Download Answers for Grammar Test

WRIT 1000Z
Grammar Test
May 24, 2006
(50 points total)
Part I (21 points, 1/2 point per part of speech). For each word in the paragraph below, give the
correct part of speech.
Barbara [proper noun] had [verb] an [indefinite article] accident [noun] on
[preposition] Monday [proper noun]. Not onl y [correlative conjunction (with
"but also")] did [auxiliary or verb] she [pronoun] wreck [verb] her [possessive
pronoun] motorcycle [noun], but also she [pronoun] suffered [verb] minor
[adjective] injuries [noun]. Barbara [proper noun] arrived [verb] at [preposition]
work [noun] this [demonstrative pronoun] morning [noun] in [preposition] a
[indefinite pronoun] taxi [noun] and [coordinate conjunction] with [preposition]
her [possessive pronoun] finger [noun] in [pr eposition] a [indefinite article]
splint [noun]. Although [subordinate conjunction] she [pronoun] must [modal
auxiliary] be [verb] hurt [adjective], she [pronoun] answered [verb] her
[possessive pronoun] phone [noun] cheerfull y [adverb].
Part II (8 points total). Answer briefly the five questions below.
1. What is the difference between an independent (main) clause and a dependent (subordinate)
clause? (2 points)
An independent clause is a group of words with a subject and predicate that can
function on its own. A dependent clause is a group of words with a subject and
predicate that cannot function on its own--something in the clause signals the existence
of another idea that is essential to its meaning.
2. What is the difference between a phrase and a clause? (2 points)
A clause is a group of words that has a subject and predicate. A phrase is a group of words
without a subject or predicate (or both).
3. What is the difference between a simple predicate and a complete predicate? (2 points).
A simple predicate is the main verb used to express an action in a sentence. A complete
predicate includes the main verb plus any associated auxiliaries, adverbs, or objects
(anything other than the subject, in other words).
4. What is a pronoun antecedent? (1 point)
The noun that the pronoun replaces.
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5. What part of speech can past and present participles act as when they are not functioning as
part of a verb? (1 point)
adjective
Part III (16 points, 2 points per question). For each question below, correct the sentence error.
You may need to delete or make up information to correct the sentence. Be sure to correct the
punctuation as necessary.
1. The musicians who live in the house down the block works in a nearby restaurant. [error in
subject-verb agreement]
The musicians who live in the house down the block work in a nearby restaurant.
2. Meg plays the drums and the piano, Tom sings and plays guitar. [comma splice]
Meg plays the drums and the piano. Tom sings and plays guitar.
3. A songwriter should understand the power of words when they choose their pronouns. [error
in pronoun antecedent agreement]
When choosing their pronouns, songwriters should understand the power of words.
4. After reading the letter; Meg tore it up. [misuse of a semicolon: a semicolon connects
independent clauses only]
After reading the letter, Meg tore it up.
5. Since Tom went away. [sentence fragment: this is a dependent clause]
Tom went away.
6. Having found the rent reasonable, the apartment seemed to be perfect. [Dangling participle]
Having found the rent reasonable, Sue thought the apartment was perfect.
7. Crammed with food and utensils, an inexperienced cook may find a diner's small kitchen a
stressful place to work. [misplaced modifier]
Crammed with food and utensils, a diner's small kitchen might create stress in an
inexperienced cook.
8. Chemicals called endorphins are good news for romantics. They promote long-term intimate
attachments. [pronoun antecedent error: the sentence has to mean that the chemicals promote
long-term attachments, not the romantics (romantics "promote" attachments in the sense that
they are in favour of them)]
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Chemicals called endorphins, which promote long-term intimate attachments, are good
news for romantics.
Part IV (5 points, 1 point per question). Answer the following questions using the bold-faced
paragraph below. Question 1 is done for you.
Reading calls for making predictions. As you read, your mind is always involved in
guessing what comes next. When it discovers what comes next, it either confirms or revises
its prediction and moves on.
1. List one coordinate conjunction in the paragraph.
or
(another one) and
2. List one dependent clause in the paragraph.
As you read
When it discovers what comes next
3. List one independent clause in the paragraph.
Reading calls for making predictions
your mind is always involved in guessing what comes next.
it either confirms or revises its prediction and moves on.
4. List one subject in the paragraph. [I list simple subjects here only]
Reading
You
Mind
it
5. List one present participle in the paragraph. [here I accepted any -ing word]
Reading
making
guessing
6. List one direct object in the paragraph.
making predictions [assuming "calls for" is a complete verb and "for" is not a preposition]
what comes next
its prediction
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