Grammar & Usage Liza Kleinman
table of contents To the Student......................... v Part 1: Introduction.................................... 1 Part 2: Test-Taking Words............................ 5 Part 3: Practice Questions............................ 9 iii
to the student Test Your Best! We all have to take tests. Often, our abilities are measured by how well we test. Each year, more and more tests are added to our lives. District, state, and national assessments reflect student progress, teacher abilities, administrative skills, and curriculum standards. In other words, a lot is riding on these tests. It is important for you to take them seriously, just as your superintendent, your principal, and your teachers do. The books in the Test Time! series were designed to help you practice your test-taking skills. They also provide you with successful strategies and tips to follow at test time. As you well know, practice makes perfect. The more you practice, the higher you score. When you do well, not only are you successful, but your teachers, your administrators, and your state legislators are, too. This means that they took the testing seriously and wanted to help you be successful. It s a team effort. With all that in mind, be confident that you can succeed. You have the power; now just practice the skills. Good luck! v
PART 1 introduction Grammar and usage questions ask you about one or more of the following: capitalization grammar punctuation word forms sentence structure There are many types of grammar and usage questions. Many will ask you to choose the best way to write a phrase or sentence. Grammar and usage questions will often use a multiple-choice format. Sometimes you will be asked to rewrite sentences to correct errors. The best way to get ready for grammar and usage questions is to know the rules of grammar. Maybe you do not remember a long list of rules. Still, you probably know a lot more than you think you do. You have learned a lot about grammar and language use just by reading and speaking. Often, you will be able to eliminate one or more answer choices just because they do not look correct. If a sentence looks like something you would never say, it is probably not correct. Here is a quick look at some key rules and common mistakes: Capitalization Always capitalize the first word in a sentence. almost every word in a title (connecting words such as and and little words such as to are not capitalized unless they are the first or last word of the title). proper nouns (the specific names of people, places, and things). titles of individual people. 2004 Walch Publishing 1 Test Time! Grammar & Usage, 5 6
the pronoun I. direction words that refer to a specific region of the country (for example, the South ). Do NOT capitalize words that describe family relationships, such as brother and sister. names of seasons, such as spring and summer. direction words, such as north and south. Grammar A complete, correct sentence needs to contain two parts: a subject and a predicate. The subject is the person, place, or thing the sentence is about. The predicate describes something the subject does. The predicate must contain a verb. Two common grammar mistakes are run-on sentences and sentence fragments. A run-on sentence is made of two complete sentences joined together. That means they are not separated with a connecting word or a semicolon. Connecting words include and, but, and or. Here is an example of a run-on sentence: The map shows how to get to the library we lost the map. This sentence is incorrect because two complete sentences are joined together. The sentence needs to include a connecting word or a semicolon. Here is the corrected sentence: The map shows how to get to the library, but we lost the map. A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence. Remember, a complete sentence needs to contain a subject and a predicate. A complete sentence should not start with a joining word. Look at this example: I set the alarm last night. So I woke up on time. So I woke up on time is incorrect. It is a sentence fragment. That is because it begins with a joining word (so). It should be connected to the other sentence: I set the alarm last night, so I woke up on time. 2004 Walch Publishing 2 Test Time! Grammar & Usage, 5 6
Punctuation Here is a quick roundup of punctuation rules: Apostrophes should be used to show possession. Those are David s pencils. in contractions. It won t be long before the sun comes out. Commas should be used after an introductory phrase. First of all, I would like to thank everyone for coming to this meeting. before a connecting word in the middle of a sentence. There are two hours before the movie, but we should get there early. to set off words and phrases that give extra information in a sentence. This shirt, which has yellow and red stripes, is a little too small for me. to separate items in a list (sometimes the comma before the last item is left out either way is correct). Remember to buy apples, grapes, bananas, and strawberries. in dates. We had a picnic on July 4, 2004. Quotation marks should be used around words that are spoken, including punctuation marks. It seems, she said, that we re ready to begin work. words that come straight from a piece of writing or a speech. In a famous speech, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., wrote, I have a dream. 2004 Walch Publishing 3 Test Time! Grammar & Usage, 5 6
the titles of stories, poems, articles, essays, songs, and book chapters. Tonight, please read the chapter called The Aftermath of the Civil War in America. Sentence Structure Look out for these mistakes in sentence structure: a subject and a verb that do not agree The boys have a dog. Bill has a dog. (Note: The verb changes when the subject changes from more than one person to one person.) double negatives I don t have no time. (This sentence is incorrect because it contains two negatives: don t and no. It should read: I have no time. It would also be correct written this way: I don t have any time.) misplaced modifiers (description words that are in the wrong place) The cat sat on the floor, which had a spotted tail. (This sentence is incorrect because it sounds like the floor had a spotted tail. It should read: The cat, which had a spotted tail, sat on the floor.) 2004 Walch Publishing 4 Test Time! Grammar & Usage, 5 6
PART 2 test-taking words Before you can answer a question, you need to understand it. Always pay careful attention to the directions. That way you will know exactly what to do. Here are some common words and phrases that will help you understand grammar and usage questions. Direction Words combine to put together, such as combining two short sentences to create one longer sentence correct as is This phrase, or one like it, is often a choice in questions that ask you to choose the best version of a sentence or phrase. It lets you decide that the sentence or phrase is already correct. grammar the arrangement of words, including word form and verb tense punctuation the marks that separate parts of a sentence, end a sentence, indicate speech, or make a sentence more clear rewrite to write a new, corrected version of a phrase, sentence, or paragraph sentence structure the way that words are put together to form a sentence Grammar Words active voice a style of writing (generally preferred to passive voice) in which the subject of the sentence directly performs an action The dog chased the ball. 2004 Walch Publishing 5 Test Time! Grammar & Usage, 5 6
incomplete sentence a phrase that does not make up a complete sentence, usually because it does not contain a subject and a verb (same as a sentence fragment) independent clause a phrase that can stand on its own as a sentence passive voice a style of writing (generally considered to be poorer form than active voice) in which the subject of the sentence is acted upon The ball was chased by the dog. run-on sentence a sentence that is really two or more sentences joined together sentence fragment a phrase that does not make up a complete sentence, usually because it does not contain a subject and a verb (same as an incomplete sentence) Punctuation Words apostrophe punctuation used to indicate possession or to create a contraction colon : punctuation used to introduce an example or a list comma, punctuation used to separate pieces of information in a sentence or items in a list; also used in dates and after introductory phrases exclamation point! punctuation used at the end of a sentence to express surprise, excitement, or other strong emotion parentheses ( ) punctuation used to set off an extra phrase within a complete sentence period. punctuation used at the end of a sentence to indicate a statement question mark? punctuation used at the end of a sentence to indicate a question 2004 Walch Publishing 6 Test Time! Grammar & Usage, 5 6
quotation marks punctuation used to set off spoken words or words directly quoted from a source semicolon ; punctuation used to separate two independent clauses Parts of Speech adjective a word that describes, or modifies, a noun adverb a word that describes, or modifies, a verb, an adjective, or another adverb conjunction a connecting word, such as and, but, or modifier a word that limits or changes the meaning of another word noun a person, place, thing, or idea predicate the verb that tells what the subject of a sentence does preposition a word that links a noun to the other words in a sentence, usually showing the place or position of the noun, for example near, by, toward, beneath proper noun the specific name of a person, place, thing, or idea, such as Alex, France, Hilltop School, Thanksgiving subject the noun that a sentence is about verb an action word 2004 Walch Publishing 7 Test Time! Grammar & Usage, 5 6
PART 3 practice questions SET 1 Read the paragraphs. Then answer the questions that follow. (1) Yesterday it was my sister s birthday, so we have a party. (2) Our father baked a cake, and I decorated the house. (3) We invited some friends. (4) To come celebrate with us. (5) My sister said it was the more wonderful birthday she d ever had. (6) She can t wait until her next birthday. 1. Which is the best way to write sentence 1? A. Yesterday it was my sister s birthday, so we has a party. B. Yesterday it was my sister s birthday, we had a party. C. Yesterday it was my sister s birthday, so we had a party. 2. Which is the best way to write sentence 2? A. Our father baking a cake and I decorated the house. B. Our father, baked a cake, I decorated the house. C. Our father baked a cake and I decorate the house. 3. Which is the best way to write sentences 3 and 4? A. We invited some friends to come celebrate with us. B. Inviting some friends to come celebrate with us. C. We invited some friends, come celebrate with us. 2004 Walch Publishing 9 Test Time! Grammar & Usage, 5 6
4. Which is the best way to write sentence 5? A. My sister saying it was the most wonderful birthday she d ever had. B. My sister said it was the most wonderful birthday she d ever had. C. My sister said it being the more wonderful birthday she d ever had. 5. Which is the best way to write sentence 6? A. Until her next birthday, she can t wait. B. She can t to wait until her next birthday. C. She can t wait. Until her next birthday. (7) Last summer I went to visit my cousin. (8) Whom I had never met before. (9) I am a little nervous to meet him. (10) It turned out that we had a lot in common. (11) We both like playing baseball and to watch old movies. (12) We are looking forward to next summer, when he came to visit me. 6. What is the best way to write sentences 7 and 8? A. Last summer I went to visit my cousin, whom I had never met before. B. Last summer I went to visit my cousin I had never met him before. C. Last summer I went to visit. My cousin, I had never met him before. 7. What is the best way to write sentence 9? A. A little nervous to meet him. B. I was a little nervous to meet him. C. Being that I was a little nervous to meet him. 2004 Walch Publishing 10 Test Time! Grammar & Usage, 5 6
8. What is the best way to write sentence 10? A. Turning out we had a lot in common. B. Having turned out that we had a lot in common. C. It turns out we are having a lot in common. 9. What is the best way to write sentence 11? A. We both like playing baseball and watching old movies. B. To play baseball, we both like to watch old movies. C. We both like to play baseball, watching old movies. 10. What is the best way to write sentence 12? A. We are looking forward to next summer. When he will come to visit me. B. We are looking forward to next summer, he comes to visit me. C. We are looking forward to next summer, when he will come to visit me. STOP 2004 Walch Publishing 11 Test Time! Grammar & Usage, 5 6
SET 2 Choose the best way to write the underlined part of each sentence. If the part is correct as it is written, choose choice A, correct as is. 1. It suddenly got very cold, I wished I had my coat with me. B. cold; C. cold so that D. cold therefore E. cold 2. I seen many movies this year, and I have liked all of them. B. see C. must see D. have seen E. will see 3. Janelle thought the book was the more long one she had ever read. B. most longest C. long D. more longer E. longest 2004 Walch Publishing 12 Test Time! Grammar & Usage, 5 6
4. After the students finish their reading, they will discuss the chapter. B. reading, to C. reading they go to D. reading then they will E. reading; they will 5. The club voted against having membership dues, but some members still wanted them. B. dues but, some members, C. dues; but some members D. dues but some members; E. dues, but, some members 6. I has been trying to reach you on the phone for the last hour. B. I are been C. I have being D. I have been E. I am being 7. The girls, who have a dog, goes to the park often. B. going C. to go D. go E. were gone 2004 Walch Publishing 13 Test Time! Grammar & Usage, 5 6
8. Our project, a model of a volcano, was almost finished. B. being almost finished C. almost finished D. almost to be finished E. was to be almost finished 9. Red jelly beans are my favorites; although I also like the green ones. B. favorites, although C. favorites although being that D. favorites; but although E. favorites, being although 10. Juan Carlos has many hobbies, including painting, playing soccer, and to build model airplanes. B. and builds model airplanes C. and building model airplanes D. and built model airplanes E. and will build model airplanes STOP 2004 Walch Publishing 14 Test Time! Grammar & Usage, 5 6
SET 3 Choose the best way to combine each set of three sentences. 1. There was a blizzard yesterday. School was cancelled. I still had to study. A. There was a blizzard yesterday, so I still had to study since school was cancelled. B. Because school was cancelled, it was snowing yesterday and I still had to study. C. Because there was a blizzard yesterday, school was cancelled, but I still had to study. D. I still had to study because school was cancelled, and there was a blizzard yesterday. 2. My brother got a new bicycle. I wanted to ride it. He would not let me. A. My brother got a new bicycle and I wanted to ride it, but he would not let me. B. Because I wanted to ride it, my brother got a new bicycle and he would not let me. C. My brother got a new bicycle so he would not let me and I wanted to ride it. D. I wanted to ride it, but my brother got a new bicycle because he would not let me. 3. We had an exam today. I did not study for it. I still did well. A. We had an exam today, and because I did not study for it, I still did well. B. We had an exam today, and I still did well although I did not study for it. C. I still did well because we had an exam today, but I did not study for it. D. I did not study for it, but we had an exam today, although I still did well. 2004 Walch Publishing 15 Test Time! Grammar & Usage, 5 6
4. Shawna plays the violin. She could not play well at first. She is very good at it. A. Because she could not play well at first, Shawna plays the violin and she is very good at it. B. She is very good at it, though she could not play well at first, Shawna plays the violin. C. Shawna plays the violin, and she is very good at it, although she could not play well at first. D. Since she is very good at it, Shawna plays the violin and she could not play well at first. 5. It is supposed to rain later. I will bring an umbrella. I might still get wet. A. Because it is supposed to rain later, I will bring an umbrella, but I might still get wet. B. Though it is supposed to rain later, I might still get wet, so I will bring an umbrella. C. It is supposed to rain later, and I will bring an umbrella because I might still get wet. D. Since I will bring an umbrella, it is supposed to rain later though I might still get wet. 6. I like most puzzles. I do not like crossword puzzles. I never do them. A. I like most puzzles, and I do not like crossword puzzles, and I never do them. B. Although I like most puzzles, I do not like crossword puzzles, so I never do them. C. Because I never do them, I like most puzzles but I do not like crossword puzzles. D. I do not like crossword puzzles, I never do them, though I like most puzzles. 2004 Walch Publishing 16 Test Time! Grammar & Usage, 5 6
7. The sun came out. I took my jacket off. I am still too warm. A. The sun came out, and although I am still too warm, I took my jacket off. B. I am still too warm because the sun came out and I took my jacket off. C. If I took my jacket off, I am still too warm and the sun came out. D. I took my jacket off because sun came out, but I am still too warm. 8. We are listening to the radio. My brother will not turn the volume down. It is too loud. A. My brother will not turn the volume down because we are listening to the radio and it is too loud. B. We are listening to the radio, which is too loud because my brother will not turn the volume down. C. We are listening to the radio, my brother will not turn the volume down, it is too loud. D. My brother will not turn the volume down, so it is too loud, and we are listening to the radio. 9. We were having a picnic. I made sandwiches. I forgot to bring them. A. I made sandwiches because we were having a picnic, but I forgot to bring them. B. Because we were having a picnic, I made sandwiches I forgot to bring them. C. I made sandwiches but we were having a picnic and I forgot to bring them. D. If I forgot to bring them, I made sandwiches because we were having a picnic. 10. Aiden lost his key. He looked for it. He could not find it. A. Aiden lost his key and looked for it still he could not find it. B. Because he looked for it, Aiden could not find it, he lost his key. C. Aiden lost his key and, although he looked for it, he could not find it. D. Aiden lost his key, so he could not find it but he looked for it. STOP 2004 Walch Publishing 17 Test Time! Grammar & Usage, 5 6