Spelling & Capitalization
Determine whether or not the following words are used correctly in these sentences:
1. THERE not ready to go. 2. IT'S too bad they didn't bring their rain jackets. 3. We need to pack the car, and THAN drive to the store.
1. Incorrect (they're)
2. Correct
3. Incorrect (then)
Is this a fragment, or a complete sentence?
While the kids were happy to be at the amusement park, eating their popcorn and drinking their soda pops.
Fragment
Where do you need to add commas in the following sentence?
Maddie went to the library to get new books return some old books and spend some time in a quiet environment.
Maddie went to the library to get new books, return some old books, and spend some time in a quiet environment.
Where would you put a semi-colon in the following sentences?
Mulan is a very heroic character she was brave enough to fight in a war.
Mulan is a very heroic character; she was brave enough to fight in a war.
Simile or metaphor?
Life is like a box of chocolates.
Simile
(uses the words "like" or "as")
Determine whether or not the following words are used correctly in these sentences:
1. WHOSE coming to the concert tonight? 2. Be careful! Don't LOOSE your keys. 3. The book is TOO long. I'm bored.
1. Incorrect (Who's)
2. Incorrect (Lose)
3. Correct
Find the error in the following sentence (only one error):
One of the eggs were broken when we opened the container.
One of the eggs WAS broken when we opened the container.
Where do the commas go in the following sentences?
My aunt is a very kind person and she was even willing to take us to Lagoon.
The weather is really nice today but you need to finish your homework.
My aunt is a very kind person, and she was even willing to take us to Lagoon.
The weather is really nice today, but you need to finish your homework.
The sentence below is a RUN-ON sentence. Add commas and periods to fix the errors.
I have always wanted to go to New Zealand it's such a beautiful country I want to go on a boat ride I hope I can go hiking too.
Example of how you could fix this run-on:
I have always wanted to go to New Zealand. It's such a beautiful country. I want to go on a boat ride. I hope I can go hiking too.
Simile or metaphor? Or both?
Life is a highway.
Metaphor
Determine whether or not the following words are used correctly in these sentences:
1. The blue bird jumped into the puddle and ruffled ITS feathers. 2. The bird sang a song more beautiful THEN a Beethoven symphony. 3. Seeing animals has a calming EFFECT on me.
1. Correct
2. Incorrect (than)
3. Correct
The star of the basketball team work hard to play well in every game.
The girl wearing the red shoes look like she is going to a fancy party.
Each student needs to put their backpack in a locker.
The star of the basketball team WORKS (worked) hard to play well in every game.
The girl wearing the red shoes LOOKS (looked) like she is (was) going to a fancy party.
Each student needs to put HIS (or HER) in a locker.
Where do the commas go in the following sentences?
While I was taking the cookies out of the oven I burned my hand on the pan.
Alexander Johnson the girl with the long brown hair who is standing under the tree happens to be a very talented musician.
While I was taking the cookies out of the oven, I burned my hand on the pan.
Alexander Johnson, the girl with the long brown hair who is standing under the tree, happens to be a very talented musician.
What is wrong with the way this dialogue is written?
"Help me!" Sam yelled as she was clinging to the edge of the cliff. "I can't! I'm slipping!" Ben yelled back. "Hand me that branch!" "I can't reach it!" "Hurry!" "No. I can't! I'm afraid!"
Make sure to start a new line (new paragraph) each time a new character says something in a conversation.
Example:
"Help me!" Sam yelled as she was clinging to the edge of the cliff.
"I can't! I'm slipping!" Ben yelled back.
"Hand me that branch!"
"I can't reach it!"
"Hurry!"
"No. I can't! I'm afraid!"
Simile or metaphor? or both?
Your love pours down on me, surrounds me like a waterfall.
Simile (surrounds me like a waterfall)
Metaphor (your love pours down on me)
Identify which words need to be capitalized in this sentence:
we really wanted to celebrate christmas in phoenix, arizona. the problem was that jennifer didn't want mom and dad to travel very far.
Corrected sentence:
We really wanted to celebrate Christmas in Phoenix, Arizona. The problem was that Jennifer didn't want Mom and Dad to travel very far.
Fix the error in the following paragraph (only one error):
Jenson always liked to go to the park. He would watch the baseball games. The sun shines brightly. The smell of delicious food would fill the air.
Jenson always liked to go to the park. He would watch the baseball games. The sun WOULD SHINE (or, shined) brightly. The smell of delicious would fill the air.
Mary when did you say your birthday was again? Did you say Thursday April 18th 1996?
Mary, when did you say your birthday was again? Did you say Thursday, April 18th, 1996?
Where would you put a colon in this sentence?
In order to learn a piece of music, you must do the following things practice a lot, listen to the song, and perform it several times.
In order to learn a piece of music, you must do the following things: practice a lot, listen to the song, and perform it several times.
Is this an example of a metaphor, simile, or personification?
We took one look at the garden, and we could tell the flowers were begging for water.
Personification
Fix the errors in these sentences. There are both spelling AND capitalization errors.
she would not except my apology for forgetting her birthday. its frustrating because i usually remember that her birthday is wednesday, may 8th.
Corrected:
She would not ACCEPT my apology for forgetting her birthday. IT'S frustrating because I usually remember her birthday is Wednesday, May 8TH.
What is wrong with this sentence? Explain, and then show how you would fix it.
Covered in thick gravy, the waitress served Jim a plate of mashed potatoes.
This is called a misplaced modifier.
How do you fix it?
The waitress served Jim a plate of mashed potatoes covered in thick gravy.
The following paragraph contains several commas that are used incorrectly. Identify them and change them to the correct punctuation.
"Where did the dog go," Millie asked, she looked sadly out the window.
"I want to go outside, it's really boring sitting in the house all day long."
3 errors total
"Where did the dog go?" Millie asked. She looked sadly out the window.
"I want to go outside. It's really boring sitting in the house all day long."
What is the difference between a colon and a semi-colon? How are they used?
: (colon)
; (semi-colon)
Semi-colon can be used to combine two complete sentences.
Example: I really need a drink of water; I'm so thirsty.
Colon can be used to introduce a list.
Example: Yesterday we saw a lot of animals at the zoo: pandas, lions, penguins, and seals.
Simile, metaphor, or personification? *Hint: there could be more than one.
The young girl jumped and twirled in the air like a grasshopper leaping through the grass. She held a cluster of long white ribbons in her hand. The ribbons danced in the wind.
Simile (jumped and twirled in the air like a grasshopper)
Personification (the ribbons danced in the wind)