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 |
Home | Skills Tested | Exercises | Sample Tests