Many of the quizzes on this page came from:
Many Things Org
ELC Study Zone
The English Club
Activities for ESL Students (a4esl)
Guide To Grammar and Writing
Houghton Mifflin English
(the home of Grammar blast!
Last Update: March 31, 2007
Advanced Grammar Topics
Basic grammar topics are here.
Phrases
| What is a phrase? | A phrase is simply a group of words that go together. HOWEVER...it does not have a subject nor a verb. If it does, then it is a clause (see below). (Note!! It may contain a verbal, which is NOT a verb.) Examples of phrases: a ton of homework, at the beach, shiney and bright, here and there, eating quickly . If a phrase is used as a noun, it is a "noun phrase." I have a ton of homework. If a phrase begins with a preposition, it is called a "prepositional phrase." I will do it at the beach. If a phrase is used as an adjective (to modify a noun), it is called an "adjective phrase." I will do it with my shiney and bright pencil. If a phrase is used as an adverb, it is called an adverbial phrase. Dogs were running here and there. If a phrase uses a participle ( a type of a verbal), it is called a participial phrase. Eating quickly, I finished my meal within 5 minutes. |
Quiz C1 | Prepositional phrases. | The prepositional phrase is the group of words, starting at the preposition and including its object and any adjectives. Prepositions always take an object. If there is no object...what you have is not a preposition! | Quiz C2 |
Clauses
| What is a clause? | A group of words with both a subject and a verb. | Quiz C6 |
| Independent and dependent (subordinate) clauses . |
If you are "independent," you can manage on your own. You make your own money, pay your own bills, and worry about yourself. If you are "dependent," you depend on someone. Kids under age 18 are considered dependents...they rely on their parents for food, clothing, shelter and money! The same with sentences! Independent clauses can stand on their own. As a matter of fact, a simple, everyday sentence is also an independent clause. Ram went swimming. Dependent clauses, need help. They have to be attached to another clause or they don't make sense. Ram went swimming, although it was raining. They DEPEND on the main clause to make sense!! They are attached with a "subordinate conjunction" (see below). Imagine that somebody says to you: "Hello! Although it was raining." What do you understand? Nothing! But a main or independent clause can exist alone. You will understand very well if somebody says to you: "Hello! Ram went swimming." |
Quiz C7 |
| Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences |
A simple sentence has one independent clause. It was raining. The wind was blowing. I was dry in the shelter. A compound sentence has two independent clauses, joined together by a coordinating conjunction (see next entry, below). Each clause is actually a good sentence, all by itself, but they are joined together. It was raining and the wind was blowing. It was raining, but I was dry in the shelter. A complex sentence has an independent clause and a dependent clause (which is joined with a subordinating conjunction, obviously!). Although it was raining, I was dry in the shelter. |
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| Coordinating and subordinating conjunctions . | Coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so) join two "equal" parts of the sentence. * I like coffee and tea.(two nouns) * I like coffee, but John likes tea.(2 independent clauses) * The table legs were weak, so it collaped. (2 independent clauses) Subordinating conjunctions (after, although, as, because, before, how, if, once, since, than, that, though, till, until, when, where, whether, while ...) join a dependent clauses to the main (independent) clause. * She did her homework, although she was tired. * If you want, come at eight o'clock. |
Quiz C7 |
Verbals!!
| What are the verbals? | Verbals are exactly what they sound like....words that kind of look like verbs, but they function as some other part of speech. They can be divided into three types: participles, gerunds, infinitives. | Quiz C8 |
| What is a participle? | There are two types of participles: past participles and present participles. |
Quiz C10 (Note, numbers 3,5, 8 are the past simple verb....not really a participle.) |
| What is a gerund? | A gerund looks just like the present participle, that is, it is the "ing" form of the verb. However, it is used AS A NOUN and thus functions as a subject, object or complement. Examples: Listening to music relaxes me. Josie hates cooking, but she loves eating in restaurants. (objects) His favorite sport is eating. (complement) Bill's spilling the milk made everyone laugh. (Note that because "spilling" is a gerund, thus a noun, it is something that belongs to Bill and so we use the apostrophe s!) (noun) |
Quiz C9 |
| What is an infinitive? |
Basically, and infinitive is the simple form of the verb with "to" in front: to do, to go, to smell, to dance. It is used in the sentence as a noun, adjective or adverb. Examples: To dance is my dream. (noun - subject). My friend hates to dance. (noun - object) The tango is fun to do (adverb - modifies adjective "fun") She entered the competition to win. (adverb, modifies verb "entered") Bring a robe to wear over your costume. (adjective, modifies noun "robe") Here is a really great explanation, including information on split infinitives and some special verbs that eat the "to" off the infinitive. |
Quiz C11 |
| When to use gerunds and when to use infinitives | Sometimes, it is Ok to use either. Both I like dancing and I like to dance. or good sentences, although the first could mean you like watching dancing, while the second means that you like to do the dancing. However, some verbs must only be followed by a gerund, and others only by an infinitive. E.g. You would never say I enjoy to sing. but rather I enjoy singing. On the other hand, you wouldn't say I promised helping her but rather I promised to help her. There are no set rules, but here are lists of each. Verbs that take gerunds. Verbs that take infinitives. Note that some verbs are listed in both, but there may be a difference in meaning, depending on what you use. E.g. I forgot to lock the door means that you didn't lock the door. I forgot locking the door. means that you did lock it, but forgot that you did. Note: in my opinion, some of the diffences are so slight, that they are not important. |
Quiz C12 |
More things to give your brain a good workout!!
| Verbs: irregular Past | There are over 250 verbs that have an irregular past tense, and you should eventually know them ALL!
Here is a nice selection to study. |
Quiz C12a Quiz C12b Quiz C12c Quiz C12d x-word puzzle |
| Verbs: transitive, intransitive and linking. | Transitive verbs transfer action to an object. You can ask "what" or "whom" after the verb. The boy broke the window. More on transitive verbs. Intransitive verbs don't take an object. They end there, but they may be modified by an adverb (or adverb phrase), which answers, "how," "where" or "when." More on Intransitive verbs. Some verbs can ONLY be transitive (lay, raise, set), some can only be intransitive (lie, rise). Many can be both. I see the apple. (t) I see well. (i/t)) A linking verb makes the subject and the object "equal" - "The boy is stupid." "She seems nice." "I am Martha." "It was a rainy day." More on linking verbs. |
Quiz C13 |
| Raise/rise | One is transitive, one is intransitive | Quiz |
| Lay/lie | Again...transitive vs. intransitive. | Quiz1 Quiz2 |
| Verbs: Active and passive voice. | I ate the apple.Active (The subject [I] is DOING the action to an object.) The apple was eaten. Passive (The subject [the apple] is RECEIVING the action. The "doer" isn't always important: The applie was eaten - by whom????? We don't care!) |
Quiz C14 | Verbs: subject and verb agreement | Do you say "Neither the dogs nor the cat are eating." or "Neither the dogs nor the cat is eating."? Find out here. |
Quiz C15a Quiz C15b Quiz C15c Quiz C15d |
| Restrictive (essential) and non-restrictive (non-essential)clauses and phrases | The dragon that has two heads flies better than an eagle. The dragon, which has two heads, flies better than an eagle. Explanation. |
Quiz C16 |
| their/there/they're | Do you know how to use each form ? | Quiz |
| "Which/that" challenge. | Really fun,even though the language for the challenge is a bit advanced..maybe mom or dad can help! | Quiz |