Preliminary Grammar Quiz

 Which is the preferable form in each sentence below?

1. There were fewer/less spectators than expected.

2. The results of this complicated lawsuit remain/remains to be seen.

3. The city of Dresden, which/that was virtually burnt to the ground during the war, now flourishes again. 

4. I don't suppose that either of them care/cares one way or another. 

5. That is one of those setbacks that really is/are unavoidable.

6. The chairman, together with his two young daughters, have/has accepted our invitation. 

7. The Cabinet has/have all been sworn to secrecy. 

8. All those/Everyone present should pay their subscriptions on the way out. 

9. Every man, woman, and child were/was rescued.

10. Neither fire nor flood is/are every likely to deter him. 

11. They had a dreadful row, and between you and me/I, his wife has now walked out on him. 

12. The audience gave my wife and I/me a standing ovation. 

13. Pierre challenged the directors, who/whom he regarded as incompetent to run the company. 

14. Please would you allow Joe and I/me to escort you home.

15. Who/Whom do you think is going to win?

16. Who/Whom do you consider most likely to win?

17. They pleaded with whomever/whoever was within hailing distance. 

18. I hope you don't mind my/me dropping in like this. 

19. It's unfair to expect us/we public figures to know all the answers. 

20. Isn't that the same man as/ that she was dancing with last night?

21. Ruth Ellis was the last woman hanged/hung in Britain. 

22. Workmen lay/laid the tarpaulin down on the grass.

23. She shrunk/shrank back in horror. 

24. Nobody dare/dares stand up to her. 

25. I shall/will find an answer, if it's the last thing I do. 

26. I would/should go pick a fight with a karate expert!

27. If I were/was younger, I'd be happy to take the risk. 

28. Glamorgan may/might have won the match had they not gone and dropped three catches. 

29. They asked if  I was/were prepared to reconsider. 

30. He will likely/probably call again on Thursday. 

31. The water in the basin has frozen solidly/solid during the night. 

32. It's one of the most unusual/unique game parks in Africa.

 

33. You can phone direct/directly to Moscow.

34. Regrettably/Regretfully, your application has been refused. 

Lesson 1 for Mr. Y.N. - Answers to 1-20 English Grammar Quiz

My Japanese friend sent his answers to me at 3:02 AM on May 2, 2017.

He only answered items 1-20. I wonder why he did not complete all. 

Grammar Quiz

Instructions: 

Test your grammar. All of the sentences below are incorrect or dubious in one way or another. Try to identify the fault each time, and rewrite the sentence (in more than one way, if necessary) into a fully acceptable form.

1.)    A knight’s armour could weigh as much or more than the knight himself.

2.)    I’d hurry up if I was you.

3.)    The smell of lemons and limes waft me back to childhood.

4.)    She is one of those women who never lets bureaucracy stand in her way.

5.)    That book contains less anecdotes than its companion volume.

6.)    The minister as well as his advisors are shown emerging from the meeting.

7.)    Everybody should provide their own transport.

8.)    There’s so many things I have to remember.

9.)    I find these sort of comments most unhelpful.

10.)  Congress has reassembled after their break for the public holiday.

11.) If anyone phones, tell them I’ll be back at six o’clock.

12.) Neither of them were prepared to help the old woman cross the street.

13.) The media was unsparing in its criticism.

14.) Either Sam or his wife are going to babysit for us.

15.) All the available data suggests that acid rain is the culprit.

16.) The standard criteria is a high IQ.

17.) That book has two indices- an author index and a general index.

18.) My younger son, just between you and I, has been shortlisted for a scholarship to Cambridge.

19.) Whom do you think is most likely to succeed?

20.) The onlookers suddenly vanished like they had evaporated.

The following are Mr. Y.N.'s answers:

These are the answers to the 1-20 item quiz: 

1.)    A knight’s armour could weigh as much as or more than the knight himself.

2.)    I’d hurry up if I were you

3.)    The smell of lemons and limes wafts me back to childhood.

4.)    She is one of those women who never let bureaucracy stand in their way.

5.)    That book contains fewer anecdotes than its companion volume.

6.)    The minister as well as his advisors is shown emerging from the meeting.

7.)    Everybody should provide his or her own transport/All participants should provide their own transport/ All of you should provide your own transport.

8.)    There are so many things I have to remember.

9.)    I find these sorts of comment most unhelpful.

10.) Congress have reassembled after their break for the public holiday/ Congress has reassembled after its break for the public holiday.

11.) If anyone phones, tell him or her I’ll be back at six o’clock/If anyone phones, say I’ll be back at six o’clock.

12.) Neither of them was prepared to help the old woman cross the street

13.) The media were unsparing in their criticism.

14.) Either Sam or his wife is going to babysit for us.

15.) All the available data suggest that acid rain is the culprit.

16.) The standard criterion is a high IQ.

17.) That book has two indexes- an author index and a general index.

18.) My younger son, just between you and me, has been shortlisted for a scholarship to Cambridge.

19.) Who do you think is most likely to succeed?

20.) The onlookers suddenly vanished as if they had evaporated. 

Source: The Grammar Quiz is taken from the Reader's Digest How to Write and Speak Better (1991).

Lesson 11: Parts of Speech - Conjunction

I. Definition

Conjunction- a word used to connect clauses or sentences or to coordinate words in the same clause

II. Types of Conjunctions

Source: http://www.yourdictionary.com/index.php/pdf/articles/149.conjunctionschart.pdf

III. Sample Sentence

Conjunction	Sentence
although	Although he's very famous he is still nice.
and	I like tea and coffee.
as	As I came she was leaving.
	As you couldn't see the film, we'll tell you something about it.
because	She goes to the tennis club because she likes to play tennis.
but	He reads magazines, but he doesn't like to read books.
either	I'm sorry, Peter is ill and I can't come either.
	We can either go to the cinema or to the café.
even	She likes swimming, even in winter.
even if	Don't drink any alcohol even if you drive carefully.
even though	This book is very popular; even though, I don't like it.
how	Do you know how to ride a snowboard?
however	However we've lost the match.
	They worked hard for the test, however, they failed.
if	If they were older, they could go to the party.
in case	Take your mobile with you in case you miss the bus.
in spite of	He looks very fit in spite of his age.
neither	They didn't go to the party, and neither did I.
	Neither drinks nor food are allowed in this room.
or	Do you like tea or coffee?
otherwise	Look at the map, please. Otherwise you'll get lost.
since	Since he's lost his money, he couldn't go to the restaurant.
unless	Her baby cannot fall asleep unless she stays in the room.
what	I don't know what to say.
when	When you're in London, write an e-mail to me.
whether	I'm going home whether you like it or not.

Source: http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar/conjunctions.htm


IV. Activity

IV. A

Subordinating Conjunction Exercises

Complete each sentence using the subordinating conjunction from the parenthesis:

1. I visit the Grand Canyon _________ I go to Arizona. (once, whenever, wherever)
2. This is the place _________ we stayed last time we visited. (where, when, how)
3. _________ you win first place, you will receive a prize. (wherever, if, unless)
4. You won’t pass the test _________ you study. (when, if, unless)

source: http://www.gingersoftware.com/content/grammar-rules/conjunctions/conjunction-exercises/

IV. B. 

Coordinating Conjunction

Choices: And, but, or, so

Source: http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/coconj1.htm


IV. C. 

Correlative Conjunction
Correlative Conjunctions Exercises

The following exercises will help you gain greater understanding about how correlative conjunctions work. Choose the best answer to complete each sentence.

1. She is neither polite _______ funny.
   1. Or
   2. Nor
   3. Not
   4. Yet
2. _______ that is the case, _______ I’m not surprised about what’s happening.
   1. If / then
   2. No sooner / than
   3. Scarcely / when
   4. Whether / or
3. Have you made a decision about _______ to go to the movies _______ not?
   1. If  / then
   2. Either / or
   3. Whether / or
   4. What with / and
4. _______ had I put my umbrella away, _______ it started raining.
   1. No sooner / than
   2. If / then
   3. What with / and
   4. Neither / nor
5. This salad is _______ delicious _______ healthy.
1. Whether / or
2. Both / and
3. Scarcely / when
4. Rather / than

Source: http://www.gingersoftware.com/content/grammar-rules/conjunctions/correlative-conjunctions/

Assignment #1 Subject and Predicate and Parts of Speech – Nouns, Pronouns, Verbs

Activity Sheet #1

Subject and Predicate

Parts of Speech – Nouns, Pronouns, Verbs

Riddle

Instructions: Print this activity sheet and using your ball pens, identify the nouns, pronouns and verbs in each sentence. Mark the nouns red, pronouns blue, and verbs yellow. Underline once the subject and double underline the predicate. Take a photo of your answers in the activity sheet and submit or send the answer before Wednesday next week (7/20/16).

Guide:

Definition:

1)    Noun- a word (other than a pronoun) used to identify any of a class of people, places

2)    Pronoun – a word that substitutes for a noun or a noun phrase

3)    Verb- a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, and forming the main part of the predicate of a sentence.

4)    Subject- the subject is always a noun or a noun phrase. It typically performs the action expressed by the verb.

5)    Predicate- It usually starts with a verb and when there is a verb, there must be a subject. So predicate is everything that is not the subject.

1)      It is greater than God and more evil than the devil. The poor have it, the rich need it and if you eat it you’ll die. What is it?
Answer: Nothing.

2)     It walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon and three legs in the evening. What is it?
Answer: Man

3)     I am the beginning of the end, and the end of time and space. I am essential to creation, and I surround every place. What am I?
Answer: The letter e. End, timE, spacE, Every place

4)     I never was, am always to be.

No one ever saw me, nor ever will.

And yet I am the confidence of all,

To live and breath on this terrestrial ball.

What am I?
Answer: Tomorrow or the future.

5)     The more you have of it, the less you see. What is it?
Answer: Darkness

6)     What has a head, a tail, is brown, and has no legs?
Answer: A penny

7)     If you break me
I do not stop working,
If you touch me
I may be snared,
If you lose me
Nothing will matter.
Answer:  Your heart

8)    Until I am measured I am not known,
Yet how you miss me when I have flown.
Answer: Time

9)     I’m full of holes, yet I’m full of water. What am I?
Answer: A sponge