TEAS sentence structure
four steps in the writing process
1. Prewriting 2. Drafting 3. Revising 4. Editing
how many types of run-on sentences are there?
2 -fused sentences and comma splices.
clauses
A group of words that make up sentences.
Simple sentences
A simple sentence has one independent clause and expresses a complete thought: -Ezra went to the store.
Which of the following would require a citation? A) A footnote in which the author includes a survey done by the American Medical Association B) The author gives her opinion on the popularity of a fad. C) The author gives the value of Avogadro's number. D) The author adds emphasis to a point he made earlier.
A) A footnote in which the author includes a survey done by the American Medical Association
Which of the following sentences is correctly punctuated? A) After interviewing several candidates, the hiring committee made its recommendation. B) After interviewing several candidates. The hiring committee made its recommendation. C) After interviewing several candidates; the hiring committee made its recommendation. D) After interviewing several candidates the hiring committee made its recommendation.
A) After interviewing several candidates, the hiring committee made its recommendation. is an example of a correctly punctuated sentence in which the dependent clause is separated from the independent clause by a comma.
Which of the following sentences correctly applies the rules of punctuation? A) Although it costs $11.50 to see the play, discounts are available for senior citizens. B) Although it costs $11.50 to see the play. Discounts are available for senior citizens. C) Although it costs $11.50 to see the play discounts are available for senior citizens. D) Although it costs $11.50 to see the play; discounts are available for senior citizens.
A) Although it costs $11.50 to see the play, discounts are available for senior citizens. is the only correctly punctuated sentence because a comma is needed to separate the dependent and independent clauses.
Which of the following is an example of a correctly punctuated sentence? A) Anne owns a variety of cookbooks; however, she prefers to search for recipes online. B) Anne owns a variety of cookbooks, however, she prefers to search for recipes online. C) Anne owns a variety of cookbooks however, she prefers to search for recipes online. D) Anne owns a variety of cookbooks; however she prefers to search for recipes online.
A) Anne owns a variety of cookbooks; however, she prefers to search for recipes online. contains two independent clauses joined by a conjunctive adverb, so the placement of a semicolon before and a comma following the word however is correct.
Samantha forgot to set her alarm clock. Her mother had to drive her to school. Which of the following uses a conjunction to combine the sentences above so that the focus is more on Samantha's mother driving her to school and less on Samantha forgetting to set her alarm clock? A) Because Samantha forgot to set her alarm clock, her mother had to drive her to school. B) Samantha forgot to set her alarm clock, and her mother had to drive her to school. C) Samantha forgot to set her alarm clock; her mother had to drive her to school. D) Samantha forgot to set her alarm clock since her mother had to drive her to school.
A) Because Samantha forgot to set her alarm clock, her mother had to drive her to school. -Through the use of the subordinating conjunction Because, choice A positions the dependent clause pertaining to Samantha's forgetting to set her alarm clock as secondary to the independent clause about her mother driving her to school. The use of the subordinating conjunction since in choice D changes the sentences' original intent.
Which of the following is an example of a complex sentence? A) Before Ken may ride the bicycle he purchased from the yard sale, he must put air in the tires and fix the broken kickstand. B) Ken may ride the bicycle he purchased from the yard sale. C) Ken must put air in the bicycle's tires and fix the broken kickstand. D) Ken may ride the bicycle he purchased from the yard sale, but he must put air in the tires and fix the broken kickstand.
A) Before Ken may ride the bicycle he purchased from the yard sale, he must put air in the tires and fix the broken kickstand. -Choice A consists of a dependent clause followed by an independent clause, making it a complex sentence. Choices B and C are examples of a simple sentences, and choice D is a compound sentence.
As part of their annual Class trip to Washington, DC, students from Jefferson High School visited the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Which of the following words in the sentence above should not be capitalized? A) Class B) Jefferson C) Smithsonian D) Museum
A) Class
Which of the following sentences correctly applies the rules of punctuation? A) In Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises, protagonist Jake Barnes explains, "You can't get away from yourself by moving from one place to another." B) In Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises, protagonist Jake Barnes explains, 'You can't get away from yourself by moving from one place to another.' C) In Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises, protagonist Jake Barnes explains, 'You can't get away from yourself by moving from one place to another'. D) In Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises, protagonist Jake Barnes explains, "You can't get away from yourself by moving from one place to another".
A) In Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises, protagonist Jake Barnes explains, "You can't get away from yourself by moving from one place to another." provides the only example of a sentence that is punctuated correctly.
Which of the following phrases follows the rules of capitalization? A) Italian bistro B) Art class C) professor Thomas D) Fourth of july
A) Italian bistro Since nationalities and their languages are capitalized
College tuition costs have continued to escalate rapidly. Many more students are applying for financial aid. Which of the following uses a conjunction to combine the sentences above so that the focus is more on students applying for financial aid and less on escalating tuition costs? A) Since college tuition costs have continued to escalate rapidly, many more students are applying for financial aid. B) College tuition costs have continued to escalate rapidly, and many more students are applying for financial aid. C) College tuition costs have continued to escalate rapidly; many more students are applying for financial aid. D) College tuition costs have continued to escalate rapidly, many more students are applying for financial aid.
A) Since college tuition costs have continued to escalate rapidly, many more students are applying for financial aid. -Through the use of the subordinating conjunction Since, choice A positions the dependent clause pertaining to college tuition as secondary to the independent clause addressing students applying for financial aid.
____________ planning a fall road trip when the leaves start to exhibit ____________ fall color. Which of the following options correctly completes the sentence above? A) They're; their B) Their; they're C) They're; there D) There; they're
A) They're; their Choice A is the correct combination of words to complete this sentence. The first part of the sentence requires the contraction They're for They are, and the second part of the sentence needs the possessive plural pronoun their to refer back to the plural antecedent, leaves.
To garner support from democrats, each candidate made a campaign stop in the western part of the state. Which of the following words in the sentence above should be capitalized? A) democrats B) candidate C) western D) state
A) democrats Since the word democrats refers to a specific political party, it should be capitalized.
At the antiquarian book sale, a signed first ____________ of that novel sold for nearly one thousand dollars. Which of the following is the correctly spelled word to complete the sentence? A) edition B) eddition C) addition D) adition
A) edition In this sentence, the word edition is needed, which is spelled correctly in choice A.
Which of the following words is written correctly? A) ex-chairperson B) un-imaginative C) re-apply D) non-fiction
A) ex-chairperson Since a hyphen should be used following the prefixes all-, ex-, and self-
Until I broke my leg, I _________ running a mile a day. A) had been B) has been C) was D) used to be
A) had been Since the sentence indicates an action process (running) that occurred before another action (I broke my leg), the past perfect progressive tense should be used.
Since the levy will be placed on the November ballot, _______________ time to recruit volunteers to support _______________ passage. Which of the following sets of words should be used to fill in the blanks in the sentence above? A) it's; its B) its; it's C) it's; it's D) its; its
A) it's; its In the first part of the sentence, the contraction it's is needed in place of the words it is. The second part of the sentence should be completed with the possessive pronoun its, which is not written with an apostrophe.
My coffee mug has lost ____________ handle, and now ____________ starting to chip along the rim. Which of the following sets of words should be used to fill in the blanks in the sentence above? A) its; it's B) it's; its C) it's; it's D) its; its
A) its; it's The first part of the sentence should be completed with the possessive pronoun its, which is not written with an apostrophe. In the second part of the sentence, the contraction it's is needed in place of the words it is.
With the addition of a third highway lane a few months ago, traffic congestion between the two cities was significantly _________. Which of the following verbs correctly completes the sentence above? A) reduced B) reduce C) will reduce D) reducing
A) reduced This sentence pertains to an action completed in the past, as indicated by the phrase a few months ago. Choice A, a verb in the past tense, is the best answer.
If Maria locks her keys in the car, ________________ will have to call a locksmith to open the doors. Which of the following options is the correct pronoun for the sentence above? The antecedent of the pronoun to be added is underlined. A) she B) we C) her D) they
A) she Since the antecedent, Maria, is singular and feminine, the correct answer must also be singular and feminine. Therefore, choice A, the pronoun she, is the correct answer.
The man who walks his Labrador retriever by our house ___________. Which of the following allows the above sentence to be completed as a simple sentence? A) sometimes stops to talk about mutual friends in the neighborhood. B) sometimes stops to talk, and he likes to discuss mutual friends. C) sometimes stops to talk although he only discusses mutual friends. D) sometimes stops to talk when he wants to discuss mutual friends.
A) sometimes stops to talk about mutual friends in the neighborhood. -Choice A provides an example of a simple sentence completion since it connects one verb, stops, to one subject, man. Choice B is a compound sentence, and Choices C and D are complex sentences containing dependent clauses.
Since that medical office is so busy, patients often schedule __________ appointments months in advance. Which of the following is the correct pronoun for the sentence above? The antecedent of the pronoun to be added is underlined. A) their B) they're C) it's D) its
A) their In this sentence, the antecedent patients is a plural noun that requires a plural possessive pronoun before the noun appointments to show ownership. Choice B is incorrect because they're is a contraction for they are and not a plural possessive pronoun.
Many doctors advise __________________ patients to get plenty of daily exercise and rest. Which of the following is the correct pronoun to complete the sentence above? A) their B) they're C) one's D) his
A) their This sentence has a plural antecedent, doctors, so it requires a plural pronoun. Therefore, choice A is the best answer.
For the family reunion next weekend, Elizabeth and her sisters ______ apple, cherry, and blueberry pies the morning of the event. Which of the following verbs correctly completes the sentence above? A) will bake B) bake C) baked D) have baked
A) will bake Because this sentence describes an action that will take place in the future, as indicated by the phrases next weekend and morning of the event, a verb in the future tense is required.
He ___________ eaten all the candy by the end of the night. A) will have B) has C) would D) is
A) will have The phrase by the end of the night indicates an action that will happen in the future, so you know you need one of the future tenses. Since the action (eating candy) will happen before another action (the night ends), you need a future perfect verb to go with the past participle eaten.
interviewing
Ask other people questions about the topic. See what interests them about it and what more they would like to know.
Ch sound rule
At the beginning of a word, use ch (chide, chair). At the end of a word, use tch (batch, ditch). When the ch sound is followed by ure or ion, use t (picture, caption). ADDING SUFFIXES
Which of the following is an example of a complex sentence? A) Jamie enjoys socializing with friends, but he also appreciates quiet time alone. B) Although Jamie enjoys socializing with friends, he also appreciates quiet time alone. C) Jamie enjoys socializing with friends; conversely, he also appreciates quiet time alone. D) Jamie enjoys socializing with friends and also appreciates quiet time alone.
B) Although Jamie enjoys socializing with friends, he also appreciates quiet time alone. -Choice B consists of a dependent clause followed by an independent clause, making it a complex sentence. Choices A and C are examples of compound sentences, and choice D is a simple sentence.
Which of the following phrases follows the rules of capitalization? A) aunt Jane B) Chancellor Jones C) Eastern Connecticut D) New Year's day
B) Chancellor Jones Since a specific title is used in front of a person's name in choice B, it is considered a proper noun and should be capitalized.
Which of the following sentences uses capitalization rules correctly? A) I traveled with Aunt Lucy, Uncle Frank, and my Sister to Key West in southern Florida. B) I traveled with Aunt Lucy, Uncle Frank, and my sister to Key West in southern Florida. C) I traveled with aunt Lucy, uncle Frank, and my sister to Key West in southern Florida. D) I traveled with Aunt Lucy, Uncle Frank, and my sister to Key West in Southern Florida.
B) I traveled with Aunt Lucy, Uncle Frank, and my sister to Key West in southern Florida. Choice B correctly capitalizes Aunt Lucy, Uncle Frank, Key West, and Florida since these words are used as proper nouns in this sentence.
Which of the following sentences is most clear and correct? A) The twins were adopted when they were two years old by Larry. B) Larry adopted his twin sons when they were two years old. C) Larry adopted his twin sons at the age of two years. D) Two years old, Larry adopted his twin sons.
B) Larry adopted his twin sons when they were two years old. -Choice B clearly and correctly relates the writer's intent, connecting the plural pronoun they to the plural antecedent, twins. Choice A is less succinct, and choices C and D distort the writer's meaning through confusing word order.
Which of the following is an example of a grammatically correct sentence? A) Summer courses are offered to students that want to learn more about filmmaking. B) Summer courses are offered to students who want to learn more about filmmaking. C) Summer courses are offered to students which want to learn more about filmmaking. D) Summer courses are offered to students whom want to learn more about filmmaking.
B) Summer courses are offered to students who want to learn more about filmmaking. B is grammatically correct since the subjective case pronoun who is needed as the subject of the clause modifying the noun students.
Which of the following sentences correctly applies the rules of punctuation? A) Terence tested out of several first-year classes; therefore he will graduate one semester early. B) Terence tested out of several first-year classes; therefore, he will graduate one semester early. C) Terence tested out of several first-year classes, therefore, he will graduate one semester early. D) Terence tested out of several first-year classes; therefore; he will graduate one semester early.
B) Terence tested out of several first-year classes; therefore, he will graduate one semester early. To punctuate this sentence properly, the conjunctive adverb therefore that connects the two independent clauses must be preceded by a semicolon and followed by a comma.
Which of the following sentences uses slang that identifies the setting as the United States in the late 1960s or early 1970s? A) He's a hottie, but don't mess with that—he's a scrub. B) That party was far out, man. We had a gas! C) That moll has quite a kisser on her. She thinks she's the cat's pajamas. D) The vicar is droning on up there in his cackle-tub.
B) That party was far out, man. We had a gas! -Far out, man, and gas are all slang terms that indicate the setting is the late 1960s or early 1970s in America. Choice A would imply a setting of 1990s America, while choice C indicates the 1920s. Choice D may be unfamiliar, but the use of vicar indicates that this is a British saying rather than an American one. Cackle-tub is a Victorian slang word for pulpit.
Which of the following would NOT require a citation? A) The author summarizes the results of a research study published in a journal. B) The author composes an original poem as an example. C) The author puts an idea she read in a book into her own words. D) The author quotes her uncle.
B) The author composes an original poem as an example.
Which of the following sentences correctly punctuates direct dialogue? A) The conductor announced, "Our next selection is 'Spring' from Vivaldi's Four Seasons". B) The conductor announced, "Our next selection is 'Spring' from Vivaldi's Four Seasons." C) The conductor announced, "Our next selection is 'Spring' from Vivaldi's Four Seasons.' D) The conductor announced, 'Our next selection is "Spring" from Vivaldi's Four Seasons.'
B) The conductor announced, "Our next selection is 'Spring' from Vivaldi's Four Seasons." is correct because the song title is indicated by single quotation marks, and the entire quote is enclosed by double quotation marks.
Which of the following is an example of a simple sentence? A) The girl with the long, blond ponytail and pink jeans played on the elementary school playground after she completed her homework. B) The girl with the long, blond ponytail and pink jeans played on the elementary school playground. C) The girl with the long, blond ponytail and pink jeans playing on the elementary school playground. D) The girl with the long, blond ponytail and pink jeans.
B) The girl with the long, blond ponytail and pink jeans played on the elementary school playground. -Choice B presents a simple sentence containing one subject, girl, and one verb, played. Choice A contains a dependent clause and is therefore a complex sentence, and choices C and D are sentence fragments lacking a verb.
Which of the following sentences contains the appropriate use of an apostrophe? A) The college held it's annual convocation last week. B) This season's harvest should be plentiful due to optimal weather. C) Students must complete they're capstone projects prior to graduation. D) We are joining the Anderson's for a barbecue next Saturday.
B) This season's harvest should be plentiful due to optimal weather. provides an example of an apostrophe used correctly, since season's shows possession and requires this mark of punctuation.
When Joseph arrives at the bookstore, ________________ will look for a birthday gift for his niece. Which of the following options is the correct pronoun for the sentence above? The antecedent of the pronoun to be added is underlined. A) we B) he C) him D) they
B) he Since the antecedent, Joseph, is singular and masculine, the correct answer must also be singular and masculine.
Following recent personnel changes, the company decided that ____________ time to update ____________ website. Which of the following sets of words should be used to fill in the blanks in the sentence above? A) its; its B) it's; its C) it's; it's D) its; it's
B) it's; its In the first part of the sentence, the contraction it's is needed in place of the words it is. The second part of the sentence should be completed with the possessive pronoun its, which is not written with an apostrophe.
Despite the large crowds at the zoo last Friday, Matthew and his mother ______ to see the new snow leopard cubs. Which of the following verbs correctly completes the sentence above? A) manage B) managed C) will manage D) have managed
B) managed The phrase last Friday places the action in this sentence in the past tense. Therefore, choice B is the best answer since a verb in the past tense is needed.
Typically, student council meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month, and the foreign language club _________ twice a month on Fridays. Which of the following verbs correctly completes the sentence above? A) had met B) meets C) met D) will have met
B) meets This sentence describes an action that is continuing, so verbs must be written in the present tense. The correct answer, choice B, is a present tense verb.
To provide greater access to a college education, president Benson of Springside University has announced plans to add a satellite campus to the southeastern part of the state. Which of the following words in the sentence above should be capitalized? A) college B) president C) campus D) southeastern
B) president The word president should be capitalized since it is used as a proper noun referring to a specific person.
Students participating in the science fair should submit project entries by Friday to _______________ a grade. Which of the following correctly completes the sentence above? A) recieve B) receive C) receve D) receev
B) receive The correct spelling is receive. This word follows the rule "I before E except after C or when sounding like A as in neighbor and weigh."
Jason and his friends arrived at ________________ destination about an hour later than expected. Which of the following is the correct pronoun to complete the sentence above? The antecedent of the pronoun to be added is underlined. A) its B) their C) they're D) his
B) their The antecedent Jason and his friends is plural, so the possessive pronoun their is needed to complete this sentence. The other options are either singular or do not show possession.
Terence and Sonia refused to ride the roller coaster because ________________afraid of heights. Which of the following is the correct pronoun and verb for the sentence above? The antecedent of the pronoun to be added is underlined. A) it's B) they're C) their D) its
B) they're In this sentence, the antecedent Terence and Sonia is a plural noun that requires a plural pronoun and verb, so they're, a contraction for they are, is correct. Choice C is incorrect because their is a plural possessive pronoun used to show ownership and not relevant to this sentence.
Students who register for classes today may ______ their class schedules online. Which of the following verbs correctly completes the sentence above? A) will view B) view C) viewed D) have viewed
B) view The content of this sentence, which includes the word today, pertains to the present tense, so choice B is correct. Choice D is not correct since the verb is in the present perfect tense, indicating an action that happened at some unspecified time before the present.
After the professor agreed to write a letter of recommendation, she asked to __________________ it should be sent. Which of the following correctly completes the sentence above? A) which B) whom C) who D) that
B) whom In this sentence, the objective case form whom is needed since whom serves as the direct object of the sentence. The pronouns that and which refer to things, not people, and who is the subjective case form used for subjects of sentences and clauses.
The upcoming school trip to the natural history museum _________ an excellent opportunity for students to learn more about many dinosaur species. Which of the following verbs correctly completes the sentence above? A) had provided B) will provide C) provided D) provide
B) will provide Because the museum trip mentioned in this sentence is described as upcoming, the event must take place in the future. Choice B presents a verb written in the future tense.
Every summer, the Johnsons enjoy participating in the park's popular program, Happy Trails ____ 10 Short Hikes for Families and Children. Which of the following punctuation marks correctly completes the sentence above? A) ; B) , C) : D) -
C) : is the correct answer since the title and subtitle of the program should be separated by a colon.
In addition to perfect form, successful Olympic swimmers possess the following three qualities _____ strength, speed, and stamina. Which of the following punctuation marks correctly completes the sentence above? A) ; B) , C) : D) -
C) : is the correct answer since this sentence requires a colon after the word qualities.
Which of the following sentences is correctly punctuated? A) Because of the large number of runners expected at this year's marathon advanced registration is required. B) Because of the large number of runners expected at this year's marathon. Advanced registration is required. C) Because of the large number of runners expected at this year's marathon, advanced registration is required. D) Because of the large number of runners expected at this year's marathon; advanced registration is required.
C) Because of the large number of runners expected at this year's marathon, advanced registration is required. separates the dependent clause that begins the sentence from the independent clause in the latter part of the sentence with a comma.
Which of the following steps would occur last in the writing process? A) Drawing a cluster map around the topic B) Researching data to support an argument C) Checking for spelling errors D) Deleting an unnecessary paragraph
C) Checking for spelling errors
Which of the following sentences uses capitalization rules correctly? A) Last summer, my Family visited Redwood National Park in northern California. B) Last summer, my family visited Redwood National Park in Northern California. C) Last summer, my family visited Redwood National Park in northern California. D) Last summer, my family visited Redwood national park in northern California.
C) Last summer, my family visited Redwood National Park in northern California. correctly capitalizes Redwood National Park since these words describe a specific place
Which of the following sentences uses capitalization rules correctly? A) Made up of three large waterfalls, Niagara Falls is located between western new york in the United States and southern Ontario in Canada. B) Made up of three large waterfalls, Niagara Falls is located between western New York in the United States and southern ontario in Canada. C) Made up of three large waterfalls, Niagara Falls is located between western New York in the United States and southern Ontario in Canada. D) Made up of three large waterfalls, niagara falls is located between western New York in the United States and southern Ontario in Canada.
C) Made up of three large waterfalls, Niagara Falls is located between western New York in the United States and southern Ontario in Canada. C correctly capitalizes Niagara Falls since these words describe a specific place.
Which of the following is a compound sentence? A) My neighbor's porch light shines brightly at night and often keeps me awake. B) Because my neighbor's porch light shines brightly at night, it often keeps me awake. C) My neighbor's porch light shines brightly at night, and it often keeps me awake. D) When my neighbor's porch light shines brightly at night, it often keeps me awake.
C) My neighbor's porch light shines brightly at night, and it often keeps me awake. -Choice C is a compound sentence. It contains two independent clauses joined by a comma and the coordinating conjunction and. The first independent clause is My neighbor's porch light shines brightly at night. The second independent clause is it often keeps me awake. Both of these clauses can stand as complete sentences on their own.
Which of the following phrases follows the rules of capitalization? A) Eastern Michigan B) aunt Becky C) Sergeant Smith D) Labor day
C) Sergeant Smith Since a specific title is used with a named person in choice C, it is considered a proper noun and should be capitalized.
Which of the following is a simple sentence? A) Mary was interested in archaeology before she studied paleontology. B) Since Dan and his friends enjoy skiing, they've decided to try snowboarding. C) Shingles on Jenna's garage roof are starting to come loose and must be replaced. D) Red apple varieties tend to be sweet, and green apples are crisp and tart.
C) Shingles on Jenna's garage roof are starting to come loose and must be replaced. -Even though this sentence contains a compound verb, it is composed of one independent clause and is therefore a simple sentence. Choices A and B are complex sentences with dependent clauses, and choice D is a compound sentence.
Which of the following is an example of a grammatically correct sentence? A) The pharmacist which filled my prescription gave me information about the medication. B) The pharmacist that filled my prescription gave me information about the medication. C) The pharmacist who filled my prescription gave me information about the medication. D) The pharmacist whom filled my prescription gave me information about the medication.
C) The pharmacist who filled my prescription gave me information about the medication. C is grammatically correct since the subjective case pronoun who is needed as the subject of the clause modifying the noun pharmacist.
__________________is an ongoing problem with that software that __________________ trying to resolve. Which of the following options correctly completes the sentence above? A) They're; their B) Their; they're C) There; they're D) They're; there
C) There; they're Choice C is the correct combination of words to complete this sentence. The first part of the sentence requires the adverb There, and the second part of the sentence needs the contraction they're for they are. The possessive plural pronoun their is not needed in this sentence.
Phil prepared for the final exam. He reviewed his lecture notes. He read chapters in his textbook. He attended a study session. Which of the following choices best uses grammar for style and clarity to combine the sentences above? A) Phil prepared for the final exam though he reviewed his lecture notes and read chapters in his textbook; he attended a study session. B) After Phil prepared for the final exam, he reviewed his lecture notes and read chapters in his textbook when he attended a study session. C) To prepare for the final exam, Phil reviewed his lecture notes, read chapters in his textbook, and attended a study session. D) Once Phil prepared for the final exam and he reviewed his lecture notes, then he read chapters in his textbook or attended a study session.
C) To prepare for the final exam, Phil reviewed his lecture notes, read chapters in his textbook, and attended a study session. -Choice C retains the intent of the original group of sentences by using a dependent clause to introduce the purposeful sequence of actions performed by the subject, Phil. The other choices distort the meaning of the original sentences through inappropriate subordinate conjunctions.
The puppy barked. The puppy rolled over on his back. I realized the puppy wanted attention. I petted the puppy's head. To improve sentence fluency, which of the following best states the information above in a single sentence? A) When the puppy barked and I petted the puppy's head and realized he wanted attention, he rolled over on his back. B) I petted the puppy's head as I realized he wanted attention and rolled over on his back, and the puppy barked. C) When the puppy barked and rolled over on his back, I realized the puppy wanted attention, so I petted his head. D) I realized the puppy wanted attention, so the puppy rolled over on his back, and I petted the puppy's head, and the puppy barked.
C) When the puppy barked and rolled over on his back, I realized the puppy wanted attention, so I petted his head. -Choice C retains the intent of the original group of sentences by using dependent clauses and transitional words to subordinate the puppy's actions to the subject's response. The other choices muddle the meaning of the original sentences and place them in nonlinear sequences.
Which of the following words is written correctly? A) un-kind B) re-adjust C) all-inclusive D) non-essential
C) all-inclusive A hyphen should be used following the prefixes all-, ex-, and self-.
Although they have only been friends for a few months, Jarrod is Emily's trusted ____________. Which of the following is the correctly spelled word to complete the sentence? A) confidence B) confident C) confidant D) confidance
C) confidant In this sentence, the word confidant is needed, which is spelled correctly in choice C.
Because of the frost warning issued yesterday, Henry ______ to take his houseplants off the back porch and bring them indoors last night. Which of the following verbs correctly completes the sentence above? A) has decided B) decide C) decided D) will decide
C) decided This sentence is written in the past tense, as indicated by the word yesterday and the phrase last night. Therefore, the correct answer must also be in the past tense.
The class rehearsed for several weeks before ____________ annual holiday performance. Which of the following correctly completes the sentence above? A) they're B) their C) its D) it's
C) its Because the antecedent class is a singular, collective noun, the singular pronoun its is the correct answer.
If the team loses tonight's game, __________________ chances for playing in the state finals decrease. Which of the following is the correct pronoun for the sentence above? The antecedent of the pronoun to be added is underlined. A) they're B) their C) its D) it's
C) its In this sentence, the antecedent team is a collective and therefore singular noun that requires a singular possessive pronoun. Choice B is incorrect because it is a plural possessive pronoun. Choices A and D are incorrect since they are contractions for they are and it is and not relevant to this sentence.
Which of the following phrases follows the rules of capitalization? A) irish heritage B) president Cooper C) music lessons D) Columbus day
C) music lessons is not the name of a specific class, there is no need to capitalize these words.
Which of the following phrases follows the rules of capitalization? A) their Cousin B) your Uncle C) my brother John D) aunt Barbara
C) my brother John Words showing family relationships should only be capitalized when they are used as proper nouns.
Even though Janice has a gym membership, she _________ to take long walks outside when the weather is so pleasant. Which of the following verbs correctly completes the sentence above? A) preferred B) will prefer C) prefers D) had preferred
C) prefers This sentence is written in the present tense, as indicated by the present tense verbs in the sentence, has and is. Therefore, the correct answer must also be in the present tense.
If we are going to watch ____________ hockey game this evening, we'll need to get ____________ before 7 p.m. Which of the following options correctly completes the sentence above? A) there; they're B) they're; their C) their; there D) they're; there
C) their; there. C is the correct combination of words to complete this sentence. The first part of the sentence requires the possessive pronoun their; the second part of the sentence needs the adverb there, which typically indicates placement (in this case, the ice rink or site of the hockey game).
Which of the following phrases indicates a transition in a sequence? A) by the same token B) above all C) to begin with D) for example
C) to begin with
Even though I would like to include that country in my travel itinerary, the current political unrest makes it much _______________ dangerous to visit. Which of the following is the correctly spelled word to complete the sentence? A) to B) two C) too D) tow
C) too In this sentence, the adverb too is needed, which is spelled correctly in choice C.
Steven is a dedicated student __________________ always completes his class assignments on time. Which of the following correctly completes the sentence above? A) whom B) which C) who D) that
C) who In this sentence, the subjective case form who is needed since who is the subject of the clause always completes his assignments on time. The pronouns that and which refer to things, not people, and whom is an objective case pronoun for direct and indirect objects.
It is estimated that within the next decade, temperatures _________ to escalate, and coastal areas will be more vulnerable to rising waters. Which of the following verbs correctly completes the sentence above? A) continued B) continue C) will continue D) had continued
C) will continue Phases such as within the next decade and will be more vulnerable place this sentence's time frame in the future. Therefore, a verb written in the future tense is required.
In anticipation of increased demand, the local food bank ___________its stock of nonperishable goods at its annual canned food drive next month. Which of the following verbs correctly completes the sentence above? A) had replenished B) replenished C) will replenish D) replenish
C) will replenish Since the action of this sentence will take place in the future, as suggested by the phrases In anticipation and next month, the correct answer must be a verb written in the future tense.
Correct or Incorrect? The wall Street Journal
Correct
Which of the following sentences contains the appropriate use of an apostrophe? A) Executive Council member's discussed the new initiative at their meeting last month. B) Employment rates' in the region are starting to increase as the economy improves. C) Signs directing patient's to the registration area are posted throughout the hospital. D) Admissions counselors' schedules for next semester are posted in the office.
D) Admissions counselors' schedules for next semester are posted in the office. provides an example of an apostrophe used correctly since counselors' shows plural possession.
Which of the following underlined words is an example of correct spelling? A) Drivers must proceed cautiously in this area because of the large dear population. B) Veronica's collection of greeting cards from family members is very deer to her. C) At the petting zoo, children may visit with deers, goats, and many other animals. D) Although it remains controversial, deer hunting is now legal in this county.
D) Although it remains controversial, deer hunting is now legal in this county. Choice D is the only sentence with correct usage of the underlined word.
Which of the following activities would be considered editing? A) Creating an outline B) Typing a first draft C) Interviewing subjects D) Correcting punctuation
D) Correcting punctuation
Which of the following book titles is correctly capitalized? A) the Little Prince B) The Catcher In The Rye C) Anne of green gables D) Gone with the Wind
D) Gone with the Wind
Which of the following is an example of correctly punctuated direct dialogue in a sentence? A) He explained, 'Rain gardens provide attractive landscaping that absorbs stormwater.' B) He explained that "Rain gardens provide attractive landscaping that absorbs stormwater." C) He explained, Rain gardens provide attractive landscaping that absorbs stormwater. D) He explained, "Rain gardens provide attractive landscaping that absorbs stormwater."
D) He explained, "Rain gardens provide attractive landscaping that absorbs stormwater." is an example of direct dialogue with proper use of quotation marks.
Which of the following underlined words is an example of correct spelling? A) Children should drink plenty of milk to insure healthy bone development. B) Jack decided to ensure his valuable painting for the full replacement cost. C) Getting enough rest has a positive affect on one's ability to concentrate. D) Headaches are a reported side effect of this particular medication.
D) Headaches are a reported side effect of this particular medication. Choice D is the only sentence with correct usage of the underlined word. Choices A, B, and C provide examples of words that sound like the intended word choice but are incorrect.
Which of the following is a simple sentence? A) Jane's vegetable garden. B) Receives plentiful sunshine and produces ample tomatoes, cucumbers, and green beans. C) Because it receives plentiful sunshine, Jane's vegetable garden produces ample tomatoes, cucumbers, and green beans. D) Jane's vegetable garden receives plentiful sunshine and produces ample tomatoes, cucumbers, and green beans.
D) Jane's vegetable garden receives plentiful sunshine and produces ample tomatoes, cucumbers, and green beans. -Choice D is an example of a simple sentence containing one subject, garden, and one verb, receives. Since it contains a dependent clause, Choice C is a complex sentence. Choices A and B do not contain both a subject and a verb and are not complete sentences.
Which of the following is an example of a correctly punctuated sentence? A) My friend asked "What are your travel plans this summer?" B) My friend asked "What are your travel plans this summer"? C) My friend asked, "What are your travel plans this summer"? D) My friend asked, "What are your travel plans this summer?"
D) My friend asked, "What are your travel plans this summer?" provides an example of a direct quote that is punctuated correctly. A comma is used following the introductory phrase to set off the direct quote, and double quotation marks enclose both the quoted material and the final punctuation (in this case, a question mark).
Which of the following book titles is correctly capitalized? A) the Millionaire Next Door B) Last-Minute retirement planning C) Investing On a Shoestring D) Personal Finance for Dummies
D) Personal Finance for Dummies
Which of the following underlined words is an example of correct spelling? A) Flooding along the creak has caused the embankment to erode. B) At the peek of his career, the artist was exhibiting many watercolors. C) Seafood will be offered as an alternative to meet dishes at the dinner. D) Prior to our trip to England, we will spend a week in Ireland.
D) Prior to our trip to England, we will spend a week in Ireland.
Which of the following could be a topic sentence for a paragraph? A) That is why I prefer listening to music with stereo headphones. B) A man with a body mass index, or BMI, of between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered normal. C) Until we know more, the debate will continue. D) The Battle of Waterloo in 1815 was a turning point for Napoleon.
D) The Battle of Waterloo in 1815 was a turning point for Napoleon.
Which of the following is an example of a grammatically correct sentence? A) The store manager forgot whom she issued a refund. B) The store manager forgot who she issued a refund to. C) The store manager forgot to who she issued a refund. D) The store manager forgot to whom she issued a refund.
D) The store manager forgot to whom she issued a refund. D is grammatically correct since the objective case pronoun whom is needed as the direct object of the clause modifying the noun manager.
Which of the following book titles is correctly capitalized? A) War And Peace B) The Witch of blackbird pond C) Mansfield park D) Tuesdays with Morrie
D) Tuesdays with Morrie is the only example of a correctly capitalized book title in which the first word and all other important words are capitalized.
When our train arrived in New York City, Andrew's mother asked the station manager for directions to the Empire State building. Which of the following words in the sentence above should be capitalized? A) mother B) station C) manager D) building
D) building the word building is part of a proper noun describing a specific place, it should be capitalized in this sentence.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs _______________. Which of the following allows the above sentence to be completed as a simple sentence? A) in late December, and it is the shortest day of the year. B) in late December; it is the shortest day of the year. C) in late December; furthermore, it is the shortest day of the year. D) in late December and is the shortest day of the year.
D) in late December and is the shortest day of the year. -Choice D provides an example of a simple sentence completion since it contains one subject, solstice, and one compound verb, occurs and is. The other choices are compound sentences connecting two independent clauses.
The barber shop on Main Street __________________. Which of the following completions for the above sentence results in a simple sentence structure? A) decided to relocate since its lease expired at the shopping plaza. B) welcomed many new customers after its grand opening last weekend. C) is hiring several more employees, and applicants should inquire within. D) is a local landmark located in the city's historic district downtown.
D) is a local landmark located in the city's historic district downtown. -Choice D provides an example of a simple sentence completion since it connects one verb, is, to one subject, shop. Choices A and B are complex sentences containing subordinating conjunctions, and choice C is a compound sentence.
Aerobic exercise is necessary for optimal physical health, but ____________ also important to perform weight-bearing exercises. Which of the following correctly completes the sentence above? A) its B) there C) their D) it's
D) it's In this sentence, the contraction for it is, or it's, is needed. Choice A presents the singular possessive pronoun its and is therefore incorrect in this sentence.
The high school band will perform __________________ new set at the first football game. Which of the following is the correct pronoun to complete the sentence above? A) their B) our C) one's D) its
D) its This sentence has a singular antecedent since the noun band refers to one unified body. Therefore, the singular pronoun its is needed.
Jacob _________ piano very well; in fact, he is currently mastering one of Bach's Two-Part Inventions. Which of the following verbs correctly completes the sentence above? A) playing B) will play C) played D) plays
D) plays This sentence is written in the present tense, as revealed by the phrase is currently mastering. Therefore, the correct answer must also be in the present tense.
After Wendy and Daniel gather their fishing gear, __________________ will walk to the pond. Which of the following options is the correct pronoun for the sentence above? The antecedent of the pronoun to be added is underlined. A) we B) she C) he D) they
D) they Since the antecedent, Wendy and Daniel, is plural, the correct answer must also be plural. Therefore, choice D, the pronoun they, is the correct answer.
Extra boxed lunches will be given to ________________ might want them. Which of the following correctly completes the sentence above? A) whoever B) whichever C) whatever D) whomever
D) whomever An objective case pronoun is needed in this sentence to serve as the direct object, so choice D, whomever, is correct.
When Judy arrives at the station later this evening, she ______ the late train to Washington, D.C. Which of the following verbs correctly completes the sentence above? A) boarding B) board C) boarded D) will board
D) will board Because the time frame indicated by this sentence is revealed by the phrase later this evening, the correct answer must be a verb in the future tense. Therefore, choice D is the correct answer.
Katie's parents _________ her school supplies after updated supply lists are posted next week. Which of the following verbs correctly completes the sentence above? A) had purchased B) purchase C) purchased D) will purchase
D) will purchase The time frame suggested in this sentence is in the future, as shown by the word after and the phrase next week. Choice D contains a verb in the future tense and is the correct answer.
vowel sounds I before E Rule:
I before E: achieve, relief, grief, belief
pronoun example Sasha is a vegetarian, so she will order a nonmeat entrée.
In this example, the pronoun she is used to refer to Sasha. Sasha is the antecedent of the pronoun.
Correct or Incorrect? his only living Uncle
Incorrect
Stream of Consciousness Writing:
Just start writing about your topic and do not stop for a certain length of time (5-10 minutes minimum). It doesn't matter if you go off topic or write "I don't know what to write" ten times. Just keep writing. Eventually you will generate ideas about your topic that can be useful to you.
vowel sounds Short Vowel Rule:
Only one letter is needed to spell a short vowel sound: red, hot, bad, sit, shut
Period, question mark, or exclamation point? Amira went skating Sunday.
Period
Period, question mark, or exclamation point? Did you know Amira went skating Sunday?
Question mark
present progressive is formed:
Subject + am / is / are + -ing verb + object. My teacher is assigning us a mountain of homework.
Punctuation proper usage
The appropriate use of periods, question marks, exclamation points, commas, semicolons, colons, apostrophes, hyphens, double quotation marks, and single quotation marks.
Organization Names
The names of organizations should be capitalized. Be sure to capitalize all major words in the title
Correct or Incorrect? Individual names
The names of specific people should be capitalized.
Compound Sentence Example
The professor gave a great lecture today; we thoroughly enjoyed it.
Subordinating conjunctions
There are connecting words, such as and, but, so, and for, which may be used to join two independent clauses: -Ezra went to the store, and he bought some milk.
Clustering or mapping
This is a visual diagram made around your topic in the center. Branch off subtopics and then add detail to each of them. Here is an example:
Outlining
This should be done once you have at least some idea of what you will write about. An outline organizes your writing and creates a hierarchy that you can use to develop paragraphs or sections of your text.
vowel sounds Oi or Oy Rule:
Use oi in the middle of a word (boil, soil) and use oy at the end of a word (joy, toy)
vowel sounds Ou or Ow Rule:
Use ou in the middle of a word (house, found) and use ow at the end of words other than those that end in n or d (borrow, chow, throw).
Double consonant rule
When b, d, g, m, n, or p appear after a short vowel in a word with two syllables, double the consonant: rabbit, ladder, haggle, tummy, banner, dipper
Doubling the Final Consonant Rule:
When you add a suffix that begins with a vowel to a word that ends in y preceded by a single consonant AND is a one-syllable word or a multi-syllable word with the final syllable accented, then double the final consonant before adding the suffix: cap = capping, occur = occurring
Drop Final E Rule:
When you add a suffix to a word that ends in a silent e, drop the e if the suffix begins with a vowel: come = coming, drive = driving Exceptions: Duly, truly, peaceable
Change Final Y to I Rule:
When you add a suffix to a word that ends in a y preceded by a consonant, change the y to an i (unless the suffix begins with an i): deny = denial, party = partier, but deny = denying and party = partying. Words that end in a y preceded by a vowel can add the suffixes -ed and -ing without any changes: stray = straying, strayed
brainstorming
Write down as much as you can think of about your topic. Don't worry about complete sentences or coherence. Just generate ideas.
fused sentence (run-on)
a fused sentence has two independent clauses joined together with no conjunction or punctuation.
sentence fragments
a sentence fragment is a group of words that cannot stand on its own as a complete sentence.
creating plurals For words ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, or -z, add
add -es: gas = gases, wash = washes, church = churches, tax = taxes, waltz = waltzes
Sentence structure
address clarity of expression, subordinating conjunctions, and how to combine sentences into a single sentence.
Sentence structure questions
address clarity of expression, subordinating conjunctions, and how to combine sentences into a single sentence.
verb tenses questions
address the correct use of verb tenses and whether a verb phrase matches the tense used in the rest of the sentence.
Sentence Fragment Example
after Martin though it over.
Complex Sentence Example
although pizza is high in calories, it's my favorite food. -the example contains an independent clause (underlined) plus a dependent clause with a subordinating conjunction.
comma splices (run-on)
an instance of using a comma to link two independent clauses (which should instead be linked by a colon, semicolon, or conjunction)
most common verb tenses
are past, present, and future.
subordinating conjunctions
are connecting words used to start dependent clauses.
Independent clauses
are considered independent because they can stand as complete sentences on their own.
Progressive tense (also called continuous tenses)
are present progressive, past progressive, and future progressive.
perfect progressive tense (sometimes called perfect continuous tenses)
are the present perfect progressive, past perfect progressive, and future perfect progressive.
Periods
are used at the end of a complete sentence.
Question marks
are used at the end of a question
Exclamation points
are used to mark the end of a forceful command or a statement that expresses strong emotions.
verb tenses
are used to show when the action is taking place in the sentence.
homographs
are words that are spelled the same but have different meanings. Here are just a few common ones:
homophones
are words that sound similar but are spelled differently and have different meanings.
Pronouns (sometimes called antecedent)
are words used to refer to nouns.
subordinating conjunction include the words
because, while, when, after, before, until, since, as, if and once, among others.
Prewriting techniques
brainstorming, clustering or mapping, interviewing, stream of consciousness writing,outlining
Capitalize or Not Capitalize? Main Street
capitalize
Capitalize or Not Capitalize? Germany
captalize
Complex sentences
contain an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
compound sentence
contain two or more independent clauses. they can be joined by a semicolon or by a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
Correct or Incorrect? A Wrinkle in Time
correct
Correct or Incorrect? Aunt Sally
correct
Correct or Incorrect? Jim Pearsib
correct
Correct or Incorrect? Regina was looking for a good doctor, so I sent her to Dr. Cole.
correct
Correct or Incorrect? The Cat in the Hat
correct
Correct or Incorrect? The professor asked the students to call him Professor Thomas.
correct
Correct or Incorrect? his only living uncle
correct
Correct or incorrect? Ezra went to the store, and he bought some milk.
correct
Past tense example: correct or incorrect? Andrew received his class award yesterday.
correct
Correct or Incorrect? The cat likes milk. She drinks it as often as she can.
correct -Separate the two independent clauses into two sentences.
The italicized clause is a __________clause. Because its batteries ha run low, the alarm clock suddenly stopped working.
dependent
dependent or independent Because she left early
dependent
dependent or independent after the crowd dispersed
dependent
dependent or independent although the package was heavy
dependent
dependent or independent when the game was over
dependent
dependent or independent while Mr. Galloway waited
dependent
Dependent clauses
do not form complete sentences on their own.
Period, question mark, or exclamation point? I'm shocked that Amira went skating Sunday!
exclamation point
pronouns can show
gender and number
Revising
happens after the first draft is written. Revising consists of making large-scale changes to the text, such as changing the focus of the thesis, moving paragraphs around, deleting or adding blocks of text, etc.
A simple sentence has
has one independent clause and expresses a complete thought: Ezra went to the store.
Prewriting
includes everything a writer does before composing the first draft.
Correct or Incorrect? A Wrinkle In Time
incorrect
Correct or Incorrect? Jim pearson
incorrect
Correct or Incorrect? The Cat In The Hat
incorrect
Correct or Incorrect? aunt Sally
incorrect
Correct or Incorrect? the Wall Street Journal
incorrect
Correct or incorrect? Ezra went to the store and he bought some milk
incorrect
Past tense example: correct or incorrect? Andrew received his class award tomorrow.
incorrect
correct or incorrect? The cat likes milk she drinks it as often as she can.
incorrect -A comma splice incorrectly joins two independent clauses with a comma.
The underline clause is an __________clause. Because its batteries ha run low, the alarm clock suddenly stopped working.
independent
Run-on sentences
is a sentence in which two or more independent clauses are joined without an appropriate conjunction or punctuation.
a suffix
is a word ending, such as -ing or -ed.
The relative pronoun who
is always used to refer to people, whereas which and that are used to refer to things.
past perfect progressive
is formed: Subject + had been + -ing verb + object. The rabbit had been running for hours.
present perfect progressive
is formed: Subject + has / had been + -ing verb + object. My teacher has been assigning us a mountain of homework all year.
past progressive is formed:
is formed: Subject + was / were + -ing verb + object. The rabbit was running for hours.
Future progressive is formed:
is formed: Subject + will be + -ing verb + object. I will be sleeping when you get back.
future perfect progressive
is formed: Subject + will have been + -ing verb + object. I will have been sleeping for hours by the time you get home.
Spelling
is important in written communication, so you should be familiar with the conventions of standard English spelling.
Editing
is the final step and it consists of proofreading the draft and making minor changes to improve diction or correct errors.
formal diction
is used in formal situations such as business writing and scholarly works.
informal diction
is used in informal situations such as writing to our friends.
creating plurals For most regular plurals
just add -s: medicine = medicines, doctor = doctors
Capitalize or Not Capitalize? east of the city
not capitalize
Capitalize or Not Capitalize?southern fried chicken
not capitalize
pronouns can act as
objects receiving the action
Draft
occurs after the writer has an outline (either on paper or in his or her mind) of what he or she will write
perfect tenses
present perfect, past perfect, future perfect
Capitalization Rules
publication titles, individual names, professional titles, names of events, organizations, and geographic locations. Months, days, and holidays.
creating plurals Some words have the same singular and plural forms:
series, species, aircraft, many animals such as deer, moose, sheep, and shrimp
pronouns can
show possession
pronouns can act as
subjects doing the action
Professional titles
such as doctor or professor, are capitalized when they are used to refer to the name of a specific individual
present perfect tense
tense shows action that was recently completed or was completed at an indefinite time in the past. The tense is formed: Subject + has / have + past participle verb + object. My teacher has assigned a mountain of homework.
past perfect tense
tense shows an action that was completed directly before another action was completed. The tense is formed: Subject + had + past participle verb + object. The rabbit had run for hours until it found shelter.
future perfect tense
tense shows an action that will happen before another action happens. The tense is formed: Subject + will have + past participle verb + object. I will have fallen asleep by the time you get back.
vowel sounds include
the famous I before E except after C or when sounding like A as in neighbor and weigh. Unfortunately, that rule has many exceptions!
Publication titles
the first word in the title should be capitalized, as should all major words in the title. Minor words, such as of and the, are not capitalized.
Geographic locations and event names
the names of geographic locations are capitalized if they refer to a specific place. This includes national landmarks and historical monuments, such as Lincoln's Memorial. The names of directions—east, west, north, and south—are capitalized if they refer to a specific geographical region or are used as part of a place name. If they are used as adjectives, they should be lowercase.
creating plurals For some words that end in -f or -fe, use
use -ves: self = selves, life = lives, wife = wives, knife = knives
Colloquial Diction
uses words common in the everyday speech of a time and region.
Diction
word choice and use of words.
vowel sounds Exceptions:
• Except after C: deceive, perceive, conceive • Sounding like A: neighbor, weigh, their, reign • Other exceptions: weird, neither
