Test your basic knowledge |

Elements Of Style Vocab

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 phrase that functions as an adverb. [Landon laughs WITH ABANDON]






2. 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].






3. A group of related words that contains a subject and predicate. [MOTHS SWARM around a burning candle.]






4. 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]






5. A word or group of words that aids coherence in writing by showing the connections between ideas.






6. The order or arrangement of words in a sentence.






7. A word or phrase that qualifies - describes - or limits the meaning of a word - phrase - or clause. [FRAYED ribbon]






8. A pronoun that refers to an unspecified person (ANYBODY) or thing (SOMETHING)






9. A group of words consisting of a preposition - its object -and any of the object's modifiers. [Georgia ON MY MIND.]






10. A word that modifies - quantifies - or otherwise describes a noun or pronoun. [DRIZZLY November]






11. 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]






12. Correlative conjunctions [BOTH - AND; EITHER - OR; NEITHER - NOR] join the same kinds of elements (as conjunctions)






13. A pronoun that functions as a subject or a subject complement.






14. The attribute of a verb that indicates whether its subject is active [Janet PLAYED the guitar]






15. A sentence that expresses the main idea at the end.






16. An independent clause which can stand alone as a grammatically complete sentence.






17. A verb that does not take a direct object. [His nerve FAILED.]






18. 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.]






19. A word - phrase - or clause that acts as an adjective in qualifying the meaning of a noun or pronoun. [YOUR country]






20. The -ING form of a verb that functions as a noun: HIKING - PLAYING - etc...






21. In the present tense - a verb phrase consisting of TO followed by the base form of the verb (TO WRITE). A split infinitive occurs when one or more words separate TO and the verb [TO BOLDLY GO]






22. 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.]






23. 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]






24. A group of words with a subject and verb that can stand alone as a sentence. [RACCOONS STEAL FOOD.]






25. The form of a noun or pronoun that reflects its grammatical function in a sentence as subject (THEY) - object (THEM) - or possessor (THEIR).






26. A group of related words that functions as a unit but lacks a subject - verb - or both. WITHOUT THE RESOURCES TO CONTINUE.






27. A word or phrase (especially a noun or adjective that completes the predicate. [Martha is my NEIGHBOUR.]






28. A feature of nouns - pronouns - and a few verbs referring to singular or plural.






29. A noun or pronoun that receives the action of a transitive verb. [Pearson publishes BOOKS.]






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.






31. A word or group of words that expresses the action or indicates the state of being of the subject. Verbs ACTIVATE sentences.






32. 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.]






33. The name of a particular person - place or thing.






34. Two or more simple subjects joined by a coordinating or correlative conjunction. [HEMINGWAY AND FITZGERALD had little in common.]






35. The predicating verb in a main clause or sentence.






36. A shortened form of a word or group of words: CAN'T for cannot; THEY'RE for they are.






37. A word that modifies or otherwise qualifies a verb - an adjective - or another adverb. [Gestures GRACEFULLY]






38. Possessive pronouns such as HERS - ITS and THEIRS.






39. A present or past participle with accompanying modifiers - objects or complements.






40. A word that joins words - phrases - clauses - or sentences. [For - And - Nor - But - Or - Yet - So --> FANBOYS]






41. A phrase of clause that does not limit or restrict the essential meaning of the element it modifies.






42. The noun or pronoun that indicates what a sentence is about - and which the principal verb of a sentence elaborates.






43. A word or expression appropriate to informal conversation but not usually suitable for academic or business writing. [They wanted to GET EVEN.]






44. 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].






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






46. A sentence that begins with the main idea and then attaches modifiers - qualifiers - and additional details.






47. A group of words that includes a subject and verb but is subordinate to an independent clause in a sentence. [IF - BECAUSE - SINCE - etc...]






48. A pronoun that connects a dependent clause to a main clause in a sentence: WHO - WHOM - WHOSE - WHICH - etc...






49. A clause dependent on the main clause in a sentence. AFTER WE FINISH OUR WORK - we will go out for dinner.






50. A verbal that functions as an adjective. Present participles end in -ING; past - -D - -ED; or -EN. Other forms: BROKEN