Spot it!
The Grammar Police
Sentences Galore
Got MLA?
PAUSE!
100
What is the verb in the following sentence?
The egg smells rotten.
Smells (active verb)
100
What is the error in this sentence?
My friend, Kelly, visited the grand canyon during her service trip.
Capitalization
("Grand Canyon" - proper noun!)
100
What type of sentence is this?
She wanted to go to the store, but it was raining heavily.
Compound Sentence
(FANBOYS!)
100
What font should be used when writing a paper in MLA format?
Times New Roman
100
What type of punctuation can be used instead of period when separating two complete, related sentences?
Semi-Colon
200
Is the following sentence written in active or passive voice?
The squirrel was chased by the dog.
Passive
200
What is wrong with this sentence?
Leah has a piano recital tomorrow but she might not be able to make it.
You need a comma before a conjunction!
Conjunction - FANBOYS
200
What type of sentence is this?
Since we had only gone a mile from camp, we decided to return before dark.
Complex Sentence
200
When do you need to include an in-text citation in a paper?
Anytime there is a direct quotation or paraphrased information that is not common knowledge
200
Is the colon used correctly here?
The very best peaches are: those that are grown in the great state of Georgia.
No, you must remove the colon here. It is not needed.
300
The name of noun that could be a living thing, a place, or tangible material.
Concrete Noun
300
What is the error in this sentence?
This Spring I have to go see Beyoncé in concert.
Spring SHOULD NOT BE CAPITALIZED
Seasons are not capitalized.
300
What type of sentence is this?
The training rooms of these college athletes smell of grease and gasoline.
Simple Sentence
300
The proper name for the listed sources in a MLA format paper
Works Cited (or Bibliography)
300
What type of punctuation is needed in this sentence?
Nettie her chin held high walked out into the storm.
Dashes!
Nettie—her chin held high—walked out into the storm.
400
Name the part of speech of the italicized word:
He never wants to go to the park with me.
Adverb
400
What is the error in this sentence?
My mother asked me about my spanish class today.
Spanish SHOULD BE capitalized!
Languages should always be capitalized.
Spanish, English, German, etc.
Classes like math, science, and history do not need to be capitalized
400
What type of sentence is this?
I was shocked to hear the cactus yelling expletives at me, since it was an inanimate object, but I found myself yelling back at it, engaged in a lively debate.
Compound-Complex Sentence
400
Name the mistake: “Margaret had never spoken of Helstone since she left it.” (Gaskell 100)
The period should be outside of the parentheses
400
What types of punctuation are needed here?
I went to the grocery store today I bought a ton of fruit apples, grapes, and pears.
1. semi-colon (between "today" and "I")
2. colon (before apples) - list!
500
Identify the part of speech of the italicized word:
Would you like chocolate or vanilla?
Conjunction (FANBOYS)
500
What are the errors in these sentences?
You MUST name all of the errors to get all the points.
There are many hipsters who live in northern california. If you continue North, you will come across Sunny weather. Specifically, there is a Family I know who wishes for us to visit.
1. Northern California (proper noun - capitalized)
2. north (lowercase - direction, no need to capitalize)
3. family (no need to be capitalized)
500
Based on the following paragraph, identify the type of sentence for each sentence. You have to get ALL right to get the points.
I couldn't find Mary at the park. I need to go to work, but I still could not find Mary. She was going to make me late. Although Mary was no where to be found, I walked all the way back to work, and then I found her sitting on the bench. As the rain began to pour, I raced into the office.
1. Simple
2. Compound
3. Simple
4. Compound-Complex
5. Complex
500
What is wrong with the following passage's use of MLA format?
One major cause of decay in California Highways is the increase in motor traffic over the past two decades. Cities and populations have expanded and most Californians insist on driving their own vehicles everywhere they go. "Public transportation has not caught on in most California cities due to their geographic sprawl" (Briggman 10).
There is no integration or lead-into the quote.
500
What type of punctuation is needed here?
A political statesman, a visionary scientist, and a coiner of aphorisms __ Benjamin Franklin was a renaissance man in an Enlightenment era.
Colon (list before the independent clause)