8th Grade Grammar Review

Participles and Gerunds

100

Which sentence correctly uses a participle?

• The cat, purring softly, sat on the windowsill.
• Purring softly was the cat's favorite activity.

200

Which sentence correctly uses a gerund?

• Running every morning is good for your health.
• The running track was crowded today.

300

Which sentence contains a participle phrase?

• Laughing at the joke, the boy nearly fell out of his chair.
• Laughing loudly is something the boy often does.

400

Which sentence shows a gerund acting as the subject?

• Dancing requires a lot of energy.
• The dancing shoes were new and shiny.

500

Which sentence uses a participle as an adjective?

• The broken vase lay on the floor.
• Breaking the vase was an accident.

Passive Voice and Active Voice

100

Which sentence is written in active voice?

• The teacher explained the lesson clearly.
• The lesson was explained clearly by the teacher.

200

Which sentence is written in passive voice?

• The cake was baked by my grandmother.
• My grandmother baked the cake.

300

Which sentence is written in active voice?

• The dog chased the ball across the yard.
• The ball was chased across the yard by the dog.

400

Which sentence is written in passive voice?

• The house was painted by a team of professional painters.
• A team of professional painters painted the house.

500

Which sentence is in active voice?

• The students completed the project on time.
• The project was completed on time by the students.

Dashes

100

Which sentence correctly uses a dash for emphasis?

• There is only one thing left to do—win.
• There is only one thing left to do; win.

200

Which sentence correctly uses a dash for clarification?

• The answer is simple—study more.
• The answer is simple; study more.

300

Which sentence uses a dash to add extra information?

• The car—a red sports car—sped past us on the highway.
• The car, a red sports car, sped past us on the highway.

400

Which sentence correctly uses a dash for an interruption?

• I was going to say—oh, never mind.
• I was going to say, oh, never mind.

500

Which sentence uses a dash to separate a list?

• She brought everything we needed—paper, pens, and markers.
• She brought everything we needed; paper, pens, and markers.

Ellipsis

100

Which sentence uses an ellipsis to show omitted text?

• "The speech began with … an inspiring story," said the reporter.
• "The speech began with an inspiring story," said the reporter.

200

Which sentence uses an ellipsis for a pause?

• "Wait … what just happened?"
• "Wait … what just happened."

300

Which sentence uses an ellipsis to create suspense?

• "I wonder if he’ll ever find out …" she said.
• "I wonder if he’ll ever find out," she said.

400

Which sentence uses an ellipsis to show interruption?

• "I was going to say … never mind," she muttered.
• "I was going to say, never mind," she muttered.

500

Which sentence uses an ellipsis in quoted text?

• "We hold these truths … that all men are created equal."
• "We hold these truths, that all men are created equal."

Voice Shifts

100

Which sentence avoids an inappropriate voice shift?

• As the teacher explained the concept, the students took notes.
• As the teacher explains the concept, the students were taking notes.

200

Which sentence avoids shifting between active and passive voice?

• The dishes were washed, and the floor was swept by the team.
• The dishes were washed, and the team swept the floor.

300

Which sentence maintains consistent voice?

• The manager reviewed the report and approved it.
• The manager reviewed the report, and it was approved by her.

400

Which sentence avoids voice shifts?

• While the instructions were being read, the students prepared their materials.
• While the instructions were being read, the students prepare their materials.

500

Which sentence maintains consistent tense and voice?

• The project was submitted by the group, and they waited for feedback.
• The project was submitted by the group, and feedback was awaited by them.