I like apples, oranges, and pears.
How do we call the last comma in the sentence?
the Oxford comma
There are three tense aspects in English.
true or false?
false
There are 4: simple, progressive, perfect, perfect progressive
Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.
True or false?
true
How do we call a phrase or clause placed awkwardly in a sentence so that it appears to modify or refer to an unintended word?
misplaced modifer
Name the adjectives in the sentence:
The exceedingly funny family has just arrived.
the, funny
I like blue, and yellow.
Is the comma usage correct?
No
true or false?
false
The salesman expected that he would present his product at the meeting, that he would have time to show his slide presentation, and that questions would be asked by prospective buyers.
Is this structure parallel?
NO
She wore a bicycle helmet on her head that was too large.
Is the modifier misplaced or dangling?
misplaced
How many verb tenses are there?
12
Is the comma usage correct?
yes
They have visited Spain several times.
Is this sentence in the present tense or the past tense?
present
We can pay with a mark, a yen, buck, or pound.
Is the sentence parallel?
NO
Parallelism requires that articles (a, an, or the) and prepositions be used consistently when working with coordinate items or items in a list. It's a matter of preference and style; just be consistent.
Correct the sentence:
The bus station was located by a river which was made of red brick.
The bus station, which was made of red brick, was located by a river.
I had been studying geography for two hours before I fell asleep.
What tense is this?
past perfect progressive
In the order of adjectives, what comes first:
opinion or purpose?
opinion
He should have (go) .................... grocery shopping yesterday.
What's the correct verb form and what tense is this?
gone / simple past
Either you must grant her request or gain her disapproval.
Does the sentence have parallel structure?
NO
Correlative expressions are formed by using correlative conjunctions, such as both/and, not/but, not only/but also, either/or, and no sooner/than. Correlative expressions should use parallel structure as well.
Left alone in the house, the thunderstorm terrified the two small children.
Fix the sentence
The thunderstorm terrified the two small children who were left alone in the house.
form of have (have, has or had)
1) determiner
2) opinion
3) origin
4) shape
5) purpose
no
If I would have known you weren't coming to the party, I would have called you.
Is the tense usage correct? Why or why not?
incorrect
If I had known ....I would have....
Which sentence is has parallel structure?
Only #1? Only #2? Both? Neither?
Neither
To improve his results, the experiment was done again.
Is this modifier dangling or misplaced?
Fix the sentence
dangling
To improve his results, Mark did the experiment again.
When did the Oxford comma become a rule for the Oxford University Press?
+/- 10 years
1905