Vocabulary
What does relented mean? what is its part of speech? And give me an example sentence.
Definition: To give in after resisting.
•Part of Speech: Verb
•Example Sentence: After hours of begging, her parents finally relented and let her go to the concert.
What is the correct verb in the following sentences and explain why.
1. The teacher, along with her students, (is / are) excited.
2. Neither of the boys brought (his / their) backpack.
The teacher, along with her students (is) excited.
Why? The subject of the sentence is “The teacher.”
The phrase “along with her students” is a parenthetical phrase, not part of the subject.
Since “teacher” is singular, the verb must also be singular → is excited.
12. Neither of the boys brought (his ) backpack.
Why? The word neither is singular (it means “not one” or “not the other”).
So the pronoun must also be singular → his backpack.
Even though boys is plural, the focus is on one boy at a time → Neither (boy) brought his backpack.
What does seldom mean? what is its part of speech? And give me an example sentence.
•Definition: Rarely
•Part of Speech: Adverb
•Example Sentence: He seldom watches TV because he prefers reading books.
Identify all parts of speech in the following sentence:
'She swam quickly across the pool.'
She → Pronoun (subject pronoun, singular, 3rd person).
swam → Verb (past tense, action verb, predicate).
quickly → Adverb (modifies the verb swam, tells how she swam).
across → Preposition (shows relationship of action to the object).
the → Article/Determiner (defines the noun pool).
pool → Noun (object of the preposition across).
Rewrite in passive voice:
The committee will announce the winner tomorrow.
The winner will be announced by the committee tomorrow
What does anguish mean? what is its part of speech? And give me an example sentence.
Definition: Extreme mental or physical pain.
Part of Speech: Noun
Example Sentence: She felt deep anguish after hearing the heartbreaking news.
Identify the parts of speech in the following sentence:
"After the long day, she felt quite tired but surprisingly happy."
After → Preposition
It introduces the prepositional phrase after the long day, showing time relationship.
the → Article (Determiner)
Defines the noun day.
long → Adjective
Describes the noun day.
day → Noun
Object of the preposition after.
she → Pronoun
Subject of the sentence.
felt → Verb
Linking verb here, connecting subject (she) with her condition.
quite → Adverb
Modifies the adjective tired by showing degree.
tired → Adjective
Describes the subject’s condition.
but → Conjunction
Joins two ideas (tired and happy).
surprisingly → Adverb
Modifies the adjective happy, telling how she was happy.
happy → Adjective
Describes the subject’s emotional state.
What does courteous mean? what is its part of speech? And give me an example sentence.
Definition: Polite, respectful, and considerate of others.
Part of Speech: Adjective
Example Sentence: The waiter was very courteous, always addressing customers with a smile.
Please identify the parts of speech in the following sentence:
"Well, I thought she would run fast, but instead she walked slowly."
Well → Interjection
Expresses a pause or thought, not grammatically related to the rest of the sentence.
I → Pronoun
Subject of the clause.
thought → Verb
Action word showing what the subject did.
she → Pronoun
Subject of the next clause.
would run → Verb phrase
Would = auxiliary (helping) verb; run = main verb. Together they form the predicate.
fast → Adverb
Describes how she would run.
but → Conjunction
Joins two independent clauses.
instead → Adverb
Modifies the whole idea, meaning “as an alternative.”
she → Pronoun
Subject again.
walked → Verb
Action verb, past tense.
slowly → Adverb
Describes how she walked.
3. Which is stronger in a Schaffer paragraph: the TS (topic sentence) or the CS (concluding sentence)? Defend your answer.
Both are important, but the TS is stronger because it controls the entire paragraph by stating the main idea. The CS echoes and wraps up the thought, but without a clear TS, the paragraph has no direction.
What does reveal mean? what is its part of speech? And give me an example sentence.
Part of Speech: Verb
Definition: To make something known or visible that was previously hidden.
Example Sentence: The magician revealed the secret behind his trick.
In the word transportation, identify the prefix, root, and suffix. Explain how each part contributes to meaning.
Prefix: trans- = across
Root: port = carry
Suffix: -ation = the act of
Whole word = the act of carrying across (moving from one place to another).
What does Stoic mean? what is its part of speech? And give me an example sentence.
-Definition: Enduring hardship without complaining.
•Part of Speech: Adjective
•Example Sentence: Even though he was in pain, he remained stoic and did not shed a tear.
Place commas correctly:
Although it was raining we went to the park and we played soccer until dark.
Identify the independent and dependent clauses:
Even though the movie was long, we stayed until the end.
Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
a) I have a test tomorrow; so I will study tonight.
b) I have a test tomorrow; I will study tonight.
Correct comma placement:
Although it was raining, we went to the park, and we played soccer until dark.
Even though the movie was long, we stayed until the end.
→ Dependent clause = Even though the movie was long
→ Independent clause = we stayed until the end
Correct: b) I have a test tomorrow; I will study tonight.
(Two independent clauses, properly joined with a semicolon.)
The word “microscope” has no prefix or suffix, but it has two Greek roots. Identify them and explain.
micro = small
What does snooty mean? what is its part of speech? And give me an example sentence.
Definition: arrogant, condescending, or acting as if one is superior to others. It describes someone who looks down on people they consider less important or sophisticated.
Part of Speech: Adjective
Example Sentence: She didn't want to sit with us at lunch because she thought we weren’t cool enough for her snooty friends.
In the word “unbelievably”, identify: prefix, root, suffix(es), and explain how each part changes the meaning.
Prefix: un- = not
Root: believe = base verb
Suffix: -able = capable of being
Suffix: -ly = turns adjective into adverb
Whole word = in a manner that is not capable of being believed.
What does 'ethnic cleansing' mean? What part of speech is it? Give an example, please.
Definition: The forced removal and displacement of a specific ethnic, religious, or cultural group from a particular area, often through violence, or other oppressive means. It is considered a grave human rights violation and is sometimes linked to genocide.
Part of Speech: Noun Example Sentences:
The international community condemned the ethnic cleansing of minority groups in the region.
Survivors of ethnic cleansing often seek refuge in neighboring countries.
Combine these two sentences into one using a semicolon AND a conjunctive adverb
She studied for hours; however, she was still nervous about the exam.
GUESS
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What does chortling mean? what is its part of speech? And give me an example sentence.
Definition: Laughing in a joyful, breathy, or gleeful way.
Part of Speech: Verb
Example Sentence: She was chortling with delight after hearing the funny joke.
Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
"Even though the city had promised to renovate the old library, the project dragged on for years. Residents complained about the lack of communication and the rising costs, yet the officials insisted that patience was necessary to ensure quality."
Question 1: What is the author’s tone in this passage?
Question 2: Which phrase best supports the idea that residents were dissatisfied?
Question 3 (Inference): Why do officials claim patience is necessary?
Question 1: What is the author’s tone in this passage?
Critical / slightly frustrated. Words like “complained,” “dragged on,” and “rising costs” show the author highlights inefficiency and tension between officials and residents.
Question 2: Which phrase best supports the idea that residents were dissatisfied?
"Residents complained about the lack of communication and the rising costs.” This is a literal support of residents’ dissatisfaction.
Question 3 (Inference): Why do officials claim patience is necessary?
They want to justify delays by suggesting that careful work requires more time. This is an inference; the passage doesn’t explicitly say “they are delaying,” but their justification implies it.
What does lamenting mean? what is its part of speech? And give me an example sentence.
Definition: Expressing sorrow, regret, or disappointment about something.
Part of Speech: Verb
Example Sentence: He was lamenting the loss of his childhood home, wishing he could have done more to save it.
Read the short passage and answer the following questions:
Lila loved the quiet of the library, where every shelf held stories waiting to be discovered. Even on the busiest days, she could find a corner and lose herself in a book.
Question 1: Why does Lila enjoy the library?
Question 2: What does “lose herself in a book” mean?
Question 3: How might Lila feel on a day when the library is very crowded?
Question 1: Why does Lila enjoy the library?
he enjoys the library because it offers quiet and a chance to explore books undisturbed.The text mentions “quiet” and “lose herself in a book,” showing her preference for calm and reading.
Question 2: What does “lose herself in a book” mean?
To become completely absorbed or focused on reading. It’s a figurative expression indicating deep engagement.
Question 3: How might Lila feel on a day when the library is very crowded?
Likely frustrated or distracted.The passage emphasizes quiet as important to her enjoyment, so a crowded, noisy library would reduce her pleasure.
Identify and fix the error in this sentence:
“Although she studied hard she didn’t pass the test she was disappointed.”
“Although she studied hard, she didn’t pass the test, and she was disappointed.”
Why? The first comma separates the dependent clause; the second joins two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction.