ACTIVITIES
Defining Basic Terms
In order to do well on the grammar portion of the test, it is helpful to be familiar with
key terms we will use in discussing concepts. Here, we will review these terms and write
definitions for each of them.
Activity 1: Defining Basic Terms
Parts of Speech
verb:
noun:
pronoun:
adjective:
adverb:
preposition:
conjunction:
Sentence Components
subject:
verb:
linking verb:
action verb:
direct object:
indirect object:
phrase:
prepositional phrase:
clause:
independent clause:
dependent clause:
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Identify Sentence Components
Being able to identify the various parts of a sentence will help you with many of the
questions on the grammar portion of the test. This should be your first step when
answering a question.
Activity 2: Identify Sentence Components
For the following sentences, mark S below the subject, V below the verb, DO below
direct object and IO below indirect object. Mark whether the verb is a linking verb (L)
or an action verb (A). Mark prepositional phrases with PP.
1. Tom read the book.
2. Robert threw the ball to Sam.
3. Joan was aware of the problem.
4. We arrived to the movies on time.
5. Singing in the choir was Betty’s favorite activity at school.
6. The Hendersons planted cabbage in their garden this year.
Sentence Structure
Sentences can be simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex.
Simple: one independent clause
Compound: two (or more) independent clauses
Complex: one independent clause and one (or more) dependent clause
Compound-Complex: two (or more) independent clauses and one (or more)
dependent clause
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Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
Identify Clauses
Because clauses affect the punctuation of a sentence, it is helpful to identify the types of
clauses in each sentence.
Activity 3: Identify Clauses
For the following sentences, mark independent clauses with IC and dependent clauses
with DC.
1. Turtles win races when hares stop to rest.
2. Susan purposely left her lunch at home so that she could dine at her favorite
restaurant.
3. Rattlesnakes and vipers are venomous snakes that use poison to kill their
prey, while pythons use constriction to kill their prey.
4. Finding peace in the still waters of Deerfield Lake, Harold concluded his
vacation with a solitary swim.
5. Although Louise was initially unsure of herself, she successfully climbed Mt.
Rainier.
6. If Dylan is late for his interview, he will probably not get the job.
7. Tomorrow is the first day of spring, which I have been looking forward to
for months.
8. People usually think of Bermuda as a single island, but, in fact, the territory
consists of 181 small islands.
9. Skiing is Veronica’s favorite sport; every year, she spends two weeks in Vail,
Colorado.
10. The tech giant, never to be outdone by its nearest competitor, released a
revamped edition of its leading smartphone.
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coordinating
conjunctions
connect
independent
calauses and can be
remembered by the
acronym FANBOYS.
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
Coordination and Subordination
When a dependent clause is connected to an independent clause, the dependent clause
is called subordinate. The dependent clause is marked by a subordinating conjunction
(see box). When two independent clauses are connected with a conjunction, it is called a
coordinating conjunction (see box).
Activity 4: Coordination and Subordination
For the following sentences, mark coordinating conjunctions with CC and subordinating
conjunctions with SC.
subordinating
conjuctions
connect dependent
and independent
clauses. The
following is a partial
list.
after
although
as
because
even though
since
that
until
when
where
which
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Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
1. Wolves are pack animals, yet sometimes a lone wolf will live independent of
the pack.
2. Since he installed the low-flow showerhead, Craig has saved water, but his
showers are just not the same anymore.
3. Celia forgot to pack a lunch this morning because she was in a hurry.
4. Sea lions and whales are both marine mammals even though only one of
them can move on land.
5. If Susan had a million dollars, she would sail around the world for a year.
Punctuation
Punctuation can be a complex concept. Here we review the uses of the most common
punctuation marks.
Activity 5: Punctuation
Punctuation
, (comma):
. (period):
; (semicolon):
: (colon):
’ (apostrophe):
- (dash):
“ (quotation):
Correct any errors in punctuation in the following sentences. This may include adding
or removing commas, dashes, colons, semicolons, and periods.
1. Japanese students were required to attend school on Saturdays until 2002,
however, some schools in Japan still hold classes on Saturdays.
2. The Harry Potter series features a long list of characters, including:
Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and Albus Dumbledore.
3. Unemployment was at an all-time low giving workers an advantage in wage
negotiations.
4. They are the ones who are taking up all the space.
5. Factories in the South as well as the North have been busy since the recent
surge in the economy.
6. Atlanta, one of the fastest-growing cities in the country is, experiencing
water shortages.
7. Mushrooms are beneficial to your health they are high in selenium, vitamin
D and several B vitamins.
8. Jim Watzin, the new director of NASA’s Mars Exploration program made
an exciting announcement: NASA will send a flying saucer to the red planet
in the next 10 years.
9. Since residents had put out their garbage and recycling bins the night before
the big storm the streets were littered with loose refuse.
10. Although nearly identical genetically calico cats exhibit orange, black, and
white patches while tortoiseshell cats have few or no white markings.
11. The parched cracked soil could no longer support plant life, after the
extended drought.
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