The Great Grammar Book

Diagnostic Test
Circle the correct word choice.

1. A necklace made from the claws of a grizzly bear and a Colt .45 six-shooter once owned by
“Buffalo Bill” Cody was/were sold at an auction in Dallas for more than $40,000 each.

2. A high fat diet, obesity, and lack of exercise increases/increase the risk of developing heart disease
and Type 2 diabetes, even in young people.

3. Here’s/Here are news articles about computers being given to a Brazilian jungle tribe.

4. The profit margins at a typical warehouse club is/are between 11% and 14%, compared with
25% to 30% at a typical grocery store.

5. A wound infested with maggots heals/heal quickly without any threat of infection or gangrene.

6. American consumers have learned that the days of unlimited low cost energy is/are over.

7. There’s/There are 251 school days in China a year, which is 71 more days than in
American schools.

8. Battlefield 3 or Crysis 2 has/have the most realistic game graphics.

9. The pattern of stars that looks like twin boys is/are called Gemini, or the Twins.

10. Did you know that its/it’s the moon that causes the tide to rise and fall?

11. In Texas its/it’s illegal to shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel.

12. For nearly 100 years the Coca Cola Company has been using legal means to protect
its/it’s trademark name.

13. In 1958 a nuclear bomb was lost somewhere along the swampy coast of Georgia and its/it’s
whereabouts remain a mystery to this day.

14. On the island of Santorini, Greece, donkeys are often used in place of taxis for
transporting tourists and their/there luggage.

15. Teddy Roosevelt, who’s/whose life was dramatically altered by the tragic deaths of
his mother and wife on the same day, went on to become the 26th president of the
United States.

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16. When your/you’re in Florida, remember the special law that prohibits unmarried women from
parachuting on Sunday.

17. A woman who was looking for shells on a Washington state beach found a prosthetic leg
their/there instead and was able to return it to the owner after posting a description on Facebook.

18. The U.S. is one of the windiest country’s/countries on the planet, sometimes called
“the Saudi Arabia of wind.”

19. In California, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, it’s against the law to hold a
“Ladys/Ladies/Ladies’ Night” because it’s deemed gender discrimination.

20. Humpback whales/whale’s/whales’ low frequency calls are the loudest noise made by
living creatures.

21. Men process other men’s/mens’ voices with the part of the brain that processes simple sounds
such as car engines and machinery, but they process female voices with the part of their brain that
processes music.

22. The question on everyones/everyone’s/everyones’ mind was, “How could a jetliner just disappear?”

23. The reporters waited impatiently for the voter’s/voters’ ballots to be counted.

24. Is that convertible yours/your’s?

25. Maudie and them/they discovered a year is actually 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes,
and 46 seconds.

26. According to psychologists, people make a subconscious judgment about someone

that he or she/they (has,have) just met within 90 seconds.

27. Provided there is water, an average person could survive one or two months without food,
depending on his or her/their body fat.

28. Neither Mark nor Christopher liked his/their seat assignments.

29. Carrie and him/he named their goldfish Jaws.

30. Brittany whispered, “This is strictly between you and I/me.”

31. I didn’t know whether to make the check out to Roger or he/him.

32. Researchers have demonstrated that people want more choices and information than they/you
can actually process.

33. Todd and he/him discovered in their research that an average person in the U.S.
receives 41 pounds of junk mail a year.

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34. By the time a child is six, he or she/they can recognize almost 200 company logos.

35. Convincing us/we students that we need more testing is a difficult task.

36. Brandon told Annie and I/me that his father is serving on board the USS Sterett, a
$1.3 billion missile destroyer.

37. Since the Bennets buy gourmet cereals, are always in Starbucks, and constantly wear designer
clothes, they spend a lot more money than we/us.

38. From the Internet’s humble beginnings in the 1980s, usage has rose/risen
dramatically.

39. The ozone layer is a layer of the upper atmosphere that lies/lays about 12-15 miles
above the earth’s surface.

40. Recent research on vitamin D has showed/shown that taking this vitamin can cut
cancer rates and reduce the risk of heart attacks.

41. This thermos has sprang/sprung a leak.

42. Lucy come/came in third in the last race.

In the following “sentences” write ‘F’ beside each sentence fragment (incomplete sentence), write
‘R’ beside each run-on sentence, and write ‘C’ beside each of the sentences that is already correct.

_____43. First we laughed, then we cried.

_____44. Please speak softly.

_____45. As long as you remember how to get there.

_____46. A study at the University of Toronto found that individuals who identified themselves
as conservatives were higher in the personality trait of orderliness, while those who
self-identified as liberals were higher in empathy.

_____47. If you really want to be a better employee.

_____48. The left side of your brain controls the right side of your body, the right side of your
brain controls the left side of your body.

_____49. The first son of a U.S. president to also become a president was John Quincy
Adams, whose father was John Adams.

_____50. Hurry!

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_____51. Since members of Congress must run for re-election every two years and
successful candidates, on average, spend over a million dollars on the campaign.

_____52. Seen Carson lately?

In the following sentences add commas and quotation marks where they are needed.

53. Since the NCAA basketball tournament moved to the 64 game format there has never
been a year that all four #1 seeds made it to the Final Four.

54. The world’s largest outdoor food festival Taste of Chicago takes place annually in
Chicago’s downtown Millennium Park.

55. Al McGuire said The only mystery in life is why the kamikaze pilots wore helmets.

56. In 2002 Philadelphia Eagles’ star Brian Dawkins became the only player in history to
have an interception sack a quarterback recover a fumble and make a touchdown in
one game.

57. According to a recent survey many kids in the U.S. are too busy too distracted and
too tired to read a book for fun.

58. For days it seemed likely that Hurricane Rita would hit Houston Texas and more than
a million people evacuated but the storm veered into Louisiana.

59. Terry Pratchett said The trouble with having an open mind of course is that people will
insist on putting things in it.

60. Mr. Barnes said Laptop computers use up to 90% less energy than desktop models.

61. The economic rebound so many experts have predicted including the Federal Reserve
chairman is starting to look doubtful.

62. David said Vinny get lost.

63. Although U.S. life expectancy recently rose to more than 78 years the country still
lags behind 30 other countries in estimated life span.

64. Before you assume something learn the facts.

65. Claire Danes has a swing in her apartment and she said My parents had a swing a trapeze and a
trampoline in their apartment.

66. Rick Shenkman author of Just How Stupid Are We? Facing the Truth About the
American Voter states that only 40 percent of voters can name the three branches of
American government.

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In the following sentences add capital letters and underlining (to indicate italics) where they are
needed. (One sentence is already correct.)

67. John Steinbeck’s novel the grapes of wrath tells how poor oklahoma farmers traveled
to california during the great depression of the 1930s.

68. The restoration is an english historical period during which the monarchy was
restored, following a period known as the commonwealth, when england had no
king or queen.

69. Weather forecasters are predicting heavy spring rains which will help fill our
reservoirs to meet the heavy demand of summer and fall.

70. Bryan Cranston, portraying President Lyndon Johnson, won the 2014 Tony Award for best actor
in the Broadway play All the Way.

71. Hundreds of native american reservations and pueblos are open to the public
including taos pueblo in new mexico, pine ridge reservation in south Dakota, and
hopi villages in arizona.

72. The six official languages of the united nations are english, french, arabic, chinese,
russian, and spanish.

73. Blake said that the band destiny’s child was a loser on star search.

74. Angel falls, which plunges 3,212 feet into the churun river in eastern venezuela, has
a longer drop than any other waterfall in the world.

75. As a young, struggling dancer in new york city, madonna worked as a counter clerk
at dunkin’ donuts in times square.

76. Jay gatsby, the main character in f. scott fitzgerald’s novel the great gatsby,
hopelessly attempts to revive an old romance.

In each of the following sentences, correct the one grammatical mistake by crossing out the error
and making the correction above it.

77. I’m not going in that cave because it’s to spooky in there.

78. President James Monroe’s daughter was the first member of a presidents family to be
married in the White House.

79. You never realize how boring you’re life is until someone asks you what you do for fun.

80. In Tokyo riding a bicycle for short trips is alot faster than taking a car.

81. Please give me there e-mail address as soon as possible.

82. I should have knew that it was Isaac Newton, the English physicist, who discovered
the law of gravity.

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83. He ain’t afraid of heights.

84. The pioneer settlers were almost froze by the time they made it through the
mountains.

85. Britains secret spy agency is recruiting people who speak Mandarin, Arabic,
Persian, Dari, and Pashto.

86. We seen that Raju the elephant cried tears of joy after he was rescued from 50 years of being
chained and tortured by his owners.

87. The jeans I bought on sale must of been defective because one of the pant legs is
shorter than the other.

88. By reading history we come to understand that civil wars have occurred in many
countries including England, Spain, and Russia.

89. Scott’s mother has spoke to him about moving his head-banging band’s rehearsals to someone
else’s house.

90. Katie said to her mother, “please take me to the carnival, so I can see the man who
eats fire.”

91. There’s three golf balls on the moon.

92. Us two believe that taking notes with the old-fashioned pen and paper method helps us remember
more information than taking notes on a laptop.

93. One in every four Americans have appeared on television at least once.

94. Some widely advertised “Speed up your computer” programs work really good, and others don’t
work at all.

95. Neither of us remember how the argument started.

96. Vikings, the ancestors of todays Norwegians, lived during the Middle Ages.

97. Oh I didn’t see you standing there.

98. Since EPA standards for tap water are much stricter than FDA standards for bottled water tap
water is usually cleaner than bottled.

99. Binh and Natalie are confident about winning the tennis championship because they have won
every previous match against Jillian and she.

100. If a person can’t follow simple directions, you’re likely to get lost frequently.

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 The Great Grammar Book
Diagnostic Test Answer Key

1. were 27. his or her

2. increase 28. his
3. Here are 29. he
4. are 30. me
5. heals 31. him
6. are 32. they
7. There are 33. he
8. has 34. he or she
9. is 35. us
10. it’s 36. me
11. it’s 37. we
12. its 38. risen
13. its 39. lies
14. their 40. shown
15. whose 41. sprung
16. you’re 42. came
17. there 43. R
18. countries 44. C
19. Ladies’ 45. F
20. whales’ 46. C
21. men’s 47. F
22. everyone’s 48. R
23. voters’ 49. C
24. yours 50. C
25. they 51. F
26. they 52. F

53. Since the NCAA basketball tournament moved to the 64 game format, there has
never been a year that all four #1 seeds made it to the Final Four.
54. The world’s largest outdoor food festival, Taste of Chicago, takes place annually in
Chicago’s downtown Millennium Park.
55. Al McGuire said, “The only mystery in life is why the kamikaze pilots wore helmets.”
56. In 2002 Philadelphia Eagles’ star Brian Dawkins became the only player in history to
have an interception, sack a quarterback, recover a fumble, and make a touchdown in
one game.
57. According to a recent survey, many kids in the U.S. are too busy, too distracted, and
too tired to read a book for fun.
58. For days it seemed likely that Hurricane Rita would hit Houston, Texas, and more
than a million people evacuated, but the storm veered into Louisiana.

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59. Terry Pratchett said, “The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people
will insist on putting things in it.”
60. Mr. Barnes said, “Laptop computers use up to 90% less energy than desktop
models.”
61. The economic rebound so many experts have predicted, including the Federal
Reserve chairman, is starting to look doubtful.
62. David said, “Vinny, get lost.”
63. Although U.S. life expectancy recently rose to more than 78 years, the country still
lags behind 30 other countries in estimated life span.
64. Before you assume something, learn the facts.
65. Claire Danes has a swing in her apartment and she said, “My parents had a swing, a trapeze,
and a trampoline in their apartment.”
66. Rick Shenkman, author of Just How Stupid are We? Facing the Truth About the
American Voter, states that only 40 percent of voters can name the three branches of
American government.

67. John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath tells how poor Oklahoma farmers
traveled to California during the Great Depression of the 1930s.
68. The Restoration is an English historical period during which the monarchy was
restored, following a period known as the Commonwealth, when England had . . .
69. Correct
70. Bryan Cranston, portraying President Lyndon Johnson, won the 2014 Tony Award for
best actor in the Broadway play All the Way.
71. Hundreds of Native American reservations and pueblos are open to the public
including Taos Pueblo in New Mexico, Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota,
and Hopi villages in Arizona.
72. The six official languages of the United Nations are English, French, Arabic,
Chinese, Russian, and Spanish.
73. Blake said that the band Destiny’s Child was a loser on Star Search.
74. Angel Falls, which plunges 3,212 feet into the Churun River in eastern Venezuela. . .
75. As a young, struggling dancer in New York City, Madonna worked as a counter clerk
at Dunkin’ Donuts in Times Square.
76. Jay Gatsby, the main character in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, . . .
77. I’m not going in that cave because it’s too spooky in there.
78. President James Monroe’s daughter was the first member of a president’s family . . .
79. You never realize how boring your life is until someone asks you what you do for fun.
80. In Tokyo riding a bicycle for short trips is a lot faster than taking a car.

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81. Please give me their e-mail address as soon as possible.
82. I should have known that it was Isaac Newton, the English physicist, . . .
83. He isn’t afraid of heights.
84. The pioneer settlers were almost frozen by the time . . .
85. Britain’s secret spy agency is recruiting people who speak Mandarin, Arabic,
Persian, Dari, and Pashto.
86. We saw that Raju the elephant cried tears of joy after he was rescued from 50 years of being
chained and tortured by his owners.
87. The jeans I bought on sale must’ve (must have) been defective because one of the
pant legs is shorter than the other.
88. By reading history we came to understand that civil wars . . .
89. Scott’s mother has spoken to him about moving his head-banging band’s rehearsals to
someone else’s house.
90. Katie said to her mother, “Please take me to the carnival . . .
91. There are three golf balls on the moon.
92. We two believe that taking notes with the old-fashioned pen and paper method helps
us remember more information than taking notes on a laptop.
93. One in every four Americans has appeared on television at least once.
94. Some widely advertised “Speed up your computer” programs work really well, and . . .
95. Neither of us remembers how the argument started.
96. Vikings, the ancestors of today’s Norwegians, lived during the Middle Ages.
97. Oh, I didn’t see you standing there.
98. Since EPA standards for tap water are much stricter than FDA standards for bottled water,
tap water is usually cleaner than bottled.
99. Binh and Natalie are confident about winning the tennis championship because they have
won every previous match against Jillian and her.
100. If a person can’t follow simple directions, he or she (or just he) is likely
to get lost frequently.

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