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Test your basic knowledge |
Elements Of Style Vocab
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Study First
Subjects
:
english
,
grammar
Instructions:
Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
If you are not ready to take this test, you can
study here
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Match each statement with the correct term.
Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.
This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A verb that combines with the main verb to show differences in tense - person - and voice. The most common auxiliaries are forms of BE - DO and HAVE. [I AM going; we DID not go]
Noun
Auxiliary verb
Proper noun
Gerund
2. A phrase of clause that does not limit or restrict the essential meaning of the element it modifies.
Adjectival modifier
Nonrestrictive modifier
Verb
Gerund
3. The time of a verb's action or state of being - such as past - present - or future.
Compound subject
Infinitive/split infinitive
Tense
Nonrestrictive modifier
4. A sentence that begins with the main idea and then attaches modifiers - qualifiers - and additional details.
Noun
Preposition
Direct object
Loose sentence
5. Any of the verbs that combine with the main verb to express necessity [MUST] - obligation [SHOULD] - permission [MAY] - probability [MIGHT] - possibility [COULD] - ability [CAN] - or tentativeness [WOULD].
Modal auxiliaries
Independent Clause
Possessive
Case
6. The noun to which a pronoun refers. A pronoun and its antecedent must agree in person - number - and gender. [Michael and HIS teammates moved off campus]
Antecedent
Case
Participial phrase
Independent Clause
7. A verb that does not take a direct object. [His nerve FAILED.]
Tense
Intransitive verb
Relative clause
Indirect object
8. The correspondence of a verb with its subject in person and number [Karen GOES to Cal Tech; her sister GO to Ucla] - and a pronoun with its antecedent in person - number - and gender [as soon as Karen finished the exam - SHE picked up HER books].
Case
Agreement
Participial phrase
Compound sentence
9. The verb and its related words in a clause or sentence. The predicate expresses what the subject does - experiences - or is. [Birds FLY.]
Predicate
Periodic sentence
Indirect object
Relative clause
10. The predicating verb in a main clause or sentence.
Articles
Number
Principal verb
Adverb
11. A word or expression appropriate to informal conversation but not usually suitable for academic or business writing. [They wanted to GET EVEN.]
Prepositional phrase
Verb
Colloquialism
Infinitive/split infinitive
12. A noun or noun phrase that renames or adds identifying information to a noun it immediately follows. [His brother - AN ACCOUNTANT WITH ARTHUR ANDERSON - was recently promoted]
Participle
Appositive
Case
Independent Clause
13. A clause introduced by a relative pronoun - such as WHO - WHICH - THAT - or by a relative adverb - such as WHERE - WHEN - WHY.
Infinitive/split infinitive
Predicate
Relative clause
Syntax
14. A phrase or clause that limits the essential meaning of the sentence element it modifies or identifies. [Professional athletes WHO PERFORM EXCEPTIONALLY should earn stratospheric salaries.]
Linking verb
Colloquialism
Restrictive term - element - clause
Verb
15. A shortened form of a word or group of words: CAN'T for cannot; THEY'RE for they are.
Object
Correlative expression
Dependent Clause
Contraction
16. A group of words consisting of a preposition - its object -and any of the object's modifiers. [Georgia ON MY MIND.]
Adverbial phrase
Main clause
Infinitive/split infinitive
Prepositional phrase
17. The case of nouns and pronouns that indicates ownership or possession.
Infinitive/split infinitive
Verbal
Loose sentence
Possessive
18. A clause dependent on the main clause in a sentence. AFTER WE FINISH OUR WORK - we will go out for dinner.
Adverbial phrase
Pronominal possessive
Case
Subordinate clause
19. A noun or pronoun that receives the action of a transitive verb. [Pearson publishes BOOKS.]
Main clause
Syntax
Preposition
Direct object
20. Correlative conjunctions [BOTH - AND; EITHER - OR; NEITHER - NOR] join the same kinds of elements (as conjunctions)
Correlative expression
Proper noun
Intransitive verb
Nonrestrictive modifier
21. A word or group of words that expresses the action or indicates the state of being of the subject. Verbs ACTIVATE sentences.
Verb
Adjective
Prepositional phrase
Linking verb
22. A word that modifies - quantifies - or otherwise describes a noun or pronoun. [DRIZZLY November]
Adjective
Articles
Tense
Dependent Clause
23. A word - phrase - or clause that acts as an adjective in qualifying the meaning of a noun or pronoun. [YOUR country]
Adjectival modifier
Auxiliary verb
Pronominal possessive
Subject
24. A noun or pronoun that indicates to whom or for whom - to what or for what the action of a transitive verb is performed. [I asked HER a question.]
Adverbial phrase
Contraction
Tense
Indirect object
25. A word or phrase (especially a noun or adjective that completes the predicate. [Martha is my NEIGHBOUR.]
Voice
Transitive verb
Complement
Infinitive/split infinitive
26. A word or phrase that qualifies - describes - or limits the meaning of a word - phrase - or clause. [FRAYED ribbon]
Modifier
Adjectival modifier
Indirect object
Preposition
27. A feature of nouns - pronouns - and a few verbs referring to singular or plural.
Participial phrase
Number
Predicate
Phrase
28. A phrase that functions as an adverb. [Landon laughs WITH ABANDON]
Adverbial phrase
Adjective
Compound sentence
Colloquialism
29. A word that names a person - place - or thing.
Conjunction
Linking verb
Relative clause
Noun
30. The words - A - AN - and THE - which signal or introduce nouns. THE refers to a particular item - whereas A and AN refer to a general item.
Dependent Clause
Articles
Indefinite pronoun
Pronominal possessive
31. The form of a noun or pronoun that reflects its grammatical function in a sentence as subject (THEY) - object (THEM) - or possessor (THEIR).
Case
Auxiliary verb
Subject
Adverb
32. A word that joins words - phrases - clauses - or sentences. [For - And - Nor - But - Or - Yet - So --> FANBOYS]
Correlative expression
Conjunction
Periodic sentence
Agreement
33. The noun or pronoun that completes a prepositional phrase or the meaning of a transitive verb.
Linking verb
Compound subject
Object
Verbal
34. Two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction - a correlative conjunction - or a semicolon. [Caesar conquered Gaul - but Alexander the Great conquered the world.]
Case
Syntax
Compound sentence
Gerund
35. An independent clause which can stand alone as a grammatically complete sentence.
Periodic sentence
Pronominal possessive
Antecedent
Main clause
36. A pronoun that refers to an unspecified person (ANYBODY) or thing (SOMETHING)
Dependent Clause
Indefinite pronoun
Preposition
Main clause
37. A group of words with a subject and verb that can stand alone as a sentence. [RACCOONS STEAL FOOD.]
Intransitive verb
Modal auxiliaries
Predicate
Independent Clause
38. The attribute of a verb that indicates whether its subject is active [Janet PLAYED the guitar]
Voice
Tense
Conjunction
Verb
39. A group of words that is not grammatically a complete sentence but is punctuated as one: BECAUSE IT MATTERED GREATLY.
Preposition
Sentence fragment
Transitive verb
Participial phrase
40. A word that modifies or otherwise qualifies a verb - an adjective - or another adverb. [Gestures GRACEFULLY]
Contraction
Verb
Syntax
Adverb
41. A present or past participle with accompanying modifiers - objects or complements.
Participial phrase
Clause
Subject
Restrictive term - element - clause
42. A word that relates its object to another word in the sentence. [She is the leader OF our group.]
Preposition
Conjunction
Principal verb
Adjectival modifier
43. A verb form that functions in a sentence as a noun - an adjective - or an adverb rather than as a principal verb. [THINKING can be fun.]
Adverbial phrase
Verbal
Intransitive verb
Number
44. The name of a particular person - place or thing.
Tense
Preposition
Proper noun
Indefinite pronoun
45. A pronoun that connects a dependent clause to a main clause in a sentence: WHO - WHOM - WHOSE - WHICH - etc...
Phrase
Dependent Clause
Relative pronoun
Correlative expression
46. A group of related words that functions as a unit but lacks a subject - verb - or both. WITHOUT THE RESOURCES TO CONTINUE.
Phrase
Adverb
Adverbial phrase
Relative pronoun
47. A group of related words that contains a subject and predicate. [MOTHS SWARM around a burning candle.]
Clause
Compound subject
Participial phrase
Colloquialism
48. The order or arrangement of words in a sentence.
Syntax
Verbal
Possessive
Loose sentence
49. A verbal that functions as an adjective. Present participles end in -ING; past - -D - -ED; or -EN. Other forms: BROKEN
Dependent Clause
Participle
Preposition
Relative clause
50. A word or group of words that aids coherence in writing by showing the connections between ideas.
Subject
Transition
Adverbial phrase
Relative pronoun