Verb Tense
Misplaced/Dangling Modifiers
Active/Passive Voice
Sentence Structure
Wild Card Trivia
100

A _____________ error occurs when a writer changes verb tense without a logical reason.

tense shift

100

Does the following sentence contain a misplaced or dangling modifier?

Driving all through the night, the sun began to rise above the horizon.

dangling modifier

Driving all through the night, the sun began to rise above the horizon.

100

Most sentences sound clearer and more direct in _________ voice.

A) active

B) passive

A) active

100

What is wrong with the sentence below?

After dusting the bookshelf and wiping the tables down.

It is a fragment.

After dusting the bookshelf and wiping the tables down.

100

Which US president served the most terms? Hint: he dies 2 months into his 4th term

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR)

200

Why does the following sentence contain an error?

After John gets home from the office, he cooked dinner.

After John gets home from the office, he cooked dinner.

It contains a tense shift and goes from present to past tense.

200

A misplaced modifier occurs when:

A) there is a modifier that is too far from the thing it is describing.

B) the sentence uses a modifier that is irrelevant to what it is talking about.

C) there is nothing in a sentence worth modifying.

A) there is a modifier that is too far from the thing it is describing.

200

Is the following sentence written in active or passive voice?

Barry mowed the lawn and swept the sidewalk.

active

200

What is wrong with the sentence below?

Next Thursday is Thanksgiving, I can't wait to see family.

It is a comma splice.

Next Thursday is Thanksgiving, I can't wait to see family.

200

Who painted the Mona Lisa?

Leonardo Da Vinci

300

Correct the following sentence:

The University Writing Center helps students with their essays but it didn't actually offer editing services.

The University Writing Center helps students with their essays but it doesn't actually offer editing services.

300

Which of the following sentences is written correctly?

A) Though seen as a distasteful vegetable, I personally like eating broccoli. 

B) I personally like eating broccoli, even though it is seen as a distasteful vegetable.

C) I personally like eating, though seen as a distasteful vegetable, broccoli.

B) I personally like eating broccoli, even though it is seen as a distasteful vegetable.

300

What are the three times when passive voice is preferred?

1) You want to emphasize the person or thing that is acted on

2) The actor is unknown

3) The actor is irrelevant

300

Is the following sentence simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex?

Because I was feeling energized, I went for a bike ride and then I played basketball for two hours.

compound-complex

Because I was feeling energized, I went for a bike ride and then I played basketball for two hours

300

What is the atomic symbol for gold?

Au

400

Does the following paragraph contain any mistakes? Explain.

The Jets made a mistake when they traded for Aaron Rodgers. He is 40 years old and can't play like he used to. They lost the game last week and they will lose a lot more games this year. They are a bad team.

The Jets made a mistake when they traded for Aaron Rodgers. He is 40 years old and can't play like he used to. They lost the game last week and they will lose a lot more games this year. They are a bad team.

No mistakes! The tense changes throughout the paragraph but this happens because the actions are occur at different times.

400

Identify the misplaced and dangling modifiers:

(1) Walking to the grocery store, a huge dog appeared out of nowhere. (2) I stayed calm and tried to avoid it. (3) I continued down the street keeping an eye on the dog. (4) When I was on my way home, I saw that it was still there. 

(1) Walking to the grocery store, a huge dog appeared out of nowhere.   = DANGLING MODIFIER

(3) I continued down the street keeping an eye on the dog.   = MISPLACED MODIFIER

400

Why is the following sentence most likely written in passive voice?

The summit of Mount Everest has been reached by over 6,000 people.

"The summit of Mount Everest has been reached by over 6,000 people."

This sentence is emphasizing the mountain more than the people who climbed it.

400

Identify which sentences contain mistakes and explain how to correct them:

(1) The teacher began confiscating all Pokemon cards from the students they were constantly distracted. (2) He then sold them on Ebay and made a fortune. (3) Even bought himself a new car.

(1) The teacher began confiscating all Pokemon cards from the students they were constantly distracted.   = RUN-ON

 (3) Even bought himself a new car.    = FRAGMENT

400

What animal has three hearts?

Octopus

500

Identify which words need to be changed to make this paragraph make sense:

Yesterday, Sarah completed her assignment, takes the bus and went to the market. She picks up a few things to make for dinner. Last night, she cooks pasta. Tomorrow, she will prepare a special meal for her friends. Sarah is a great chef.

takes = took

picks = picked

cooks = cooked

500

Identify and correct both mistakes:

(1) After being taken for a walk, Melissa fed the dog its dinner. (2) Melissa looked at her watch to check the time. (3) Even though she had cleaned the apartment and taken care of the dog, she still had a lot to do. (4) She was getting tired. (5) It was midnight, and Melissa had almost done all the chores, when she finally called it a night.

(1) After being taken for a walk, Melissa fed the dog its dinner.   = dangling modifier

(5) It was midnight, and Melissa had almost done all the chores, when she finally called it a night.   = misplaced modifier

500

Using what we know, which sentences should be rewritten in a different voice?

(1) The diner was visited by the Miller family. (2) They had just returned from a vacation to see the Hoover Dam and were very hungry. (3) An omelet was ordered by Reggie because he loves breakfast food. (4) Cheryl had a club sandwich and a salad. (5) Their car was stolen during this time. (6) When they went to the parking lot and saw it wasn't there, they began to panic.

1 and 3

1) The diner was visited by the Miller family. (2) They had just returned from a vacation to see the Hoover Dam and were very hungry. (3) An omelet was ordered by Reggie because he loves breakfast food. (4) Cheryl had a club sandwich and a salad. (5) Their car was stolen during this time. (6) When they went to the parking lot and saw it wasn't there, they began to panic.

500

Identify the mistakes and correct them:

(1) The Knicks should not have traded Julius Randle because he was an underrated player for them. (2) Karl Anthony Towns is good but he plays no defense, he is weak. (3) They better figure out how to play as a team soon, the Eastern conference is strong this year. (4) Because many teams have improved.

(2) Karl Anthony Towns is good but he plays no defense, he is weak.    = COMMA SPLICE

(3) They better figure out how to play as a team soon, the Eastern conference is strong this year.    = COMMA SPLICE

(4) Because many teams have improved.    = FRAGMENT

500

Into which Pokémon does Pupitar evolve?

Tyranitar