(Correct answers are enclosed in brackets [ ]. This test is to measure your awareness of grammatical terms and rules prior to the start of Traditional English Grammar. Your score does not reflect on your ability. It is only an indicator of strengths and weaknesses in your command of prescriptive English grammar. There will be a similar post-test at the end of the course to measure progress.
Here is a quick reference key to the answers.
Individual test items are marked in brackets.
1-5 abdcb
6-10 caabb
11-15 abbcd
16-20 accaa
21-25 cabdb
26-30 cabac
31-35 abcab
36-40 abbba
41-45 cccaa
46-50 acbcb
DIRECTIONS 1-5: Identify the part of speech of the italicized word.
1. Most students think tests are a bore.
[a. noun] b. verb c. pronoun d. adjective
2. However there are a few things about tests that students
do not know.
a. verb [b. adverb] c. adjective d. conjunction
3. Who do they suppose makes the tests out?
a. noun b. verb c. interjection [d. pronoun]
4. Students take only one test, but the poor teachers have to
grade all of them.
a. adjective b. conjunction [c. verb] d. adverb
5. After all, elves don't come in and do them.
a. conjunction [b. preposition] c. adverb d. adjective
DIRECTIONS 6-10: Select the sentence which is correct.
6 . a. He finally has lain all his cards on the table.
b. Finally, he lay all his cards on the table.
[c.] He laid all his cards on the table, finally.
7. [ a.] I surely do think Mr. Humphries is a really good teacher.
b. You should read Arrowsmith; it's a real good book.
c. When we went to the game last week, the weather was real
good.
8. [a. ] I found the lost book lying behind the sofa.
b. The decorator sat the tall lamp on the mahogany table.
c. I did not notice the letter laying by the mailbox.
9. a. It was a real fine performance of Gypsy.
[b.] The boat towing the skier is moving too slowly.
c. With his ankles taped tight, the quarterback was able to
play Saturday.
10. a. He laid his end of the stretcher down and run to his friend.
[b.] Set the first aid kit here.
c. Without a compass, he had lead them directly to the place
where John had fallen.
DIRECTIONS 11-15: Identify the function of the italicized word(s).
11. Most dogs like playing fetch.
[a. direct object] b. objective complement c. indirect object
d. subjective complement
12. They give their owners lots of love.
a. objective complement [b. indirect object]
c. subjective complement d. direct object
13. Also, they pooh on the floor sometimes.
a. retained object [b. subject] c. direct object
d. subjective complement
14. They will destroy whatever they can find.
a. predicate adjective b. predicate noun [c. direct object ]
d. objective complement
15. My puppy is utterly worthless, but I wouldn't part with him for
anything in the world.
a. predicate noun b. direct object c. objective complement
[d. predicate adjective]
DIRECTIONS 16-20: Indicate the correct sentence.
16. [a.] Some of the senior class has already signed up for cheerleader
tryouts.
b. Some of the senior class have already signed up for cheerleader
tryouts.
c. Neither Igor nor his friend have elected to take the course.
17. a. Mary as well as Clara washed their own clothes.
b. Everyone is supposed to attend the Christmas concert if they
possibly can.
[c.] Every one of the frightened horses neighed, got to its feet,
and ran.
18. a. They analyzed the program in their English class which they had
heard over the radio.
b. I did not even buy a season ticket, which was very disloyal to
my school.
[c.] He answered every question that the teacher asked.
19. [a.] The solution to the city's traffic problems is certain to
require long study.
b. Please keep this information between you and I.
c. The only fruit on the market now are peaches.
20. [a.] Could it be she?
b. When he gives the signal, everyone yell their loudest.
c. Nearly everybody has some worthless souvenirs which they would
not willingly part with.
DIRECTIONS 21-23: Identify the italicized phrases:
(a) Gerund
(b) Participle
(c) Infinitive
21. [c]Fred always has money to spare.
22. [a]Completing the project was the goal of the committee.
23. [b]Studying furiously, the student mounted one last attack on
verbals.
DIRECTIONS 24-25: Choose the answer that identifies the italicized phrase.
24. Last night, Jerry, a rat of the first order, showed up an
hour late.
a. infinitive b. preposition c. participle [d. appositive]
25. Leaving him in the lobby would have been too easy.
a. absolute [ b. gerund ] c. participle d. preposition
DIRECTIONS 26-30: Identify the italicized clauses:
(a) Noun
(b) Adjective
(c) Adverb
26. [c]When I said to study dependent clauses, I intended that you
should study dependent clauses.
27. [a]Why I chose writing as a profession is a point that I ponder
regularly.
28. [b]Watching television is a pastime that too many people do
too much of.
29. [a]Who you know is what you are.
30. [c]Although I have enough evidence to convict, I don't want the
case to come to trial yet.
DIRECTIONS 31-35: Choose the appropriate description of the following items:
(a) Sentence fragment
(b) Comma splice
(c) Run-on sentence
(d) Correct
31. [a]In the long hall a large and sad-faced man pacing restlessly
and smoking one cigarette after another.
32. [b]When Tom arrived, the guests were already leaving, he did,
however, see Mr. Wilkins.
33. [c]Cooking is my one vanity I love to hear praise.
34. [a]Since we live in a temperate zone with a climate that makes
people energetic and productive.
35. [b]When I was a child, I took piano lessons, my mother wanted
me to play well.
DIRECTIONS 36-40: Select the correct sentence in the following entries.
36. [a.]Feeling very cheerful and happy, we decided to entertain our
visitors.
b. Knowing the kind of meeting to expect, it was decided to
provide refreshments.
c. Realizing the test was next Friday, several reviews needed
to be made.
37. a. I was so hungry I almost ate three hamburgers.
[b.] The teacher needed to give the assignment only once.
c. He only needed to read one more book for the assignment.
38. a. His duties are cleaning up the cabin and to look after
the boats.
[b.] Frank's favorite sports are hunting, fishing, and
swimming.
c. We need to prepare daily assignments, review rules,
and we can pass the test.
39. a. William is a boy who likes hunting, fishing, hiking, and
even to supervise camping trips.
[b.] Because Henry had read the assignments, kept up with
homework, and done the outside readings, he made a good grade on the test.
c. Jerry is a boy with good scholastic ability and who is a
great asset to the football team.
40. [a.] She promised to visit him on her way home.
b. The world traveler talked during the dinner of poisonous
snakes in Africa.
c. I visited the little girl who had been hit by the car
in the hospital.
DIRECTIONS 41-45: Select the sentence which is correct.
41. a. Tacoma, Washington is located on Puget Sound, isn't it?
b. However we decide to go; we should try to be there by morning.
[c.] John studied more than any other boy in his class,
for he wanted to make the highest grade.
42. a. "Ode on a Grecian Urn", a poem by Keats, is a good example
of imagery.
b. The poem "My Last Duchess," was written by Robert Browning.
[c.] My favorite poem, "Ulysses," is one of Tennyson's most
famous works.
43. a. The armistice, which ended World War I, was signed
November, 11, 1918.
b. The Fall of the Bastille on July 14, 1789 marked the
beginning of the French Revolution.
[c ] July 4, 1776, was a red-letter day in American history.
44. [a.] The meaning of the term equality has been expanded to
cover social injustices.
b. The best time to plant the shrub would be in the Spring or
the Fall.
c. My grandfather enjoyed reading the novel The Mill on the Floss.
45. [a.] Bob asked, "Who said, 'In the spring a young man's fancy
lightly turns to thoughts of love'?"
b. One of Shakespeare's characters asks, "What is pomp, rule,
reign, but earth and dust"?
c. The teacher asked, "Who said, 'A thing of beauty is a joy
forever?"
DIRECTIONS 46-50: In the following sentences, choose the one that is correct.
46. [a.] I used to think that I would know everything when I
received my college diploma.
b. I got my degree, I had just begun my education.
c. We live and learn, then we die and forget it all.
47. a. Tom quickly almost drank a quart of water.
b. If anyone wants to contribute to the class discussion,
you may do so.
[c.] The Boy Scout leader wanted everyone in Troop 27 to prepare his
campsite by himself.
48. a. The concrete and metal used in todays modern buildings
hold the heat for long periods of time.
[b.] Have you noticed how peaceful and quiet everything seems to be?
c. City life has it's good points.
49. a. T.S. Eliot who was born in Missouri acquired British
citizenship in 1927.
b. The boy who went to school at the University of Georgia,
graduated last summer.
[c.] Thomas Brown, who was born in Gainesville, Georgia, now
lives in Tacoma.
50. a. I am saving the last piece of pie for whomever gathers
the most junk.
[b.] Measles is a bad children's disease; I'm glad I never had it.
c. The fresh air and the smell of pine trees seems to fill you
with vigor.
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