Effective Sentences quiz

Sentence Fragments

A fragment is a group of words with end punctuation that either does not have a subject or a verb or does not express a complete thought. Most fragments are phrases, subordinate clauses, or words in a series. Subordinate clauses cannot stand alone as a sentence. Either connect them to nearby independent clauses or add the missing sentence parts. Always check to see that a series of words has both a subject and a verb

Run on sentences

A run on sentence is two or more complete sentences incorrectly punctuates as if they were one. Use punctuation, conjunctions, or other methods to join or separate the parts of a run on sentence. There are four different ways to correct run on sentences: with end marks and capitals, with commas and conjunctions, with semicolons, or by rewriting A fused sentence consists of two or more sentences not separated or joined by any punctuation. A comma splice consists of two or more sentences separated by a comma instead of a comma and a conjunction.

Which is a sentence fragment?

A. A crowd was drawn by a skateboarder doing flip tricks. B. A skateboarder doing flip tricks drew a crowd. C. Doing flip tricks, a skateboarder drew a crowd. D. A crowd drawn by a skateboarder doing flip tricks.

It was announced that the President will visit our city on the evening news. Which revision most effectively corrects the misplaced modifier?

A. Announced on the evening news, the President will visit our city. B. It was announced on the evening news that the President will visit our city. C. The President will visit our city announced on the evening news. D. Our city announce that the President will visit on the evening news

Which sentence has a dangling modifier?

A. Bicycling along a bike trail, my friend Mark spotted a white-tailed deer munching on some leaves B. Sturdy yet comfortable, my new hiking boots will enable me to explore on foot. C. Inexpensive and fun, camping is a great way to spend a weekend. D. While looking for a campsite, a tornado touched down neat the park.

William Shakespeare was one of the greatest playwrights of all time, and he was born in England. Which revision corrects the faulty parallelism in the sentence?

A. Born in England and one of the greatest playwrights of all time, was William Shakespeare. B. As one of the greatest playwrights of all time, William Shakespeare was born in England. C. William Shakespeare, being born in England, was one of th greatest playwrights of all time D. William Shakespeare, one of the greatest playwrights of all time, was born in England.

Crafts once fulfilled useful purposes, now crafts are used mainly for decoration. Which revision most effectively corrects the comma splice?

A. Crafts once fulfilled useful purposed now crafts are used mainly for decoration. B. Crafts once fulfilled used purposes, but now crafts are used mainly for decoration. C. Crafts once filled useful purposes, even now crafts are used mainly for decoration. D. Crafts one fulfilling useful purposes but now used mainly for decoration.

Which is a fused sentence?

A. Felicia likes to watch old movies and listen to old rock music. B. I enjoy playing video games because they are so exciting. C. Juanito likes to play drums that he makes out of old cans. D. My Dad doesn't have a hobby he is too busy working

Which sentence is an example of faulty coordination?

A. Helen and Evan went to see the movie, and it was a very good movie. B. Kari will go to the movie, and Kim will stay at home. C. The movie was long and boring. D. The movie was incredibly long, but we enjoyed it very much.

Which is a comma splice?

A. I learned to sew by taking a class, it was taught by a great teacher. B. If you are not patient when you sew, you are more likely to make mistakes. C. Sometimes, I design my own clothes, but other times, I use commercial patterns to make them. D. Making new clothes is fun, and it can also be less expensive than buying them.

I want to be a pastry chef I am thinking of attending a baking school after graduation. Which revision most effectively corrects the fused sentence?

A. I want to be a pastry chef thinking of attending a baking school after graduation. B. I want to be a pastry chef, so I am thinking of attending a baking school after graduation. C. I want to be a pastry chef, I am thinking of attending a baking school after graduation. D. I want to be a pastry chef, before I am thinking of attending a baking school after graduation.

It began to rain the officials cancelled the game. Which revision most effectively corrects the fused sentence?

A. It began to rain, so the officials cancelled the game. B. It began to rain, the officials cancelled the game. C. It began to rain, therefore the officials cancelled the game.

It began to rain the officials cancelled the game. Which revision most effectively corrects the fused sentence?

A. It began to rain, so the officials cancelled the game. B. It began to rain, therefore the officials cancelled the game. C. It began to rain, the officials cancelled the game.

Still under construction, Jefferson was the first President to take the oath of office at the Capitol. Which revision corrects the dangling modifier in the sentence?

A. Jefferson, the first President to take the oath of office at the Capitol, was still under construction. B. Jefferson was the first President to take the oath of office at the Capitol, which was still under construction. C. The first President to take the oath of office, which was still under construction at the Capitol, was Jefferson. D. Still under construction at the Capitol, the first President to take the oath of office was Jefferson.

Which is a comma splice?

A. Jon loves to lead, so he joined the student council. B. When you start something new, it helps to have a model to follow. C. Sometimes I write down my ideas, but other times I prefer to talk. D. Sherri likes to take pictures, she is taking a photography class.

Which sentence is an example of faulty parallelism?

A. Kelli drove to school, went to play rehearsal, and the play was wonderful! B. Our softball coach says that we have great players but that we do not work as a team as well as we should. C. Sam prefers running track to playing football. D. I need to do my homework, mow the yard, and help Mom with the dishes this afternoon.

Which is a fused sentence?

A. Kyle will listen to group members and take notes on what they say. B. Lara will ask the group questions that she has prepared in advance C. Josie will lead the discussion it is about a topic she knows well. D. Ted has not finished reading the assignment because he has been sick.

The umbrella dates back more than 3,00 years to Mesopotamia. That ancient land was located in the Middle East. The Middle East is a hot and sunny part of the world. Which is the most effective way to combine sentences 2 and 3?

A. Located in the Middle East, a hot and sunny part of the world that ancient land. B. A hot and sunny part of the world is the ancient land in the Middle East. C. That ancient land was located in the Middle East, a hot and sunny part of the world. D. That ancient land was located in the Middle East, and the Middle East is a hot and sunny part of the world.

On vacation, we went swimming, diving, and for a canoe ride. Which revision corrects the faulty parallelism in the sentence?

A. On vacation, we went swimming, for a dive, and for a canoe ride. B. On vacation, we went for a swim, for a dive, and canoeing. C. On vacation, we went swimming, diving, and canoeing. D. On vacation, we went swimming, diving, and we took a canoe ride.

Poor RIchards was an almanac. Poor Richards was published once a year. Which is the most effective way to combine these sentences?

A. Poor Richard's, published once a year, and was a collection of miscellaneous information. B. Poor Richards, a collection of miscellaneous information published once a year. C. Poor Richards, which was published once a year, was a collection of miscellaneous information.

Our math team members are called The Math Magicians, and they have won every competition so far this year. Which revision best corrects the faulty coordination in the sentence?

A. The Math Magicians are our math team members, and they have won every competition so far this year. B. The Math Magicians have won every competition so far this year, and they are the members of our math team. C. Our math teacher members, the Math Magicians, have won every competition so far this year. D. The Math Magicians are what our math team members are called, and they have won every competition so far this year.

Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?

A. The White House is made of Virginia sandstone built in a classical style. B. Numerous tree of historical interest grow on the White House property. C. The White House has been home to every President in American history excerpt George Washington. D. Used mainly for receptions and balls, the East Room is the larges room in the White House.

Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?

A. The first President to have his inauguration televised, Harry Truman was sworn into office on January 20, 1949. B. After walking to the Capitol, Thomas Jefferson was sworn into the office of the presidency. C. At his inauguration, Bill Clinton thanked George H.W. Bush for his years of service D. On the way to his inauguration, Washington's boat took him up the Hudson River.

His real name was Samuel Wilson. His neighbors called him Uncle Sam. Which is the most effective way to combine these sentences?

A. Though his real name was Samuel Wilson, his neighbors called him Uncle Sam. B. His real name was Samuel Wilson, his neighbors called him Uncle Sam. C. His real name, Samuel Wilson, was called by his neighbors Uncle Sam.

Watching a good TV show, the television stopped working. Which revision most effectively corrects the dangling participle?

A. While watching a good TV show, the television suddenly stopped working. B. I was upset when the television stopped working while watching a good TV show. C. The television suddenly stopped working while watching a good TV show. D. Watching a good TV show, I was upset when the television stopped working

I often have to stand all the way home because there are no seats. Especially during the evening rush hour. The city needs to buy more buses so that more seats are available to bus riders. Which revision most effectively corrects the underlined sentence fragment?

A. connect the fragment to sentence 6 B. add a verb C. Add a subject D. connect thee fragment to sentence 4

Which sentence ending corrects the sentence fragment below? After I play soccer _____.

A. or watch football B. with my friends C. to get some exercise D. my legs ache

After i play soccer_____. Which sentence ending corrects the sentence fragment?

A. or watch football B. to get some exercise C. my legs ache D. with my friends

Whenever I knit, ___. Which ending makes the fragment a complete sentence?

A. using colorful wool yarn B. my cat plays with the yarn C. a scarf for one of my friends D. or crochet something

Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

As a general rule, a modifier should be placed as close as possible to the word it modifies. A misplaced modifier seems to modify the wrong word in the sentence. To correct misplaced modifiers, move the phrase or clause that is misplaced closer to the word that it should logically modify. A dangling modifier seems to modify the wrong word or no word at all because the word it should modify has been omitted from the sentence.