.

______________________ 3. Melba seldom loses her head.

______________________ 4. Herbert seemed unusually happy.

______________________ 5. Should I slice the chilies now?

______________________ 6. Trea cried out, “Don’t run so fast!”

______________________ 7. I always enjoy Gary Soto’s poetry.

______________________ 8. A rather funny clown was juggling.

______________________ 9. “I’m too drowsy for words,” Annette yawned.

______________________ 10. Sue works unusually hard on Saturdays.

______________________ 11. Fran answered somewhat enthusiastically.

______________________ 12. Does hay actually cause hay fever?

______________________ 13. They play an extremely fast game.

______________________ 14. We will play a double-header tomorrow.

______________________15. At formal occasions, Jake speaks properly.

_______________________16. The dangerously narrow bridge scared me.

_______________________17. Can you really capture chiggers alive?

______________________18. The second speech was less interesting.

______________________ 19. He was fully aware of his plight.

______________________ 20. Florence occasionally eats Sushi.

 

1. Identifying Conjunctions

Underline the conjunction (s) in each sentence.

1. Every day I have to feed both my dog and my cat.
2. The crowd roared when Antoan hit the home run.
3. Always try to do the job quietly and correctly.
4. The clown looked sad but made me laugh.
5. Let me know if you want to borrow that novel.
6. Since they gave me tickets, I plan to go.
7. I can ride my bicycle on the road or through the woods.
8. “Slow but sure” is my motto.
9. The defendant could either pay a fine or go to jail.
10. I enjoy the writings of both James Baldwin and Ralph Ellison.

 

1. Identifying Interjections

Underline the interjection in each sentence.

1. Whew! I’m glad that test is over.
2. I wonder if this plate is hot-yikes!
3. I’ve seen that movie, oh, four or five times.
4. Look, I don’t think I can make it to the party.
5. After reading Romeo and Juliet, Carla said, “Wow, what a great play!”

 

1. Identifying Prepositions

Underline the prepositions (two) in the following sentences.

1. Do your work in study hall or do it at home.
2. After the dance we went to Gerry’s house.
3. Lorraine Hansberry’s plays about racial and social issues were praised by the critics.
4. Behind the fence I found my bicycle, with a flat tire.
5. Since September she has been the principal of our school.
6. As I walked from the building, I met the principal on the steps.
7. For social studies I read a book about Sacajawea.
8. Margaret lives in an apartment building on Sheridan Avenue.
9. Beyond the valley the mountains were black against the sky.
10. During vacation Derrick kept busy working around the house.

 

1. Reviewing the Parts of Speech

______________________ 1. Kimiko took an express train.

______________________ 2. A train whistle sounded in the distance.

______________________ 3. I will train your dog.

______________________ 4. Cross the street on a green light.

______________________ 5. Turn right at the next cross street.

______________________ 6. She was wearing a gold cross.

______________________ 7. The boss will fire me.

______________________ 8. The fire department is always ready.

______________________ 9. We saw a large fire in the distance.

______________________ 10. He has a bald head.

______________________ 11. Who is the head usher?

______________________ 12. Isabel will head the freshman class.

______________________ 13. Botan can field a ball faster than any other player.

______________________ 14. The new athletic field is ready for use.

______________________ 15. A field mouse scampered by.

______________________ 16. Everyone left the building in a hurry.

______________________ 17. I sat on the left side of the room.

______________________ 18. Turn left at the next corner.

______________________ 19. Let’s walk around.

______________________ 20. Diego and Brian walked around the block.

______________________ 21. What did she say to you?

______________________ 22. Say, watch out for that tree.

______________________ 23. We decided to go inside after we ate.

______________________ 24. One of the Russian dolls was hidden inside the other.

______________________ 25. Hey, where are you going?

 

1. Making Subjects and Verbs Agree

On the line provided for each of the following subjects and verbs, write S if the verb is singular or P if the verb is plural.

_______ 1. Bill walks        ________ 2. he tries                ________ 3. I make                   ________ 4. Jim wishes

_______ 5. she has           ________ 6. cats are               ________ 7. classes have         ________ 8. it was

_______ 9. stars shine     ________ 10. the dog lies       ________ 11. Sarah takes         ________ 12. we go

_______ 13. people give   ________ 14. you leave           ________ 15. Luis carries           ________ 16. birds fly

_______ 17. there it goes ________ 18. teams lose         ________ 19. reporters ask       ________ 20. it exists

 

Some of the subjects and verb pair agree in number; some do not agree in number. Correct any incorrect items. Write a C beside correct items.

 

_______ 1. planes fly        ________ 2. pupils thinks        _______ 3. motor runs                _______ 4.cities is

_______ 5. child ask         ________ 6. player have         ________7. horse looks             ________ 8. tree grows

_______ 9. flowers are     ________ 10. dresses seems _______ 11. houses has             ________ 12. man drink

_______ 13.girls risk         _______ 14. guard waits         ________15. cats jump              ________ 16. dentist advise   _______ 17. people was   ________ 18. Liz give             ________ 19. desk sits              ________ 20. mountains stands

 

 

Section A

Plural = Both, few, many, others several           Singular or Plural= all, any, enough, most, much, none, some

1. Cosmic rays in this room (is, are) striking us right now.
2. The cause of her troubles (seem, seems) apparent.
3. Each of you (has, have) heard this legend.
4. Neither of the girls (own, owns) a bicycle.
5. Everyone in my class (knows, know) that!
6. The fibers of the wood (is, are) then crushed.
7. Neither Kendra nor Susan (plays, play) the piano.
8. A few of your friends (were, was) here.
9. The length of these boats (are, is) twenty feet.
10. One of these notebooks (belongs, belong) to you.

 

Section B: Subject/Verb Agreement

_______________. Several of the students has written reports on the Chinese poet Li Po.

_______________ Some of Li Po’s poems imitates the rhythms of folk songs.

_______________ Some of the team members have played professionally.

_______________ Not one of the bills were counterfeit.

_______________ Both of the sentences say the same thing.

_______________ A few of the band members was not in uniform.

_______________ Neither of the rugs lie flat.

_______________ Every one of these planes carries fifty passengers.

_______________ Either the students or the teacher know the answer to that.

_______________ All of the supplies in the boxes were bought at the supermarket.

 

Section C: Subject/Verb Agreement

_______________ Both the cha-cha and the rumba are Cuban dances.

_______________ Either nachos or celery were served with the guacamole.

_______________ Arturo or Beatrice always lead our class discussions.

_______________ Either Nuna or Roslinda are going to meet us.

_______________ Have either Andrea or Edna spoken to you?

_______________ The winner and new champion is Lynn Contrucci!

_______________ Neither of the players nor the coach were surprised by the win.

_______________ Red beans and rice is a popular Saturday night meal.

_______________ Pang and Jamyce probably has the directions.

_______________ Either the director or the stagehands usually arrives first.

 

Section D: Subject/Verb Agreement

1. The first mysteries in English (was, were) written by Wilkie Collins.
2. The Moonstone, the most successful of Collin’s novels, (was, were) written in 1868.
3. Its characters and plot (fascinates, fascinate) readers.
4. Edgar Allen Poe, author of short stories, poems, and essays (is, are) credited with developing the character and modern detective.
5. The detective in the stories of Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes, (solve, solves) mysteries by using deduction.
6. Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers (is, are) two popular mystery writers.
7. Either Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple (sniffs, sniff) out the clues in Christie’s novels.
8. Neither suspense nor surprise (is, are) lacking in any of Christie’s works.
9. Many of Walter Mosley’s books (features, feature) private eye Rawlins.
10. The title of each of Sue Grafton’s novels, which feature the detective Kinsey Millhone, (begin, begins) with a letter of the alphabet.

 

 

Section E: Subject/Verb Agreement

1. Fortunately, his injury (doesn’t, don’t) look too serious.
2. My birthday gift from Uncle Cesar (was, were) two books by Anaya.
3. About three quarters of the books (focus, focuses) on modern artists.
4. Harlem Shadows (is, are) considered one of Claude McKay’s most important works.
5. Sports (was, were) one of the topics of discussion at lunch yesterday.
6. The scissors (is, are) lying on the counter next to the sink.
7. “Strange Legacies” (is, are) a poem by Sterling Brown.
8. Two hours (is, are) enough time to spend on this math homework.
9. The swans floating on the sparkling lake (turn, turns) to look at me.
10. The most peaceful time of his life (was, were) his early childhood days.
11. Two-thirds of the stolen bicycles (has, have) been recovered.
12. The gloves (was, were) a gift from my mother.
13. The Saint Elias Mountains (stand, stands) along the southeastern border of Alaska.
14. Thirty dollars (is, are) a lot to pay just to see a basketball game.
15. These balloons (doesn’t, don’t) have enough helium in them.

 

Section F: Subject/Verb Agreement

1. (Where’s, Where are) Sara and Julia?
2. Here (is, are) the girls.
3. There (is, are) numbers on all the parts to be cleaned.
4. (Here’s, Here are) some more parts that must be numbered.
5. (Where’s, Where are) that yellow chalk?
6. Where (is, are) the gasoline and clean rags?
7. (There’s, There are) rags on that shelf.
8. Where (is, are) the bolt that fits here?
9. (There’s, There are) no numbers on these cleaned parts!
10. (Here’s, Here are) the reason.

 

Section G: Subject/Verb Agreement

1. A squadron of navy planes (fly, flies) overhead.
2. Our herd of cattle (is, are) the largest in the state.
3. The class (run, runs) to their seats when the bell rings.
4. The flock of wild geese (were, was) a beautiful sight.
5. The committee (was, were) encouraged by our consideration of its offer.
6. The audience (have, has) given two standing ovations.
7. What (has, have) the team done to improve their skills?
8. A group of students (discuss, discusses) a story by Arias.

 

Section H: Subject/Verb Agreement

1. (Where’s, Where are) the hammer or the ax?
2. Neither Kenneth nor Geraldine (dance, dances).
3. (Has, have) anyone sampled the Greek dishes?
4. The collection of poems (look, looks) interesting.
5. The crowd (was, were) angrily shouting at one another.
6. Bread and butter (is, are) a fattening combination.
7. Both of the meals (look, looks) good.
8. The rash on her hands (is, are) probably poison ivy.
9. Kathy, along with her sister, (has, have) chicken pox.
10. (Where’s, Where are) Malcolm or Maria?
11. Every one of the actors (needs, need) another rehearsal.
12. (Is, Are) Quentin or Bea going to type my paper?

Section I: Subject/Verb Agreement

_____________ Two songs by Gloria Estefan is included on that CD.

_____________ There are both tin and steel in a tin can.

_____________ Each of them have seen a fly’s eyes through a magnifying glass.

_____________There’s two sides to that question.

_____________ Some of us has been studying.

_____________ Where’s those tickets to concert?

_____________ How was the main dish and dessert today?

_____________ All of the tea were cold already.

_____________ Do either of them know the way home?

_____________The main attraction are outstanding advertisements.

_____________ Is the scissors in the top kitchen drawer?

 

Section J: Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement

1. If you see either of my sisters, ask them to call me.
2. Anybody in the first group may present his or her report now.
3. Neither of the boys has completed their paper on Cornel West.
4. Everyone wore their costume to the party.
5. Not one of the books was missing their cover.
6. Anyone who thought that deserved what they got.
7. Everybody should accept their responsibilities.
8. Nobody on the girls’ softball team forgot their mitt.

 

Section K: Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement

1. Many of the parents voiced _______________ opinions.
2. No one wanted _______________________ name mentioned in the paper.
3. Each student was given a locker for ___________________________ equipment.
4. If everyone had ________________________ way, we’d never get anything done.
5. Both Mrs. Larson and Mr. Feldman took _____________________ on a trip.
6. Everybody said what _______________________ thought.
7. Neither Juan nor Steve wanted to have _________________ picture taken.
8. Some of the group expressed ____________________ opinions quite frankly.
9. Both the carpenter and the welder finished __________________ work yesterday.
10. A person should be careful in __________________ usage of English.

 

Section L: Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement

1. Either Don or Thomas will write _______________ report on classical music.
2. Ramona and Angelo have finished _____________________ sketches.
3. Kareem and Steven both wanted to do ____________________________ speeches on kite-making.
4. Either Dinah or Terri left ____________ keys lying on the bench.
5. The coach and the team captains picked up ____________________ clipboards from the bench.
6. Daniel and his brother rode ____________________ bikes to the celebration.
7. Either Phillip or Ryan will display _____________ sculptures at the art gallery.
8. Has she or her sister memorized __________________ part of the play?
9. Either Christina or Julia said that Dan Nonka is ______________ favorite painter.
10. Mr. Stamos and Ms. Hirota are helping ____________________ students prepare for the science fair.

 

Section M: Pronouns

1. Clayton is someone who sets ___________ goals high.
2. The younger cat, which tends to devour ___________ food too fast, has been put on a diet.
3. Hattie McDaniel, who won an Oscar for ________ performance, was the first African American to win an Academy Award.

Section N: Irregular Verbs

Taste         1. We had never ________________ such delicious tomatoes.

Suppose     2. We were _____________________ to read the next chapter.

Find            3. Alicia had finally ______________________ her pen.

Go              4. Has Gwen already ____________________ to the lab?

Ask                        5. The dentist ___________________ me to return on Monday.

Sit              6. Last night we _________________ out on the patio.

Give           7. By noon Sean will have _______________ away the extra stamps.

Lead           8. Benita ____________________ the children across the street.

Sing            9. She has _________________ every song in the book.

Eat             10. Roger asked if I had _________________________________ the last banana.

Begin          11. I had ________________________ to think you weren’t here.

Give           12. Have they _______________________ anything to the sale?

Shake         13. Rey _________________________ the cereal box.

Swim          14. Has anyone ever _____________________ across the lake?

Be              15. Aunt Eve and Uncle Leo have never ____________________ there.

Drink          16. Aunt Pearl _________________________ her water quickly.

Bring           17. They had _____________________ him something to eat.

Do              18. Should Denise and I have _________________ the job first?

See                        19. Yesterday, we __________________ the most beautiful sunset.

Come         20. At last the lawyer _________________________ to the point.

Set             21. Before I could say anything, she had __________________ the plate in front of me.

Steal           22. Jean’s troubles with the law began when he __________________ a loaf of bread.

Drive          23. We had ____________________ forty miles before we remembered to get gas.

Freeze        24. Sometimes the ice pond ________________________as early as October.

Tear            25. She __________________ a page out of the notebook and handed it to me.

 

Section O: Irregular Verbs

Ride                 1. Had Han ____________________________ a horse before?

Drive                2. I have _____________________ that way before.

Throw               3. The pitcher had ____________________ a strike.

Steal                 4. Had they _______________________ her briefcase?

Write                 5. Books were _______________ by hand many years ago.

Break                6. Was your watch ________________ in the scuffle?

Fall                   7. Suzie __________________ when she was learning how to skate.

Swim                8. I wish I’d ___________________________ out to the raft after you had.

Find                  9. We had _________________ the leftovers.

Run                  10. Stan had just ____________ eighty yards for a touchdown.

Take                 11. Gibson must have _______________________ pride in her tennis lessons.

Go                    12. The clerk ______________________ to the back of the store.

Sit                    13. Yesterday Bret ___________ through two movies.

Ring                 14. I didn’t know the bell had ___________________.

Bring                 15. Dad has never ______________________ his work home with him.

Sing                  16. Silence reigned; not one not was ____________________.

Be                    17. Helen had never ______________________ to Japan before.

Rise                 18. Melodie ____________________ from her seat.

Tear                  19. Dale ___________________ up his paper.

Speak               20. Cole ___________________ to an interviewer.

Burst                21. The pipe had a crack in it before it ________________.

Fly                    22. Celia has ___________________ from Dallas to Miami.

Forget               23. Do you think Roscoe has ________________________ about our meeting?

Hid                   24. We have _______________________ dad’s present.

Section P: Capitalization

1. The Ohio river
2. A Chicago firm
3. Mount Katahdin
4. Mecosta county residents
5. The Rocky Mountains
6. The atlantic ocean
7. Pigeon river state forest
8. Great salt lake
9. An ocean beach
10. The pacific northwest
11. The south side of nineteenth street
12. The capital of north Carolina
13. San diego county
14. A new england village
15. A lake michigan resort
16. Long island, new York
17. Crater lake national park
18. chemistry II
19. a city in the midwest
20. the continents of Europe and Asia
21. two miles east
22. main street runs north and south
23. an african country
24. the gobi desert
25. nations of the far east

 

Section Q: Commas and Periods with Abbreviations and Items in a Series

1. The John F Kennedy Library, in Boston, Mass was designed by the famous architect IM Pei.
2. Mr Benally’s new address is 1860 Vine St Augusta, GA 30903.
3. The Nok civilization flourished in West Africa from about 500 BC to about AD 200.
4. Ms Powell now lives at 210 Fir Ave Rapid City, SD 57701.
5. The meeting will begin at 11:00 AM sharp and should be over by 12:30 PM.
6. When she can’t get to sleep, Michi takes a relaxing bath drinks warm milk or reads a telephone book.
7. To fall asleep quickly, Susan requires three things: fresh air and soft music and complete darkness.
8. I visualize something that is quiet pleasant and peaceful.
9. I often imagine that I am an astronaut touring the vast universe an explorer all alone in the silence of a huge forest or a biologist quietly enjoying the beauty of nature.
10. I grow weary my eyes close and I fall asleep, undisturbed by blaring television sets loud ambulance sirens or noisy traffic.

 

Section R: Commas

1. Nishi groaned when she was jarred awake by the loud insistent sound of her alarm clock.
2. The man wearing the red and white tie not the man in the overalls is the owner of the bike shop.
3. Saifun noodles are shiny thin transparent noodles often used in Chinese cooking.
4. Brian is a warm honest person and I am glad to have him as a friend.
5. Mike please pass me one of those delicious blueberry muffins.
6. The trees on the Great Smoky Mountains help create a dense humid atmosphere which looks like a smoky mist.
7. The Inland Sea is dotted by hundreds of hilly wooded islands.
8. Jill brought chilled avocado soup a Caribbean dish to the International Club dinner.
9. Yes a cold crisp salad with a sweet-and-sour dressing would taste good on a hot muggy day like this.
10. At the Seattle Aquarium visitors can look through an underwater viewing dome to observe the marine life.

Section S: Commas

1. I had not heard of Pat Mora before but yesterday I read her poem “Legal Alien.”
2. Our small vessel weathered every storm and brought us safely into port.
3. Most of us found the movie dull but Abby liked it.
4. The crowd swarmed onto the field and carried off the goal posts.
5. Many Cajun families live by fishing and trapping but others farm or run businesses.

 

Section T: Commas

1. The buildings that suffered the worst damage in the fire had to be torn down.
2. Our YMCA which was built in the 1950’s is undergoing remodeling and repairs.
3. My brother attends Warm Springs Middle School which has an enrollment of 541.
4. Congressman Sherman hoping for a compromise arranged a meeting with the president.
5. Everyone who purchases at least two CDs will receive a free cap with the store’s logo on it.
6. Gregor Mendel known for his experiments with garden peas formulated the basic laws of heredity.
7. The gold kitten which is very playful is the one I would like to adopt.
8. The Prado which contains one of the world’s finest art collections is the best-known museum in Spain.
9. All students, participating in the assembly, will be excused from class at 2:00.
10. Mr. Wortham, trying not to chuckle, offered to help us clean up the mess.
11. Roman Banuelos who was U.S. treasurer from 1971 to 1974 was the first Mexican American woman to hold such a high government post.
12. Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin who won a 1964 Nobel Prize determined the molecular structure of vitamin B 12.
13. Species of turtles, that live in regions with harsh winters, must hibernate.
14. The puppy excited to see its owner wagged its tail vigorously.
15. The word volcano comes from the word Vulcan which is the name of the ancient Roman God of fire.

 

Section U: Commas

1. Since water is deeper than it looks good speak fishers aim below rather than at their apparent targets.
2. If a fish underwater sees you on a pier you probably look as though you are higher than you really are.
3. By explaining the refraction of light through water I can give sensible reasons for these strange appearances.
4. Ascending the tree one branch at a time Mrs. Weinber eventually reached the stranded kitten.
5. While I was working at the gas station I learned a lot about cars.
6. In the Cheynne myth of the world’s beginnings the frog and the turtle help create the land.
7. Chasing a fly ball in center field Armand stepped in a hole and sprained his ankle.
8. Angered by her brother’s remarks Jan stamped out of the room.
9. As captain of the women’s basketball team Lynette won an Olympic gold medal in 1984.
10. If people object to my suggestion let them state their reasons.

 

Section V: Commas with Introductory Elements and Elements that Interrupt a Sentence

1. Yes air pressure can be tremendously important.
2. Does a pressure cooker have a safety valve Clara?
3. Changes in air pressure can be quite dangerous.
4. Oh then you know about the problems faced by divers.
5. Yes flyers experience relatively slow changes in pressure compared to divers.
6. One of the first places a diver feels pressure changes Teresa is the eardrum
7. I’ve heard Clara that divers hold their noses and blow when they start to feel pain in their ears.
8. Yes swallowing also helps to equalize the pressure.
9. Why is it better for a diver to have perfect teeth than teeth with fillings Teresa?
10. Air pressure exerts a different amount of force on the filling than on the tooth, and Clara under sever conditions it can cause a tooth to collapse.

 

 

 

Section W: Commas

1. Oh I know the definition of esprit de corps a French phrase meaning “team spirit.”
2. In your class Ms. Melton I have learned that a paragraph presents specific details.
3. On Saturday Angelo Santi our best trumpet player marched with the school band at the game.
4. No this machine a recent model does not use much electricity.
5. School alterations a large item in the budget are necessary because of inadequate cafeteria facilities.

 

Section X: Commas with Appositives

1. When Alfred Hitchcock the well know director died in 1980, people mourned the loss of this master of suspense.
2. In one movie Strangers on a Train an innocent man becomes involved in a bizarre murder plot.
3. The climax of this movie a scene at a carousel thrills audiences.
4. Two things clever plots and unusual camera angles always add surprises to any Hitchcock film.
5. Hitchcock frequently uses two devices the chase and case of mistaken identity to build suspense in his films.
6. He didn’t always write his own stories but sometimes based his movies on books such as Rebecca, the romantic suspense story by Daphne du Maurier.
7. Who can forget the scene in Rebecca in which Mrs. Danvers the sinister housekeeper stands in the bedroom, engulfed in flames?
8. Hitchcock’s peers other members of the film community admired both his talent and his sense of humor.
9. A number of directors have used “the MacGuffin” his method of using seemingly unrelated plot elements to set a story in motion.
10. One Hitchcock movie North by Northwest remains a classic the norm against which many similar movies of suspense are measured.

 

Section Y: Commas for Parenthetical Expressions and Dates and Addresses

1. Most people in the Western world in my opinion have an intrinsic dislike of snakes.
2. Westerners in fact use the expression “ a snake in the grass” to describe a treacherous person.
3. However in many Easter cultures the snake is revered.
4. Hindus for example have deep respect for the snake.
5. Generally speaking they see snakes as protecting rather than harming humans.
6. On August 30 1997, you may have seen the New York Liberty play the Houston Comets in the first WNBA championship game.
7. Jan wrote to the General Electric Company Schenectady New York to obtain information about fluorescent light bulbs.
8. Mr. Van Dunk may be reached at 1120 Four Brooks Road Stamford Connecticut 06903, or at 420 Main Street White Plains New York 10601.
9. The letter addressed to 1425 Ocean Drive Long Beach, was forwarded to Tucson Arizona after a delay of several days.
10. The letter from Springfield Illinois was dated December 1 1998.
11. On August 28 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke before a crowd of a quarter of a million people in Washington DC.
12. After June 16 2000, mail your book to Cactus Literary Services in Austin Texas.
13. When did New York New York begin construction of the base of the Statue of Liberty?
14. I wrote to my favorite author in care of his publisher, Dalkey Archive Press Illinois State University Normal IL 61790-4241.

 

 

Section Z: Semicolons

1. My mom is reading Shadow and Act it is a collection of essays by Ralph Ellison.
2. Chemical changes occur constantly in nature for instance, lightning causes a chemical change in the air.
3. There are about fifty-five species of side-necked turtles they live in Africa, Australia, and South America.
4. The largest urban areas in Southeast Asia are centered around the cities of Manila, Phillipines, Jakarta, Indonesia, and Bangkok, Thailand.
5. Ships on the Caribbean Sea might carry sugar from the West Indies, coffee from Columbia, Costa Rica, or Guatemala, or bananas from Panama.
6. The art of Africa has influenced art in other parts of the world for example, traditional African sculpture influenced the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso.
7. The Abeit family has three dogs, a cat, and a parrot, and Jaime, Miguel, and Julia have been asking for a horse.
8. The boxer is a medium-sized stocky, muscular dog it was named for its playful habit of striking with its front legs.
9. The reviewer praised the special effects however, she criticized the screenplay.
10. The Navajo make up the second-largest group of American Indians in the United States only the Cherokee have more members.

 

Section AA: Colons

1. The letter began, “Dear Dr Garcia Thank you for considering my application for kennel attendant at your clinic.
2. Katrina wrote her book report on The Golden Gate A Novel in Verse by Vikram Seth.
3. We have lived in: Cary, High Point, and Charlotte.
4. The play doesn’t start until 8 00 P.M. however, we should plan to arrive early.
5. The lecture begins at 2 00 Dr. Durand will be discussing the literary elements of Psalm 104 1-50.
6. Mrs. Hershey has visited several cities in Canada Toronto, Ontario Edmonton, Alberta, and Halifax, Nova Scotia.
7. Please bring the following items a sleeping bag, a tent, and a flashlight.
8. Mom went to the store to buy three things oranges, milk, and bread.
9. We should bring: notecards, paper, and books to class.

 

Section BB: Italics   Underline each word or group of words that should be in italics

1. If I had to describe my cat in one word, that word would be independent.
2. I tried a Cuban dish that, in Spanish, is known as platanos verdes.
3. The Japanese American newspaper Rafu Shimpo was founded in 1903.
4. The art professor was discussing I and the Village, a painting by Marc Chagall.
5. Natalie Merchant’s CD Tigerlily, released in 1995, achieved platinum status.
6. My friend Annette is a big fan of the TV series The X-Files.
7. The s on that plaque is so ornate that it almost looks like an 8.
8. Jordan left out the second e when he spelled temperament.
9. The Phoenix was the first steamboat to make an ocean voyage.
10. In November 1982, the space shuttle Columbia made the first commercial satellite launch.

 

Section CC: Italics and Quotation Marks; Underline italics and add quotation marks where needed

1. I was moved by Gary’s expressive reading of Nani, a poem by Alberto Rios.
2. Thre French word fleur-de-lis is sometimes used to refer to the iris.
3. The characters in James Baldwin’s short story The Rockpile also appear in his novel Go Tell it on the Mountain.
4. Baby Blues was the title of last night’s episode of the show.
5. Sakima was very proud of his essay, The Human-Animal Bond.
6. The CD Firecracker contains two of Jen’s favorite Lisa Loeb songs, I Do and Truthfully.
7. Some concepts in the chapter Atoms and Molecules are difficult to understand.
8. Is the column For the Record a regular feature in the Sunday paper?
9. Isn’t the song Evergreen from the motion picture A Star is Born?
10. Jason found the fascinating article Brothers in Arms in a 1998 issue of American Legacy magazine.

 

 

Section DD: Punctuating with Quotation Marks.

1. Did Ms. Uno really say Class, we will have the test on Friday asked Kim.
2. Miles Davis Chet announced is aunt Marlene’s favorite jazz artist of all time.
3. These tomatoes look ripe Waneta said Let’s use them in the salad.
4. Howard said We’re going to the movies. Do you want to go along
5. I just finished reading House Made of Dawn Michelle announced What a wonderful book!
6. Kara said that she did lots of hiking while on vacation in Colorado.
7. Discuss the following elements of the short story Conquistador: foreshadowing, flashback, and suspense.
8. The instructor reminded the boaters that life jackets must be worn at all times.
9. I think Dionne said We’ll meet you at the soccer field a half hour before practice, Jiro said.
10. Have you seen any films by Satyajit Ray Elaine asked.

 

Section EE: Forming Possessives with Apostrophes

1. A friends family
2. Several friends families
3. All the girls locker room
4. Thomass hat
5. Two boys helmets
6. The babys playpen
7. Margaret Walkers poems
8. The presidents speech
9. Both cars front bumpers
10. One cars front bumper
11. An employees welfare
12. All employees welfare
13. Many trees branches
14. A trees branches
15. An officers uniform
16. Some officers uniforms
17. Melissas brother
18. Willies sister
19. Several voters opinions
20. Mexicos history
21. One fishs scales
22. Frances countryside
23. Charless book
24. Mount Rainiers snow

 

 

FF: Using Apostrophes with Possessive Forms

1. This hat is too small for me; it’s your’s if you want it.
2. Early in the season, we thought our team could win the championship.
3. This dog should have it’s teeth brushed every day.
4. Both of the sculptures were appealing, but her’s won the award.
5. Someones castanets were found lying on the stage.
6. “Do I have everyones attention?” asked Mr. Sullivan.
7. Both groups have interesting demonstrations, but our’s was more thorough than theirs.
8. Willingness to listen to anothers ideas is a sign of maturity.
9. We have finished our model already, and Shelly and Aaron will complete their’s in time for the expo.
10. Will anyone’s presentation be on Mayan architecture?

 

GG: Apostrophes   Insert apostrophes where they are needed in the following paragraph.

Houdinis career had its beginning in the circus, where a few weeks work as an acrobat paid him only thirty-five cents per week. Following his brother Theos departure from their act, Houdini launched the career that made him famous. He always credited his joints ability to be dislocated and his diligent practice of the stunts and tricks at the keys to his success. He was so adept at making objects disappear that his many critics closest inspections could not unmask his secrets. Once he had learned how to make a 10,000-pound elephant disappear, he needed only several handlers aid and his own crews assistance to get the elephant on stage to begin the stunt.

 

 

HH: Hyphens, Dashes, and Parentheses

1. The largest kind of shark the whale shark may grow up to 40 feet 12 meters long.
2. Whale sharks may weigh over 14 metric tons about the weight of three pickup trucks.
3. The smallest sharks are about 6 inches 16 centimeters long and weight about 1 ounce 28 grams.
4. A shark’s teeth a shark has several rows of them are replaced often as older teeth fall out and new ones grow in.
5. Some people think that sharks must turn over on their backs in order to bite I know it’s a myth.
6. Sharks hear very well only low pitched tones and listen for their prey.
7. Hammerhead sharks a group that includes a number of similar species are rather strange-looking creatures.
8. White sharks among the most dangerous sharks prey on large animals such as sea lions and tuna.

 

 

II: Contractions- In the box provided, write the contracted form of each of the following items, using apostrophes to show where letters have been omitted.

 

	We have		Has not
	Is not		I will
	You are		They are
	Does not		There is
	She will		They will
	Were not		Are not
	Cannot		Who is
	He is		You will
	Do not		It is
	Let us		Will not

 

 

 

JJ: Hyphens

1. This is a well made basket, but it does have one barley noticeable flaw.
2. The governor elect’s speech was well received by the audience.
3. After scoring twenty one points in one game, Vanesa’s confidence improved.
4. Marcia was pleased with her test scores, which ranked in the ninety second percentile.
5. The treasurer elect does not officially take office until March.
6. The museum has an extremely diverse collection of pre Columbian art.
7. A hush fell over the audience as the world famous soprano took the stage.
8. The highly controversial bill passed by a two thirds majority.
9. After the first string quarterback was injured, the coach made him rest.

 

 

KK Review

1. “Theres one every class,” said Mr. Papa as Nick came in late without his notebook.
2. Arnold Freiberg, the gray teams captain, tells me hes confident of victory in tonights meet.
3. “No, Im afraid youre wrong about Dan.” I said. “Its hard to get people to believe that he is nobodys fool.”
4. In the Garcias back yard, the deers food is out in plain sight.
5. “If you read carefully,” said Mrs. Chambers, “youll see that Whitmans and Frosts poetry have something in common.”
6. At yesterdays track meet in Bloomfiled, our opponents excelled in almost every event, but the final victory was ours.
7. After the coach diagrammed the play, his chalkboard was covered in xs and os.
8. At Alans party we had Mrs. Kings potato salad, Mr. Bauers vegetable sticks, and Nancys fruit punch.
9. Don’t try to touch Marcia and Rickys cat; its not fond of strangers.
10. The president-elects dog was featured on ABCs newscast last night.

 

LL: Spelling- Fill in the blanks with the correct letters: ie, ei, cede, ceed, or sede.

1. Fr____ght                                  11. Fr_____ndly
2. Suc______                                12. Re_______
3. For_____gn                               13. Bel______ve
4. Se_______                                14. _______ther
5. Rel____ve                                 15. R____gn
6. Inter_________                          16. Super__________
7. N______gh                                17. Dec_____ve
8. Pro________                             18. Con_________
9. Th_____f                                   19. P_____ce
10. Unv_____l                                 20. H_____ght

 

MM: Spelling- Correct the spelling errors or label the sentence as correct.

_______________ 1. What a great feeling to excede my own expectations!

_______________ 2. You will receive extra points if you can list ten countries in Africa.

_______________ 3. Martha doesn’t want to forfiet her place in line.

_______________ 4. The Supreme Court’s latest vote superceeds last year’s ruling.

_______________ 5. The cat’s wieght goes up in the winter.

_______________ 6. My twin brother preceeded me in birth.

_______________ 7. Is it your beleif that term limits are unconstitutional?

_______________ 8. Janet’s history report will be on Geronimo, the Apache cheif.

_______________ 9. The veiw from Delphi was amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

NN: Adding Prefixes and Suffixes

Pure + ly		Im + material
Engage + ment		Huge + est
Drip + ing		Travel + ed
Re + enter		Brown + ness
Day + ly		Cheery + est
Breezy + er		Hum + ed
Recur + ence		Over + rule
Cry + ing		Rope +ing
Select + tion		Happy + ness
Joy + ous		Seventy + eth

 

OO: Forming Plurals of Nouns

Ratio		9.Roof
Shelf		10. potato
Dummy		Child
Mouse		goose
life		Murphy
Ax		Grass
echo		Japanese
Piano		Brother-in-law

 

 

PP: Common Usage Problems

1. Kara sings really (good, well) in the choir.
2. The (advice, advise) from the captain was unexpected but appreciated.
3. What is the (morale, moral) of Alice Walker’s short story?
4. The new mower runs quietly and cuts better (than, then) the old one.
5. If I had known you were coming, I (would of, would have) bake an apple pie.
6. The low riders are (kind of, rather) impressive to see going down the street.
7. (Fewer, Less) entries in the contest were received this year.
8. (Between, Among) you and me, I think Patrick’s ideas is terrific.
9. People should think more about the (principles, principals) by which they live.
10. Sitting on the backrow, we (couldn’t hardly, could hardly) hear the speaker.
11. (Set, Sit) those packages down before you drop them!
12. Our house is a long (way, ways) from here.
13. The dog looks happy (laying, lying) on its side in the sun.
14. Gently (lay, lie) the dish of gravy on the table.
15. The PBS show (what, that) I like the best is coming on next.
16. Cathy makes really (well, good) coconut cake.
17. It looks (like, as if) the debate team will go to the next round.
18. We want to attend the concert in support of (peace, piece) in Northern Ireland.
19. The cat will surely find (it’s, its) way home.
20. My grandmother (scarely never, rarely) misses church.
21. The (affects, effects) of tanning may include skin cancer.
22. Her words (affected, effected) how I felt for the rest of the day.
23. (Them, Those) persimmons are best eaten when ripe.
24. People often startle (themselves, theirselves) when they discover their hidden talents.
25. Dr. Landers is the physician (which, who) helped my mother.
26. I’ll meet you (outside of, outside) the auditorium.
27. The sun (raised, rose) in the morning.
28. Jeff and I (rose, raised) the flag in the morning.
29. (Learn, Teach) me to count to one hundred in Russian.
30. Would you (council, counsel) me regarding my finances?
31. Jane was tired and didn’t feel (good, well).
32. (Theirs, There’s) only one vegetarian entrée on the menu.
33. Maybe she’ll make it (inside, inside of) the building before the rain starts.
34. The cat (sat, set) near the fireplace.
35. They had not seen (none, any) of the movies.
36. Irene gave Lora a large (peace, piece) of fabric.
37. All the students (accept, except) Sheila came to the performance.

 

 

QQ Identifying Sentences and Sentence Fragments: Write F for Fragments and S for Sentences.

1.________ Taking a canoe trip in Canada.

2. _______ Sufficient food for a week’s journey.

3.________ Others had camped there before us.

4. _______ Ashes indicated the place.
5. ________ Where their fire had been.
6. ________ How clearly was the trail marked?
7. ________ An Ojibwa village at the end of the trail.
8. ________ The group spent the morning there.
9. ________ Talking over plans for the afternoon.
10. ________ As we rounded a bend in the river.
11. ________ Could you hear the noise of the waterfall?
12. ________ Before you could see it.
13. ________ We could not paddle against the wind unless the guide helped us.
14. ________ The wind blowing spry over us.
15. ________ Drenched to the skin.
16. ________ The rapids in the river were occasional hazards.
17. ________ The excitement of the shooting rapids.
18. ________ We steered and balanced carefully.
19. ________ Around boulders in the stream.
20. ________ Deciding whether to go through the rapids or portage the canoe around them.

 

 

RR Irregular Verbs Chart

Lie	Lying	Lain	Lay	Rest, stay, recline, remain
Lay	Laying	Laid	Laid	Placed, to place (object)
Rise	Rising	Rose	Risen	To go up, to get up (no object)
Raise	Raising	Raised	Raised	To cause something to raise or life up (object)
Sit	Sitting	Sat	Sat	To rest in an upright seated position
Set	Setting	Set	Set	To put something in a place (object)

 

1. Before my mother went to work, she (lay, laid) my bus fare on the table.
2. You have (lain, laid) here on the couch long enough.
3. Someone had (lain, laid) the cushions on the floor.
4. Would the baby rather (lie, lay) on her back?
5. The old wheelbarrow is (lying, laying) behind the barn.
6. The movers (lay, laid) the new rug on the stairs.
7. Has the dog been (lying, laying) in the mud all afternoon?
8. Your tostados are still (lying, laying) on the kitchen counter.
9. Please (sit, set) here beside me.
10. (Sit, Set) the lamp next to the plant, please.
11. I was (sitting, setting) perfectly still.
12. She always (sits, sets) her pocketbook on the table.
13. The audience (sat, set) quietly during the performance.
14. The curtain (rises, raises) when the actors take the stage.
15. The river has been (rising, raising) all night.
16. The audience (rose, raised) when Maya Angelou approached the podium.
17. The movers (rose, raised) the piano with ropes and a pulley.
18. The company (risen, raised) her salary.
19. The student (rose, raised) his hand to answer the question.
20. Slowly, the hot-air balloon (rose, raised) up into the sky.

 

SS Active and Passive Voice: Label each sentence as Active or Passive Voice

1. Two sorts of varnish are used to make lacquer articles.
2. Some varnishes create a clear finish.
3. Each coat of varnish is allowed to dry before another coat is added.
4. The varnish forms a shiny, durable, waterproof surface.
5. The surface can then be painted, carved, or decorated.
6. The Japanese learned how to create lacquerware from the Chinese.
7. Beginning in the early 1600’s, China and Japan exported lacquerware.
8. European artists soon began to create lacquerware.
9. Art lovers bought many pieces of European lacquerware.
10. The finest examples of the art form were still made in China and Japan.

 

 

 

 

 

TT Nominative Case

1. Jo and (she, her) save dimes and pennies.
2. (We, Us) girls caught a few dogfish.
3. The boys and (we, us) swam in the deep water.
4. Are (her and me, she and I) partners?
5. We and (them, they) met in the finals.
6. Karen and (I, me) had fruit for dessert.
7. Do you and (her, she) speak Spanish?
8. You and (we, use) will work together.
9. Have Arturo and (them, they) already gone?
10. Stan and (him, he) look like brothers.

 

UU Objective Case

1. I will ask my mother and (she, her) if we can go.
2. You can believe Jiro and (I, me).
3. Did anyone tell Estrella and (she, her) the time of the concert?
4. I met Sue and (he, him) at the National Museum of Art.
5. Will you take (we, us) to the festival?
6. Do you remember Ella and (they, them)?
7. I was expecting Harold and (she, her) to be here by now.
8. You could help (we, us) tomorrow.
9. I recognized you and (them, they).
10. Did she mean Nan or (me,I)?
11. Bill sat behind Nadine and (I, me).
12. I played against Alicia and (they, them).
13. Who was talking to you and (they, them)?
14. Come with Gretchen and (I, me).
15. The story was about Maisie and (she, her).

 

VV Revising Run-on Sentences

1. Leonard gave an impromptu speech it actually sounded prepared.
2. You can join us for supper you have to help with the dishes.
3. Francine is getting new glasses tomorrow her prescription is the same.
4. The art club is going to the exhibit of African masks I want to go.
5. The house had a mansard roof the place looks nice.
6. My little sister is memorizing the multiplication table, she is a good student.
7. Jake was removed from the hockey game he sat in the penalty box.
8. The election results have been counted the winner will be announced shortly.
9. I am very tired so I am going to take a nap.
10. She was late, therefore, she had to get a tardy note.