EXERCISES

Comma Splices

Instructions: Decide if the sentence is a comma splice or a complete sentence

Questions

1.) John is always late for work, nobody seems to care.

a.) Comma splice
b.) Complete sentence

2.) Hot summer weather is nice, high temperatures are dangerous for certain people.
a.) Comma splice
b.) Complete sentence

3.) Emily broke her ankle on the weekend; now she is in a great deal of pain.
a.) Comma splice
b.) Complete sentence

4.) Driving the car is fast and comfortable, riding the bicycle is better for one's health.
a.) Comma splice
b.) Complete sentence

5.) When a student likes his class, he is more likely to achieve good grades.
a.) Comma splice
b.) Complete sentence

6.) Jarod had an interview with a television company, I might get a job as his assistant.
a.) Comma splice
b.) Complete sentence

7.) After I was paid last week, I was able to do the grocery shopping.
a.) Comma splice
b.) Complete sentence
8.) Due to the fact that I am busy this week, I don't have time for sports.
a.) Comma splice
b.) Complete sentence

9.) Whenever Janis does not sleep enough, she gets a horrible migraine.
a.) Comma splice
b.) Complete sentence

10.) The air conditioner is too loud, Cleo can't sleep.

a.) Comma splice
b.) Complete sentence

Apostrophes - Contractions

Instructions: Choose the correct contraction for each sentence.

Questions

1. He ____ want to go to the movies.

a.) didn't
b.) do not

2. He ____ eat fish because he is allergic to it.

a.) don't
b.) should not

3. She ____ get nervous while taking a test.

a.) doesn't
b.) shouldnt

4. They ____ want to join us for dinner later.

a.) wont
b.) will

5. She ____ as shy as she seems.

 a.) is'nt
b.) isn't

6. They ____ left for vacation yet.

a.) havent
b.) haven't

7. We ____ join you for dinner because we had another commitment.

a.) can't
b.) wouldn't

8. The new neighbors ____ seem to be very friendly.

a.) don't
b.) do'nt

9. You ____ study only on the night before the test.

a.) should'nt
b.) shouldn't

10. They ____ coming with us to Florida.

a.) can't
b.) aren't

Apostrophes - Possession

Instructions: Decide whether the word in the blank should be possessive.

Questions

1. His ____ house is up for sale.

a.) fathers
b.) father's
2. Total Quality Management is one of the important ____ in this course.
a.) concepts
b.) concept's

3. She was stressed out because she wrote all her ____ at the last minute.
a.) papers
b.) paper's

4. Good management ____ good leadership.

a.) requires
b.) require's

5. Good study ____ require self-discipline.

a.) skills
b.) skill's

6. In order to be a good leader, one must have good ____.

a.) followers
b.) follower's

7. The ____ vice president is related to the president.

a.) companys
b.) company's

8. My only ____ stocks went up yesterday.

a.) sisters
b.) sister's

9. The ____ presentation was very good.

a.) students
b.) student's

10. My ____ husband is my husband's brother-in-law.

a.) sisters
b.) sister's
Run-on Sentences

Instructions: Decide if the sentence is a run-on or a complete sentence.

Questions

1.) My academic advisor told me not to take 18 credit hours for the fall semester I'm regretting
not having listened to her.
a.) Run-on
b.) Complete sentence

2.) My cat was upset all day he didn't get canned food for breakfast.
a.) Run-on
b.) Complete sentence

3.) Organizations that promise students a scholarship if they pay an extraordinarily high
application fee are most likely scams.
a.) Run-on
b.) Complete sentence

4.) Because Rose was late for the all-you-can-eat buffet, she had to order from the main menu.
a.) Run-on
b.) Complete sentence

5.) The student fell asleep in class everyone thought this was rude behavior.
a.) Run-on
b.) Complete sentence

6.) Although an immigration lawyer might help me to stay in this country, his fees are too
expensive for me to afford.
a.) Run-on
b.) Complete sentence

7.) I like the history class because the material is explained so well.
a.) Run-on
b.) Complete sentence
8.) We followed the map we ended up in Canada instead.
a.) Run-on
b.) Complete sentence

9.) Although the trip to Montreal was not very well planned, we had a great time.
a.) Run-on
b.) Complete sentence

10.) I received an A on my Psychology test I am happy.

a.) Run-on
b.) Complete sentence

Misplaced Modifiers

Instructions: Select the correctly written sentence.

1. Select the correctly written sentence in this group.

Spending way too much money on his old car, Fred's salary just wasn't enough.
Spending way too much money on his old car, Fred soon found he'd used up his
salary.

2. Select the correctly written sentence in this group.

To become a respected politician, one must administer campaign funds carefully.
To become a respected politician, campaign funds must be carefully administered.

3. Select the correctly written sentence in this group.

I like to listen to rock music doing my homework.
I like to listen to rock music while I do my homework.

4. Select the correctly written sentence in this group.

The soccer team only won four games in the last three years.
The soccer team won only four games in the last three years.
5. Select the correctly written sentence in this group.
Without a plan for the weekend, we decided to take in a Saturday matinee.
Without a plan for the weekend, a Saturday matinee seemed a good idea at the time.

6. Select the correctly written sentence in this group.

The children were delighted by the monkeys swinging wildly through the trees.
Swinging wildly through the trees, the children were delighted by the monkeys.

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Homophones

Instructions: Which is the correct word?

Q1 - I didn't ____ what she said.

hear
here

Q2 - They forgot to take ____ printouts.

there
their
they're

Q3 - Venison is the meat from a ____.

dear
deer

Q4 - The house is by the ____.

see
sea

Q5 - She held the ____ in her hand.

reigns
rains
reins

Q6 - They tried to ____ the painting.

steel
steal
Q7 - He had to ____ the button on.

sow
sew
Either could be used here.

Q8 - I hope the ____ is fine.

weather
whether

Q9 - He was a medieval ____.

night
knight

Q10 - The building ____ is huge.

site
sight

Q11 - She's as mad as a March ____.

hair
hare

Q12 - She gave him a ____ of her mind.

peace
piece

Q13 - He ____ a snowball at the police officer.

threw
through

Q14 - It's a ____ of time.

waist
waste

Q15 - They didn't ____ us of the danger.

warn
worn
Q16 - They read the poems ____.

allowed
aloud

Q17 - It's made from wheat ____.

flower
flour

Q18 - They've got a ____ at the Ritz.

suit
suite
sweet

Q19 - On the ____, I enjoyed it.

whole
hole

Q20 - It's not much ____ to go.

father
farther