Exercises
Select the correct pronoun(s) for each sentence. Then check your answer(s) by clicking on the Key.
1.
Between | you | and | , | I | don't | think | she | can | run | a | half | marathon. | Key |
2.
Sam | and | were | in | the | jazz | band. | Key |
Mom | drove | my | friend | and | to | the | mall. | Key |
Undergraduates, | as | well | as | graduate | students, | are | at | the | low | end | of | the | academic | totem | pole. | Key |
It | was | who | won | the | race. | Key |
She | said | that | Aaron | and | should | go | on | a | date. | Key |
It | is | . | Key |
If | I | were | , | I | wouldn't | talk | about | that. | Key |
college | students | need | financial | support. | Key |
Cristina | and | used | to | drive | to | Dallas | together | every | October. | Key |
11.
I | didn't | agree | with | what | she | said | about | . | Key |
It's | not | easy | to | keep | a | secret | from | and | her | mother. | Key |
The | vicious | rumor | was | spread | by | and | . | Key |
Possessive Pronouns v. Contractions
Select the correct word(s) for each sentence. Then check your answer(s) by clicking on the Key.
1.
not | fault | that | not | . | Key |
Do | they | know | dog | this | is? | Do | they | know | going | to | claim | it? | Key |
That | car | is | . | Key |
Do | you | know | which | these | are | from? | Key |
PRSSA | will | have | bake | sale | this | week. | Key |
The | childrens' | rooms | are | so | dirty | probably | full | of | last | month's | dirty | clothes. | Key |
Max | is | the | student | grades | were | changed. | Key |
"This | is | the | woman | going | to | be | your | new | teacher," | the | principal | said. | Key |
The | elementary | school | parents | were | invited | to | the | play. | Key |
candy | is | this? | Key |
I | think | this | book | is | . | Key |
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Select the correct pronoun(s) for each sentence. Then check your answer(s) by clicking on the Key.
1.
He | is | the | type | of | teacher | demands | perfection | from | students. | Key |
Each | cadet | should | have | boots | shined | for | inspection. | Key |
The | committee | devoted | three | hours | of | time | to | one | case | Saturday | morning. | Key |
The | students | brought | assignments | will | receive | an | A. | Key |
The | jury | reached | verdict | within | an | hour. | Key |
One | should | brush | teeth | at | least | twice | a | day. | Key |
The | members | of | the | PTA | had | monthly | meeting | tonight. | Key |
Every | pedestrian | should | look | to | left | and | right | before | crossing | an | intersection. | Key |
The | drivers | were | confused | by | the | map, | and | passengers | arrived | late. | Key |
The | boy | had | parents | didn't | like | to | set | rules. | Key |
Each | boy | and | girl | should | have | clothes | pressed | for | church. | Key |
Mary | had | an | old | stuffed | animal | looked | brand | new. | Key |
The | group | presented | report | this | afternoon. | Key |
Essential v. Non-Essential Clauses
Select the correct word for each sentence. Then check your answer by clicking on the Key.
1.
A | boat | leaks | is | of | little | use. | Key |
Magazines | are | interesting | to | you | may | not | be | interesting | to | me. | Key |
Many | college | students | don't | realize | that | introductory | courses, | are | often | labeled | boring, | can | be | the | most | challenging | courses | of | all. | Key |
The | boy | didn't | look | both | ways | before | crossing | the | street | was | almost | hit | by | a | car. | Key |
Asparagus, | I | hate, | is | my | mother's | favorite | thing | to | cook. | Key |
I've | decided | on | the | blue | dress, | , | I | believe, | is | the | most | gorgeous | in | the | store. | Key |
An | elephant | barks | does | not | exist | in | this | universe. | Key |
Halloween, | is | my | favorite | holiday, | gives | my | sister | bad | memories. | Key |
The | lamp | glows | the | most | is | the | one | I'm | going | to | buy. | Key |
The | one | thing | I | will | never | throw | away | is | my | George | Foreman | Grill. | Key |
The | horse | makes | it | to | the | finish | line | first | will | be | the | winner. | Key |
The | class, | had | never | been | on | a | field | trip | before, | didn't | mind | the | rain. | Key |
Who, Whoever v. Whom, Whomever
Select the correct word for each sentence. Then check your answer by clicking on the Key.
1.
Because | we | are | on | a | tight | schedule, | the | part | will | go | to | remembers | the | most | lines. | Key |
The | girl | parents | say | is | the | best | babysitter | got | in | trouble | last | weekend. | Key |
is | needed | most | should | get | to | go. | Key |
Young | professors, | most | of | are | known | for | their | harsh | grading, | are | actually | very | nice | people. | Key |
She | didn't | remember | she | was | supposed | to | call | first. | Key |
Pepe | is | an | international | student | I | met | recently. | Key |
Pepe, | I | met | recently, | is | an | international | student. | Key |
did | Ryan | pin | Thursday? | Key |
makes | it | to | the | finish | line | first | will | win. | Key |
shall | I | say | is | calling? | Key |
does | Jarrod | like | more? | Key |
Interrogative and Reciprocal Pronouns
Select the correct pronoun for each sentence. Then check your answer by clicking on the Key.
1.
is | she | talking | about? | Key |
2.
is | your | least | favorite | teacher? | Key |
3.
are | these | pants? | Key |
4.
color | do | you | prefer? | Key |
5.
Mark | and | Sarah | are | going | to | help | study | for | the | exam. | Key |
6.
The | team | captains | glared | at | . | Key |
7.
The | couple | looked | at | as | they | walked | along | the | beach. | Key |
Demonstrative Pronouns
Select the correct pronoun for each sentence. Then check your answer by clicking on the Key.
1.
pair | of | shoes | is | similar | to | mine. | Key |
2.
mannequins | over | there | look | real. | Key |
3.
shoes | on | my | feet | fit | well. | Key |
4.
There | are | problems | with | research | paper. | Key |
5.
paintings | in | that | room | are | beautiful. | Key |
6.
The | characters | in | haunted | house | were | scary. | Key |
7.
comedians | kept | us | laughing | all | night. | Key |
You | must | have | been | joking | about | new | idea | of | yours. | Key |
9.
classrooms | are | full | of | tiny | desks. | Key |
Reflexive Pronouns
Select the correct pronoun for each sentence. Then check your answer by clicking on the Key.
1.
Laura | and | co-wrote | the | book. | Key |
2.
They | accomplished | the | task | . | Key |
3.
One | of | our | linebackers | hurt | yesterday | at | practice. | Key |
4.
As | for | , | I | would | go | with | the | red | dress. | Key |
5.
They | don't | take | seriously. | Key |
6.
He | told | not | to | go | to | that | party. | Key |
7.
The | secret | was | kept | between | Jan | and | . | Key |
8.
and | my | dog | run | at | least | two | miles | every | day. | Key |
Subject-Verb Agreement
Select the correct verb for each sentence. Then check your answer by clicking on the Key.
1.
The | dogs | in | our | neighbor's | yard | too | loud | at | night. | Key |
2.
Three | hundred | invitations | too | many. | Key |
3.
Nothing | to | mind. | Key |
4.
The | quartet | Alan, | Brian, | Kevin | and | James. | Key |
5.
Alan, | Brian, | Kevin | and | James | the | quartet. | Key |
6.
The | teacher, | the | principal | and | the | parent | that | Jimmy | should | be | punished. | Key |
7.
They | each | traveling | by | boat. | Key |
8.
The | Brownie | troop | in | the | school | cafeteria | every | Wednesday | evening. | Key |
9.
The | little | amount | shared | among | five | people. | Key |
10.
The | puppy's | whereabouts | unknown. | Key |
11.
Statistics | hard | for | many | students. | Key |
12.
Neither | Melissa | nor | her | sisters | expecting | a | surprise | visit | to | the | dentist. | Key |
13.
The | jury | the | defendant | is | guilty. | Key |
14.
Here | the | Wilsons! | Key |
15.
The | media | seldom | late | to | an | event | like | this. | Key |
16.
He, | as | well | as | they, | there | is | no | buried | treasure | on | that | island. | Key |
17.
Michael | is | one | of | the | children | who | singing. | Key |
18.
The | elected | committee | Sara, | Jane | and | Sally. | Key |
19.
The | refrigerators | on | the | sales | floor | to | be | cleaned. | Key |
20.
No | one | but | them | the | address. | Key |
21.
He | is | one | of | those | professors | who | only | the | best. | Key |
22.
There | an | actor | and | 30 | singers. | Key |
23.
Dr. | Smith's | is | the | only | one | of | our | classes | that | for | independent | thinking. | Key |
24.
Neither | the | workers | nor | their | boss | to | work | on | Christmas | day. | Key |
25.
Sarah | Jane | is | one | of | those | babies | who | the | biggest | eyes. | Key |
26.
Politics | her | favorite | subject. | Key |
27.
Her | politics | socialistic. | Key |
28.
Seventy | percent | average. | Key |
29.
Neither | of | the | girls | arrived | yet. | Key |
30.
Either | of | the | two | flavors | good. | Key |
Collective and Uncountable Nouns
Select the correct word. Then check your answer by clicking on the Key.
1.
The | jury | has | made | decision. | Key |
2.
Courage | a | different | kind | of | mind-set. | Key |
3.
The | committee | at | Alice's | house | every | Tuesday | evening. | Key |
4.
Her | advice | always | helpful. | Key |
5.
The | flock | always | south | for | the | winter. | Key |
6.
Linguistics | sometimes | hard | to | grasp. | Key |
7.
Measles | harder | to | overcome | the | older | one | gets. | Key |
8.
Cadets | have | to | make | sure | the | barracks | always | clean. | Key |
9.
The | proceeds | from | that | benefit | to | the | Children's | Miracle | Network. | Key |
10.
I | hope | the | thanks | she | gave | me | sincere. | Key |
11.
The | odds | that | he | makes | that | shot | 10 | to | one. | Key |
12.
Fifty | percent | of | the | money | for | my | children. | Key |
13.
A | total | of | 25 | guests | expected | to | attend | the | rehearsal | dinner. | Key |
Irregular Verbs
Select the correct word(s). Then check your answer(s) by clicking on the Key.
1.
She | had | there | for | hours | without | moving. | Key |
2.
He | two | extra | napkins | at | each | place | setting. | Key |
3.
I | had | just | down | when | the | doorbell | . | Key |
4.
The | student | her | hand | to | answer | a | question. | Key |
5.
Jim | more | sodas | then | Bill. | Key |
6.
She | the | armoire | in | the | corner, | and | then | she | the | basket | on | top | of | it. | Key |
7.
If | you | wet | towels | on | your | bed | this | afternoon, | you | won't | be | able | to | down | on | it | this | evening. | Key |
8.
He | always | at | 7 | a.m. | Key |
9.
The | fish | back | and | forth | across | the | tank. | Key |
10.
The | student | had | apparently | asleep | on | his | desk. | Key |
11.
The | small | child | almost | a | cup | of | barbecue | sauce | by | accident. | Key |
12.
The | construction | team | the | foundation | this | morning. | Key |
13.
Irene | had | to | at | 5:00 | a.m. | to | catch | a | plane. | Key |
14.
The | dog | its | head | when | the | doorbell | rang. | Key |
15.
Mary | had | a | Jolly | Rancher | from | the | shelf | without | thinking | twice. | Key |
16.
He | quickly | to | shore | when | he | saw | a | shark's | fin. | Key |
17.
My | Newfoundland | puppy | loves | to | in | the | sun. | Key |
Subjunctive Mood
Select the correct word(s). Then check your answer(s) by clicking on the Key.
1.
Many | professors | insist | that | their | students | on | time. | Key |
2.
The | IRS | recommends | that | he | his | taxes | on | time | next | year. | Key |
3.
I | wish | I | through | with | this | test. | Key |
4.
The | policeman | asked | that | Janet | more | slowly. | Key |
5.
The | child | acts | as | if | he | truly | angry. | Key |
6.
A | member | of | the | committee | moved | that | the | bylaws | reviewed. | Key |
7.
It | is | important | that | we | silent | during | the | lecture. | Key |
8.
It | is | necessary | that | she | all | grades | before | they | are | turned | in. | Key |
9.
If | I | a | movie | star | I'd | strive | to | have | a | clean | image. | Key |
10.
I | would | take | the | class | if | she | the | teacher. | Key |
11.
I | insist | that | she | . | Key |
Adjective/Adverb Recognition
Select the correct word(s) for each sentence. Then check your answer(s) by clicking on the Key.
1.
I | felt | this | morning, | but | yesterday | I | felt | . | Key |
2.
The | choir | performed | . | Key |
3.
Mary | is | the | of | the | twins. | Key |
4.
The | wind | chimes | sounded | . | Key |
5.
The | cake | smells | . | Key |
6.
I'm | trying | to | maintain | a | sleeping | pattern. | Key |
7.
Forrest | Gump | ran | across | the | country. | Key |
8.
He's | the | of | the | two. | Key |
9.
The | bass | drum | was | the | of | the | three | instruments. | Key |
10.
She | gave | the | speech. | Key |
11.
He's | the | basketball | player | I've | ever | seen. | Key |
12.
If | you | feel | about | lying, | why | don't | you | tell | the | truth? | Key |
Sentence Fragment v. Complete Sentence
Decide whether each of the following is a sentence fragment or a complete sentence. Then click on the Key to check your answer.
1.
Unless | she | starts | to | cry. | Key |
2.
It's | a | lie. | Key |
3.
I've | lost | many | pieces | of | jewelry. | Key |
4.
Should | she | go? | Key |
5.
If | I | were | only | taller. | Key |
6.
Close | the | refrigerator | door. | Key |
7.
Don't | you | agree? | Key |
8.
Neither | Sally | nor | her | friends. | Key |
9.
Please | don't | ring | the | doorbell. | Key |
10.
An | apple | a | day | keeps | the | doctor | away. | Key |
11.
Before | the | show | begins. | Key |
12.
When | something | strange | occurs. | Key |
13.
I'm | not | going | out | with | him. | Key |
14.
Throw | down | the | book. | Key |
15.
Sitting | on | the | end | of | the | pier. | Key |
Active v. Passive Voice Sentences
Identify the following sentences as active or passive voice. Then click on the Key to check your answers.
1.
Jill | urged | her | students | to | study | for | the | exam. | Key |
2.
His | explanation | lost | me. | Key |
3.
The | touchdown | pass | was | thrown | by | the | quarterback. | Key |
4.
The | Sooners | triumphantly | beat | the | Florida | State | Seminoles | in | the | championship | game. | Key |
5.
Al | Gore | was | forced | to | concede | the | presidency. | Key |
6.
The | babysitter | finally | convinced | the | children | to | go | to | bed. | Key |
7.
The | graduate | assistant | graded | the | tests. | Key |
8.
Bobby | was | arrested | Thursday. | Key |
9.
She | was | lost. | Key |
10.
She | lost | her | way. | Key |
11.
I | threw | the | book | down. | Key |
12.
The | papers | were | signed | by | my | sister. | Key |
Frequently Misspelled Words
accessible | battalion | caffeine | defendant |
accidentally | believable | calendar | definite |
accommodate | bookkeeper | canceled | definitely |
acquaint | cemetery | descendant | |
acquit | changeable | despair | |
aerial | commitment | develop | |
aggressive | committee | disappoint | |
allege | conscious | ||
analyze | correspondence | ||
annual | courageous | ||
arctic | criticize | ||
ascend | |||
assassin | |||
athlete |
eligible | feasible | gauge | harass |
embarrass | fiery | grammar | hemorrhage |
environment | guarantee | homicide | |
equivalent | hygiene | ||
exercise | hypocrite | ||
exhaust | |||
existence | |||
exorbitant | |||
incidentally | judgment | kindergarten | liaison |
independence | license | ||
indispensable | lightning | ||
interfere | likelihood | ||
irrelevant | loneliness | ||
irresistible | |||
maintenance | necessary | occasion | parallel |
maneuver | nickel | occasional | parliamentary |
miscellaneous | noticeable | occurred | pastime |
misspell | nuisance | omitted | perennial |
municipal | optimistic | permanent | |
murmur | perseverance | ||
pleasant | |||
precedent | |||
privilege | |||
professor | |||
pronunciation | |||
psychology |
questionnaire | receive | secretary | tendency |
recommend | seize | tragedy | |
repetition | sergeant | ||
rhythm | sheriff | ||
siege | |||
simultaneous | |||
sophomore | |||
subpoena | |||
superintendent | |||
surprise |
usable | visible | weird |
Frequently Confused Words
Select the correct word(s) for each sentence. Then check your answer(s) by clicking on the Key.
1.
The | soldier | was | surprised | that | he | wasn't | into | Ranger | school. | Key |
2.
My | grandfather | is | doing | . | Key |
3.
The | amount | I | studied | had | a | great | on | my | test | grade. | Key |
4.
of | people | believe | that | the | weather | one's | mood. | Key |
5.
of | those | dresses | will | work. | Key |
6.
We | were | in | the | front | row. | We | sat | motionless | -- | stunned | by | an | brilliant | performance. | Key |
7.
It's | a | matter | of | . | Key |
8.
He | will | his | troops | into | simulated | battle. | Key |
9.
We | hope | they | can | tell | by | expressions | that | we | don't | like | the | idea. | Key |
10.
A | mother's | is | always | helpful. | Key |
11.
His | to | the | book | we | were | supposed | to | read | was | obvious. | Key |
12.
I | don't | want | to | you, | but | my | mom | is | making | apple | pie | for | . | Key |
13.
Have | you | ever | been | to | the | Mojave | ? | Key |
14.
We | had | a | good | that | we | thought | should | have | us | to | the | real | murderer. | Key |
15.
Her | helped | me | tremendously. | Key |
16.
The | attorney | general | appointed | a | special | to | investigate | FBI | action | in | Waco. | Key |
17.
going | to | the | beach | this | afternoon. | Key |
18.
a | small | project, | but | worth | to | the | company | is | immeasurable. | Key |
19.
job | involves | heavy | labor. | I | think | going | to | quit | soon. | Key |
20.
drink | are | you | buying? | that | girl? | Key |
21.
going | to | be | a | long | day. | I | think | going | to | rain. | Key |
22.
" | are | the | sweetest | eyes | I've | ever | seen," | is | my | favorite | line | from | a | song. | Key |
23.
Classwork | is | supposed | to | be | more | difficult | when | in | college. | Key |
24.
After | done | studying, | go | get | something | to | eat. | Key |
Apostrophes
Examine the following sentences, selecting whether apostrophes are needed.
1.
The |
|
understudy |
|
available | that | evening. | Key |
2.
Can | I | go | to | dinner | with | the |
|
tomorrow | night? | Key |
3.
She | painted | my |
|
the | most | beautiful | color. | Key |
4.
Stephen |
|
|
are | my | favorite. | Key |
5.
The |
|
were | radical. | Key |
6.
My |
|
arm | is | broken. | Key |
7.
Our | organization | cares | about |
|
rights. | Key |
8.
and |
|
party | was | fun. | Key |
9.
|
and |
|
|
are | great. | Key |
10.
Here | come | the |
|
children; | I | like | them. | Key |
11.
Many |
|
believe | that |
|
are | scary. | Key |
12.
My |
|
|
always | come | through. | Key |
13.
Those |
|
are | beautiful. | Key |
Commas, Colons, and Semi-Colons
Punctuate the following sentences correctly, placing commas, colons or semi-colons in the blank spaces. Some spaces might require no punctuation.
1.
Your | reading | list | consists | of | the | following |
|
The | Catcher | in | the | Rye, | The | Great | Gatsby, | The | Five | Little | Pigs, | and | The | Stand. | Key |
2.
The | young | man | was | grounded | for | three | weeks | over | the | summer | and | he | learned | from | the | experience. | Key |
3.
Some | people | like | to | attend | the | early | service | Sunday | mornings | others | prefer | the | 11:00 | a.m. | service. | Key |
4.
Unless | you | put | the | leftovers | in | the | refrigerator | the | same | day | they | were | made | saving | them | does | almost | no | good. | Key |
5.
The | house | has | many | lovely | features | including | wooden | floors, | a | remodeled | master | bedroom, | and | a | large | game | room | for | the | children. | Key |
6.
Kermit | the | Frog | and | Miss | Piggy | have | always | been | my | favorite | Muppets. | Key |
7.
President | Bush | loves | the | state | of | Texas | and | often | visits. | Key |
8.
At | the | end | of | their | performance | members | of | the | choir | exited | the | stage. | Key |
9.
Greg, | Marsha, | Peter, | Jan, | Bobby, | and | Cindy | were | all | Brady | children. | Key |
10.
My | favorite | animals | are | geckos, | snakes, | iguanas, | and | spiders. | Key |
11.
Most | of | the | cadets | have | completed | rigorous | physical | training | before | but | only | two | were | able | to | complete | the | obstacle | course | in | the | allotted | amount | of | time | yesterday. | Key |
12.
Voters | don't | want | promises | they | want | action. | Key |
13.
I | plan | to | travel | to | Spain | I | know | many | people | there. | Key |
14.
It | by | Stephen | King | is | one | of | my | favorite | books. | Key |
15.
The | test | will | be | Tuesday | at | 3:00 | p.m. | Key |
16.
Everyone | in | the | movie | theatre | screamed | when | the | killer | stormed | out | of | the | shadows | no | one | wanted | the | innocent | young | woman | to | die. | Key |
17.
I've | always | liked | this | story | haven't | you? | Key |
18.
"You | have | two | months | to | sell | as | many | candy | bars | as | possible | " | the | group | leader | said. | Key |
19.
I | love | the | University | of | Oklahoma | don't | you? | Key |
20.
Samuel | L. | Clemens | also | known | as | Mark | Twain | is | among | America's | most | famous | authors. | Key |
21.
I | would | rather | use | a | pencil | than | a | pen | any | day. | Key |
22.
My | best | friends | Nancy | and | Stacey | have | always | been | there | for | me. | Key |
23.
Jane's | brother | is | a | Democrat | however | I | am | a | Republican. | Key |
24.
The | radio | stations | I | enjoy | listening | to | most | are | first | KJ103 | second | 98.9KISSFM | and | third | KOMA. | Key |
25.
When | time | runs | out | you | will | need | to | immediately | drop | your | pencils. | Key |
26.
Jeb | is | a | fisherman | and | loves | to | eat | catfish. | Key |
27.
She | gets | such | good | grades | but | hardly | ever | studies. | Key |
28.
I | studied | French | for | seven | years | and | can | read | it | well | but | I | have | trouble | speaking | it. | Key |
29.
Blue | isn't | a | good | color | on | you | but | red | is. | Key |
30.
She's | been | practicing | for | weeks | and | I | think | she | will | do | fine. | Key |
31.
I | will | bet | you | $1,000 | that | Sheila | forgets | her | lines. | Key |
32.
Five | books | three | articles | and | two | papers | are | too | much | to | read | for | an | intersession | course. | Key |
33.
Of | the | three | German | Shepherd | puppies | the | one | with | the | brown | ears | is | my | favorite. | Key |
34.
He | wouldn't | settle | down | until | his | mother | gave | him | a | spanking. | Key |
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