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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 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."






2. A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun - answer these 3 questions: which one - how many - what kind - e.g. articles






3. Words that show the relationship of dependent clause to the independent clause - e.g. as if than or as though once when






4. 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






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






6. Phrases - Clauses - Objects (Direct and indirect) - Object of prepositions - Subject - Predicate






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






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






9. A sentence that communicate a strong emotion or surprise






10. Renames a noun






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






12. A word or group of words that can function as a noun






13. Renames or describes the direct object






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






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






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






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






18. Names a quality of mental concept; intangible idea - feeling - quality - or characteristic: loyalty - curiosity - health - grace - sweetness






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






20. A sentence that makes a statement or declaration






21. The _____ of a sentence receives the action of the verb






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






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






24. Point of view presents the events of the story from a narrator's point of view (he - she - it - they - them - their - her - his - or character's names are used)






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






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






27. The part of the sentence about which something is said or the person - place - or thing that does the action






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






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






30. Describes a noun or pronoun on its own terms - without comparing it to anything else. example: This is a HOT day.






31. Subordinating conjunction (He asked that she go.) - Relative pronoun (He took the test that was hard.) - Demonstrative pronoun (That was hard.) - Demonstrative adjective (That test was hard.) - Adverb (The test wasn't that bad.)


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






33. Used to show the relationship of a noun or pronoun to some other word in the sentence. Examples: in - under - near - behind - to - from - over






34. It is supposed to be absolutely clear who is being referred to by a pronoun. If you cannot tell who a pronoun is referring to it is ambiguous and must be fixed.






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






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






37. Must place your word next to the one you're modifying






38. A sentence with two or more coordinate independent clauses - often joined by one or more conjunctions.






39. Verb whose past and past participle are formed by adding -ed or -d to the present - E.g. play-played- - like-liked






40. A verb used to state a fact or ask a question






41. S - shape - C - color - R - race - A - age - M - material - These are not separated by commas






42. A sentence that makes a command






43. A clause that functions as an adjective and usually begins with a relative pronoun that is often omitted






44. There are two main types of ______ - pronoun reference - pronoun number singular or plural.






45. 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)






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






47. Verb used as a command






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






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






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