English Flashcards
The explorers traveled across the desert, and it seemed that it’s heat would stop their progress.
Which of the following corrects an error in the sentence above?
A “desert” should be “dessert “
B “it’s “ should be “its”
C “seemed “ should be “seamed “
D “their “ should be “they’re “
B
The explorers became thirstier and their vision blurred as they traveled farther across the arid desert and tryed to make their way to the oasis.
Which of the following corrects a misspelling in the sentence above?
A “blurred “ should be “blured”
B “thirstier” should be “thirstyer”
C “their” should be “ they’re “
D “tryed” should be “tried”
D
Which of the following are spelled correctly, showing an exception to the rule?
SATA
A recieve
B beleive
C codeine
D feirce
E changeable
C &E
Which of the following uses the “double the consonant” rule correctly?
A “bleed” to “bleedding”
B “vomit” to “vomitted”
C “refer” to “referring”
D “plow” to “plowwed”
C
1.1 plural form of Analysis
Analyses
Give possessive of indicated
(Seattle) lights were beautiful at night.
Seattle’s
Use a , an, the, or na to fill in the blank
____ song was 15 minutes long.
The
Select the correct option
It was she/her on the phone
She
The man ___ gave you the bicycle was my uncle.
Who
Select the sentence with no errors
A I like them cookies
B I like that cookies
C I like those cookies
C
Identify the subject verb and direct object
After the game, we ate ice cream and went to a movie
we sub, ate verb, ice cream DO
Identify the subject verb and direct object
I returned the dvds to the video rental store.
I sub, returned verb, dvds DO
Identify the subject verb and direct object
If you like peanuts and chocolate, you should try this candy bar.
you sub, peanuts & chocolates DO of like verb, try verb, candy bar DO
Identify the subject verb and direct object
Arizona is hot and dry much of the year.
Arizona sub, is linking verb, no direct object.
Identify the subject verb and direct object
What did you buy your mom for her birthday?
you sub, buy verb, what DO, mom IO, trick is to put the interrogative into a declarative sentence. “You bought your mom what for her birthday.”
Identify the subject, verb, direct object, and indirect object.
Carol called Mike a liar.
Carol sub, called verb, Mike DO, no IO
Identify the subject, verb, direct object, and indirect object.
Carol called Mike a cab.
Carol sub, called verb, a cab DO, Mike IO
To determine if a word is a indirect object try placing the word at the end of the sentence with the word for/to.
Carol called a liar for Mike.
Carol called a cab for Mike.
1st doesn’t make sense 2nd Mike is the IO.
Identify the subject, verb, direct object, and indirect object.
Picasso’s talent made him famous.
Picasso’s talent sub, made verb, him DO, no IO
Identify the subject, verb, direct object, and indirect object.
Picasso’s paintings give me pleaasure.
Picasso’s paintings sub, give verb, Pleasure DO, me IO
Identify the subject, verb, direct object, and indirect object.
Terri gave me a ride to school.
Terri gave what? A ride, to who? me.
Identify the subject, verb, direct object, and indirect object.
My father sent extra money to my sister at college
My father sub, sent verb, money DO, my sister IO
Identify the subject, verb, direct object, and indirect object.
The suppliers sent the shipment to Minneapolis.
Suppliers sub, sent verb, shipment DO, no IO
Identify the subject, verb, direct object, and indirect object.
The teacher asked Janelle a question about the assignment.
The teacher sub, asked verb, a question DO, Janelle IO
Identify the subject, verb, direct object, and indirect object.
After the wedding, the bride threw her bouquet to her bridesmaids.
bride subj, threw verb, her bouquet DO, bridesmaids IO
Identify the subject, verb, direct object, and indirect object.
The horrible music is driving me crazy.
music sub, is driving verbs, me DO, no IO
Identify the subject, verb, direct object, and indirect object.
Newspapers provide their communities news and advertising services.
Newspapers sub, provide verb, news and advertising DO, their communities IO
Identify the subject, verb, direct object, and indirect object.
Marcus plays basketball well, but football gives him problems.
1st clause Marcus sub, plays verb, basketball DO
2nd clause football sub, gives verb, problems DO, him IO
rules of subject -verb agreement
A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.
Don’t use singular verbs with “I” or “You”.
Subjects agree with verbs, even when they are separated by other words.
Use plural verbs for compound subjects using “and”.
Use singular verbs for singular compound subjects using “or” or “nor”.
Use plural verbs for plural compound subjects using “or” or “nor”.
“Each” and “Every” get singular verbs.
Indefinite pronouns must agree with verbs.
The two gray cats sitting by the trash can (belong/belongs) to a neighbor.
Belong
Which one of the bikes is/are Erique going to buy?
is
Nobody in my family carries/carry a gun.
carries
Chicago and Atlanta has/have the busiest airports int the United States.
have
Identify the subject and pick the agreeing verb.
The workers behind the counter likes/like to joke with their customers.
workers like
Two women on my bowling team always scores/score over 250.
women score
The noise in the city streets sometimes hurts/hurt my ears.
noise hurts
A bag of potato chips contains/contain 440 calories.
bag contains
The instructions for downloading software from the internet is/are confusing for many people.
instructions are
To know if a verb is singular or plural, you can follow these rules1
A singular verb has an ‘s’ added to it in the present tense, such as writes, plays, runs, and uses forms such as is, was, has, does.
A plural verb does not have an ‘s’ added to it, such as write, play, run, and uses forms such as are, were, have and do.
Singular verbs generally have an ‘s’ at their ends and are used with a singular subject (noun).
Plural verbs are used when more than one object/person is doing an action, i.e., plural verbs are used with plural subjects/nouns.
Where is/are the keys to the minivan?
keys are
Underneath that big rock lives/live hundreds of bugs.
bugs live
There was/were seventeen people ahead of me in the bank line today.
people were
Why does/do dogs always bark the loudest at 2 a.m.?
dogs do
Inside each cardboard carton is/are a dozen boxes of Girl Scout cookies.
boxes are
A) Jonathan and his brother are going on a bike trip.
B) Jonathan and his brother is going on a bike trip.
A
A) Are there not enough notebooks for everyone?
B) Is there not enough notebooks for everyone?
A
A) Either Aunt JoAnn or Samantha are going to help with the party.
B) Either Aunt JoAnn or Samantha is going to help with the party.
Correct Answer: B Either Aunt JoAnn or Samantha is going to help with the party.
Explanation: two singular subjects connected by or, either/or, or neither/nor require a singular verb.
A) That bag of books are going to the resale shop today.
B) That bag of books is going to the resale shop today.
b
A) There are three eggs left in the carton.
B) There is three eggs left in the carton.
a
A) What does your dog look like?
B) What do your dog look like?
a
A) Collecting baseball cards are one of his favorite hobbies.
B) Collecting baseball cards is one of his favorite hobbies.
Correct Answer: B Collecting baseball cards is one of his favorite hobbies.
Explanation: the singular subject “collecting” agrees with the singular verb “is.”
A) He walk five miles every day.
B) He walks five miles every day.
b
A) Her family lives in Arizona.
B) Her family live in Arizona.
a
A) They wants to spend the summer in Alaska this year.
B) They want to spend the summer in Alaska this year.
b
indefinite pronouns are (sub-verb agreement)
Always singular
Everything on those shelves is/are on sale at 50% off.
Everything is
Neither of the lights in the basement work/works.
Neither works
No one in my family is/are right handed.
No one is
Each of those kittens deserves/deserve a good home.
Each deserves
Everybody in my apartment building knows/know when someone is having a party.
Everybody knows, someone is also gives it away
Compound subject 2+ subj w/ and requires
plural verb
Our cats and dog stay/stays at a neighbor’s house when we go on vacation.
stay
Is/are all the CDs and DVDs in the store included in the sale?
Are
Staples and scotch tape hold/holds all the old record album covers together.
hold
the scratches and dents on our new car was/were definitely our son’s fault
were
My accounting course and my statics course requires/require long written reports.
require
Nobody likes/like to be laughed at.
likes
Everything in our attic smell/smells of moth balls
smells
Black and white is/are the only colors Jermaine wears.
are
Bright yellow daises and blue more glories make/makes the tiny yard beautiful.
make
The lamps on either side of the couch give/gives very little light.
give
All the suits in my closet except one plan/plans to get cleaned
plan
There is/are no doubt that the witnesses are telling the truth.
is
Here is/are the names of three doctors you can call.
is
When is/are the deadline for dropping a course?
deadline is
Do/Does your aunt and uncle know that you wrote an essay about them?
Do
Across the street stands/stand the oldest house in town.
house stands
The leather jacket beside the books belongs/belong to our teacher.
jacket belongs
Rags and spray cleaner is/are needed to wash the windows.
Rags and spray cleaner are
Junk email and chain letter annoys/annoy many internet users.
junk email and chain letters annoy
is/are those parking spaces in front of the administration building reserved for the faculty?
spaces are
The flowers in my neighbor’s garden attracts/attract many butterflies.
flowers attract
Magnolia trees and Spanish moss is/are common in many parts of the south.
trees & moss are
Running down the back alley towards the fire was/were several police officers.
officers were
Tom and Caroline’s marriage seems/seem like a happy one.
marriage seems
Every one of my roommates is/are depressed over getting poor grades on the psychology exam.
roommates are
Find and correct the 2 verb agreement mistakes.
Construction of the apartment buildings have been going on for months. The noise from bulldozers, cranes and backhoes are deafening. Everyone in the neighborhood wants it to end.
Construction have been going should be has been going. The noise are should be is. Everyone wants is correct.
Find and correct the 2 verb agreement mistakes.
It is not true that the skin of snakes are slimy. Also, warts are not caused by touching a toad. Why does reptiles and amphibians have so many false stories told about them?
skin is not are slimy, Why do not does
Find and correct the 2 verb agreement mistakes.
Nothing about my restaurant job bother me as much as the way chef makes fun of the mentally challenged man who runs the dishwasher. The chef simply doesn’t realize people with a disability also has feelings.
Nothing bother should be bothers, people has should be have
Find and correct the 2 verb agreement mistakes.
“Having a successful marriage is not easy,” admitted Neal. “There has been many times I’ve thought about leaving. However, my commitment to my marriage and my love for my family stops me. Later, I’m always glad that I stayed.”
There has should be have my commitment & my love stops me should be stop 2 subjects plural verb stops is singular.
Find and correct the 2 verb agreement mistakes.
The students and the teacher is having a discussion about the upcoming test. The teacher says it is scheduled for Friday, but every one of the students believe she announced it for the following Monday.
students and teacher is should be are, everyone believe should be believes
Find and correct the 2 verb agreement mistakes.
There are a lot of young women in my office. It seems as if everyone have had a baby recently. All the baby presents cost me a fortune.
there are should be is, everyone have should be has
Find and correct the 2 verb agreement mistakes.
High on the closet shelf is several brightly wrapped packages–the little girl’s birthday presents. The girl knows that they are there. Every day, she and her sister tries for hours to guess what might be inside those mysterious boxes.
should be packages are not is, she and her sister tries should be try
Find and correct the 2 verb agreement mistakes.
Cara invited her two sisters to the party, but neither of them are coming. Each sister is busy, one with a work deadline and the other with a school reunion. “Why,” Cara complained, “does the only important events in their lives this month have to happen at the same time?”
neither are should be is, events does should be do
Find and correct the 2 verb agreement mistakes.
The computers in the office gives me heartburn. Everybody, it seems, have success with them except me. I’m going to take a computer course so I can show them who is boss.
computers gives should be give, everybody have should be has
Is the sentence simple, compound, complex or compound complex?
We enjoyed the movie even though it was silly and sentimental.
Complex has coordinated conjunction ‘even though’
Is the sentence simple, compound, complex or compound complex?
Michelle picked up her son from school and took him to soccer practice.
Simple it has only clause
Is the sentence simple, compound, complex or compound complex?
Karl applied to five colleges, and one offered him a scholarship.
compound 2 i-clauses joined by and
Is the sentence simple, compound, complex or compound complex?
Because the traffic was so heavy, the drive took longer than we expected, and we almost missed the meeting.
compound-complex
Is the sentence simple, compound, complex or compound complex?
Lola, Amanda and Greg took down the chairs, swept the floor and locked the room.
simple
Is the sentence simple, compound, complex or compound complex?
The wind blew, and the old tree shook, but it did not fall.
Compound
Is the sentence simple, compound, complex or compound complex?
Although the snow was blinding, the hikers stayed on the trail, and eventually they found their way back to the cabin.
compound complex
compound or complex?
She liked cheese, but she didn’t like milk.
Compound
compound or complex?
While the water ran, she quickly grabbed a towel.
complex
compound or complex?
The store was closed, so they went home.
compound
compound or complex?
Her brother like pizza, and she liked hamburgers.
compound but also should be brother likes instead of like
compound or complex?
John didn’t eat his dinner because he was upset
complex
compound or complex?
Although traffic was bad, Amber was still on time.
Complex
compound or complex?
Since it was the holiday, they could stay up late.
complex
Simple compound or complex?
His mom drove the car.
Simple
Simple compound or complex?
The dog was hungry, so he begged for food.
compound
Simple compound or complex?
The man slipped because the sidewalk was slippery.
complex
Simple compound or complex?
She hit a bump when she was riding her bike.
complex
Simple compound or complex?
There are five birds in the tree.
simple
Simple compound or complex?
The remote control was missing.
simple
Simple compound or complex?
Before they went to the market, my parents made a list.
complex
Simple compound or complex?
He wanted to stay up late, but he was too tired.
compound
Simple compound or complex?
Dad read the paper while his son did his homework.
Complex
Simple compound or complex?
Crickets make loud noises.
Simple
Simple compound or complex?
Crickets make loud noises, and they kept Jimmy awake.
Compound
Simple compound or complex?
Crickets make loud noises whenever they talk to each other.
complex
Simple compound or complex?
Do you want to go to the park?
Simple
Simple compound or complex?
While Max was at recess, he fell and hurt his knee.
complex
Simple compound or complex?
Do you have a dog or do you have a cat?
Compound
Simple compound or complex?
My mom packed me an apple for lunch.
simple
Simple compound or complex?
My favorite subject is reading because I love good books.
Complex
Simple compound or complex?
Maria wanted to go to school, but she was sick.
compound
Simple compound or complex?
I hope I do well on my test.
simple
Simple compound or complex?
I feed my dog before I leave.
Complex
Simple compound or complex?
I woke up early, and I am dressed for school.
compound
party + s
Parties
refer + ed
referred
write + ing
writing
definite +ly
definitely
dec–ve ie/ei
deceive
employ + er
employer
admit + ance
admittance
marry+ ing
marrying
fr–ndly ie/ei
friendly
pity + ful
pitiful
correct the modifier
He came in even first though he was behind at first.
He came in first even though he was behind at first
correct the modifier
Having a headache, the test was frustrating for Sam.
Sam had a headache while taking the frustrating test.
correct the modifier
Around the age of six, my father took me to a baseball game.
My father took me to a baseball game, when I was around the age of six.
correct the modifier
Chris left the watch at the mall that he bought last week.
Chris left the watch that he bought last week, at the mall.
correct the modifier
Walking three days a week, the heart increases its muscle mass.
The heart increases its muscle mass after walking three days a week.
Correct the sentence using commas.
Most communities now recycle newspapers aluminum and plastic.
Most communities now recycle newspapers, aluminum, and plastic.
Correct the sentence using commas.
Walking bicycling and swimming are all good aerobic exercises.
Walking, bicycling, and swimming are all good aerobic exercises
Correct the sentence using commas.
We collected the kids loaded the van and set off for the amusement park.
We collected the kids, loaded the van, and set off for the amusement park.
Correct the sentence using commas
Signs of burnout include insomnia inability to concentrate and depression.
Signs of burnout include, insomnia, inability to concentrate, and depression.
Correct the sentence using commas
During the first -aid course one student accidentally broke her finger.
During the first -aid course, one student accidentally broke her finger
Correct the sentence using commas
When the power went back on all the digital cloaks in the house began to blink.
When the power went back on, all the digital cloaks in the house began to blink.
Correct the sentence using commas
Pausing in the doorway the actress smiled warmly at the photographers.
Pausing in the doorway, the actress smiled warmly at the photographers.
Correct the sentence using commas
After waiting in line for 2 hours the students were told that the registrar’s office was closing for lunch.
After waiting in line for 2 hours, the students were told that the registrar’s office was closing for lunch.
Correct the sentence using commas
The Beatles who originally called themselves the Quarrymen released 29 single records in their first year.
The Beatles, who originally called themselves the Quarrymen, released 29 single records in their first year.
Correct the sentence using commas
Frozen yogurt a dessert that is relatively low in calories is as delicious as to many people as ice cream.
Frozen yogurt, a dessert that is relatively low in calories, is as delicious as to many people as ice cream.
Correct the sentence using commas
Some dieter on the other hand would rather give up desserts completely.
Some dieters, on the other hand, would rather give up desserts completely.
Correct the sentence using commas
The new office building forty stories high provides a fine view of the parkway.
The new office building, forty stories high, provides a fine view of the parkway.
Which is correct
A Our math professor has the flu, half the class is sick as well.
B Our math professor has the flu, and half the class is sick as well.
B
A is comma splice
Which is correct
A) Sue seldom got to play in an actual game. She was tempted to quit the team.
B) Sue seldom got to play in an actual game she was tempted to quit the team.
A
B is run on
Which is correct
A) My father had no brothers or sisters, he never learned to share.
B) Because my father had no brothers or sisters , he never learned to share.
B
A is comma splice
Methods for correcting run ons and comma splices
Divide the sentence into 2 sentences.
Put a comma and joining word between the 2 complete thoughts (aka turn into compound sentence)
Use a subordination to make one of the complete thoughts dependent on the other ( aka complex sentence)
What is a comma splice?
2 complete thoughts separated by a comma.
rec- - ve
ei receive
ach- - ve
ie achieve
bel- - ve
ie believe
c- - ling
ei ceiling
br- - f
ie brief
hyg- -ne
ie hygiene
n- - ce
ie niece
debr- -f
ie debrief
rec- -pt
ei receipt
rel- -f
ie relief
ch- -f
ie chief
dec- -ve
ei deceive
gr- -ve
ie grieve
p- -ce
ie piece
dec- -t
ei deceit
pr- -st
ie priest
goldf- -ld
ie goldfield
y- -ld
ie yield
prot- -n
ei protein
l - -sure
ei leisure
sc- -nce
ie science
- -ght
eight
glac- -r
ie glacier
spec –s
ie species
sh - -ld
ie shield
al- -n
ie alien
f- -ld
ie field
shr- -k
ie shriek
perc- -ve
ei perceive
cr- -d
ie cried
t- -r
ie tier
anc- -nt
ie ancient
v- - n
ei vein
misch- -f
ie mischief
conc- -ve
ei conceive
effic- -nt
ie efficient
r- -n
ei rein
conc- -ted
ei conceited
s- -ge
ie siege
suffic- -nt
ie sufficient
r- -gn
ei reign
f- -rce
ie fierce
consc- -nce
ie conscience
f- -gn
ei feign
p- -rce
ie pierce
s- -ze
ei seize
w- -gh
ei weigh
retr- -ve
ie retrieve
w- -rd
ei weird
w- -ght
ei weight
d- -sel
ie diesel
for–gn
ei foreign
fr–ght
ei freight
sover–gn
ei sovereign
n–ghbor
ei neighbor
forf–t
ei forfeit
v- -l
ei veil
counterf–t
ei counterfeit
h–ght
ei height
b–ge
ei beige
sl–gh
ei sleigh
label each set of words
a) I before E except after C
b) sounded like A as in neighbor
c) exception to the rule
protein
glacier
Einstein
efficient
c
label each set of words
a) I before E except after C
b) sounded like A as in neighbor
c) exception to the rule
ceiling deceive receipt conceited
a
label each set of words
a) I before E except after C
b) sounded like A as in neighbor
c) exception to the rule
cried grief supplied thief
a
label each set of words
a) I before E except after C
b) sounded like A as in neighbor
c) exception to the rule
eight neighbor freight sleigh
b
label each set of words
a) I before E except after C
b) sounded like A as in neighbor
c) exception to the rule
leisure seize either deficient
c
label each set of words
a) I before E except after C
b) sounded like A as in neighbor
c) exception to the rule
siege yield hygiene pie
a
