Advanced Grammar & Rhetoric
Final Exam Review
Exam time already‽
Pop! Pop!?
Do you know the difference between an
ABSOLUTE PHRASE, an APPOSITIVE, a SENTENCE
APPOSITIVE, and a SENTENCE MODIFIER?
(1) Marsh devoted only one day a week to being
Donut Day – an idea even his wife would
concede to.
(2) The donuts calling to him, Marsh remained
vigilant in just getting what was on his shopping
list.
(3) Sadly, Marsh, a carrier of high cholesterol, is
one donut away from a clogged artery.
Do you know the difference between an
ABSOLUTE PHRASE, an APPOSITIVE, a SENTENCE
APPOSITIVE, and a SENTENCE MODIFIER?
(1) Marsh devoted only one day a week to being
Donut Day – an idea even his wife would
concede to.
(2) The donuts calling to him, Marsh remained
vigilant in just getting what was on his shopping
list.
(3) Sadly, Marsh, a carrier of high cholesterol, is
one donut away from a clogged artery.
What happens when we add commas?
(1) The seniors who plotted a devilish senior
prank were caught and were denied diplomas.
(2) The seniors, who plotted a devilish senior
prank, were caught and were denied diplomas
Commas with participial phrases give us the same
results:
(1) The seniors plotting a devilish senior prank
were caught and were denied diplomas.
(2) The seniors, plotting a devilish senior prank,
were caught and were denied diplomas
Can you change it from Passive to Active Voice?
The seniors who plotted a devilish senior prank
were caught and were denied diplomas.
Can you change it from Passive to Active Voice?
The seniors who plotted a devilish senior prank
were caught and were denied diplomas.
The administration caught the seniors who
plotted a devilish senior prank and denied them
of their diplomas.
Diagrams:
Be ready for what tripped us up the most:
Patterns 9 & 10
Prep Phrases as Pred Nom / Pred Adj
Absolute Phrases
Appositives
Relative Adverbs (when, where, why)
Diagrams:
Be ready for what tripped us up the most:
Relative Adverbs (when, where, why):
Our stomachs tightening, we dreaded entering
Mr. Shockey’s room, where the fun was sucked
out every other day with a quiz.
Having spent four hours in the nurse’s office, a
handful of Motrin and a punch on the arm was
prescribed to little Dan by the new elementary
school nurse who was also a former drill sergeant.
A. a handful of Motrin and a punch on the arm was
prescribed to little Dan by the new elementary
school nurse who
B. a handful of Motrin and a punch on the arm was
prescribed to little Dan by the new elementary
school nurse, who
C. little Dan was prescribed a handful of Motrin and a
punch on the arm by the new elementary school
nurse, who
D. little Dan was prescribed a handful of Motrin and a
punch on the arm by the new elementary school
nurse who
Having spent four hours in the nurse’s office, a
handful of Motrin and a punch on the arm was
prescribed to little Dan by the new elementary
school nurse who was also a former drill sergeant.
A. a handful of Motrin and a punch on the arm was
prescribed to little Dan by the new elementary
school nurse who
B. a handful of Motrin and a punch on the arm was
prescribed to little Dan by the new elementary
school nurse, who
C. little Dan was prescribed a handful of Motrin and a
punch on the arm by the new elementary school
nurse, who
D. little Dan was prescribed a handful of Motrin and a
punch on the arm by the new elementary school
nurse who
Julia had hardly no money after her parents made
her shell out over $200 for her speeding ticket.
A. had hardly no money after her parents made
her shell out over $200
B. had hardly no money after her parents made
her pay out over $200
C. had hardly any money after her parents made
her shell out over $200
D. had no money after her parents made her shell
out over $200
Julia had hardly no money after her parents made
her shell out over $200 for her speeding ticket.
A. had hardly no money after her parents made
her shell out over $200
B. had hardly no money after her parents made
her pay out over $200
C. had hardly any money after her parents made
her shell out over $200
D. had no money after her parents made her shell
out over $200
Luke's awesome Metallica cover band includes
Regan, who rips up the bass guitar, Marco, who
manhandles the drums, and Mr. Britton, who plays a
mean harmonica.
A. includes Regan, who rips up the bass guitar,
Marco, who manhandles the drums, and Mr. Britton,
who plays a mean harmonica
B. includes Regan, who rips up the bass guitar;
Marco, who manhandles the drums; and Mr. Britton,
who plays a mean harmonica
C. includes Regan; who rips up the bass guitar;
Marco; who manhandles the drums; and Mr. Britton;
who plays a mean harmonica
D. includes: Regan, who rips up the bass guitar,
Marco, who manhandles the drums, and Mr. Britton,
who plays a mean harmonica
Luke's awesome Metallica cover band includes
Regan, who rips up the bass guitar, Marco, who
manhandles the drums, and Mr. Britton, who plays a
mean harmonica.
A. includes Regan, who rips up the bass guitar,
Marco, who manhandles the drums, and Mr. Britton,
who plays a mean harmonica
B. includes Regan, who rips up the bass guitar;
Marco, who manhandles the drums; and Mr. Britton,
who plays a mean harmonica
C. includes Regan; who rips up the bass guitar;
Marco; who manhandles the drums; and Mr. Britton;
who plays a mean harmonica
D. includes: Regan, who rips up the bass guitar,
Marco, who manhandles the drums, and Mr. Britton,
who plays a mean harmonica
There were a number of things Hunter would
rather be doing right now than taking this quiz,
for example: having a root canal.
A. than taking this quiz, for example: having a
root canal.
B. than taking this quiz; for example: having a
root canal would be better.
C. than taking this quiz; for example, having a root
canal would be better.
D. than taking this quiz; For example, having a
root canal would be better.
There were a number of things Hunter would
rather be doing right now than taking this quiz,
for example: having a root canal.
A. than taking this quiz, for example: having a
root canal.
B. than taking this quiz; for example: having a
root canal would be better.
C. than taking this quiz; for example, having a root
canal would be better.
D. than taking this quiz; For example, having a
root canal would be better.
Robin enjoyed the tomfoolery of her previous English
classes, she now realizes that she learned absolutely
nothing and her brain hurts too easily from these
grammar “review” worksheets.
A. of her previous English classes, she now realizes
that she learned absolutely nothing and her brain
hurts
B. of her previous English classes; hence, she now
realizes that she learned absolutely nothing – her
brain hurts
C. of her previous English classes, now she realizes
that she learned absolutely nothing. Her brain hurts
D. of her previous English classes. She now realizes
that she learned absolutely nothing, and her brain
hurts
Robin enjoyed the tomfoolery of her previous English
classes, she now realizes that she learned absolutely
nothing and her brain hurts too easily from these
grammar “review” worksheets.
A. of her previous English classes, she now realizes
that she learned absolutely nothing and her brain
hurts
B. of her previous English classes; hence, she now
realizes that she learned absolutely nothing – her
brain hurts
C. of her previous English classes, now she realizes
that she learned absolutely nothing. Her brain hurts
D. of her previous English classes. She now realizes
that she learned absolutely nothing, and her brain
hurts
Our liberal school newspaper The Limelight had the two
candidates for head lunch lady described as neck in neck in
the polls, but we knew not to trust such left-winged yellow
journalism.
A. Our liberal school newspaper The Limelight had the two
candidates for head lunch lady described as neck in neck in
the polls
B. Our liberal school newspaper, The Limelight had the two
candidates for head lunch lady described as neck and neck
in the polls
C. Our liberal school newspaper, The Limelight, had the two
candidates for head lunch lady described as neck in neck in
the polls
D. Our liberal school newspaper, The Limelight, had the two
candidates for head lunch lady described as neck and neck
in the polls
Our liberal school newspaper The Limelight had the two
candidates for head lunch lady described as neck in neck in
the polls, but we knew not to trust such left-winged yellow
journalism.
A. Our liberal school newspaper The Limelight had the two
candidates for head lunch lady described as neck in neck in
the polls
B. Our liberal school newspaper, The Limelight had the two
candidates for head lunch lady described as neck and neck
in the polls
C. Our liberal school newspaper, The Limelight, had the two
candidates for head lunch lady described as neck in neck in
the polls
D. Our liberal school newspaper, The Limelight, had the two
candidates for head lunch lady described as neck and neck
in the polls
After eating a Pumpkin Pie Blizzard in a three
minute frenzy, Ellie’s stomach gurgled, and her
head hurt from the ice cream.
A. After eating a Pumpkin Pie Blizzard in a three
minute frenzy, Ellie’s stomach gurgled
B. After eating a Pumpkin Pie Blizzard in a three
minute frenzy, Ellie’s stomach gurgled
C. After eating a Pumpkin Pie Blizzard in a three
minute frenzy, Ellie felt her stomach: It gurgled
D. After Ellie had eaten a Pumpkin Pie Blizzard in a
three minute frenzy, her stomach gurgled
After eating a Pumpkin Pie Blizzard in a three
minute frenzy, Ellie’s stomach gurgled, and her
head hurt from the ice cream.
A. After eating a Pumpkin Pie Blizzard in a three
minute frenzy, Ellie’s stomach gurgled
B. After eating a Pumpkin Pie Blizzard in a three
minute frenzy, Ellie’s stomach gurgled
C. After eating a Pumpkin Pie Blizzard in a three
minute frenzy, Ellie felt her stomach: It gurgled
D. After Ellie had eaten a Pumpkin Pie Blizzard in a
three minute frenzy, her stomach gurgled
After his first solid A on a grammar quiz, Jake
discovered that he liked being a “grammar snob,”
consequently began dressing in sweater vests and
striped ties and making disparaging remarks to his
dubious peers.
A. Jake discovered that he liked being a “grammar
snob,” consequently began dressing
B. Jake discovered that he liked being a “grammar
snob;” consequently he began dressing
C. Jake discovered that he liked being a “grammar
snob;” consequently, he began dressing
D. Jake discovered that he liked being a “grammar
snob,” and consequently began dressing
After his first solid A on a grammar quiz, Jake
discovered that he liked being a “grammar snob,”
consequently began dressing in sweater vests and
striped ties and making disparaging remarks to his
dubious peers.
A. Jake discovered that he liked being a “grammar
snob,” consequently began dressing
B. Jake discovered that he liked being a “grammar
snob;” consequently he began dressing
C. Jake discovered that he liked being a “grammar
snob;” consequently, he began dressing
D. Jake discovered that he liked being a “grammar
snob,” and consequently began dressing
Erin was despondent with the end of her junior
year and with three-fourths of her high school
years behind her, even though she was eager to
graduate and to move on.
A. year and with three-fourths of her high school
years behind her, even though she
B. year, and with three-fourths of her high school
years behind her, even though she
C. year and with three-fourths of her high school
years behind her even though she
D. year, and with three-fourths of her high school
years behind her even though she
Erin was despondent with the end of her junior
year and with three-fourths of her high school
years behind her, even though she was eager to
graduate and to move on.
A. year and with three-fourths of her high school
years behind her, even though she
B. year, and with three-fourths of her high school
years behind her, even though she
C. year and with three-fourths of her high school
years behind her even though she
D. year, and with three-fourths of her high school
years behind her even though she
To achieve an astounding 105% in Advanced
Grammar, Ava’s final writing, usually her strength,
needed to be perfect.
A. To achieve an astounding 105% in Advanced
Grammar, Ava’s final writing
B. In order to achieve an astounding 105% in
Advanced Grammar, Ava’s final writing
C. For her to achieve an astounding 105% in
Advanced Grammar, Ava’s final writing
D. For Ava to achieve an astounding 105% in
Advanced Grammar, her final writing
To achieve an astounding 105% in Advanced
Grammar, Ava’s final writing, usually her strength,
needed to be perfect.
A. To achieve an astounding 105% in Advanced
Grammar, Ava’s final writing
B. In order to achieve an astounding 105% in
Advanced Grammar, Ava’s final writing
C. For her to achieve an astounding 105% in
Advanced Grammar, Ava’s final writing
D. For Ava to achieve an astounding 105% in
Advanced Grammar, her final writing
Mr. Houck had to cancel the Senior Class trip:
every student refused to spend their money on a
trip to an Tolerance Museum.
A. trip: every student refused to spend their
money on a trip
B. trip: Every student refused to spend their
money on a trip
C. trip: Every student refused to spend his money
on a trip
D. trip: Every student refused to spend money on
a trip
Mr. Houck had to cancel the Senior Class trip:
every student refused to spend their money on a
trip to an Tolerance Museum.
A. trip: every student refused to spend their
money on a trip
B. trip: Every student refused to spend their
money on a trip
C. trip: Every student refused to spend his money
on a trip
D. trip: Every student refused to spend money on
a trip
Proud of her work, Cristina turned in her writing
and said to herself, “If anyone in the class gets a 9
it will be I!”
A. If anyone in the class gets a 9 it will be I
B. If anyone in the class gets a 9 it will be me
C. If anyone in the class gets a 9, it will be I
D. If anyone in the class gets a 9, it will be me
Proud of her work, Cristina turned in her writing
and said to herself, “If anyone in the class gets a 9
it will be I!”
A. If anyone in the class gets a 9 it will be I
B. If anyone in the class gets a 9 it will be me
C. If anyone in the class gets a 9, it will be I
D. If anyone in the class gets a 9, it will be me
Just between you and I, I think that Marsh
fabricates most of these diagramming rules just to
appease students like Ellie.
A. between you and I, I think that Marsh
B. between you and I, I think, that Marsh
C. between you and me, I think, that Marsh
D. between you and me, I think that Marsh
Just between you and I, I think that Marsh
fabricates most of these diagramming rules just to
appease students like Ellie.
A. between you and I, I think that Marsh
B. between you and I, I think, that Marsh
C. between you and me, I think, that Marsh
D. between you and me, I think that Marsh
You can either leave the car in the driveway or it
can go in the garage.
A. You can either leave the car in the driveway or
it can go in the garage
B. You can leave the car either in the driveway, or
it can go in the garage
C. You can either leave the car in the driveway or
park it in the garage
D. Either you can leave the car in the driveway, or
park it in the garage
You can either leave the car in the driveway or it
can go in the garage.
A. You can either leave the car in the driveway or
it can go in the garage
B. You can leave the car either in the driveway, or
it can go in the garage
C. You can either leave the car in the driveway or
park it in the garage
D. Either you can leave the car in the driveway, or
park it in the garage
Having read another chapter in her grammar book,
Emily's grammar course was incredibly banal but
ironically helpful for her college writing skills.
A. Emily's grammar course was incredibly banal but
ironically helpful for her college writing skills
B. Emily found her grammar course to be incredibly
banal but ironically helpful for her college writing
skills
C. Emily was incredibly banal but ironically helped by
her grammar course for her college writing skills
D. Emily's college writing skills had been helped by
her incredibly banal grammar course
Having read another chapter in her grammar book,
Emily's grammar course was incredibly banal but
ironically helpful for her college writing skills.
A. Emily's grammar course was incredibly banal but
ironically helpful for her college writing skills
B. Emily found her grammar course to be incredibly
banal but ironically helpful for her college writing
skills
C. Emily was incredibly banal but ironically helped by
her grammar course for her college writing skills
D. Emily's college writing skills had been helped by
her incredibly banal grammar course
Mr. Marsh, as well as the rest of the English
Department, need to be fired for their gross
incompetence and lackluster performances.
A. Mr. Marsh, as well as the rest of the English
Department, need to be fired for their gross
B. Mr. Marsh as well as the rest of the English
Department need to be fired for their gross
C. Mr. Marsh, as well as the rest of the English
Department, needs to be fired for his gross
D. Mr. Marsh, along with the rest of the English
Department, need to be fired for their gross
Mr. Marsh, as well as the rest of the English
Department, need to be fired for their gross
incompetence and lackluster performances.
A. Mr. Marsh, as well as the rest of the English
Department, need to be fired for their gross
B. Mr. Marsh as well as the rest of the English
Department need to be fired for their gross
C. Mr. Marsh, as well as the rest of the English
Department, needs to be fired for his gross
D. Mr. Marsh, along with the rest of the English
Department, need to be fired for their gross
To guarantee his passing the final exam, Logan
can either bribe Marsh with coffee or Chinese
food.
A. Logan can either bribe Marsh with coffee or
Chinese food
B. Logan can bribe Marsh either with coffee or
Chinese food
C. Logan can bribe Marsh with either coffee or
Chinese food
D. Logan either can bribe Marsh with coffee or
Chinese food
To guarantee his passing the final exam, Logan
can either bribe Marsh with coffee or Chinese
food.
A. Logan can either bribe Marsh with coffee or
Chinese food
B. Logan can bribe Marsh either with coffee or
Chinese food
C. Logan can bribe Marsh with either coffee or
Chinese food
D. Logan either can bribe Marsh with coffee or
Chinese food
Find the error:
On the morning of the final exam, Chaz and Sarah
gave one another hand massages in preparation
for the cramping that was sure to come.
Find the error:
On the morning of the final exam, Chaz and Sarah
gave one another hand massages in preparation
for the cramping that was sure to come.
Find the error(s):
Neither Regan nor Jake would give up their
precious grammar textbooks, each pretending
that they had “lost” it.
Find the error(s):
Neither Regan nor Jake would give up their
precious grammar textbooks, each pretending
that they had “lost” it.
Find the error:
Refusing to accept any praise or gift cards for
donuts, Marsh said that you could thank him in
another way: To simply tell others to take
Advanced Grammar.
Find the error:
Refusing to accept any praise or gift cards for
donuts, Marsh said that you could thank him in
another way: To simply tell others to take
Advanced Grammar.
Find the error:
Hannah found the class to be quite challenging,
still she admitted that she’d miss it.
Find the error:
Hannah found the class to be quite challenging,
still she admitted that she’d miss it.
Find the error:
However, Hannah would much rather take an
English class with Mr. Dougherty then another
class with Mr. Marsh.
Find the error:
However, Hannah would much rather take an
English class with Mr. Dougherty then another
class with Mr. Marsh.
Find the error:
Robin's parents were delighted with her report
card because she had never received straight C’s
before.
Find the error:
Robin's parents were delighted with her report
card because she had never received straight C’s
before.
Find the error:
However, her parents did not like the grammar
elitism that Ashley flaunted just because she
knew more than them.
Find the error:
However, her parents did not like the grammar
elitism that Ashley flaunted just because she
knew more than them.
Find the error:
Aaron found the final exam to be satisfying, – and
easy.
Find the error:
Aaron found the final exam to be satisfying, – and
easy.
Find the error:
Signing up for an easy schedule next year, Dan
wondered who he would get for Novels and Film
next year.
Find the error:
Signing up for an easy schedule next year, Dan
wondered who he would get for Novels and Film
next year.
Find the error:
We left Mr. Marsh with a simple “thank you,”
then returned the next day with a box of donuts
because no one eats a stupid “thank you.”
Find the error:
We left Mr. Marsh with a simple “thank you,”
then returned the next day with a box of donuts
because no one eats a stupid “thank you.”
Find the error:
If I was to go back in time to last year, I would’ve
told all my friends to take Advanced Grammar
with me.
Find the error:
If I was to go back in time to last year, I would’ve
told all my friends to take Advanced Grammar
with me.
Find the error:
We thank Saint Kitts and Nevis for giving us so
many points in the final round.
Find the error:
We thank Saint Kitts and Nevis for giving us so
many points in the final round.
Puzzlers:
Consider this gem: Is we used correctly in the
following sentence? Why could it be us?
It wasn’t a good idea for we dishwashers to go on
strike.
Puzzlers:
The relative pronoun agrees with its antecedent
in person and number but not necessarily in case.
So, with this information in mind, are the bolded
pronouns correct and why or why not?
I am looking for she who has an equal love of
grammar.
Puzzlers:
• The “check engine” light in Marsh’s truck has been lit for
some time now.
• It is one of many lights that make his dashboard look like a
Christmas tree.
• This is nothing that a strip of black tape can’t cover up and
make disappear.
Combine the group into a single sentence by using
subordination (not coordination).
Now add an absolute phrase.
Then include either a polysyndeton or an asyndeton.
Remove any to be verbs or passive voice.
Add either a dash or a colon (and other words, if necessary).
Puzzlers:
Having said that is a popular transition used in
speech (and not in writing, for obvious reasons).
Using the following example sentence, explain how
this transitional phrase violates what we learned in
Chapter 6 about participles but is justified in Chapter
8.
Having said that, the popularity of NASCAR is on the
rise due to impressible schoolchildren and influential
English teachers.
Puzzlers:
What makes this participial phrase different from
the others we studied?
Mr. Cooper, who made a fortune selling random
items from yard sales on Ebay, eventually quit
teaching for a career as an auctioneer.
Puzzlers:
How would you handle “in which” in a diagram?
Marsh read us a story in which he was crowned
the Grammar God.