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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 joins the subject of a sentence to its complement. [They WERE ecstatic.]
Compound subject
Linking verb
Object
Modifier
2. 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]
Linking verb
Infinitive/split infinitive
Adjective
Independent Clause
3. An independent clause which can stand alone as a grammatically complete sentence.
Conjunction
Tense
Indirect object
Main clause
4. The -ING form of a verb that functions as a noun: HIKING - PLAYING - etc...
Appositive
Auxiliary verb
Infinitive/split infinitive
Gerund
5. The order or arrangement of words in a sentence.
Possessive
Syntax
Adverb
Indirect object
6. 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.
Intransitive verb
Agreement
Gerund
Articles
7. A word that modifies - quantifies - or otherwise describes a noun or pronoun. [DRIZZLY November]
Nominative pronoun
Verbal
Adjective
Subject
8. The predicating verb in a main clause or sentence.
Object
Principal verb
Phrase
Subject
9. A group of words consisting of a preposition - its object -and any of the object's modifiers. [Georgia ON MY MIND.]
Prepositional phrase
Relative pronoun
Agreement
Gerund
10. A word that names a person - place - or thing.
Indirect object
Intransitive verb
Case
Noun
11. A pronoun that connects a dependent clause to a main clause in a sentence: WHO - WHOM - WHOSE - WHICH - etc...
Complement
Relative pronoun
Direct object
Compound sentence
12. A word or phrase (especially a noun or adjective that completes the predicate. [Martha is my NEIGHBOUR.]
Contraction
Colloquialism
Complement
Linking verb
13. 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.]
Adverb
Restrictive term - element - clause
Conjunction
Loose sentence
14. Possessive pronouns such as HERS - ITS and THEIRS.
Infinitive/split infinitive
Antecedent
Pronominal possessive
Relative pronoun
15. Correlative conjunctions [BOTH - AND; EITHER - OR; NEITHER - NOR] join the same kinds of elements (as conjunctions)
Agreement
Correlative expression
Complement
Transition
16. A group of words with a subject and verb that can stand alone as a sentence. [RACCOONS STEAL FOOD.]
Predicate
Modal auxiliaries
Auxiliary verb
Independent Clause
17. 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].
Indirect object
Modal auxiliaries
Relative pronoun
Conjunction
18. A group of words that is not grammatically a complete sentence but is punctuated as one: BECAUSE IT MATTERED GREATLY.
Number
Sentence fragment
Modifier
Contraction
19. The noun or pronoun that indicates what a sentence is about - and which the principal verb of a sentence elaborates.
Colloquialism
Subject
Prepositional phrase
Periodic sentence
20. Two or more simple subjects joined by a coordinating or correlative conjunction. [HEMINGWAY AND FITZGERALD had little in common.]
Indefinite pronoun
Correlative expression
Auxiliary verb
Compound subject
21. A word or group of words that expresses the action or indicates the state of being of the subject. Verbs ACTIVATE sentences.
Verb
Loose sentence
Auxiliary verb
Predicate
22. 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.]
Main clause
Restrictive term - element - clause
Compound subject
Verbal
23. A phrase that functions as an adverb. [Landon laughs WITH ABANDON]
Syntax
Infinitive/split infinitive
Adverbial phrase
Main clause
24. A pronoun that refers to an unspecified person (ANYBODY) or thing (SOMETHING)
Appositive
Indefinite pronoun
Indirect object
Adjectival modifier
25. A shortened form of a word or group of words: CAN'T for cannot; THEY'RE for they are.
Infinitive/split infinitive
Participial phrase
Contraction
Periodic sentence
26. A word that relates its object to another word in the sentence. [She is the leader OF our group.]
Object
Preposition
Modal auxiliaries
Loose sentence
27. A word or phrase that qualifies - describes - or limits the meaning of a word - phrase - or clause. [FRAYED ribbon]
Nonrestrictive modifier
Participial phrase
Articles
Modifier
28. 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]
Colloquialism
Direct object
Articles
Antecedent
29. A word that modifies or otherwise qualifies a verb - an adjective - or another adverb. [Gestures GRACEFULLY]
Auxiliary verb
Adverb
Compound subject
Phrase
30. A verb that requires a direct object to complete its meaning: they WASHED their new car.
Infinitive/split infinitive
Relative pronoun
Gerund
Transitive verb
31. 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].
Subordinate clause
Agreement
Number
Antecedent
32. 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
Compound subject
Auxiliary verb
Adjective
33. A group of related words that contains a subject and predicate. [MOTHS SWARM around a burning candle.]
Clause
Relative pronoun
Principal verb
Nonrestrictive modifier
34. A noun or pronoun that receives the action of a transitive verb. [Pearson publishes BOOKS.]
Direct object
Modifier
Main clause
Gerund
35. A phrase of clause that does not limit or restrict the essential meaning of the element it modifies.
Infinitive/split infinitive
Tense
Nonrestrictive modifier
Case
36. A sentence that begins with the main idea and then attaches modifiers - qualifiers - and additional details.
Loose sentence
Adverb
Modifier
Relative pronoun
37. A pronoun that functions as a subject or a subject complement.
Relative pronoun
Nominative pronoun
Direct object
Participial phrase
38. A group of words that includes a subject and verb but is subordinate to an independent clause in a sentence. [IF - BECAUSE - SINCE - etc...]
Complement
Dependent Clause
Nonrestrictive modifier
Syntax
39. A word - phrase - or clause that acts as an adjective in qualifying the meaning of a noun or pronoun. [YOUR country]
Adjectival modifier
Antecedent
Restrictive term - element - clause
Clause
40. The form of a noun or pronoun that reflects its grammatical function in a sentence as subject (THEY) - object (THEM) - or possessor (THEIR).
Direct object
Proper noun
Case
Transition
41. A sentence that expresses the main idea at the end.
Periodic sentence
Preposition
Possessive
Syntax
42. The name of a particular person - place or thing.
Transitive verb
Intransitive verb
Participle
Proper noun
43. A word that joins words - phrases - clauses - or sentences. [For - And - Nor - But - Or - Yet - So --> FANBOYS]
Adverbial phrase
Transitive verb
Adjectival modifier
Conjunction
44. 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.]
Subordinate clause
Indirect object
Linking verb
Auxiliary verb
45. 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.]
Compound sentence
Appositive
Phrase
Transitive verb
46. A group of related words that functions as a unit but lacks a subject - verb - or both. WITHOUT THE RESOURCES TO CONTINUE.
Proper noun
Intransitive verb
Phrase
Clause
47. A word or group of words that aids coherence in writing by showing the connections between ideas.
Complement
Transition
Principal verb
Modal auxiliaries
48. The verb and its related words in a clause or sentence. The predicate expresses what the subject does - experiences - or is. [Birds FLY.]
Predicate
Modal auxiliaries
Infinitive/split infinitive
Dependent Clause
49. The time of a verb's action or state of being - such as past - present - or future.
Participle
Infinitive/split infinitive
Direct object
Tense
50. A verb that does not take a direct object. [His nerve FAILED.]
Possessive
Intransitive verb
Colloquialism
Case