1.

0 GRAMMAR SKILLS – SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

A
1. There ____________ several reasons why you should reconsider your decision.
ARE
IS
2. Howard and Vincent, who ____________ a copy center in town, have decided to expand their
business.
RUNS
RUN
3. Both of the statues on the shelf ____________ broken.
ARE
IS
4. The fishing boat that has been tied up at the pier for three days ____________ finally on its
way this morning.
Remember that a subject and its verb are not always together.
WAS
WERE
5. The chairman, along with his two assistants, ____________ to attend the annual convention.
PLAN
PLANS
6. The issues of inflation and tax reform ____________ to be on everyone's mind.
CONTINUE
CONTINUES
7. Juan or Julian ____________ the conference room each week.
PREPARE
PREPARES
8. Not one of the performers ____________ at the party after the concert.
WERE
WAS
9. The results of the election ____________ not available for two days.
WERE
WAS
10. When there ____________ thunderstorms approaching, we are always reminded of the
threat of tornadoes.
 IS
ARE
B
Select one answer from the choices provided after each sentence. The word you choose
should fit the blank in the sentence. Don't use the HINT buttons unless you really need
them.
1. Either the physicians in this hospital or the chief
administrator ____ going to have to make a decision.
is
are

2. ______ my boss or my sisters in the union going to win this grievance?

Is
Are

3. Some of the votes __________ to have been miscounted.

seem
seems

4. The tornadoes that tear through this county every spring _____ more than just a nuisance.
are
is

5. Everyone selected to serve on this jury _____ to be willing to give up a lot of time.
have
has

6. Kara Wolters, together with her teammates, _________ a

formidable opponent on the basketball court.
presents
present

7. He seems to forget that there __________ things to be done before he can graduate.
are
is
8. There _______ to be some people left in that town after
yesterday's flood.
have
has

9. Some of the grain __________ to be contaminated.

appear
appears

10. Three-quarters of the students __________ against the tuition hike.

is
are

11. Three-quarters of the student body __________ against the tuition hike.
is
are

12. A high percentage of the population _________ voting for the new school.
is
are

13. A high percentage of the people _________ voting for the new school.
was
were

2.0 GRAMMAR SKILLS – VERB TENSES

A
A Trekking Journal

November 12, 1997

Today (be) is the second day of my trek around Mount Annapurna. I am exhausted and my legs

(shake) are shaking ; I just hope I am able to complete the trek. My feet (kill, really) are really
killing me and my toes (bleed) are bleeding, but I (want, still) still want to continue.

Nepal is a fascinating country, but I have a great deal to learn. Everything (be) is so different,

and I (try) am trying to adapt to the new way of life here. I (learn) am learning a little bit of the

language to make communication easier; unfortunately, I (learn, not) do not learn foreign

languages quickly. Although I (understand, not) do not understand much yet, I believe that I

(improve, gradually) am gradually improving.

I (travel, currently) am currently travelling with Liam, a student from Leeds University in

England. He (be) is a nice guy, but impatient. He (walk, always) always walks ahead of me and

(complain) complains that I am too slow. I (do) am doing my best to keep up with him, but he is

younger and stronger than I am. Maybe, I am just feeling sorry for myself because I am getting

old.

Right now, Liam (sit) is sitting with the owner of the inn. They (discuss) are discussing the

differences between life in England and life in Nepal. I (know, not) do not know the real name

of the owner, but everybody (call, just) just calls him Tam. Tam (speak) speaks English very

well and he (try) is trying to teach Liam some words in Nepali. Every time Tam (say) says a

new word, Liam (try) tries to repeat it. Unfortunately, Liam (seem, also) also seems to have

difficulty learning foreign languages. I just hope we don't get lost and have to ask for directions.

B
1. Every Monday, Sally (drive) DRIVES her kids to football practice.

2. Usually, I (work) WORK as a secretary at ABT, but this summer I (study) am studying
French at a language school in Paris. That is why I am in Paris.

3. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John (sleep) is sleeping.

4. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It (rain) is raining.

5. I hate living in Seattle because it (rain, always) always rains.

6. I'm sorry I can't hear what you (say) are saying because everybody (talk) is talking so loudly.

7. Justin (write, currently) is currently writing a book about his adventures in Tibet. I hope he
can find a good publisher when he is finished.

8. Jim: Do you want to come over for dinner tonight?

Denise: Oh, I'm sorry, I can't. I (go) am going to a movie tonight with some friends.

9. The business cards (be, normally ) are normally printed by a company in New York. Their
prices (be) are inexpensive, yet the quality of their work is quite good.

10. This delicious chocolate (be) is made by a small chocolatier in Zurich, Switzerland

3.0 CLAUSES
Questions
1. If you don't fix the car, IT WILL CONTINUE TO LEAK OIL.

dependent clause

independent clause
2. WHILE THE CAR IS BEING FIXED, we will need to take the bus.

dependent clause

independent clause

3. It isn't necessary to cram all night IF YOU HAVE STUDIED A LITTLE EACH DAY.

dependent clause

independent clause

4. Before you begin studying for the exam, YOU WILL PROBABLY WANT TO REST.
 dependent clause

independent clause

5. I can't go to the movies SINCE I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY.

dependent clause

independent clause

6. WHETHER HE ATTENDS THE PARTY OR NOT, I have decided to go.

dependent clause

independent clause

7. I WILL STOP PLAYING THE DRUMS when you go to sleep.

dependent clause

independent clause

8. SINCE YOU'VE TAKEN YOUR EXAM IN BIOLOGY, you probably don't feel like studying
for tomorrow's exam in math.

dependent clause

independent clause

9. Until he apologizes to me for his rude behavior, I REFUSE TO SEE HIM.

dependent clause

independent clause

10. I wore my boots BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE IT MIGHT SNOW.

dependent clause

independent clause

4.0 SENTENCE TYPES

A
1: The teacher walked into the classroom, greeted the students, and took attendance.
Simple
Compound
Complex
2: Juan played football while Juanita went shopping.
Simple
Compound
Complex
3: Juan played football, yet Juanita went shopping.
Simple
Compound
Complex
4: Although Mexico has the better football team, it lost.
Simple
Compound
Complex
5: The island was filled with many winding trails, a small lake, and dangerous wild pigs.
Simple
Compound
Complex
6: Naoki passed the test because he studied hard and understood the material.
Simple
Compound
Complex

B
Identify the following sentences as compound, complex or compound-complex by clicking on
the appropriate word.

1. Insurance cannot cover everything, but it does cover the big expenses accrued while
giving birth.
COMPOUND
COMPLEX
COMPOUND-COMPLEX
2. Monarch butterflies, which migrate to Mexico each year, are guided by instinct.
COMPOUND
 COMPLEX
COMPOUND-COMPLEX
3. Geese mate for life unlike humans who, according to the divorce rate, seem to have
trouble committing to just one person.
COMPOUND
COMPLEX
COMPOUND-COMPLEX
4. The finals are on Saturday, but we'll have to compete without Paul, who will be in court
all day arguing an important case.
COMPOUND
COMPLEX
COMPOUND-COMPLEX
5. Scientists are working on a cure for the common cold and, when they find one, think how
remarkably it will change the profits of the Kleenex and drug industries.
COMPOUND
COMPLEX
COMPOUND-COMPLEX

C
1. The Cleveland Indians, who have rebuilt themselves in the off season, have lost
their home opener this year.

Compound-Complex
Simple
Complex
Compound
2. Mark said that he forgot his homework, and he asked if he could make it up later.

Simple
Compound
Complex
Compound - Complex
3. Although he was very intelligent, Mario could not figure out how to solve the
Rubik's Cube.

Simple
Compound-Complex
Compound
Complex
4. My favorite sport to watch in the fall is football, so I clear my schedule every
Sunday to watch the Browns.

Complex
Simple
Compound
Compound-Complex
5. The circus, with its crazy clowns and brave lion tamers, is in town this week.

Compound-Complex
Compound
Simple
Complex
6. Joan said she loves shopping, but she doesn't have enough money to do it as often
as she would like!

Compound-Complex
Complex
Simple
Compound
7. When he saw the price of the car, he started laughing and walked away.

Complex
Compound
Simple
Compound-Complex
8. In the middle of the night, a loud noise from my neighbor's house woke me up.

Compound
Simple
Complex
Compound - Complex
9. Violence on television has been debated by politicians for years, yet they still don't
have a good plan about how to deal with it.

Complex
Compound-Complex
Simple
 Compound
10. This is the end of my quiz, which had to happen sometime; I hope you liked it!

Compound-Complex
Complex
Simple
Compound

5.0 SENTENCE ERRORS

1. By the time Julia Roberts was 23, she had won two academy award nominations, she had
also become the world's most popular female actress.
a. fragment
b. run on
c. comma splice
d. choppy
e. correct

2. Since then, Roberts has appeared in fourteen films. Most recently, "My Best Friend's
Wedding" and "The Conspiracy Theory."
a. fragment
b. run on
c. comma splice
d. choppy
e. correct

3. She didn't plan to become an actress. She wanted to be six feet tall. She wanted to be a
veterinarian. She wanted to be happy and make others happy.
a. fragment
b. run on
c. comma splice
d. choppy
e. correct

4. Although Julia Roberts has had much professional success. Her personal life has been
troubled with several failed relationships.
a. fragment
b. run on
c. comma splice
d. choppy
e. correct
5. Julia Roberts lives in Manhattan, not far from the apartment she once shared with her
sister in Greenwich Village.
a. fragment
b. run on
c. comma splice
d. choppy
e. correct

6. She came to New York when she was seventeen. Because her older sister lived there and
she was influenced by her sister.
a. fragment
b. run on
c. comma splice
d. choppy
e. correct

7. Roberts was raised in Georgia. Her parents ran a theater school there. Her sister and
brother are also actors. The family was always short of money.
a. fragment
b. run on
c. comma splice
d. choppy
e. correct

8. When Julia was four years old, her parents divorced. After eighteen years of marriage.
a. fragment
b. run on
c. comma splice
d. choppy
e. correct

9. Julia and her sister lived with their mother. Their brother stayed with their father. Who
died of cancer five years later.
a. fragment
b. run on
c. comma splice
d. choppy
e. correct

10. In high school, Julia found classwork boring, she didn't know how to be a good student.
a. fragment
b. run on
 c. comma splice
d. choppy
e. correct

11. After she graduated from high school, Julia worked in a shoe store while auditioning for
acting jobs. Though didn't get hired for a year.
a. fragment
b. run on
c. comma splice
d. choppy
e. correct

12. In 1990, "Pretty Woman" became a smash hit her natural gift for this type of comedy
brought her a nomination for Best Actress.
a. fragment
b. run on
c. comma splice
d. choppy
e. correct

13. Julia Roberts was engaged to Keifer Sutherland in 1991. Three days before the wedding,
she changed her mind and canceled everything.
a. fragment
b. run on
c. comma splice
d. choppy
e. correct

14. The singer-actor Lyle Lovett is ten years older than Julia she married him in 1993 but
split up after less than two years.
a. fragment
b. run on
c. comma splice
d. choppy
e. correct

15. "Stepmom" is Julia Robert's new movie. It is a family drama. It co-stars Susan Sarandon.
Ed Harris is also a co-star.
a. fragment
b. run on
c. comma splice
d. choppy
e. correct
 16. Currently, Julia is dating Benjamin Bratt. Who plays a detective on the TV series, "Law
and Order."
a. fragment
b. run on
c. comma splice
d. choppy
e. correct

17. Roberts says that she enjoys getting older and is content with her life experiences.
a. fragment
b. run on
c. comma splice
d. choppy
e. correct

6.0 PARAGRAPH WRITING

A. Unity : How I Spend My Weekdays

B. Coherence:
I live in a house in Izmit. It's a normal Turkish house. It isn't old or modern. We have one
bedroom, one living room. We also have two other rooms, too. We use them as a dining room.
Naturally, we have a kitchen, a bathroom, and a toilet. And our house has a little garden; my
parents spend their time there to grow vegetables and fruit. We can say it is near the sea. It takes
about 10 minutes to go to the sea side on foot.

D. Lack of Topic Sentence:

_________________________________________________________________
A good friend must share his ideas with me; help each other and keeping each other happy
enduring in long lasting trust

E. Development of the ideas

___________________________________________________________
What quality do we look in a good friend? First, a good friend must always speak the truth. A
good friend should not tell a lie because a good friendship is a friendship based on trust. Besides
that, a good friend should be there when I needed him the most. He should be there when I
needed him the most whether I am in a problem or having a bad day giving me courage and lift
me up. Finally, criticize me whenever I am wrong and correcting my deeds is another qualities
that a good friend must have.

2. VOCABULARY CHOICE:
Friends play a great role in our lives. They bring great changes in negative or positive way.
Choosing a great friend is vital.. First, we observe their behaviors’. Similar characters are great
to be with. Second, interesting activities shared together will make a friendship more interesting.
Here we can avoid a cigarette-smoker or a cursing person. Finally, physical appearance should
be well considered as some may not agree with me. For example friends that share the same
height may experience more long lasting friendship compare to those who aren't. Generally,
choosing a friend must match your interest, behavior and physical appearance.