Grammar Gurus
Punctuation Perils
Cherchez la theme
Getting Emotional?
Poetical Possibles
100
What is wrong with this sentence: Those boy's don't have the proper uniform.
boy's - x It should be boys.
100
Fix the sentence: The novel Trash by Andy Mulligan takes place in a dumpsite in the Philippines.
The novel title needs to be underlined
100
What is the main theme of the entire Harry Potter (this should be underlined!) series?
The main theme is something like: good will always win over evil.
100
What would be a likely personality trait for Cinderella? (a) lucky (b) beautiful (c) patient (d) quick-tempered
(c) patient
100
Simile or metaphor? The swans swam across the lake like silent ballerinas gliding across a stage.
Simile
200
We haven't see where you put the extra paper.
we haven't see - x It should be "we haven't seen"
200
Fix the sentence: The main characters in the book, Raphael, Rat and Gardo are all dumpsite boys who pick trash for a living.
You need a comma after Gardo. (You are giving "extra information" and this needs to be set off with commas - even though it's also a list.)
200
In the fable "The Grasshopper and the Ants," the ants work hard all summer to save up food but the grasshopper only plays. In the winter time, he doesn't have anything to eat. What is the theme, or moral, of this fable?
The theme would be something like: Don't put off preparing.
200
Is this sentence formal or informal in tone? After lunch, all the kids got out their lunch boxes and chomped down their sandwiches.
This sentence is INFORMAL.
200
What poetic technique is in this sentence? Wally has a lot of wild ideas to wonder about.
Alliteration
300
Turn this into a question: Everyone hasn't eaten lunch yet.
Has everyone eaten lunch yet?
300
Punctuate the sentences: melting glaciers are an important water source in many dry countries if glaciers disappear this water will no longer be available
Melting glaciers are an important water source in many dry countries. If glaciers disappear, this water will no longer be available. (2 caps - 2 full stops - 1 comma)
300
What is a likely theme from both Hoot, by Carl Hiaassen, and Trash, by Andy Mulligan? (a) Money is more important than anything else. (b) Good friends protect each other. (c) Without power, you can't do anything. (PS - those book titles should be underlined)
The most likely theme from the options given is (b) Good friends protect each other.
300
Please make this sentence FORMAL: When I got to class, all my buddies were chilling.
GOT BUDDIES CHILLING should have been changed.
300
What type of figurative language is in this sentence: We enjoyed sitting around the campfire while the sparks fizzed in the air and the marshmallows hissed as they cooked on the sticks.
onomatopoeia
400
What is the main clause of this sentence: When we are finished with this lesson, we need to go to the library so we can check out the new textbook.
We need to go
400
Punctuate the sentences: the novel harry potter takes place in both the real and magical worlds there are many interesting characters exciting events and scary moments in the book to keep your interest
The novel Harry Potter (should be underlined) takes place in both the real and magical worlds. There are many interesting characters, exciting events and scary moments in the book to keep your interest. (4 caps - underlined title - 2 full stops - 1 comma)
400
What would NOT be a theme from Trash, by Andy Mulligan? (a) Power and money can corrupt people. (b) Access to information is important to make a change. (c) Schools are essential for a good education. (d) Poverty is a challenge, but it isn't impossible to overcome. (PS - the book title should be underlined!)
(c) is not a theme from Trash.
400
Which of the following is NOT a mood? (a) cheerful (b) devastated (c) energetic (d) gloomy
(c) energetic is a trait
400
What kind of figurative language is used in this sentence? When she opened the box, the aroma of deep chocolate and icy mint drifted through the air.
Sensory imagery (smell)
500
What are the dependent clauses in this sentence? It is hard to believe that the first email, which asked if the office coffee was ready, was sent in 1972 when the internet itself was still not completely invented.
that the first email which asked if the office coffee was ready when the internet itself was still not completely invented
500
Punctuate the sentences: watch out for the back blast yelled the firefighter thanks for the warning his partner called back
"Watch out for the back blast!" yelled the firefighter. "Thanks for the warning," his partner called back.
500
What is a common theme in both Trash, by Andy Mulligan, and Hoot, by Carl Hiaassen? (a) Corruption can be useful to achieve your goal. (b) Police can be cruel and brutal towards children. (c) The environment needs us to take care of it. (d) Money makes people do terrible things.
The theme in both books from these options is (d) Money makes people do terrible things.
500
What is the tone of the sentence below? Even when the characters in the book seem the most hopeless, there's still a chance that "the kids'll pop up alright soon enough," (p2) according to Emily.
This is a formal tone - if you are quoting from a text but it's informal, that doesn't count. It's your own words around the text that make the tone.
500
What's the rhyme scheme of this passage: Hickory Dickory Dock, The mouse ran up the clock. The clock struck one, The mouse ran down, Hickory Dickory Dock.
A - A - B - B - A (one and down are "close rhymes")
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