Grammar Practice test
DIRECT/REPORTED SPEECH
Rewrite the following in indirect or reported speech: (Underline the changes you’ve made.)
“Are you sure?” said Ron.
“I think Harry’s right,” said Hermione quietly.
“This wand’s more trouble than it’s worth”, said Harry. “And quite honestly,
I’ve had enough trouble for a lifetime.”
COMMON ERRORS
Choose the correct word in the brackets for each number. Circle the right answer.
The Harry Potter series (21.1 = is/are) the most (21.2 = exiting/exciting) series many boys (21.3 = has/have) read.
(21.4 = He’s/His) a real role model. (21.5 = Their/There) are (21.6 = fewer/less) heroes these days than in the past.
PREFIXES
By adding a prefix, write the word opposite in meaning:
happiness
decision
satisfaction
reverence
SUFFIXES
In each of the following, write down the suffix and say what part of speech has been formed:
happiness
unashamedly
courageous
The passage below contains 10 punctuation, grammar or spelling errors. There are also two
redundant words to be removed.
Rewrite the corrected passage. UNDERLINE all the corrections you make.
[10]
The Grade 9 boys’ needed help to improve there English marks quick. They were not quite 100%
sure how to, so they asked Mr Thorpe to please help them, he told them that hard work would
benefit themselves and that they were failing due to laziness. He said that each boy in the class
could improve their marks. If boys all helped each other, there would soon be less failures.
Answer the questions below
The other day the most extraordinary thing happened: I walked into a parked car at
Kenilworth Centre.
What parts of speech are the highlighted words above? Remember to be specific about
which type of speech you are dealing with.
(3)
There was a curious noise. It sounded like the clank of metal
(1)
Join this sentence into one.
I turned around sharply, aware that someone might be behind me.
Is this an example of a simple, complex or compound sentence? Give a reason for your
answer.
(2)
You must report this matter
(1)
4.5.1 Is this written in active or passive voice?
4.5.2 Write it in the opposite voice of the one above.
(1)
Stop that at once!
Write this sentence in deep structure.
(1)
When we were in nursery school we learnt about Goldilocks.
Identify the main clause in the sentence above. Only write down the main clause.
(1)
Figures of speech
Exercise 1
Identify the sound devices in the sentences below. Also underline the repeated sounds or words (in
the case of onomatopoeia).
a.
The sullen wind was soon awake. It tore the elm-tops down for spite and did its worst to vex the lake.
b.
The splendour falls on castle walls.
c.
Long light shakes across the lake.
d.
The baby sucked her bottle noisily.
e.
His footsteps crunched on the gravel path.
f.
…and the silent isle embowers the Lady of Shalott.
Exercise 2
Identify the type of comparison AND say what 2 things are being compared.
a.
The sun rose from his bed.
b.
The Word is a lamp to light my way.
c.
He has a heart like a lion.
d.
The guest sat down to a groaning table.
e.
He is acting like a clown.
f.
All the world’s a stage…
g.
..and all the men and women merely players.
h.
They looked at the sullen sky.
i.
He is the star of the team.
j.
Do not act like a donkey.
k.
Do not be a donkey.
l.
Laughter held both his sides.
Exercise 3
Identify the figure of speech in each of the following:
a.
The Stormers may not have any props this week – dozens of them have been injured.
b.
O Mozart, if only you could hear the music of these modern bands.
c.
The rich man is in his castle, the poor man at his gate.
d.
We face the triple threat of crime, AIDS and a shortage of Coke Lite.
e.
That pen looks remarkably like the one I lost last week
f.
Even Joe failed the Science test – and he’s no fool.
g.
The audience grinned at the comedian’s humour, they smiled at his jokes, they chuckled at his wisecracks
and guffawed at his antics.
h.
Grade 8 must be repeated.
i.
Congratulations on passing our Memory course sir. By the way, you forgot to pay us.
j.
The escalators are not running. We shall have to use the alligators instead.
k.
Language is the art of concealing thought.
Pick out the Grammar Gremlins that pop up in some of the following sentences—and correct them. Good
luck.
1. The man whose coming to dinner will be an hour late.
2. If the parties for you and me, then you and I should arrive together.
3. The novel, that I read last night, convinced me I could write one just as interesting.
4. The best way to loose weight is to eat less, exercise more, and try a little liposuction.
5. "Even the sight of caterpillars make me sick," said Alice.
6. A preposition is a part of speech it's perfectly permissible to end a sentence with.
7. And you can start a sentence with a conjunction; but not too often.
8. The violence in the drama negatively effected many in the audience.
9. "Whom shall I say is calling?" asked the butler, with a disdainful sniff.
10. "Why do you feel bad, Barbie?" Ken asked, knowing it would be awhile before he got an answer.
11. If it was only up to me, I'd say go ahead with your plans right now.
12. None of the dogs in the park were on a leash.
13. Edna, the eldest, was born ten minutes before her brother, Eldon.
14. Its hard to know when its time to fold your hand and cut your losses.
15. The pirate, to possibly neutralize his crew's mutinous mumbling, ordered an extra pint of grog for
each man.
16. The lake was further away than we thought when we started out.
17. The billionaire boasted to the crowd, "I myself am a self-made man."
18. "I before e except after c" is an ancient rhyme society has accepted even though there are sufficient
exceptions to the rule.
19. After putting on her nightgown, Sleeping Beauty would lay down to await the prince.
20. Whom should I go home with — the prince I just met or the frog who brought me?