JCM 103 Quizes

The sentence below contains underlined words. Choose whether the underlined words are a phrase or a clause. Many children [who come to play in the park] end up staying to try their hand at painting, dancing or acting in a play.

B. Clause Rationale: "Who come to play in the park" is a dependent clause. "Who" is the subject of the clause, and "come" is the verb.

The sentence below contains underlined words. Choose whether the underlined words are a phrase or a clause. The river [that runs through downtown], once polluted with garbage, has been cleaned up.

B. Clause Rationale: The words "that runs through downtown" have to be a clause because they include a subject and verb. The subject is "that," and the verb is "runs."

Identify the type of conjunction in the sentence below. The coach said the experience would be valuable, but it could hurt recruiting for his college team.

B. Coordinating conjunction Rationale: The correct answer is B: "COORDINATING CONJUNCTION." The conjunction "but" links (or coordinates) two independent clauses. In other words, it links two clauses that stand on their own, each of which could be its own complete sentence.

Clauses can be independent or dependent. A dependent clause can act like a noun, an adjective or an adverb. A clause is underlined in the sentence below. Identify what type of clause it is. According to a national survey, the number of drivers across the nation this holiday will be about 41 million, [which is about 500,000 fewer drivers than last year.]

B. Dependent clause Rationale: The clause "which is about 500,000 fewer drivers than last year" is a dependent clause because it can't stand alone. The clause acts as an adjective by telling us more about "41 million."

What role does the underlined word play in the sentence below? [Whom] will they pick as a candidate?

B. Direct object Rationale: "Whom" is the direct object of the verb "will pick," and so it takes the objective case form. To figure out who/whom questions, first find the verb that who/whom goes with. If the verb already has a subject, then choose "whom," the objective case of the pronoun. If the verb doesn't have a subject, then who/whom is going to be the subject, and so you would choose "who." Here, "whom" receives the action of the verb "will pick." So it's an object and takes the objective case of the pronoun.

What is the mood of the bracketed verb in the sentence below? [Go] to BooksBazaar.com to enter your story in the competition.

B. Imperative Rationale: The correct answer is B: "IMPERATIVE." The verb gives a command. A clue here is that the subject "You" is only implied, and not actually stated in the sentence. (You go to . . .)

A phrase is underlined in the sentence below. Identify what type of phrase it is. [To honor the spirit of the Olympic Games,] customers can fasten the free stepometer around their waists and try to boost the amount of walking they do each day.

B. Infinitive phrase Rationale: "To honor the spirit of the Olympic Games" is an infinitive phrase that modifies the verb "can fasten." The phrase tells why people would fasten the stepometer on their waists. "To honor" is the infinitive, and "spirit" is the object of the infinitive.

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly for the possessive case?

B. Langford and Johnson's case now depended on their star witness's testimony. Rationale: When more than one person own something, use the apostrophe only on the last word. And common nouns ending in "s" take an 's unless the word following it starts with "s." So it's the witness's testimony, but the witness' silence.

A verbal is underlined in the sentence below. Identify what kind of verbal it is. GlobalSkies is the latest airline to consider possible job cuts due to rising fuel costs. (Type: Multiple Choice)

B. Participle (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is B: "PARTICIPLE." You can tell that the word "rising" is a participle because it ends in -ing, and because it acts like an adjective, modifying the noun "costs."

In the sentence below, are the underlined verbs passive or active? The victim [was spotted] by rescuers in the river near Bear Creek Lodge.

B. Passive voice Rationale: The correct answer is B: "PASSIVE VOICE." Rescuers are the ones doing the spotting, but they are stuck in the prepositional phrase "by rescuers." To make the sentence active, move "rescuers" in front of the verb to make it the subject: "Rescuers spotted the victim in the river near Bear Creek Lodge."

In the sentence below, are the underlined verbs passive or active? Sampson [was hit] by a wild pitch, DeLorens hit a single to centerfield and Clarke hit a single that scored Sampson.

B. Passive voice Rationale: The correct answer is B: PASSIVE VOICE. The pitch did the hitting, but the "pitch" is stuck in the prepositional phrase "by the wild pitch." To make the sentence active, move "pitch" in front of the verb, so it can be the subject: "The wild pitch hit Sampson, . . ."

What's wrong with the following sentence? Customers who are not completely satisfied may return the DVD player for a full refund.

B. Take out the unnecessary word "completely" (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is B. The word "completely" is a needless intensifier, as are other adverbs such as "really," "very" and "totally." Take them out, and usually you won't miss them.

What's wrong with the following sentence? Gunshots rang out, and Gilbert was able to quickly leave the building through the back door.

B. There's a split infinitive Rationale: The correct answer is B. It's awkward to split an infinitive in the middle with an adverb. It would be better to write "able to leave the building quickly through the back door."

What's wrong with the verb(s) in the following sentences? Chase says Fuller is one of the most exciting players on the team. "She really energizes the players on the floor when she comes off the bench," she said.

B. Verb tenses should not change from one sentence to the next. Rationale: The correct answer is B: Generally, keep the attribution verb "said" in past tense when you're writing news stories and press releases. Don't switch back and forth between "says" and "said."

Select the choice that gives the correct form of the pronoun in the sentence. (Who / Whom) was the candidate talking about?

B. Whom Rationale: "Whom" is the object of the preposition "about." If you change the word order in the sentence, you can see this more clearly: "The candidate was talking about whom."

The underlined words are either adjectives or adverbs. Identify which. The band My Morning Jacket played Saturday, outdoors at the amphitheater.

B. adverbs Rationale: The correct answer is B. Adverbs tell us more about verbs. While many adverbs end in -ly (so called "adverbs of manner"), some adverbs tell us when and where something happened. "Saturday" tells us when the band played, and "outdoors" tells us where.

Select the correct adjective in the sentence below. Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth were both great hitters, but Aaron was the (best / better) base runner of the two.

B. better Rationale: The correct answer is B. Use the comparative degree (better, more, etc.) when comparing only two things; use the superlative (best, most, etc.) when comparing more than two.

Click on the correct choice from the underlined verbs in the sentence below. Typically, a family of beavers [build and maintain / builds and maintains] one or several dams in their territory.

B. builds and maintains (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is B: "BUILDS AND MAINTAINS." The subject in this sentence is "family," which is a collective noun. Collective nouns always take singular verbs. Don't be misled by the prepositional phrase "of beavers."

Select the word in the sentence below that is the object of a preposition. The pal lists feature was added to YourRoom in December as a way to help users communicate with groups of friends.

B. friends Rationale: The correct answer is B: FRIENDS. The word "friends" is the object of the preposition "of."

Select the correct choice from the underlined verbs in the sentence below. A team of University of Alabama researchers have / has found what they believe to be an Alabama cave shrimp in Muddy Cave near Farley Elementary School.

B. has Rationale: The subject in this sentence is "team," which is a collective noun. Collective nouns always take singular verbs. Don't be misled by the prepositional phrase "of University of Alabama researchers." This phrase just tells more about the subject (what kind of team).

Select the choice that gives the correct form of the pronoun in the sentence. They bought my brother and (I / me) the game "Rock Star" for Christmas.

B. me Rationale: The personal pronoun "me" is an indirect object in this sentence because it indirectly receives the action of the verb "bought." Therefore, the pronoun takes the objective case, "me." The "game" is the direct object -- it's the thing that was bought. The indirect object almost always comes between the verb and the direct object ("bought ME the game").

Choose the correct verb in the sentence below. Each of the senators plan / plans to speak for about five minutes at the news conference.

B. plans (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is B: "PLANS." The subject of this sentence is the indefinite pronoun "Each," which always takes a singular verb. "Of the senators" is just a prepositional phrase that modifies the subject "Each."

Select the choice that gives the correct form of the pronoun in the sentence. I didn't see anything about my uncle and (we / us) on the website.

B. us (correct) Rationale: The personal pronoun "us" is the object of the preposition "about" in the prepositional phrase "about my uncle and us." (The noun "uncle" is the other object of the preposition.) Therefore, the pronoun takes the objective case.

Select the correct relative pronoun in the sentence below. Playing with a torn tendon in his left thumb, that / which he suffered on May 1, he delivered the game of his life.

B. which Rationale: The correct answer is B: "WHICH." The clause "which he suffered on April 1" is extra rather than essential information. You could take it out, and the meaning of the sentence would not change. The commas around the clause are another clue that the clause should be a "which" clause and not a "that clause.

Find an adjective clause in this sentence. Instructors will ask children to list five characters who have captured their imaginations and to describe ways they are similar and different from themselves.

B. who have captured their imaginations Rationale: Adjective clauses must have subjects and verbs -- here the subject is "who" and the verb is "have captured." It's an adjective clause because it starts with a relative pronoun ("who"), and it modifies a noun -- in this case, "characters."

Choose the correct relative pronoun in the sentence below. Giles said she could date [whoever/whomever] she wanted.

B. whomever (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is B. WHOMEVER. The pronoun "whomever" is part of the noun clause "whomever she wanted." In this clause, the verb is "wanted" and the subject of "wanted" is "she." Because the verb already has a subject, the choice must be the objective case of the pronoun, "whomever." Switch the words in this clause around to see more clearly that "whomever" is the direct object in the clause: "she wanted whomever."

What's wrong with the verb(s) in the following sentences? Commissioner Helen Bostick said the FDA would pursue all companies that violate the law. "We simply can't allow companies to put the public's health at risk," Bostick says.

"Said" and "says" should not be different tenses Rationale: Generally, keep the attribution verb "said" in past tense when you're writing news stories and press releases. Don't switch back and forth between "says" and "said."

The sentence below contains underlined words. Choose whether the underlined words are a phrase or a clause. Many children who come to play in the water park end up staying [to try their hand] at painting, dancing or acting in a play.

A. Phrase Rationale: "To try their hand" is an infinitive phrase. "To try" is the infinitive, and "hand" is the object of the infinitive.

The sentence below contains underlined words. Choose whether the underlined words are a phrase or a clause. Free summer concerts are held at an amphitheater [on an island in] the park.

A. Phrase (correct) Rationale: The words "on an island" are a prepositional phrase. "On" is a preposition, and "island" is the object of the preposition.

What role does the bracketed word play in the sentence below? "Winning the Templeton Challenge is a lifelong [dream] for me," Lassiter said.

A. Predicate nominative Rationale: The correct answer is A: PREDICATE NOMINATIVE. The noun "dream" follows the linking verb "is," and it renames the gerund "Winning," which acts as the subject of the sentence. Predicate nominative always follow linking verbs.

A phrase is underlined in the sentence below. Identify what types of phrase it is. The meal, priced at only $5.99, also includes a choice of drink, an information brochure [with professional advice] on how to stay fit, and a free stepometer.

A. Prepositional phrase (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is A: PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE. "With professional advice" is a prepositional phrase that modifies the noun "brochure." "With" is the preposition, and "advice" is the object of the preposition.

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly for the possessive case?

A. Several residents voiced concern about the quality of the teachers' lesson plans in Kannapolis' schools. Rationale: Plural nouns ending in "s" take only an apostrophe on the end, and proper nouns end in "s" take only an apostrophe as well.

Identify the type of conjunction in the sentence below. The coach insisted that his college team won't suffer because he will be out of town coaching the U.S. team for much of the summer.

A. Subordinating conjunction Rationale: The conjunction "because" begins a clause that can't stand by itself - it's a dependent clause. Subordinating conjunctions start dependent clauses, and they link the dependent clause to the main independent clause in the sentence.

Identify the type of conjunction in the sentence below. [Although] the U.S. Olympic women's basketball team has a few weeks off before training camp starts, there's little time for the team's coach to catch his breath.

A. Subordinating conjunction Rationale: The correct answer is A: "SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION." The conjunction "although" begins a clause that can't stand by itself -- it's a dependent clause. Here, the subordinating conjunction starts a dependent clause, and it links the dependent clause to the main independent clause in the sentence.

Choose the correct verb in the sentence below. All of the past episodes [are / is] available for download.

A. are Rationale: The correct answer is A: "ARE." The subject of this sentence is the indefinite pronoun "All," which always takes a plural verb.

Choose the correct verb in the sentence below. Everyone who comes to the show gets / get a free CD.

A. gets Rationale: The correct answer is A: "GETS." The subject of this sentence is the indefinite pronoun "Everyone," which always takes a singular verb.

Choose the correct verb in the sentence below. It's hard to believe that none of the students in the class has / have ever heard of the band The Talking Heads.

A. has Rationale: The correct answer is A: "HAS." The subject is the indefinite pronoun "none," which usually takes a singular verb because it means the same thing as "not one," as in "not one of the students."

Select the choice that gives the correct form of the pronoun in the sentence. It was (he / him) who won last year's film festival.

A. he Rationale: The correct answer is A: HE. The personal pronoun "he" follows directly after the linking verb "was," and it renames the subject "It." So, it's a predicate nominative, and it takes the nominative case.

Click on the correct choice from the underlined verbs in the sentence below. The committee of five Democrats and four Republicans [is / are] scheduled to vote on gun legislation Tuesday.

A. is Rationale: The correct answer is A: "IS." The subject in this sentence is "committee," which is a collective noun. Collective nouns always take singular verbs. Don't be misled by the prepositional phrase "of five Democrats and four Republicans."

Select the correct choice from the underlined verbs in the sentence below. The Councils of Music Recording Organizations [is / are] holding a convention in November.

A. is (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is A: "IS." The subject, "The Councils of Music Recording Organizations," is a proper noun, and it's singular. It sounds plural because of the word "Councils" but this is a single organization -- the capital letters are a clue for this.

Select the correct personal pronoun in the sentence below. Because the council voted to increase parking fees, [it / they] is not likely to vote for increased taxes.

A. it Rationale: The correct answer is A. The personal pronoun it/they refers to the collective noun council. In other words, the pronoun's antecedent is council. Collective nouns are singular, and so they take singular verbs and singular pronouns.

Identify the personal pronoun in the following sentence: She considered herself to be a proud Republican who would never support higher taxes.

A. she (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is A: "SHE."

Select the correct choice from the bracketed verbs in the sentence below. Some of the rocks [spill / spills] from the back of the truck, causing a mobile home behind it to veer into oncoming traffic.

A. spill (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is A. The indefinite pronoun "some" takes a plural verb when it refers to a plural noun, which is countable (and a singular verb when it refers to a singular noun). Here the noun is the plural "rocks," and so the correct verb is the plural "spill."

Select the correct relative pronoun in the sentence below. There was no doubt about Franklin's second hit, a high drive that / which landed three-quarters of the way up the stands in left field.

A. that Rationale: The correct answer is A: "THAT." The clause "that landed three-quarters of the way . . ." is essential information. It gives the reader important information about the high drive, helping to make it clear why "there was no doubt" Franklin's hit was a home run.

Find the adverb clause in this sentence. Children who are in grades 1 through 6 will earn a free book when they complete their "Summer Program Project" by reading eight books and turning in a completed journal sheet.

A. when they complete their "Summer Program Project" Rationale: Adverb clauses must have subjects and verbs -- here the subject is "they" and the verb is "complete." It's an adverb clause because it starts with a subordinating conjunction ("when"). Just like an adverb, the entire clause modifies the verb -- in this case, the verb "will earn."

Select the correct relative pronoun in the sentence below. The Tennessee pitching staff, which / that was burned for 27 runs, looked like it was ready for a day off.

A. which Rationale: The correct answer is A: "WHICH." The clause "which was burned for 31 runs" is extra information. If it were taken out, the reader wouldn't miss it much. In a nonessential clause like this, which is always set off with commas, use the relative pronoun "which."

Select the correct relative pronoun in the sentence below. The Tide, which / that had rallied in late innings to win the first two games of the series, wasn't finished.

A. which Rationale: The correct answer is A: "WHICH." The clause "which had rallied . . ." is extra information. If it were taken out, the reader wouldn't miss it much, and the sentence would still seem complete. In a nonessential clause like this one, which is always set off with commas, use the relative pronoun "which."

Choose the correct relative pronoun in the sentence below. "I try not to think about it," said Johnston, [who/whom] went hitless in all three games.

A. who Rationale: "Who" is the subject of the dependent clause "who went hitless in all three games." The verb in this clause is "went," and the only word that could be the subject of "went" is "who." Therefore it takes the nominative (subject) case.

Select the correct relative pronoun in the sentence below. The pitcher [who / that] started the game ran out of gas in the fifth inning.

A. who Rationale: The correct answer is "A: WHO." Always use the relative pronoun "who" when referring to a person. Never use the relative pronoun "that" when referring to a person.

Select the choice that gives the correct form of the pronoun in the sentence. We would like to know (who / whom) will take us to the game.

A. who Rationale: The correct choice is A: WHO. The words "who will take us to the game" is a separate clause, and every clause has to have a subject and verb. The verb of this clause is "will take," and every verb has to have a subject - in other words, someone has to be taking. In this sentence, that someone is "who." Who will take. The subject of the clause is "who," and so "who" takes the nominative case form.

Select the words in the sentence that make up a prepositional phrase The "pal lists" feature was added to YourRoom in January as a way to help users communicate with groups of friends.

A. with groups Rationale: The correct answer is A: "WITH GROUPS." The word "with" is a preposition, and "groups" is the object of the preposition.

The underlined word below is either an adjective or an adverb. Identify which. U.S. Rep. Glenda Tyson says she's looking seriously at running for governor in two years.

B. Adverb Rationale: The correct answer is B: "ADVERB." The word "seriously" modifies the verb "is looking," telling us how she's looking at running.

The underlined word below is either an adjective or an adverb. Identify which. U.S. Rep. Glenda Tyson says she's looking [very] seriously at running for governor in two years

B. Adverb Rationale: The correct answer is B: "ADVERB." The word "very" modifies the adverb "seriously," telling us how seriously. (However, don't overuse intensifiers like "very." If you took "very" out of this sentence, you wouldn't miss it.)

What's wrong with the following sentence? Broughton said the Senate should be able to pass the budget bill easy before senators break for the holidays.

D. "Easy" should be "easily" Rationale: The correct answer is D. Don't drop the "-ly" from adverbs of manner. If you do, it take the form of an adjective.

Select the choice that gives the correct form of the pronoun in the sentence. Hughes was five years older than (she / her), but they graduated from law school the same year.

she Rationale: The word "is" is missing but understood ("elliptical") in the first clause. If the word "is" were inserted, the clause would read <i>Hughes was five years older than she is, but they . . .</i> With this word inserted, you can see why the choice is the nominative case <i>she</i>. Watch for this situation when you have a comparative adjective + <i>than</i> (older than he, faster than we, smarter than I, etc.)

What role does the underlined word play in the sentence below? They gave [us] a hard time after we lost the game.

A. Indirect object Rationale: The noun "time" is the direct object, because "a hard time" is what they actually gave. "Us" is the indirect recipient of a hard time. And so "us" is an indirect object, taking the objective case of the pronoun.

The pronouns he, she, we, I, they, who and whoever are which case?

A. Nominative case Rationale: The correct answer is A: "NOMINATIVE CASE." These pronouns can serve as subjects or as predicate nominatives.

In the sentence below, are the underlined verbs passive or active? They were trying to pull him from the water at River Park.

A. Active voice Rationale: The correct answer is A: "ACTIVE VOICE." When the sentence takes a "subject > verb" form, you have active voice. In this sentence, "They" is the subject.

The underlined word below is either an adjective or an adverb. Identify which. Tyson said she is working to see if she has the support and if she can raise the money needed to mount a [statewide] race.

A. Adjective Rationale: The correct answer is A: "ADJECTIVE." The word "statewide" modifies the noun "race," telling us what kind of race this is.

What role does the bracketed word play in the sentence below? Officials at the conference honored [him], presenting him with $20,000 and a plaque.

A. Direct object (correct) Rationale: The pronoun "him" receives the action of the verb "honored."

Verbals are underlined in the sentence below. Identify what kind of verbals they are. Airlines are imposing new fees for [checking] luggage, [hauling] a pet or [sitting] in a choice aisle seat.

A. Gerunds Rationale: The correct answer is A: "GERUNDS." Each of these verbals acts like a thing (or noun). They are the things that the new fees are for. And each gerund is an object of the preposition "for": for checking, for hauling, and for sitting.

Clauses can be independent or dependent. A dependent clause can act like a noun, an adjective or an adverb. A clause is underlined in the sentence below. Identify what type of clause it is. [Oil prices rose to over $150 a barrel on Tuesday], and motorists are worried.

A. Independent clause Rationale: The clause "Oil prices rose to over $150 a barrel on Tuesday" is an independent clause because it could stand alone as a complete sentence.

Clauses can be independent or dependent. A dependent clause can act like a noun, an adjective or an adverb. A clause is underlined in the sentence below. Identify what type of clause it is. There will be fewer drivers on U.S. roads this Memorial Day weekend for the first time in five years, and [AAA is advising that motorists had better fill up soon] if they want to save money on gas.

A. Independent clause (correct) Rationale: The clause "AAA is advising that motorists had better fill up soon" is an independent clause because it could stand alone as its own sentence.

Clauses can be independent or dependent. A dependent clause can act like a noun, an adjective or an adverb. A clause is underlined in the sentence below. Identify what type of clause it is. There will be fewer drivers on U.S. roads this Memorial Day weekend for the first time in five years, and AAA is advising that motorists had better fill up soon [if they want to save money on gas].

C. Dependent Clause (adverb clause) Rationale: The correct answer is C: DEPENDENT CLAUSE (ADVERB CLAUSE). The clause "if they want to save money on gas" is an adverb clause that modifies the verb "fill." The clause tells why drivers had better fill up their tanks soon. Adverb clauses begin with a subordinating conjunction, which in this case is the word "if." The pronoun "they" is the subject of the clause, and "want" is the verb.

A phrase is underlined in the sentence below. Identify what type of phrase it is. There are many things people can do to stay fit. [Using the stairs] instead of an elevator is one simple idea.

C. Gerund phrase Rationale: "Using the stairs" is a gerund phrase that acts as the subject of the second sentence. It's the thing that is one simple idea. "Using" is the gerund, and "stairs" is the object of the gerund.

A verbal is underlined in the sentence below. Identify what kind of verbal it is. GlobalSkies Airlines says it will cut 700 flight attendant jobs as it reduces the number of flights to cope with high fuel costs.

C. Infinitive Rationale: The correct answer is C: "INFINITIVE." Infinitives take the form to + verb. Infinitives can act like nouns, adjectives or adverbs. In this sentence "to cope" acts like an adverb, telling us WHY GlobalSkies is reducing the number of flights.

What role does the bracketed word play in the sentence below? It was [they] who stole the car.

C. Predicate nominative Rationale: The pronoun "they" follows the linking verb "was," and it renames the subject "It." So "they" is a predicate nominative and takes the nominative case of the pronoun.

What role does the underlined word play in the sentence below? Can you tell me [who] drove your car that night?

C. Subject Rationale: To figure out who/whom questions, first find the verb that who/whom goes with. If the verb already has a subject, then choose "whom," the objective case. If the verb doesn't have a subject, then who/whom is going to be the subject, and so you would choose "who." Here, the verb "drove" has no subject other than "who/whom." So who/whom is the subject and takes the nominative case "who."

What role does the bracketed word play in the sentence below? In the second game, [Johnson] hit a backhand that gave him the win.

C. Subject (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is C: SUBJECT. Johnson is doing the hitting and so must be a subject in the sentence.

What is the mood of the underlined verb in the sentence below? [Were] you to win, you would receive $3,500 and a Huston-Upland computer.

C. Subjunctive Rationale: The correct answer is C: "SUBJUNCTIVE." The verb suggests the writer is imagining or wishing for something, rather than making a factual (indicative) statement. Note the use of the verb "were."

The verb in the sentence below may be in passive voice. If the verb is passive, choose the sentence that makes the verb active. Eight new rollercoasters and spectacular nighttime parades will be introduced this summer by Thrill Mountain theme parks, adding to an already impressive array of thrill rides and family-friendly attractions.

C. Thrill Mountain theme parks will introduce eight new roller coasters and spectacular nighttime parades this summer, adding to an already impressive array of thrill rides and family-friendly attractions. Rationale: The correct answer is C: "Thrill Mountain theme parks" is doing the introducing, and so it's the subject and should be moved in front of the verb "will introduce."

Select the words in the sentence that make up a prepositional phrase On Tuesday, May 10, the social networking site YourRoom will introduce privacy updates that give users more control over the information they choose to share.

C. over the information Rationale: The correct answer is C: "OVER THE INFORMATION." The word "over" is a preposition, and "information" is the object of the preposition.

Identify the relative pronoun in the following sentence: She considered herself to be a proud Republican who would never support higher taxes.

C. who Rationale: The correct answer is C: "WHO." The pronouns who, whom, whoever, whomever, which and that are called relative pronouns because they help "relate" dependent clauses to independent clauses in sentences.

Identify the relative pronoun in the following sentence: She considered herself to be a proud Republican who would never support higher taxes.

C. who (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is C: "WHO." The pronouns who, whom, whoever, whomever, which and that are called relative pronouns because they help "relate" dependent clauses to independent clauses in sentences.

Clauses can be independent or dependent. A dependent clause can act like a noun, an adjective or an adverb. A clause is underlined in the sentence below. Identify what type of clause it is. There will be fewer drivers on U.S. roads this Memorial Day weekend for the first time in five years, and AAA is advising [that motorists had better fill up soon] if they want to save money on gas.

D. Dependent clause (noun clause) (correct) Rationale: The clause "that motorists had better fill up soon" is a dependent clause because it can't stand alone as a complete sentence. It's a noun clause because the clause acts as a direct object of the verb "is advising." The whole clause is the thing that AAA advises.

What role does the bracketed word play in the sentence below? Johnson hasn't lost a [set] at the Templeton Tennis Challenge in three years.

D. Direct object Rationale: The word "set" receives the action directly from the verb "lost." A set is the thing he did not lose.

What's wrong with the following sentence? Ryerson's On the Bay offers you the most perfect dining experience you'll ever have.

D. It should say ". . . offers you a perfect dining experience." "Most perfect" is incorrect. Rationale: The correct answer is D. Words like "perfect" and "unique" have no degrees. You can't have something that's "more perfect" or "most unique." It's either perfect or not perfect, unique or not unique.

The verb in the sentence below may be in passive voice. If the verb is passive, choose the sentence that makes the verb active. "Underwater Adventure," a ride based on the animated feature film releasing in July, will be the featured attraction at Thrill Mountain Park 3D theaters.

D. It's already in active voice - no change is needed Rationale: The correct answer is D: The verb "will be" is already in active voice, and the subject "Underwater Adventure" already comes before the verb ("Underwater Adventure" will be . . .)

What role do the underlined words play in the sentence below? "Winning the Templeton Challenge is a dream come true for me," Lassiter said.

D. Object of the gerund (correct) Rationale: "Winning" is a gerund (it ends in -ing and acts like a noun), and the proper noun "Templeton Challenge" is the object of the gerund in the gerund phrase "Winning the Templeton Challenge."

What role does the bracketed word play in the sentence below? Reporters tried to ask [him], but the press conference was cut short.

D. Object of the infinitive Rationale: The correct answer is D: OBJECT OF THE INFINITIVE. "To ask" is an infinitive, and "to ask him" is the infinitive phrase. All infinitive phrases contain an object of the infinitive. Here, the word "him" is the object.

What role does the underlined word play in the sentence below? Bidwell, the Templeton Challenge champion, missed most of last year because of a chronic hip [injury].

D. Object of the preposition (correct) Rationale: The word "injury" is part of the prepositional phrase "of a chronic hip injury." The word "of" is the preposition, and "injury" is the object of the preposition.

A phrase is underlined in the sentence below. Identify what type of phrase it is. The meal, [priced at only $5.99], also includes a drink, an information brochure with professional advice on how to stay fit, and a free stepometer.

D. Participle phrase (correct) Rationale: "Priced at only $5.99" is a participle phrase that modifies the noun "meal." "Priced" is a past participle, and the rest of the phrase consists of the prepositional phrase "at only $5.99" (so there's a phrase within a phrase here).

A phrase is underlined in the sentence below. Identify what type of phrase it is. BigBurger's new "Action Meal" includes a salad [containing grilled chicken] with a balsamic dressing.

D. Participle phrase (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is D: PARTICIPLE PHRASE. "Containing grilled chicken" is a participle phrase that modifies the noun "salad" (participles act like adjectives). "Containing" is the participle, and "chicken" is the object of the participle.

What is the verb tense for the underlined verb in the sentence below? Operations will resume only after the FDA determines that the defendants have complied with all food-safety requirements.

D. Present perfect tense Rationale: The correct answer is D: "PRESENT PERFECT TENSE." The verb "have complied" includes the helping verb "have," which means it's in the present perfect tense.

Select the word in the sentence below that is the object of a preposition On Tuesday, May 10, the social networking site YourRoom will introduce privacy updates that give users more control over the information they choose to share.

D. Tuesday Rationale: The correct answer is D: TUESDAY. The word "Tuesday" is the object of the preposition "on."

Find the subordinating conjunction in the sentence below. Unlike many other recipes, this recipe does not require you to brown the chicken on the stovetop before you assemble the ingredients.

D. before Rationale: The correct answer is D. Subordinating conjunctions begin dependent adverb clauses, and the only word that does this is "before." (Remember that every clause must have a subject and verb. Here the subject-verb is "you assemble.")

Find the participle phrase in this sentence. Guise and Reynolds Books, one of the world's largest book retailers, today announced it will launch a 2011 summer reading program, called The Big Imagine.

D. called The Big Imagine Rationale: The word "called" is a past participle, and it modifies the noun program. Participles often follow right after the nouns they modify. "The Big Imagine" is the object of the participle.

Identify the indefinite pronoun in the following sentence: "This is something that will benefit the community, and I hope citizens will support it," Murphy said.

D. something Rationale: The correct answer is D: "SOMETHING." Words like something, each and everyone have vague, indefinite references, as opposed to personal pronouns like he, she, it, which refer to specific people.

This sentence contains both proper and common nouns. Identify the proper nouns. The U.S Department of Energy today released The Energy America Report, a document that suggests the possibility of using wind power to provide 20 percent of the United States' electricity by 2030.

E. Both US Department of Energy and The Energy America Report Rationale: The correct answer is E: "BOTH A AND D." The capital letters are a clue here: Proper nouns always start with capital letters.

This sentence contains both proper and common nouns. Identify the proper nouns. Storm clouds gathered Wednesday morning as Matthew Hudson sat on the 111-year-old Coaltown Road Bridge in southeast Foster County, carefully inspecting the 18 steel sections that keep the bridge from falling into the river below.

E. Matthew Hudson and Foster County Rationale: The correct answer is E. "BOTH B AND D." The capital letters are a clue here: Proper nouns always start with capital letters

What is the verb tense of the underlined verb in the sentence below? Operations [will resume] only after the FDA determines that the defendants have complied with all food-safety requirements.

Future Tense

A verb is in brackets in the sentence below. What type of verb is it? Two men and a woman suspected of robbing banks in Haysville [were] captured this week.

Helping verb

A verb is in brackets in the sentence below. What type of verb is it? Authorities said no money [was] inside the car.

Linking verb

A verb is in brackets in the sentence below. What type of verb is it? The FBI [launched] a public hunt for the "Haysville Bandits" last week.

Main verb

What is the verb tense for the bracketed verb in the sentence below? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today [announced] the shut down of seafood operations at Garrison Foods, Inc. until they comply with food-safety laws.

Past tense

What is the verb tense for the bracketed verb in the sentence below? The complaint alleges that Garrisons Foods [had failed] to maintain hand washing and toilet facilities.

Perfect Past Tense

The verb in the sentence below may be in passive voice. If the verb is passive, choose the sentence that makes the verb active. Thrill Mountain Park's new virtual reality attraction has a futuristic theme, and riders will be taken through a portal into a hidden world of fantastical creatures.

Thrill Mountain Park's new virtual reality attraction will take riders through a portal into a hidden, futuristic world of fantastical creatures. (correct) Rationale: The second clause in this sentence has a passive form ("riders will be taken"). The sentence in option C has the active "subject>verb" form ("attraction will take"). In options A and B, the subject does not come before the verb.

Select the correct verb form. The prosecuting attorney (lied/lay/laid/layed) out her case to the jury, putting special emphasis on the nanny's testimony.

laid Rationale: The correct answer is C: The verb here means "set down," and so the correct choice is "laid," the past tense of "lay." The prosecutor is "setting down" her case. STUDY THE TABLE with lie/lay conjugations at the bottom of the Verb Tense page.

Select the correct verb form. Hughes said the gun (lay/laid/lain/lied) on top of the dresser when Smith entered the room.

lay Rationale: The correct answer is A: The verb here means "reclined," and so the correct choice is "lay," the past tense of the verb "lie." This seems strange -- we don't usually think of inanimate objects like guns "reclining." But it's no different than saying a cat reclined or lay on the dresser. And no one is setting the gun down, so laid can't be the correct choice. STUDY THE TABLE with lie/lay conjugations at the bottom of the Verb Tense page.

Select the correct verb form. Rainey said she (sat/set/setted) the luggage on a chair in the baggage claim area.

set Rationale: The correct answer is B. The verb here means "set down" and not "sit." Rainey "set" the luggage down on the chair, which is the past tense of the verb "set." "Sat" is not correct, because it's the past tense of "sit." STUDY THE TABLE with set/sat conjugations at the bottom of the Verb Tense page.