Grammar 3.2
Capitalization of Calendar Items, Religious Items, and Proper Adjectives
Directions: Correct all errors in capitalization in each sentence below. Write the word correctly capitalized on
your own paper.
Example: When we were ten years old, my best friend kyoko and i started a tradition.
Kyoko, I
1. The european continent is dominated by the massive alpine peaks.
2. They were formed millions of years ago as a result of the collision of the eurasian and african land
masses.
3. Today, the Alps exist within the french, swiss, italian, and austrian borders.
4. The Alps are larger than the Rocky Mountains of the american west.
5. Iceland is a large island that lies 500 miles off the northwest coast of Scotland, just south of arctic
waters.
6. The island’s remarkably diverse environment-- a combination of ancient volcanoes, glaciers, and hot
springs-- is so unusual that the apollo astronauts trained there for lunar landings.
7. Although Iceland was discovered by irish explorers in the eighth century, norse adventurers were the
first to inhabit the island.
8. Over time, the island was settled by various scandinavian and celtic groups.
9. On december 6, some cultures celebrate a holiday called the feast of saint nicholas.
10. It is celebrated as a christian festival honoring saint nicholas, an early catholic bishop who lived in the
fourth century and was known for secret gift giving.
11. On saint nicholas eve, european children wait for saint nicholas to put a present under their pillows or in
their shoes, provided that the children were good during the year.
12. The american santa claus, as well as the british father christmas, derive in part from saint nicholas and in
part from a dutch religious figure.
13. Some scientists believe the “star” associated with christmas occurred on april 17, when the sun, jupiter,
the moon, and saturn aligned.
14. While the christmas always falls on december 25, easter falls on the sunday after the first full moon of
spring.
15. This is usually a day in march or april.