STUDENTS:BELOW IS THE “BRUSH UP” on GRAMMAR that I think you should remember before you finish this English course. I will use the EXACT same sentences from the “grammar” website that I listed under my English 101 list on the frontdoor website. FYI:How I would review: jot down the name of the quiz and the first sentence; then go to the “grammar” listing undering my Eng. 101 listing (frontdoor) – you must press “control” then enter to actually go the website. Under the research & essay heading box ( in the middle of the long list) you will find DEADLY WRITING SINS. That is where you will find the 5 quizzes I listed below.

Take the quiz; learn what you know or don’t know; show me on the final exam for an “easy” 10 to 20 pts.:) Email me with anyone worries, concerns, ideas

p.s. watch the great powerpoint presentations to relearn info. (the website for that is listed under the deadly sins website on my frontdoor website (doublespeak? But I am not purposely trying to confuse you! (just the opposite)

p.s.s. and if you want to know a great “trick” to learn the difference between who & whom (and who’s & whose) just email me; I have lots of great learning tricks.

Pronoun & Tense Consistency

Select one answer from the choices provided after each sentence. The word you choose should fit the blank in the sentence.

1.  When one has been going to college for as long as he has, ____________ to think the college owes _______ a degree.

you start; you

one starts; one

he starts; him

2.  Spring begins early in Tennessee. First, the forsythia bursts into blossom; then the dogwood trees _______ to bloom, and the redbud is soon in its glory.

begin

began

3. The poetry of Robert Frost (1874-1963) often seems to suggest some kind of fate controls our lives. His essays, too, ____________ a similar malignant presence.

indicate

indicated

4.  We have never seen this kind of impatience in the media before. ________ think it has something to do with the weather.

You

We

5.  The climate of New Zealand can be a pleasure for you if _______ don't mind a little rain.

we

he

you

6. Aunt Mina wrote to tell us of her recent trip to California. She said it was a delightful journey on the plane. Seeing her brother again _________ a real treat.

is

was

7.  When NYPD Blue went off the air in May, many viewers felt they had lost a friend in ________ own family.

his

our

their

Quiz on Pronoun Usage

Select one answer from the choices provided after each sentence. The word you choose should fit the blank in the sentence. Don't click on a HINT button unless you really need it.

1.  My grandmother really loved Juan. She left all her money to Federico and _______ .

he

him

2.  A student in that all-women's college should have no fears about ________ future.

her

their

3.  He was so worried about ________ he should ask to the big dance, that he ended up not asking anyone.

who

whom

4.  Neither Tashonda nor _____ am responsible for this mess.

I

me

5.  This is a matter for you and _______ to decide.

I

me

6.  Everybody in this class has completed ________ homework already.

his or her

their

7.  No one on this bus seems to know ______ way around this part of New York City.

their

his or her

Fragments and Run-Ons

After each sentence, select the option which best describes that sentence. The first option will always be that the sentence is fine. Other options will not only define the structural flaw but suggest a way of fixing it. Choose the option with the best remedy.

1.  Although he had been an often decorated soldier during World War II and had fought many battles for the losing cause of liberalism in Congress.

A. There is nothing wrong with the structure of this sentence.

B. Run-on: put a comma after World War II.

C. Run-on: put a semicolon after World War II.

D. Fragment: put a comma after Congress and finish the sentence.

2.  This is going to be the most difficult exam of your college career, you had better start studying for it immediately.

A. There is nothing wrong with the structure of this sentence.

B. Fragment: put a comma after immediately and finish the sentence.

C. Run-on: replace that comma with a semicolon.

3.  Knowing better than anyone else how the state legislature had ignored the needs of the community college system and created a crisis characterized by an uneducated workforce that had no place to go for proper training and realizing that someone had to do something about the situation or the state would begin to lose jobs to states in the American south that were more aggressive in providing and publicizing excellence in education, Representative Fuentes began to lay plans for an education bill that took into consideration the needs of the state's community colleges and the students who attended them.

A. There is nothing wrong with the structure of this sentence.

B. This sentence is too long; it must be a run-on.

C. Even though this sentence is very long, it is actually a fragment.

4.  Coach Espinoza really wants this job with Notre Dame University, she is very excited about returning to the college she graduated from.

A. There is nothing wrong with the structure of this sentence.

B. Fragment: put a comma after from and finish the sentence.

C. Run-on: change that comma to a period and start a new sentence.

5.  Right after the Christmas holidays and during those three weeks before class begins in January.

A. There is nothing wrong with the structure of this sentence.

B. Fragment: put a comma after January and finish the sentence.

C. Run-on: put a comma after holidays.

6.  She ran.

A. There is nothing wrong with the structure of this sentence.

B. Fragment: the sentence is too short and needs more details to be a complete thought.

7.  Perplexed by the rising rates of inflation and alarmed by the decline in major construction projects.

A. There is nothing wrong with the structure of this sentence.

B. Run-on: put a comma after inflation.

C. Fragment: put a comma after projects and finish the sentence.

8.  Anabel realizes what she is doing, I think, but she doing it anyway.

A. There is nothing wrong with the structure of this sentence.

B. Fragment: we're missing part of a verb.

C. Run-on: change the comma after doing to a semicolon.

9.  Professor Pepin spends a lot of time translating medieval texts on ancient medicine, however, he also stays informed about the latest developments in modern asthma treatments.

A. There is nothing wrong with the structure of this sentence.

B. Fragment: although this is a long sentence, it's missing part of a verb.

C. Run-on: remove the verb from the second independent clause.

D. Run-on: change the comma after medicine to a semicolon.

10.  If we're ever going to get out of here in time, we're going to have to re-write all these papers, set up the desks, and clean the chalkboards; stack those books in the corner and clean up the mess around the wastebasket; notify security about the broken window, the thermostat that Raoul messed up, and the desk that was stolen before we even got here.

A. There is nothing wrong with the structure of this sentence.

B. Run-on: the sentence should be broken into three smaller sentences.

C. Fragment: although the sentence is very long, it's missing a verb string.

D. Run-on: change those two semicolons to commas.

Fragments and Run-Ons

After each sentence, select the option which best describes that sentence. The first option will always be that the sentence is fine. Other options will not only define the structural flaw but suggest a way of fixing it. Choose the option with the best remedy.

1.  Although he had been an often decorated soldier during World War II and had fought many battles for the losing cause of liberalism in Congress.

A. There is nothing wrong with the structure of this sentence.

B. Run-on: put a comma after World War II.

C. Run-on: put a semicolon after World War II.

D. Fragment: put a comma after Congress and finish the sentence.

2.  This is going to be the most difficult exam of your college career, you had better start studying for it immediately.

A. There is nothing wrong with the structure of this sentence.

B. Fragment: put a comma after immediately and finish the sentence.

C. Run-on: replace that comma with a semicolon.

3.  Knowing better than anyone else how the state legislature had ignored the needs of the community college system and created a crisis characterized by an uneducated workforce that had no place to go for proper training and realizing that someone had to do something about the situation or the state would begin to lose jobs to states in the American south that were more aggressive in providing and publicizing excellence in education, Representative Fuentes began to lay plans for an education bill that took into consideration the needs of the state's community colleges and the students who attended them.

A. There is nothing wrong with the structure of this sentence.

B. This sentence is too long; it must be a run-on.

C. Even though this sentence is very long, it is actually a fragment.

4.  Coach Espinoza really wants this job with Notre Dame University, she is very excited about returning to the college she graduated from.

A. There is nothing wrong with the structure of this sentence.

B. Fragment: put a comma after from and finish the sentence.

C. Run-on: change that comma to a period and start a new sentence.

5.  Right after the Christmas holidays and during those three weeks before class begins in January.

A. There is nothing wrong with the structure of this sentence.

B. Fragment: put a comma after January and finish the sentence.

C. Run-on: put a comma after holidays.

6.  She ran.

A. There is nothing wrong with the structure of this sentence.

B. Fragment: the sentence is too short and needs more details to be a complete thought.

7.  Perplexed by the rising rates of inflation and alarmed by the decline in major construction projects.

A. There is nothing wrong with the structure of this sentence.

B. Run-on: put a comma after inflation.

C. Fragment: put a comma after projects and finish the sentence.

8.  Anabel realizes what she is doing, I think, but she doing it anyway.

A. There is nothing wrong with the structure of this sentence.

B. Fragment: we're missing part of a verb.

C. Run-on: change the comma after doing to a semicolon.

9.  Professor Pepin spends a lot of time translating medieval texts on ancient medicine, however, he also stays informed about the latest developments in modern asthma treatments.

A. There is nothing wrong with the structure of this sentence.

B. Fragment: although this is a long sentence, it's missing part of a verb.

C. Run-on: remove the verb from the second independent clause.

D. Run-on: change the comma after medicine to a semicolon.

10.  If we're ever going to get out of here in time, we're going to have to re-write all these papers, set up the desks, and clean the chalkboards; stack those books in the corner and clean up the mess around the wastebasket; notify security about the broken window, the thermostat that Raoul messed up, and the desk that was stolen before we even got here.

A. There is nothing wrong with the structure of this sentence.

B. Run-on: the sentence should be broken into three smaller sentences.

C. Fragment: although the sentence is very long, it's missing a verb string.

D. Run-on: change those two semicolons to commas.

-----________________________________________________________________________

Quiz on Forms of Who

Select the correct form of the word who or whoever from the choices provided after each sentence. The word you choose should fit the blank in the sentence. Don't use a HINT button unless you really need some help.1.  To ____________ did you give the book?

WHO

WHOM

2.  ____________ will you ask to help you with all this work?

WHO

WHOM

3.  ____________ responsible for this decision?

WHO

WHOM

WHO'S

4.  You may give this money to ____________ you please.

WHOEVER

WHOMEVER

5.  ____________ did this should be kicked out of office.

WHOEVER

WHOMEVER

6.  ____________ going to support the junta now?

WHOSE

WHO'S

7.  I can't remember ____________ told me that.

WHO

WHOM

8.  I can't figure out ____________ I should blame for this.

WHO

WHOM

9.  Give these old coats to ____________ seems to need them most.

WHOEVER

WHOMEVER

10.  ____________ shall I say is calling?

WHO

WHOM

11.  ____________ car is parked beside that fire hydrant?

WHO'S

WHOSE

12.  The teacher seemed to flunk ____________ she didn't like.

WHOEVER

WHOMEVER

13.  I've forgotten ____________ going in my car.

WHOSE

WHO'S

14.  To ____________ should I address this question?

WHO

WHOEVER

WHOM

WHOMEVER

15.  ____________ fault is that?

WHO'S

WHOSE

Parallel Structures

1.  Select the sentence that illustrates the use of proper parallel construction.

Phuong Tran has wit, charm, and she has an extremely pleasant personality.

Phuong Tran has wit, charm, and a pleasing personality.

2.  Select the sentence that illustrates the use of proper parallel construction.

In English class, Tashonda learned to read poems critically and to appreciate good prose.

In English class, Tashonda learned to read poems critically and she appreciated good prose.

3.  Select the sentence that illustrates the use of proper parallel construction.

Raoul's QPA is higher than Ralph.

Raoul's QPA is higher than Ralph's.

4.  Select the sentence that illustrates the use of proper parallel construction.

He wanted three things out of college: to learn a skill, to make good friends, and to learn about life.

He wanted three things out of college: to learn a skill, to make good friends, and learning about life.

5.  Select the sentence that illustrates the use of proper parallel construction.

Coach Espinoza was a brilliant strategist, a caring mentor, and a wise friend.

Coach Espinoza was a brilliant strategist, a caring mentor, and friend.

6.  Select the sentence that illustrates the use of proper parallel construction.

We found the film repulsive, offensive, and we thought it was embarrassing.

We found the film repulsive, offensive, and embarrassing.

7.  Select the sentence that illustrates the use of proper parallel construction.

Mr. Nguyen kept his store clean, neat, and he made it conveniently arranged.

Mr. Nguyen kept his store clean, neat, and conveniently arranged.

8.  Select the sentence that illustrates the use of proper parallel construction.

Professor Ali rewarded his students for working hard on the final project and going beyond the call of duty.

Professor Ali rewarded his students for their hard work on the final project and going beyond the call of duty.

9.  Select the sentence that illustrates the use of proper parallel construction.

There's nothing I like better than finding a good trout stream, setting up camp, and spending a couple of days fishing.

There's nothing I like better than finding a good trout stream, setting up camp, and to spend a couple of days fishing.