Gramma + Grandpa
Doing Words Goodly
It's Lit
Blues Clues
The Tone Zone
100

This type of grammatical error is demonstrated here:

The man from Long Beach, who I knew well. 

What is a sentence fragment?

100

If a story uses the word "I" in the narration, it is told from a first-person one of these.

What is point of view?

100

This type of figurative language occurs when something is compared to an unlike object using "like" or "as".

Example: Gilroy is like a frying pan; it's hot and it often smells like garlic.

What is a simile?

100

If a test asks you to make an inference about something, it is asking you to do this.

What is make an educated guess?

100

Tone is also referred to as the author's this

What is attitude?

200

In the following sentence, this word is a preposition:

I bought a present for you.

What is for?

200

This is a type of word that has a very similar meaning to another word. You may find it in a thesaurus.

What is a synonym?

200

This type of figurative language occurs when an object is directly compared to an unlike object without the use of "like" or "as."

Example: My friend is a pig. His bedroom has dirty dishes and laundry everywhere.

What is a metaphor?

200

Mr. Vallejo gives A+s for truly exemplary essays.

What is perfect/model-worthy?

200

The following text has this kind of tone.

My cat purrs softly on my lap. I have a warm mug of tea, and I feel like I can melt into my chair. My worries and fears seem to have melted away, and hopes for the future and contentedness with the present cover me like a nice warm blanket.

What is cozy/happy?

300

This type of clause can stand on its own as a complete sentence.

What is an independent clause?

300

Denotation is the dictionary definition of a word, but this is the feeling or deeper meaning associated with a word.

What is connotation?

300

This is the message or meaning of a literary work. It may or may not be a moral statement.

What is a theme?

300

The tailor took his time to make sure every stitch was right; he was a very assiduous worker.

What is dedicated/hard-working/caring?

300

The following text has this kind of tone.

The trees were all dead. As I walked through the forest, it was completely quiet. I couldn't hear anything except for the crunching of the leaves underfoot. I couldn't help but tear up as I imagined this forest as having once been green and teeming with life.

What is sad/solemn/wistful?

400

This happens when a sentence uses the same grammatical structure all the way through. 

For example, Mr. Vallejo likes hiking, sleeping, and eating.

What is parallel structure?

400

Benefactor: Someone who helps, often by donating money

Benevolent: Kind or well-meaning

Beneficial: Something that helps someone

Benign: Not harmful

The root word ben means this.

What is good?

400

This is the way that a piece of writing makes a reader feel.

What is mood?

400

The sun was simply scintillating on that cloudless summer day.

What is bright?

400

The following text has this kind of tone.

I always ask myself, "did I do the right thing by not majoring in electrical engineering?" Sure, I do like my job in marketing, but designing solar panels sounds way more interesting. Sometimes I think about what life would be like if I just went with my gut when declaring a major. I guess I'll never know.

What is indecisive/slightly regretful?

500

This type of sentence has an independent clause as well as a dependent clause.

Example: In addition to playing guitar, Mr. Vallejo plays piano and drums.

What is a complex sentence?

500

This part of speech, often ending in -ly, often modifies a verb and often describes how the verb was done.

What is an adverb?

500

This literary device occurs when someone exaggerates something in an unrealistic way.

Example: Darius has very strong legs. He could probably squat a million pounds.

What is a hyperbole?

500

I don't know what exactly it was about their music, but Earth, Wind, and Fire's music had a certain je ne sais quoi about it that made it special.

What is something that is hard to describe?

500

The following text has this kind of tone.

First, add the dry ingredients to the bowl, then make a little divot in the middle. Then, add the wet ingredients and mix everything together. Then, proceed to knead, keeping your hands and work surface well-floured. 

What is neutral/informational?