Miscellaneous Mistakes
In the following sentence, what is the misplaced modifier?
Churning in the Atlantic Ocean, we anxiously watched the weather report for information about the hurricane.
Churning in the Atlantic Ocean
In "Churning in the Atlantic Ocean, we anxiously watched the weather report for information about the hurricane," this misplaced modifier makes the sentence awkward.
What part of speech is the following?
This category of words comprises some of the most important words because they move sentences along.
What is a verb?
Which word correctly fills the blank?
Into the shadows _____________(dart/darts) the frightened raccoon.
What is "darts"?
Which word correctly fills the blank in the following?
________ did you visit? Who or Whom?
Whom did you visit?
I visited them. Them is the object; thus whom is correct.
Fix the error(s) in the following sentence.
The airport is about to shut down because of the snow and if the plane doesn't land soon it will have to go on to Boston.
The airport is about to shut down because of the snow, and if the plane doesn't land soon it will have to go on to Boston.
OR
The airport is about to shut down because of the snow; if the plane doesn't land soon it will have to go on to Boston.
Which is correct?
a. The song Love Me Do catapulted the “Beatles” to international stardom.
b. The song “Love Me Do” catapulted the Beatles to international stardom.
c. The song Love Me Do “catapulted” the Beatles to international stardom.
d. The song Love Me Do catapulted “the Beatles” to international stardom.
What is "b"?
b. The song “Love Me Do” catapulted the Beatles to international stardom.
What part of speech is the following?
Modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or entire clauses, sometimes have an -ly ending.
What are adverbs?
Which is correct?
Two-thirds of the park (has/have) burned.
What is "has"?
Indicate whether the following uses active or passive voice:
The results of the experiment will be presented at the conference.
What is "passive"?
What common error exists in the following:
A large part of my mail is advertisements, most of the rest is bills.
What is a "comma splice"?
Most of my mail is advertisements and bills.
OR
A large part of my mail is advertisements; the rest is bills.
Correct this sentence so that the modifier is in the correct place:
Students who practice writing often will benefit.
Students who often practice writing will benefit.
OR
Students who practice writing will often benefit.
What part of speech is the following?
These words modify nouns and pronouns, usually by describing, identifying, or limiting those words.
What is an adjective?
Which sentence is written correctly?
a. The judge asked the jury to please take its seat.
b. The judge asked the jury to please take their seats.
c. The judge asked the jury to please take his seat.
d. The judge asked the jury to please take his seats.
What is "b"?
b. The judge asked the jury to please take their seats.
Which of the following is a compound sentence? a. While kayaking in the ocean, Jim saw a humpback whale.
b.Jim went kayaking in the ocean and saw a humpback whale.
c. Jim went kayaking in the ocean, and he saw a humpback whale.
d. None of them are correct.
What is "c"?
c. Jim went kayaking in the ocean, and he saw a humpback whale.
Most of the computers in the Learning Assistance Center are already broken, this just proves my point about American computer manufacturers.
What is a "comma-splice"?
Which sentence does NOT contain a misplaced modifier?
a. Nixon told reporters that he planned to get out of politics after he lost the 1962 gubernatorial race.
b. Having entered the market, the fishy smell was everywhere.
c. The professor promised on Monday she would return our exams.
d. Watching television news, a viewer gets an impression of constant disaster.
What is "d"?
d. Watching television news, a viewer gets an impression of constant disaster.
What part of speech is the following?
Important structural words that express relationships in time, space, or other senses between nouns or pronouns and other words in a sentence.
What are prepositions?
Correct or incorrect?
One million dollars was given back to the owner.
What is "correct"?
Expressions of time, money, weight, and distance are singular even if the form is plural.
Which word correctly fills the blank?
We all know _____________(who/whom) will be late for class.
What is "who"?
Identify the error in the following:
John will finish the project on Monday. If he has time.
What is a "fragment"?
John will finish the project on Monday, if he has time.
What type of error exists in this sentence?
Ever since he was a little boy, dreaming of one day becoming a professional football player like John Elway, who forever changed the hope of the Denver Broncos.
a. run-on
b. fragment
c. comma-splice
d. independent clause
What is "b"?
b. fragment
What part of speech is the following?
Express surprise or emotion, can stand alone, and when part of a sentence, do not relate grammatically to the rest of the sentence.
What is an interjection?
Which word correctly fills the blank?
Beside the barn____________ (stand/stands) silos filled with grain.
What is "stand"?
The subject is silos; it is plural, so the verb must be stand.
What type of sentence is the following?
The door slammed shut in the wind, but I was able to get my fingers out before it crushed them.
a. Simple
b. Compound
c. Complex
d. Compound-Complex
What is "b. Compound"?
Name the common error in the following:
The stunt pilot had to eject from the cockpit, nevertheless, he was not injured.
What is a "comma splice"?
The stunt pilot had to eject from the cockpit; nevertheless, he was not injured.