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Grammar-Quizzes.com is an open educational resource for understanding, learning and practicing English grammar usage. These materials present simple grammar concepts and are most appropriate for high school and college level non-native speakers, but also include practices that could be used for native speakers. Grammar points are listed both by grammar term and by word on this index page. This site, improved for faster loading and better accessibility, is available to instructors and their students without charge and is supported by Google Ads. Please let me know if you find a page error. Suggestions are welcomed. Contact Info, Navigation Options, English/ESL Links, Friends Page,
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A special thanks to Catherine Smith, Ellen Rosenfield and Helen Kalkstein for their expertise on grammar terms to use on this site (which is currently undergoing revision). In the future, you will find more contextualized activities, as well as brief "Grammar Notes" sections with sentence diagramming.
Index
Adjectives & Modifiers
Adjective Clauses See Modifying Clauses
Adverbs
Adverb Summary: an index of summary content of adverb practices |
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Adverb Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Adverb Uses: modifiers to other words; words modified by adverbs and word order |
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Adverbs for Manner : telling how something is done: uses, word forms, spellings, adverb list; happily, lengthwize,,well, hard, early |
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Adverbs for Manner Placement: word order options; Wind blew hard; He will silently turn away. |
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Adverbs or Time: telling when an action happens: aspects of time; present, past, future, present perfect, progressive; next week |
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Adverbs for Frequency : telling how often an action happens: usually, often, frequently, occasionally, rarely, hardly ever, never |
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Adverbs for Place: expressing movement in a particular direction: out, out of, outside, behind, back, backward, etc. |
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Adverbs for Degree: intensifiers, modifying verbs, adverbs and adjectives: rather, extremely, totally; so, such, too, very, enough |
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Adverbs for Focusing: drawing attention to information: also, just, only, even, really, mostly, mainly, neither–nor, either–or |
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Adverbs for Emphasis: emphasizing unexpected or extraordinary details: even, indeed, in fact, even / even though / even if |
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Splitting Verbs w/ Adverbs : deciding on adverb placement; word order options, variations based of adverb type |
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Adverbs or Evaluation : expressing attitude about a situation; evaluative adjuncts; attitude stance adverbials; fortunately, hopefully, sadly |
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Adv for Opinion new |
Adverbs for Opinion : truth or belief about a situation; modal adjuncts, epistemic stance adverbials; possibly, evidently, likely, actually |
Adverbs for Speech-act : conditions under which something is being said; style stance adverbials; frankly, confidentially, briefly, in short |
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Adv for Linking new |
Adverbs for Linking : indicating a relationship between two clauses; finally, namely, consequently, alternatively, incidentally |
Adverbs as Discourse Markers: grabbing attention, hesitating, and interjecting; so, well, then, ok, all right, like |
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Adverbials Moved to Connectors: |
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After / Before: indicating time-relative activities: before, after, as soon as, when, while, as |
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When / While: indicating same-time activities: when, while |
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By the Time: "Before but no later than": future perfect: by the time |
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Time-related Clauses: shortening modifying clauses: when, while, before, after |
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Because Clauses: shortening cause-effect clauses: because, same-time, earlier time |
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Agreement
Agreement Summary: an index to summary content of sentence agreement practices |
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Agreement Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Regular Plural Nouns: plural noun markers ending in -S: -s, -es, -ies, -ves |
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Irregular Plural Nouns: plural noun markers with other endings: -ee-, -en, -oes, -a, -ae, -ices, -i; varieties: fish vs. fishes |
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Irregular Plural Noun Practice: with irregular plural suffixes; -i, oes, -a, -es, -ves |
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Irregular Agreement: recognizing unusual singular or plural forms– exceptions; irregular agreement: English is vs. the English are |
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Final -S Practice: editing nouns and verbs for final -S / -ES; Final S sounds Listening for final -s [s] / [z] in words (audio) |
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3rd Person Agreement: agreement spelling patterns, irregular forms, checking verbs for agreement: third-person, final -s |
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Count/ Noncount: referring to mass nouns or units: determiners; money vs. dollars, coins, cents (the, this, that, these, those) |
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Group Nouns: referring to items collectively: equipment – computers; candy – candy bars |
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Count-Noncount Noun Practice 1: sentences with group (mass) nouns vs. items in the group: jewelry vs. rings |
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Count-Noncount Noun Practice 2: paragraph : lessons – homework; messages – communication |
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Determiners: noun markers: a, the, this, that, my, our, some, any, all, each, every, either, neither, none, such, which |
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Quantity Phrases: indicating how much or how many: some of, all of, the/a number of, none, neither...nor |
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Some / Any: indicating an indefinite quantity or number: some, any |
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Much/ Many: indicating quantity for count and noncount nouns much, many, so much, so many, much more, many more |
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Little / Few: indicating an insufficient amount: little, a little, few, a few |
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Food Quantifiers: referring to specific amounts: slice, cup, stick, bottle, spoonful ; pig - pork; calf–veal |
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Complex Agreement: subjects with modifying clauses; The silly looking monkey under the bananas is hiding. |
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Possessive Pronouns: indicating possession for people or groups: girl's vs. girls' |
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Common Mistakes: top 20 agreement errors: Everyone is; two percent is; two-thirds of the book(s) is/are |
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Sentence Edit: editing for articles, pronouns and singular-plural agreement |
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Paragraph Editing: using agreement within an essay |
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Agreement in Context: Identifying subject-verb agreement |
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Chapter Review: singular – plural agreement – Azar - Chapters 6, 7, 8 box-by-box review |
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PRONOUNS |
moved to Pronoun Section |
Articles
Article Summary: an index to summary content of article practices |
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Articles Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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A – Unspecific: referring to one as an example of all |
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A – Specific: referring to one in particular; |
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A vs. An: blending article sounds before nouns |
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All / The – class: Making generalizations about the group |
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The – Class / A – Unspecific: stating quality, characteristics and behavior; the lion vs. a lion |
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All / The – Specific: referring to all vs. a specific, identified one; People (all)/ The people (specific) |
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The – Earlier Mention: referring to an already known noun |
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The – Included Parts: in a city: the fire department, the doctor, the police department |
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The –Later Mention: identified by information after the noun |
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The - Shared Knowledge: a noun identified by other means-uniqueness, name, or shared knowledge |
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A - Nationality Names (Demonyms): referring to a person from a country (nouns and adjectives) |
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The–Group: adjectives without nouns: the poor, the young, the restless, the unemployed, the latter, the English |
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The – Landmarks: The Statue of Liberty, The Golden Gate Bridge |
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The – Geographical Features: The San Joaquin Valley |
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The – Countries: The Republic of China, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates |
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Most / Most of the: referring to a quantity of an uspecific or specific group |
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Another/ The other: referring to one more or the rest |
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First / Second Mention: a unidentified - the identified (indefinite-definite) |
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The – many ways in which nouns can be identified (definite) |
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Special Uses of the: wars, eras, dates, worlds events |
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The – Superlatives: stating a unique degree of a noun; the best movie, the worst acting |
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Known or New? The, A, no marker Sentence editing |
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Speaking in General: sentence rephrasing; discussing furniture: in general or specific article use |
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Paragraph Edit: A restaurant review; fill the blanks in with articles |
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In Context: Identifying article use; a 3-step process to determine which article to use; luxury items on Survivor TV show. |
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PRINTED PRACTICES |
Conditional & Hypothetical Tenses
Conditional Summary: an index to summary content of conditional practices |
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Conditional Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Present & Future Real Situations: cause-effect facts, predictions, intent and requests: if, will, can, be going to, should, happen |
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Present & Past Real Situations: cause-effect habits & customs; ; hypothetical statements: if, whenever |
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Present Unreal Situations: strategizing with hypothetical statements; if, could, might, would |
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Past Unreal Situations 1: analyzing with hypothetical statements; if, had had, would have |
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Past Unreal Situations 2: analyzing an accident: if, could have, would have |
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Should / Could have: late advice: analyzing past options and determining importance; should have, could have |
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Mixed Tenses: hypothetical situations in mixed time frames: If you had fed the dog, she wouldn't be hungry now. |
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Implied Conditions: a real or unreal situation? If he has time, Jack will/ would cut the grass. |
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Wishes: expressing wishes, regrets, upset, lost opportunity: wish, wish vs. if only! |
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Wish Agreement: tense agreement in conditional statements: My father wished I had gone / would go. |
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If / Unless: expressing conditions for desirable outcomes: if, unless, otherwise, only if vs. If only |
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If / Whether: stating a condition vs. an alternative: if, whether |
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Omitting if: giving advice in hypothetical situations; rephrasing an if-clause: had, should, were |
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If / In Case: stating a conditioned vs. a precautionary action in the event, in case and should |
Confusing Word Pairs (Troublesome Verbs)
Confusing Words Summary: an index to summary content of paired-word practices |
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Accept / Except: Is the action one of approving or rejecting? |
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Affect / Effect: Is it the cause or result? |
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Another / The other: Is it "one more" or "the rest"? |
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Because / Though: Is it an expected or unexpected outcome? |
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During / In: Is it a time with duration or an exact time? |
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Even / Even though: Are you emphasizing something or stating an unexpected outcome? |
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For / Since: Is it a quantity of time or a specific time? |
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Fewer / Less: Are you decreasing the amount of a count or noncount noun? |
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If / In case: Is it a conditioned action or a precaution? |
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If only / Only if: Is it a regretful wish or a particular condition? |
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If / Unless: Will the desired outcome be favorable or unfavorable? |
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If /Whether: Is it a condition or an alternative? |
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Lie / Lay: Who is lying down – the subject or the object? |
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Little / Few: Is the quantity a "count" or a "noncount" noun? |
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Like / As: Are you comparing something to a noun or to a clause? |
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Make / Do: Is the action "creating" or "performing"? |
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Most / Most of the: Is the quantity or number for an unspecific or specific group? |
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Much / Many: Is it a quantity for a count or a noncount noun? |
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Much / More: Are you increasing the amount of a count or noncount noun? |
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Rise / Raise: Who/What is rising – the subject or the object? |
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Say / Tell: Are you quoting or reporting? |
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Sit / Set: Who/What is sitting – the subject or the object? |
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So that / So…that: Are you stating purpose or emphasizing the quality of something? |
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Some / Any: Is it a quantity in a positive or a negative sentence? |
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There / There: Is it location, existence or possession? their, there, they're, there's, theirs |
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Use to / Be used to: Is it a former habit or a habit you are becoming accustomed to? |
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When / While: Is it a simultaneous activity of short or long duration? |
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Phrasal verbs (two-word verbs): do up, get up, give up, go after, have over, let on, look up, make over, etc. |
Connectors
Connector Summary: an index to summary content of connector, conjunction and transition word practices |
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Connector Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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FANBOYS: joining independent clauses with coordinating conjunctions; for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so |
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And/ In addition: joining sentence elements and sentences; and, as well as, and also, In addition, moreover, furthermore, besides |
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And so / too: shortening a repeated verb in a joined clause: and so do I, and I do too, but I don't; tag-questions: don't I? |
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Too / Either: adding a positive or negative comment: and too, and not either, but not too |
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Both...and: joining sentence elements with paired conjunctions; both...and, either... or, not only...but also, neither...nor, (or else) |
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But / But still: stating contrast or contrary outcome; but, but still, while, whereas, in contrast to, yet, even so |
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But not / Except: stating an exception: but not, but for, nothing but, all but, except, except for, cannot help, cannot but, cannot help but |
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But / Though: expressing defeat versus challenge; implied meanings; but vs. though |
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Rather than new |
Rather than: comparative preference; would rather than, rather than ( X and not Y), (X to avoid Y) |
Because of / In spite of: using adverbial prepositional phrases to introduce "cause"; because vs. because of ; though vs. in spite of |
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Because of / by: indicating reason or method; because of, by, with |
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Cause / Effect: indicating a causal relationship; consequently, therefore, as a result, for this reason, due to |
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Because / Though: expected and unexpected outcomes; because, though |
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Cause-Effect Review: expressing a cause and effect relationship; because, since, consequently, therefore, as a result, so |
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Because Clauses: shortening cause-effect clauses: because, same-time, earlier time |
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So that / Such that: emphasizing qualities and characteristics; so . . . that & such . . . that |
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So Phrases: expressing purpose, cause-effect, or resultt; so that, so... that |
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After / Before: indicating time-relative activities: before, after, as soon as, when, while, as |
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When / While: indicating same-time activities: when, while |
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By the Time: "Before but no later than": future perfect: by the time |
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Time-related Clauses: shortening modifying clauses: when, while, before, after |
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Connector Review: conjunctions, adverbs, and transition words; addition, alternative, cause-effect, comparison, condition, contrast, emphasis |
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Connector Edit: finding conjunction, adverb and transition word errors; but, even, not only, because |
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Connector Paragraph: using cause and effect connectors; main cause, as a result, because |
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Parallel Phrasing: joining like items with and and but; My English is improving slowly but surely. |
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Sentence Editing: correcting connector use: connectors, transitions, sentence boundaries and punctuation
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Diagnostic Quizzes
Diagnostic Summary: an index to summary content of diagnostic practices |
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BEGINNING: A grammar diagnostic page with study links. |
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BEGINNING: A grammar diagnostic page with study links. |
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BEGINNING-INTERMEDIATE: Intermediate grammar diagnostic page with study links. |
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BEGINNING-INTERMEDIATE: Intermediate grammar diagnostic page with study links. |
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BEGINNING-INTERMEDIATE: Intermediate grammar diagnostic page with study links. |
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BEGINNING-INTERMEDIATE: Intermediate grammar diagnostic page with study links. |
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SECTION DIAGNOSTICS |
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Adjective Diagnostic Quiz; a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Adjective Clause Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Adverb Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Agreement Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Articles Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Conditional Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Connector Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Gerund Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Infinitive Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Modal Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Noun Clause Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Passive Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Past Tense Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Preposition Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Present Perfect Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Present Tense Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Pronoun Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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soon |
Punctuation Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
INTERMEDIATE-ADVANCED: Adjective clause – auto-correcting quiz |
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INTERMEDIATE-ADVANCED: Modals – auto-correcting quiz |
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INTERMEDIATE-ADVANCED: Noun clauses – auto-correcting quiz |
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INTERMEDIATE-ADVANCED: Reported speech – auto-correcting quiz |
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ADVANCED POINTS |
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ADVANCED: Sentence examples that focus on improving awkward word choice or phrasing in English |
Gerunds
Gerund Summary: an index of summary content of gerund practices |
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Gerund Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Gerund as Subject: referring to activities; parallel phrasing, bulleted lists, spelling adding -ing |
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Verbs followed by gerunds: expressing attitudes about activities |
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Verbs + preposition followed by a gerund: commenting on activities; insisted on going ; looking forward to seeing |
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Gerund Clauses with Subjects: expressing attitudes about activities; excused him for leaving; excused his leaving; thanked him for giving |
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By / With: stating means and methods; by followed by a gerund, with followed by a noun |
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For followed by a gerund: stating function by verb+ing, for verb+ing, to+verb |
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Prepositions Followed by Gerunds: stating activities: about, against, after, before, by, for, from instead of, without |
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Sensory and Other Verbs Followed by Gerund-Participles: stating observations, perceptions; see, hear, find, catch, watch, sit, stand, etc. |
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Gerund / Infinitive Practice 1: verbs followed by gerunds or infinitives |
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Gerund / Infinitive Practice 2: verbs followed by gerunds or infinitives |
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Verb + Prepositional Phrase Practice 1: gerund clause as object of the prepositional phrase: about, against, after, for, etc. |
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Verb + Prepositional Phrase Practice 2: gerund clause as object of the prepositional phrase: put off doing, keep from hearing, etc. |
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Verb + Prepositional Phrase Practice 3: gerund clause as object of the prepositional phrase |
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By / With Practice: means or method |
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Parallel Gerunds: using similar word forms in a series |
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Gerunds in Context: identifying gerund use |
Infinitives
Infinitive Summary: an index of summary content of infinitive practices |
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Infinitive Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Infinitive as Subjects: referring to activities, quotes and definitions; to be or not to be |
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Infinitive as Complement to a Verb: expressing intent and wishes; hope, wish, like, expect |
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Verb + Pronoun + Infinitive: getting other people to do things; persuade, intend, ask; also, have, do, let, make |
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Infinitive Commands: imposing one's will on others; advised, order, command, expect |
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It takes + Infinitive: expressing how much is needed; it takes X + infinitive |
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Too / Enough: stating minimum and maximum requirements; too, enough |
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Adjectives +Infinitives: expressing feelings and reactions; happy to see; amazed to find |
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It's + Adjective + Infinitive: expressing opinion; It's difficult, easy, important, impossible to… |
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In Order + Infinitive: stating purpose: in order to… |
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In Context: identifying infinitives in an article |
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RELATED PAGES |
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Gerund / Infinitive Practice 1: verbs followed by gerunds or infinitives |
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Gerund / Infinitive Practice 2: verbs followed by gerunds or infinitives |
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Splitting Verbs: optimizing adverb placement; the split infinitive argument |
Modal Verbs
Modal Summary: an index of summary content of modal practices |
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Modal Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Will / Might: expressing degrees of certainty: will, may, might could, may have, might have |
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Be going / Will: expressing intent vs. prediction: be going, will |
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Will / Would: expressing intent and refusal: will, would |
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Would: stating preference, request, habit or excuse: would, would have, would rather have |
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Should: expressing expectation, convention or advice: should, will be, supposed to, ought to, should have |
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Could / Should: offering options and advice should, should have, could, could have |
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Should/ Must: expressing advisability and necessity; should, ought to, should have, must, had to, needed to |
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Must/Must have: making guesses, inferences and conclusions: might /might have vs. must / must have |
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Can/ Could: expressing physical, mental and potential ability: can, could, be able to |
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May/ Can: requesting permission and offering suggestions: may, can, could, would, shall, let's |
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Modal Agreement: complex sentences with mixed time frames: will, would, be-going-to, so that, said that, which, who, if ... then |
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Future Perfect: making predictions: will finish, will have finished |
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Modal Review: meanings in present and past tense; |
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Modal Practice: Means the Same! |
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Modal Quiz: auto-correcting quiz |
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Modals in Context: identify modals and tense use in the context of an article |
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RELATED PAGES |
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By the time: comparing relative events |
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Should / Could have: late advice: analyzing past options and determining importance; should have, could have |
Modifying Clauses (Relative Clauses / Adjective Clauses)
Nominal Clauses (formerly Noun Clauses)
Nominal Clause Summary : index of summary content of embedded-question, statement, and command practices |
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Nominal Clause Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Wh Question Clauses: Changing wh- questions to reported speech; tense agreement She asked me how I was. |
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Yes/No Question Clauses: Changing questions answered by yes or no to reported speech; She asked me if I was sick. |
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Command Clauses: Changing commands to reported speech (subjunctive verb form) |
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Statement Clauses: changing statements to reported speech (quoted speech); same vs. earlier -time agreement; deictic words: here/there |
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Synonyms for Said: other words for reported speech; formal vs. informal agreement |
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That–Subject Clauses: using a clause as the subject of a sentence |
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It–Subject Clauses: shifting focus to another sentence part |
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What–Subject Clauses: shifting focus to another sentence part |
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The reason is new |
The reason is: specifying a reason; the reason is, the reason why, the reason is because |
Subordinated Clause Quiz: auto-correcting quiz |
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Reported Speech Quiz: auto-correcting quiz |
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RELATED PAGES |
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Chapter 12 review: noun clauses |
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Infinitive Commands: imposing one's will on others; advised, order, command, expect |
Passive Voice
Passive Summary: an index of summary content of passive verb practices |
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Passive Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Focus on the Object: changing the object to the subject of the sentence; I was born (beginning – intermed. practice) |
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Focus on the Project: focusing on the collective work rather than the team (intermed. – advanced practice) |
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By Phrases: deciding when to include the "agent" |
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Indirect Objects as Subjects: placing emphasis on the receiver of the action |
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Never Passive: intransitive and stative verbs with no passive voice: happen |
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Get-Passives: using get in place of be in passive sentences: I got hit, got lost, got married, got it done, got myself dressed |
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Participle Modifiers 1: describing someone or something as the cause or the receiver of an emotion; amused vs. amusing; -ed vs. -ing endings |
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Participle Modifiers 2: describing things with adjectives indicating ongoing versus completed states a roasting vs. roasted chicken; -ed vs. -ing |
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Participial Adjective Quiz: auto-correcting quiz |
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Participle Modifiers and Prepositions: describing emtional reactions; interested in, surprised at |
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Participles+Prepositions Practice: known for; concerned with; accustomed to |
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Clause Reduction 1: reducing a clause with a passive verb to a participial clause: was located / located |
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Clause Reduction 2: reducing a clause with a passive or active verb to a participial clause: served as / serving as |
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Been / Being: contrast the sounds/words; been and being |
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Passive in Context: identifying passive sentences in the context of an article |
Past & Past Perfect Tenses
Past Summary: an index of summary content of past practices |
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Past Tense Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Past Complete: reporting past activities or events |
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Past Progressive: temporary past activities and setting background information |
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Past Habits: past behavior vs. habits, past states of possession, mind, being: would, used to |
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Reporting Source: telling source or emotional impact |
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Past Series: reporting a past series of events |
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Past Perfect & Progressive: contrasting earlier events from later events; past adverbs: before, after, when |
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Past Perfect Edit: using the past tenses in context |
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Past/ Participle Verb Forms: practice using irregular verb forms: awake - lay |
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Past/ Participle Verb Forms: practice using irregular verb forms: let - wear |
Pop Questions
Pop-Q Archive: an idex of the years' pop questions. |
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Archive 2011: an index of the year's pop questions. |
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Archive 2011: an index of the year's pop questions. |
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Archive 2010: an index of the year's pop questions. |
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Archive 2009: an index of the year's pop questions. |
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Archive 2008: an index of the year's pop questions. |
Prepositions
Preposition Summary: an index of summary content of preposition practices |
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Preposition Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Prepositions for Time: relating when: in, on, at |
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Prepositions for place: relating where – in, on, at, aside, beneath, among, etc. |
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Paragraph Practice: using preposition of time and place: in, on, at |
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During / In: expressing duration vs. exact time: during, in |
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For / Since: Indicating a quantity of time vs. a specific time: for, since |
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Phrasal Verbs: using two-word verb expressions: go about, go at, go away, go down, go off, go on, go out of, go over, go with. |
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Ending with a Preposition: using a preposition at the end of the sentence: question, passive and infinitive structures; phrasal verbs |
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RELATED PAGES |
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Adverbs for Place: expressing movement in a particular direction: out, out of, outside, behind, back, backward, etc. |
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Verbs followed by gerunds: expressing attitudes about activities |
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Verbs + preposition followed by a gerund: commenting on activities; insisted on going ; looking forward to seeing |
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Gerund Clauses with Subjects: expressing attitudes about activities; excused him for leaving; excused his leaving; thanked him for giving |
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Participle Modifiers and Prepositions: describing emtional reactions; interested in, surprised at |
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Verb + Prepositional Phrase Practice 1: gerund clause as object of the prepositional phrase: about, against, after, for, etc. |
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Verb + Prepositional Phrase Practice 2: gerund clause as object of the prepositional phrase: put off doing, keep from hearing, etc. |
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Verb + Prepositional Phrase Practice 3: gerund clause as object of the prepositional phrase |
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Participles+Prepositions Practice: known for; concerned with; accustomed to |
Present & Present Progressive Tenses
Present Tense Summary: an index of summary content of present tense practices |
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Present Tense Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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General Truth: referring to occurrences in nature; stating facts vs. making observations: turns vs. is turning |
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General Truth Practice: talking about weather; El Niño: is happens, comes, comes, drops |
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At the Moment: indicating temporary activities; am, is, am working, am taking, am having |
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Habits, Customs and Routines: referring to current activities – temporary vs. permanent; are preparing, are celebrating |
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Present Progressive: temporary habit or at the moment of speaking; is jogging / is listening -- is studying/ is taking classes |
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Scheduled Events: indicating planned acitivites and events; the exhibition returns / is returning / will return |
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States of Being: indicating existence and changes in states of existence; is, looks, seems, appears, resembles, becomes, gets, acts |
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Sensory States: indicating sensations and perceptions; hear, see, sounds, tastes, feels |
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Mental States: indicating thinking, cognition and attitude; knows, believes, thinks, understands, recognizes, remembers, etc. |
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Possessive States: indicating possession or ownership; have, belong, possess, own, hold |
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Emotional States: expressting emotional states; surprise, impress, please, astonish, amaze |
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Measurement States: meaurement, weight, distance, height and count; measures, reaches, weighs, consists of, contains, includes, etc. |
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Time-Related Events: indicating the relative time of two planned events: before, after, as soon as, while, when, as soon as |
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Present Tense Narration: story telling; "This guy walks into a bar.." |
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Verbs with Indirect Objects: indicating receivers of actions; me, to me, for me (dative verbs) |
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Present In Context: identifying present tense verbs |
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RELATED PAGES |
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Confusing Word Pairs: make/do, say/tell, lie/lay, rise/raise, sit/set |
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Never Passive: intransitive and stative verbs with no passive voice: happen |
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After / Before: adverbs used in mixed time frames - before, after, as soon as, when, while, as |
Present Perfect Tense
Present Perfect Summary: an index of summary content of present perfect tense practices |
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Present Perfect Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Up to Now: focusing on duration: for, since, so far, to date |
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Duration/ Repetition: indicating continuous vs. reoccurring activity: several times |
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Permanent/ Temporary: Indicating long- or short-term activity: since, ever since, for, this morning, all morning |
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Experience: referring to an activity or event in the unspecified past: ever, never, before; short answers: yes, I have / no, I haven't |
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Ongoing: referring to an activity in progress |
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Just/ Recently: relating the past to the present time frame: recently, just, lately |
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Already/Yet: happening sooner or later than expected; already, yet |
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Implied Meanings: using adverb clues to understanding meaning |
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Present State-of-Mind: connecting the past to the present |
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Sentence Practice: matching verb tense and adverbs: up to now, so far, since, this year, in my life; last year, yesterday, then |
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Paragraph Practice: matching verb tense with adverbs |
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For/ Since: Indicating a quantity of time vs. a specific time |
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Past/ Participle Verb Forms: practice using irregular verb forms: awake - lay |
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Past/ Participle Verb Forms: practice using irregular verb forms: let - wear |
Pronouns
Pronoun Summary: an index of summary content of pronoun practices |
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Pronoun Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Pronouns: using a pronoun to refer to a noun : he, she, we, they — him, her, us, them |
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Collective Pronouns: referring to groups or individuals; The Scouts value its rules / their people. |
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Double Pronouns: referring to two personal nouns; me and my dad vs. my dad and I |
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Indefinite pronouns: using agreement with possessive pronouns: everyone has his / their hat; gender neutral phrasing |
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Reflexive pronouns: referring to oneself; referring to all or part: myself, yourself, himself, herself, oneself, itself, ourselves |
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Possessive Pronouns: indicating ownership: his, hers, ours, theirs; generalizations: one-one's, you-your (impersonal) , they-their |
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There: referring to the existence of something; there |
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It / There: referring to weather, time, or existence |
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It / This: referring back to something; emphasis, former, latter; it this / that |
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Pronoun Placement: making noun reference clear; He was hungry, Jack decided. |
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Gender & Pronoouns: referring to both male and females; Everyone has his vs. their hat. |
Punctuation
Punctuation Summary: an index of summary content of punctuation practices |
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Punctuation Diagnostic Quiz: a diagnostic quiz to identify specific grammar points that need review |
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Apostrophes: marking contractions and possessive nouns |
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Bullet lists: punctuating items in vertical lists; parallel phrasing, introductory phrases, colons, semicolons, periods, capitals |
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Capitalization: using upper and lowercase letters |
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Colons: explaining or illustrating; introductory phrases, time and proportions, mail, emai, book citations, chapter, verse |
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Comma Uses: separating and setting of elements in a sentence: punctuating clauses and sentences with commas |
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Comma Series: separating elements in a sentence; Word Play – clarifying word form meaning with punctuation: commas |
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Commas, Parentheses and Dashes: inserting a comment within a sentence; commas, parentheses and dashes, appositives |
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Dashes (Em dash): setting elements of from the rest of the sentence; aside comments, lists, after thoughts |
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Hyphens & Capitalization in Headings: linking words to clarify meaning; capitalization of hyphenated words in titles and headlines |
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Italics: including titles of major works, and other terms in your writing |
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Parentheses: adding explanation and clarification to sentences |
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Periods: marking sentence ends, abbreviations and decimals; a.m. / AM, p.m. / PM |
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Quotation Marks: marking quoted speech, titles of minor works and terms; ellipsis |
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Semicolons: punctuating joined phrases semicolons, commas, colons |
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COMMAS IN CLAUSES: |
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Using a comma with a so (result) but not with so that (purpose) |
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Using commas with coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so |
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Using a comma to mark a word order change |
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Using a comma with a conditional sentence |
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Using a comma with an adverb of emphasis - even |
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Using a comma with a non-restrictive clause |
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Using a comma with a clause to include "all" or "some"; restrictive vs. non-restrictive |
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Using a comma with which to refer to a whole sentence instead of just one word |
Review
Review Summary: an index of summary content of review practices |
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Chapter review of singular-plural agreement (follows Azar v.3 text chapters) |
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Chapter review of noun clauses |
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Chapter review of adjective clauses |
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Chapter review of adverbials and other miscellaneous words and phrases |
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Chapter review of sentence connectors and coordinators |
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Chapter review of conditional and hypothetical sentences |
Sentence Structure (under development)
Sentence Structure Summary: an index of summary content of punctuation practices |
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Complete Thought: including a topic and a controlling idea; stream of consciousness; a spoken vs. written sentence |
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Subject–Predicate: identifying basic elements in a sentence; subject and modifiers, predicate, verb, adverbial modifiers |
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Finite / Nonfinite: verbs and clauses (Advanced); inflected v. noninflected (reduced) verbs, nonfinite clauses, tree diagrams |
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Auxiliary Verbs: distinct properties (Advanced) ; NICE properties: negation, inversion, code and emphasis, BE & modals verbs |
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Clauses/Fragments: Identifying larger elements in a sentence: phrase, dependent clause, independent clause, fragment, sentence–spoken/written |
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Run-on Sentences: identifying simple and compound sentences: coordinating conjunctions, semicolons |
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Cleft Sentences: shifting focus to another sentence part; it-clauses, what-clauses, that-clauses (clefts and pseudo-clefts) |
Writing
Writing Summary: an index of summary content of writing and composition practices |
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Planning Guide: foundation work for writing (pyramid) |
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Focusing Your Topic: selecting a reasonable amount as a topic |
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Topic Thesis: creating your thesis sentence |
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Introductions: writing four types |
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Copyright, Ethics & Fair Use: giving credit to other people's work |
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Fair Use Practice: determining what is or isn't copyrighted |
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Plagiarism: strategies for avoiding plagiarism |
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Plagiarism Examples: identifying plagiarized work from an example paragraph |
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Citing Your Sources: What is MLA Style? Examples of in-text and bibliographic citations; resources |
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Citation Order: (replaced by pages below, whch include 2009 changes) |
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MLA Citation Drag & Drop – Book: practice arranging elements into proper citation order |
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MLA Citation Drag & Drop – Magazine: practice arranging elements into proper citation order |
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MLA Citation Drag & Drop – Journal: practice arranging elements into proper citation order |
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MLA Citation Drag & Drop – Newspaper: practice arranging elements into proper citation order |
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MLA Citation Drag & Drop – Web: practice arranging elements into proper citation order |
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MLA Citation Drag & Drop – Music: practice arranging elements into proper citation order |
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MLA Citation Drag & Drop – Film: practice arranging elements into proper citation order |
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Citation Practice: identifying correctly written citations |
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Web Page Evaluation Criteria: separating fact from fiction; resources |
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Resources/ Bibliography
ESL Links
Contact Information
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Julie Sevastopoulos
Contact / Bio information page
Previously, this web site was named "Grammar Check" when it resided on the San Mateo Community College District server from November 1998 - April 2008. In May of 2008, it was renamed "Grammar-Quizzes" (an available domain name) and moved to its current host server (May 2008 – present).
