Basic English Lesson 3

Which one of these words should NOT be used in the comparative or superlative degree? a.) Absolute b.) Smart c.) Sweet d.) Wealthy

Absolute

Which of the following words is an example of an adverb? a.) Lively b.) Actually c.) Silly d.) Oily

Actually - "An adverb is a word or phrase which modifies the meaning of an adjective, verb, or other adverb, expressing manner, place, time, or degree for e.g. gently, here, now, very". There are some adverbs, which are like sentence adverbs,that can be also used to modify the whole sentences. Here amongst the given options; "Actually" is the word that satisfies the condition of being an adverb as it is modifying the other adverb "really." Rest all options are a form of adjective.

Which type of word often ends in -ly? a.) Regular verb b.) Helping verb c.) Adverb d.) Progressive verb

Adverb

Where in the sentence do you place an adverb that modifies a form of the verb be? a.) After the verb b.) At the end c.) Before the verb d.) At the beginning

After the verb - When an adverb modifies a form of the verb be, place it after the verb.

How are MOST adjectives changed into adverbs? a.) By moving their place in the sentence. b.) By adding the suffix -d or -ed. c.) By including an irregular verb. d.) By adding -ly to the end of the word.

By adding -ly to the end of the word

What punctuation is used after an adverb that begins a sentence? a.) Apostrophe b.) Comma c.) Period d.) Semicolon

Comma - Put a comma after an adverb that begins a sentence. Example: Actually, the day was bright and sunny.

What type of action do progressive verbs show? a.) Singular b.) Continuous c.) Future d.) Present perfect

Continuous

FANBOYS is a memory device used to help students remember what type of conjunctions? a.) Subordinating b.) Conjunctive c.) Correlative d.) Coordinating

Coordinating

What type of conjunction always comes in pairs? a.) Conjunctive b.) Correlative c.) Coordinating d.) Subordinating

Correlative

Which one of the following conjunctions comes in pairs? a.) Common conjunctions b.) Coordinating conjunctions c.) Subordinating conjunctions d.) Correlative conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions - Correlative conjunctions are similar to coordinating conjunctions in that they connect parts of a sentence that are of equal importance. The main difference is that correlative conjunctions come in pairs.

Which one of the following sentences correctly uses a comparative adjective? a.) This is the worse picture I've ever seen. b.) George has a bigger appetite than Harry. c.) Of the three girls, Janet is the better speaker. d.) Alicia is a gooder swimmer than Marilynn.

George has a bigger appetite than harry. - The comparative form is for comparing two things or people.

Which one of the following is the base form of a verb preceded by the word to? a.) Conjunctions b.) Infinitive c.) Prepositions d.) Adverbs

Infinitive - An infinitive is the base form of a verb preceded by the word to. Any verb with the word to in front of it is an infinitive.

Which of the following statements about interjections is FALSE? a.) Interjections are frequently used in professional correspondence. b.) Interjections have little grammatical value in a sentence. c.) Interjections express strong emotional excitement. d.) Interjections are always followed by either an exclamation mark or a comma.

Interjections are frequently used in professional correspondence - Interjections are TOO CASUAL for professional communication. Keep them at an extreme minimum in your writing - especially in writing that's related to your job or career.

Which one of the following is a part of speech that shows a relationship between a noun or a pronoun and some other part of a sentence? a.) Pronoun b.) Adverb c.) Preposition d.) Adjective

Preposition - A preposition is a part of speech that shows a relationship between a noun or a pronoun and some other part of a sentence.

Howard stood for equal justice under law. Which one of the following describes what the word for from the sentence is? a.) Conjunction b.) Adverb c.) Preposition d.) Adjective

Preposition - The word for in this sentence is a preposition. It has an object, justice. Remember to ask the question "For what?" The answer in this case is "For justice."

What is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with an object? a.) Prepositional relationship b.) Adverbial phrase c.) Prepositional phrase d.) Dependent clause

Prepositional phrase

What does a preposition show when it links ideas in a sentence in some kind of relationship? a.) Shows space relationships b.) Shows logical relationships c.) Shows time relationships d.) Shows position relationships

Shows logical relationships - Prepositions show logical relationships. They link ideas in a sentence in some kind of relationship.

Which one of the following is formed by adding -ing to the base form? a.) The past participle b.) The present (base form) c.) The past tense d.) The present participle

The present participle - The present participle is formed by adding -ing to the base form.

What do the verbs FIT, SET, and READ have in common? a.) Each one requires the addition of a helping verb. b.) They are all considered regular verbs. c.) They are pronounced differently depending on their use. d.) They keep the same form no matter what tense is used.

They keep the same form no matter what tense is used

Which of the following statements about irregular verbs is correct? a.) To change tenses, an irregular verb has to change its spelling. b.) The rules about irregular verbs are simple and easy to learn. c.) To form the past tense, an irregular verb needs a -d or -ed. d.) Each irregular verb is preceded by the word "to."

To change tenses, an irregular verb has to change its spelling - Most irregular verbs change spelling, just not all of them. There are no rules to guide you, you have to memorize and practice them. Adding -d or -ed is for regular, NOT irregular verbs. An infinitive is the base form of a verb preceded by the word "to."

Which of these verbs expresses an action that is perceived or sensed? a.) Punch b.) Laugh c.) Want d.) Jog

Want

In which one of the following sentences is BUT used as a preposition? a.) We discovered that Candy will do anything but work. b.) I would like to return to Italy, but I have no money. c.) The lake is pretty, but it's too cold for swimming. d.) I wanted to leave, but I was embarrassed to do so.

We discovered that Candy will do anything but work

Which one of the following is a question an adverb answers? a.) Whom b.) When c.) Who d.) Why

When - Remember that adverbs answer the questions how, when, where, and how often.

Which one of the following statements is TRUE for the base forms of verbs? a.) When the subject of a sentence is singular, add -s to the base form. b.) Do NOT use a base form with plural subjects. c.) Add -ed to irregular base forms to form the past participle. d.) Add "to" to the base form to create an adjective.

When the subject of a sentence is singular, add -s to the base form

Read this sentence: "Norman ______ algebra." How would you fill in the blank with the present perfect tense of the verb STUDY? a.) has studied b.) studied c.) will have studied d.) had studied

has studied

A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with an _____. a.) adverb. b.) object. c.) pronoun. d.) verb.

object - A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with an object.

Every preposition must have a/an ______. a.) subject. b.) comma. c.) pronoun. d.) object.

object.

When the present participle of a verb is used in conjunction with a helping verb, the verb is referred to as _____. a.) futuristic. b.) infinitive. c.) progressive. d.) irregular.

progressive

Prepositions show all of the following types of relationship EXCEPT ______. a.) space. b.) tense. c.) logic. d.) time.

tense

The comparative from adjectives compares _____. a.) More than two things or people. b.) two things or people. c.) the past to the present. d.) at least a dozen different items.

two things or people