Grammar Essentials:Self-Test

Simpson © 2006 2

Test Topics

Noun endings Countable and Uncountable Nouns Verb/Noun Agreement Adverb or adjective Pick out the verbs Dependent & Independent Clauses Prepositional phrases

Simpson © 2006 3

Pick out the three typical noun endings. -Er -Ize -Ate -Tion -Ism -Ify

Simpson © 2006 4

Indicate whether the underlined noun is countable or uncountable The car has changed the face of the country.

[countable / uncountable] I used to have a lot of hair.

[countable / uncountable] My computer has crashed.

[countable / uncountable] Although there were over 100 dogs at the dog show,

Fido still came in first. [countable / uncountable]

The whole idea of the supermarket was to make shopping easier.

[countable / uncountable]

Simpson © 2006 5

Choose the correct verb form to match the noun. The sugar in all the bags ____ gone lumpy. (has/

have) The scouring pad and tea towel _____ to be

washed. (need/needs) The witticisms of Oscar Wilde _____ legendary. (is/

are) Neither of those suits _____ very good on you. (look

/looks) One of these books ____ signed by the author. (is/

are)

Simpson © 2006 6

Indicate whether the underlined word is an adverb or adjective The red car skidded around the corner. (adjective /

adverb) He was solidly behind the idea. (adjective / adverb) The stop light glowed redly against the night sky. (

adjective / adverb) I pulled hard on the door to open it. (adjective /

adverb) There was nothing soft about the pillow. (adjective /

adverb) His reasons for writing a five paragraph essay were

largely insignificant. (adjective / adverb)

Simpson © 2006 7

Pick out the verbs in each sentence. If you go to Minsk, you should go in the

spring. Very few people find Mozart to be overly

exciting. Nobody should go to school if they

are not going to stay awake during class. First I will go to the opera, but only after I eat

dinner. I think, therefore I am.

Simpson © 2006 8

Identify whether the underlined clause is dependent or independent There was little time after the play for us to go to

Denny’s. (Independent / Dependent) After tearing up the student’s plagiarized essay, the

professor then boiled the student in oil. (Independent / Dependent)

The five paragraph essay is an evil spawn of Satan which leads to bad writing. (Independent / Dependent)

Despite what some people appear to believe, even organic food is made up of chemicals. (Independent / Dependent)

Simpson © 2006 9

Pick out the prepositional phrases [There was nobody] [in the theatre], [

so John and I] [went home]. [There was nothing] [by the side of the road] [

to indicate] [where he’d driven] [into the ditch].

[With Davy Jones] [at the bottom of the ocean], [the pirates finally had time] [to explore the treasure chest].

[There was no particular reason] [for Doug to go home].

Simpson © 2006 10

Simpson © 2006 11

Wrong – Prepositional phrases

Return to test page

Simpson © 2006 12

Right – Prepositional Phrases

Return to test page

Simpson © 2006 13

Wrong – identify clause

Return to test page

Simpson © 2006 14

Right – Identify clause

Return to test page

Simpson © 2006 15

Wrong – pick out verbs

Return to test page

Simpson © 2006 16

Right – Pick out verbs

Return to test page

Simpson © 2006 17

Identify Adjective/Adverb

Return to test page

Simpson © 2006 18

Identify Advective/Adverb

Return to test page

Simpson © 2006 19

Adverb/Adjective

Return to test page

Simpson © 2006 20

Adverb/Adjective

Return to test page

Simpson © 2006 21

Noun/Verb Agreement

Return to test page

Simpson © 2006 22

Noun/Verb Agreement

Return to test page

Simpson © 2006 23

Noun Endings

Return to test page

Simpson © 2006 24

Noun Endings

Return to test page

Simpson © 2006 25

Verb/Noun Agreement

Return to test page

Simpson © 2006 26

Verb/Noun Agreement

Return to test page