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Grammar Fundamentals

Subjects : english, grammar
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • 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 word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun - answer these 3 questions: which one - how many - what kind - e.g. articles






2. A word that begins a subordinate clause and relates it to another idea in the sentence: that - which - who - whom - whose






3. Takes the place of a noun and begins with a capitol letter






4. When the action begins in the past and is completed in the past (I had hoped to be finished by November.)






5. An adjective used to compare two items; example: Today is HOTTER than yesterday. (Usually uses -er)






6. The point of view in which the narrator is a character in the story - using words like I we - and us






7. Tells to whom - for whom the action of the verb is done. Ex. "Claire threw JOSEPH the ball"






8. This error occurs when the number singular or plural pronoun does not match the subject is that they are replacing.






9. A noun that is singular in form but refers to a group of people or things






10. Word or phrase that shows strong emotion or surprise (whoa - look - ah)






11. Verb used as a command






12. Is - am - was - were - can - may - will - were - did - does






13. A sentence in which the subject performs the action. (George built this house.)






14. The word - phrase - or clause referred to by a pronoun.






15. When a noun or pronoun is the direct object - indirect object or object of a preposition






16. Prepositional - Participial - Gerundive - Infinitive - Verb






17. Is the noun or pronoun that follows the preposition; example: The sands of the BEACH were white.






18. Would - Could - Should - May - Might - Must






19. A sentence that asks a question--- "Why do I have to wash my hands ?"






20. A verb that requires a direct object to complete its meaning: they WASHED their new car.






21. A phrase consisting of a preposition - a noun or pronoun that serves as the object of the preposition - and any modifiers






22. The narrator tells a listener what he/she has done or said - using the personal pronoun "you." This point of view is rare.






23. Any one of a group of persons - places - things - or ideas and is generally not capitalized






24. A person - place - thing - animal - action - or quality






25. Sentence where independent clauses are joined incorrectly - Comma splice - I ate he slept. (Need semi-colon!)






26. Tells what the subject is or does






27. Renames or describes the direct object






28. Simple - Complex - Compound - Complex-compound






29. Renames a noun






30. A ___________ has one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.






31. A noun that cannot be made plural via changing the ending - usually by adding "s"






32. An expression that cannot be understood if taken literally (ex- "Get your head out of the clouds").






33. Is - seem - are - was - were - be - been - get - stay -become






34. A group of words (usually two) that functions as a single part of speech






35. Tells that something will happen in the future; uses WILL with the verb; example: Dena WILL LAUGH at the jokes






36. Describes subject






37. A word or phrase apparently modifying an unintended word because of its placement in a sentence: e.g. "wearing a ball gown" in the sentence - "She sat on the lap of a fat man wearing a ball gown."






38. includes all linking verbs and any action verbs that do not take an object; example: My friends CRIED - (his shoulder felt sore... 'sore' is a predicate adjective - not a direct object)






39. A phase that is related to a sentence in meaning though it has no grammatical relationship to the sentence.






40. 'To be' + present participle (ing)






41. When noun or pronoun is the subject of the verb






42. Does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence - even though it has a subject and a verb - e.g. ...because she is funny






43. Prepositions function as ___or ___






44. Verbal acting like a noun






45. Answer these 5 questions - how - when - where - why - how often - and NOT






46. Names a person - place - or thing that can be perceived by one or more of the senses






47. (Stands for a noun) I - me - mine - you - your - he - him - his - she - her - hers - it - its - we - us - our/ours - they - them - their/theirs






48. Any group of words that is missing either a Subject or a Verb.






49. Two sentences joined incorrectly with only a comma






50. Personal - Relative - Indefinite - Demonstrative -Reflexive - Intensive - Interrogative - Reciprocal