Grade XII Grammar
Problem #1
Definition: A comma splice is a comma that joins (splices) two independent clauses. A
clause is a group of words that has a subject and a verb.
How Do You Fix a Comma Splice?
Make two sentences instead of one: Robert ate worms. Mary dislikes Robert.
Use a semicolon (;). Robert ate worms; Mary dislikes Robert.
Use a subordinating conjunction (because, when, since, although,...). Because Robert ate
worms, Mary dislikes Robert.
Use a semicolon plus a conjunctive adverb (therefore, then, however,...). Robert ate worms;
therefore, Mary dislikes Robert.
Use a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) after the comma. Robert ate
worms, so Mary dislikes Robert.
Exercises 1.1: Each sentence below is wrong; it has a comma splice. Please correct
it.
1. Each sentence below is wrong, it has a comma splice.
2. Eliza ran to the store, then she bought some candy.
3. The stock market has moved in one direction lately, it has gone down.
4. Elvis Presley was a great singer, he was never really accepted by the country music's
mainstream.
5. Computer programs help us live saner lives, obviously the people who write them should
make lots of money.
6. Dubai has built magnificent office towers with luxuries and conveniences, it is considered
a great location in which to conduct international business.
7. Brazil has won several world cups championships in soccer, they are always considered a
good team.
8. The Quaid-i-Azam campus of Punjab University is considered excellent, it attracts many
students.
Exercises 1.2: Each sentence below is wrong; it has a comma splice. Please
correct it.
1. The legislature had enacted laws enabling debtors to discharge their obligations more easily,
the courts put an end to such practices by stipulating that no state could enact such laws.
2. Every wall was smashed to rubble, the only thing left of those houses was the land and the
rocks from the rubble.
3. My heart broke, the owners had no insurance.
4. The town looked deserted, the streets were so dark and empty that the only thing we could
hear was the wind blowing.
5. We worked from dusk to dawn, never had so many contracts been written in such a short time.
6. Money continued to flow in, we started to live the life of the rich, on weekends we ate at
expensive restaurants.
7. The river extended beyond the mountains, we saw the clouds merge with the water in the
horizon.
8. Men and women drink coffee because it adds to their sense of well-being, it smells good and
tastes good to all mankind, all respond to its wonderful stimulating properties.
9. Caffeine supplies the principal stimulant, it increases the capacity for muscular and mental
work without harmful reaction.
10. Like all good things in life, the drinking of coffee may be abused, those having an
idiosyncratic susceptibility to alkaloids should be temperate in the use of tea, coffee, or cocoa.
11. In every high-tensioned country there is likely to be a small number of people who, because
of certain individual characteristics, cannot drink coffee at all, these people belong to the
abnormal minority of the human family.
12. Some people cannot eat strawberries, that would not be a valid reason for a general
condemnation of strawberries.
13. Some writers claim for Persia the discovery of the coffee drink, there is no evidence to
support the claim.
14. The Persians appear to have used considerable intelligence in handling the political phase of
the coffee-house question, it never became necessary to order them suppressed in Persia.
15. Residue from a super-saturated solution produces ideal seed crystals for growth in a lab,
these crystals may contain impurities.
16. The need for occupational therapists has grown substantially, therefore more colleges are
offering programs in this high-demand field.
Problem #2
A fused sentence (http://www.grammar-worksheets.com/Lesson.Fused.Sentences.pdf), on
the other hand, occurs when two independent clauses (complete ideas) are joined without
any punctuation. It is better to avoid the term run-on sentence altogether and use only the
terms comma splice and fused sentence. They are more specific and more descriptive.
Fixing a Fused Sentence
To fix a fused sentence, determine where one MAIN IDEA ends and another one begins. In
the sentence above, for example, there seems to be a logical division between the words
itself and although. Although there are other ways to correct a fused sentence, the two most
obvious are
1. Placing a period between the two main ideas.
Revision: Fashion shows in the clothes we wear, and it is constantly changing and repeating
itself. Although fashion in the form of haute couture is everywhere, it isn’t for everyone.
2. Placing a semicolon between the two main ideas.
Revision: Fashion shows in the clothes we wear, and it is constantly changing and repeating
itself; although fashion in the form of haute couture is everywhere, it isn’t for everyone.
Exercises 2.1: Please rewrite the following to eliminate any fused sentences.
1. Janine’s uncle never graduated from high school he started his own landscaping company at
sixteen.
2. I have had a Mac computer for a year already I have no regrets about buying it.
3. People make their way across the desert they arrive in trucks with little ventilation, and they
are often beaten by the men who smuggle them.
4. These political victories add up It’s not just money, but dignity at home and on the job.
5. Immigrants can be sentenced to prison most are sent back to their native homelands.
6. Jammal’s supervisor installed a new fingerprint reader when employees arrive they must enter
an employee number and place their index finger on a small sensor.
7. The teacher distributed several worksheets some of them were taken directly from the
textbook.
8. Amar Chang has a goal in fourteen consecutive matches he is three shy of the record.
9. The dog jumped and barked near the lake he noticed an alligator swimming toward shore.
Exercises 2.2
1. Trees lay on the side of the road they looked as if they had been pulled out of the ground
by huge machines.
2. Every wall was smashed to rubble the only thing left of those houses was the land and the
rocks from the rubble.
3. My heart broke the owners had no insurance.
4. The town looked deserted the streets were so dark and empty that the only thing we could
hear was the wind blowing.
5. We worked from dusk to dawn never had so many contracts been written in such a short
time.
6. Money continued to flow in we started to live the life of the rich on weekends we ate at
expensive restaurants.
7. The river extended beyond the mountains we saw the clouds merge with the water in the
horizon.
8. Men and women drink coffee because it adds to their sense of well-being it not only
smells good and tastes good to all mankind, heathen or civilized all respond to its
wonderful stimulating properties.
9. Caffeine supplies the principal stimulant it increases the capacity for muscular and mental
work without harmful reaction.
10. Like all good things in life, the drinking of coffee may be abused those having an
idiosyncratic susceptibility to alkaloids should be temperate in the use of tea, coffee, or
cocoa.
11. In every high-tensioned country there is likely to be a small number of people who,
because of certain individual characteristics, cannot drink coffee at all these belong to the
abnormal minority of the human family.
12. Some people cannot eat strawberries that would not be a valid reason for a general
condemnation of strawberries.
13. Some writers claim for Persia the discovery of the coffee drink there is no evidence to
support the claim.
14. The Persians appear to have used considerable intelligence in handling the political phase of
the coffee-house question it never became necessary to order them suppressed in Persia.
Problem #3
Agreement of Pronoun with Antecedent http://www.grammar-worksheets.com
An antecedent is a word that comes before something. The root ante, meaning “before,”
gives a clue.
Agreement and number: The word agreement is interesting. In English grammar we
have a term called number, and, unlike number in math, number in grammar means
one of two things: singular (only one) or plural (more than one). So when an English
teacher says, “A pronoun must agree in number with its antecedent,” you know what
she’s saying: If you use a singular noun or pronoun, you have to use a singular pronoun
to refer to the original. You can’t (you’re not supposed to!) use a plural one.
Correct: Students lost their privileges.
The original noun is Students, which is plural; the possessive pronoun, their, refers (or
points back) to Students. The word Students is the antecedent, and both Students and
their are plural in number.
Wrong: Everyone who went on the field trip was supposed to bring their permission
form.
How do We Fix the Problem?
We could (but don’t!) simply use the pronoun his or her, as in
Poor: Everyone who went on the field trip was supposed to bring his permission form.
But unless you’re talking about all boys, you should not use his. Could you use his or her?
Yes, but that sounds too clunky, too heavy and awkward.
Your best solution is to rewrite the sentence and turn singular nouns into plurals. That way
you are grammatically correct and you do not use sexist or clunky language.
Better (1): Students who went on the field trip were supposed to bring their permission
form.
We can also rewrite the sentence omitting the pronoun.
Better (2): Everyone who went on the field trip was supposed to bring a permission
form.
Each method works. If you have enough creativity, sentences can be written in many
different ways. Some ways work better than others.
Exercises 3.1: Rewrite. Make each pronoun agree in number with its antecedent.
1. Would everyone please bring their computer to the writing workshop?
2. The principal indicated that every staff member had to submit their self evaluation by
Wednesday.
3. The operations officer noted that every soldier should have their own blanket.
4. School psychologists note the importance for every student to express their emotions.
5. Is every candidate for the position going to be given their application materials at the
interview?
6. If any investor has a question about the quarterly reports, they should contact their broker
directly.
7. If every customer complains that an item is missing in their order, something is wrong with
our procedure.
8. Would everyone who attended the meeting, please bring their tee shirt to the rally?
Exercises 3.2 :Rewrite each sentence so that each pronoun agrees with the antecedent.
1. Mrs. Carrasco told the secretary that yet another candidate for the job had forgotten their
resume.
2. When even one student forgets their assignment, the entire class suffers the consequences.
3. Please congratulate anyone who remembers their employee number.
4. Franklin remembered that the other runner had forgotten their registration fee.
5. Would someone please remind the class that nobody is to leave their patrol area without
notifying an officer?
6. If anybody sells six hundred boxes, they will qualify for a free trip to Athens.
7. Is each representative going to deliver their speech in front of the camera?
8. Anyone who does not have the correct change should give their money to the line monitor.
9. Nobody is willing to give up their parking space for the guest speaker.
10. Unless another contestant forgets the lyrics to their song, last place in the talent show will go
to Carl.
11. Each girl should bring their scout handbook and merit badge guide on the field trip.
12. Every gardener must fertilize their palm trees with nitrogen or the fronds may turn yellow.
13. Mrs. Gomez told her class that anyone who attends the music recital will receive extra credit.
14. Every player on the team must play to the best of their ability.
15. The principal told the PTA that anyone who wants their children to take art classes may
enroll them for free at the community center.
16. When you give someone your trust, you believe that they will not betray it.
17. If nobody wants their complimentary plastic cup, they should place it in the recycling bin.
18. Each manager must make sure that their employees’ performance reviews are signed and
dated.
Problem #4
Apostrophes
Errors in using the apostrophe abound in written English. Some writers use an apostrophe
where none is warranted, while others omit an apostrophe where one is required.
its, it's, OR its'
By far the most common errors in the use of the apostrophe involve the letters i-t-s. Some
writers believe, wrongly, that the apostrophe always implies possession; it does not.
Therefore, we have constructions like the one below.
1. The cat lost it's collar.
2. The cat lost its' collar.
3.
In the first sentence, the writer uses an apostrophe incorrectly to denote possession. The
correct form to indicate possession using i-t-s is its, always.
Correct: The cat lost its collar.
The form it's means "it is" or "it has," as in "It's a great day for roller skating" or "It's been a
long time since Karen came to class." This is called a contraction and should be used
sparingly, if at all, in formal writing.
In the second sentence, the writer uses a form that does not exist. The form its' does not
exist in standard English; it is wrong, always. To summarize,
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its = possession
it's = it is OR it has
its' = does not exist
who's OR whose
Another common error is confusing whose with who's.
Error: The post office manager, who's mother is in the hospital, retired.
Again, these are two words that sound the same but are spelled differently and mean
different things, homophones (or homonyms). The word whose indicates possession; who's
is a contraction for who is.
Correct Form: The post office manager, whose mother is in the hospital, retired.
you're OR your
Some students confuse your with you're.
Use the word your to indicate that something belongs to the person you're speaking to
(hmmm).
Use you're when you are saying something about the person you are speaking to.
Error: The brown dog ran away with you're raincoat.
Think about this. Would you rewrite the sentence "The brown dog ran away with you are
raincoat"? So the correct form is
Correct Form: The brown dog ran away with your raincoat.
The word your shows possession. You're means "you are."
they're, their, OR there
Here we have another error that confounds some student writers.
Error: Their not going to the movies until tonight.
Correct: They're not going to the movies until tonight.
The intended meaning is "Those people" (they) are not going to the movies until tonight.
The word their shows possession (their parking lot); they're means "they are"; there
indicates location or a state of being, as in "There are three letters in the word cat."
Exercises 4.1 : Correct the faulty usage.
1. If you think your going to the movies, your mistaken!
2. The boy who's dog was sent to the pound cried uncontrollably.
3. A good dog always cleans its’ food bowl.
4. The Sisters of Saint Joseph support they're convent with outside employment.
5. Its never as good a deal as the salesperson makes it out to be.
6. The rugby players promise that their not going to stop playing after August.
7. Their not going to the carnival, and your not either.
8. Its never too late to apply, even when the registrar's office closes it's doors.
9. Its’ important to realize whose actually using the computers in the lab.
Exercises 4.2 : Correct the faulty usage.
1. The orange tree wilted because it’s trunk was damaged severely.
2. At its’ peak, the river crested at sixteen feet.
3. The couple who’s son won the award swelled with pride as they walked out of the auditorium.
4. Margaret asked, “Whose going to attend the ceremony?”
5. If your going to the game, you should take a glove in case you catch a foul ball.
6. You showed good manners when you gave up you’re seat to the elderly person.
7. When they’re train arrived, the students quickly loaded the luggage.
8. When Janice and Karen tell there parents that their going to the same college, their parents
may buy them a car.
9. Its never a good idea to spend more money than we earn.
10. The old dog broke it’s paw when it fell from the sofa.
11. Did Graham tell you whose been selected to the all-star team?
12. After you have finish you’re lunch, please return to the classroom.
13. The Johnsons are not going to cancel there vacation just because of bad weather.
14. HLN promised it’s viewers complete coverage of the Casey Anthony trial.
15. Its been eight years since we met, and I love you more than ever.
16. Papa Bear growled, “Whose been sleeping in my bed?”
17. As long as your going to the grocery story, could you please bring back a carton of eggs?
18. The Mallory twins lost there tickets on the way to the Justin Bieber concert.
Problem #5
Pronoun Shifts
When we write quickly, we sometimes change the point of view of a sentence or a
paragraph by switching from one pronoun perspective to another. This switch in
perspective is called a switch in point of view or a pronoun shift. It is important to maintain
the point of view. For example, the first sentence in this paragraph could easily have been
written: "When we write quickly, you sometimes change the point of view of a sentence or
paragraph."
In this sentence, we started with the pronoun we, which is 1st person plural, and we
switched to you, which is second person (singular or plural). This switch detracts from our
writing style. Once we establish a point of view through the use of a pronoun, we should
maintain that perspective, unless we have good reason to switch it.
Examples of Pronoun Shifts
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As we rode into town, you could hear the silence of the frightened residents.
When I listened to Bach, you could almost feel a mathematical rhythm taking over your
thoughts.
If we did not text while we drove, you would not have as many accidents as there are.
These three sentences exhibit a shift in perspective. The point of view changes because the
use of pronouns changes. In the first sentence, we start with the pronoun we (first person)
and shift to the pronoun you (second person). This shift hurts our writing style.
The Solution (Correcting Pronoun Shifts)
We can maintain a consistent point of view and avoid shifts in pronouns in two ways.
1. Use the same pronoun in our sentences.
2. A better solution is to use a noun in the first part of the sentence. In this manner, the
pronoun use in the second part becomes almost obvious.
Correct Examples

Good: As we rode into town, we could hear the silence of the frightened residents.
Better: As the soldiers rode into town, they could hear the silence of the frightened residents.

Good (and Better): When I listened to Bach, I could almost feel a mathematical rhythm
taking over my thoughts.

When we use the pronoun I (first person) we really cannot use a noun. Referring to ourselves in
the third person sounds odd.

Good: If we did not text while we drove, we would not have as many accidents as we
have.
Better: If drivers did not text while they drove, fewer accidents would occur.
Sometimes we must revise the sentence to avoid a shift in pronoun. Sometimes this revision
makes the sentence shorter, better, and clearer.
Exercises 5.1: Rewrite each sentence to eliminate any mixed point of view.
1. The author suggests that the truth is sometimes painful, but telling the truth is better than
living a life being someone you are not.
2. When Margo married a widower her life became complicated because you can’t help but feel
jealous about a deceased wife.
3. Although it may be painful for a parent not to be your child’s role model, Patrice Grant
doesn’t have the right to be angry with her son’s choice.
4. As the soldiers marched away from the battleground, you felt as if the war may finally be
over.
5. A softball player who wants to develop her pitching form knows you will develop more skills
at a sleep away camp.
6. Students underestimate the amount of time required to study nursing because you simply
cannot pass your tests without extensive study and practical experience.
7. Regardless of how much teachers try, you cannot make sure that students attend every class.
8. When I ran, you would get cramps.
Exercises 5.2: Rewrite each sentence to eliminate any mixed point of view.
1. When children play violent video games, they start acting like the characters, and you
sometimes cross the line and disrespect your parents.
2. As thousands of riotous youth looted stores in London, you sensed that the conservative
government would respond vigorously.
3. Although I enjoy fishing from a pier, you sometimes wonder what fishing from a boat in the
ocean would be like.
4. When a customer is treated courteously, they are more likely to return.
5. I like competing in triathlons because you have the opportunity to train in three different
sports.
6. As more and more employees were rehired, you felt that management had really tried to
address the company's problems.
7. Marginalized groups often form close-knit communities, so you tend to socialize and shop
among members of your group.
8. Registered users must log in using their password, and you will be charged on a per-use basis.
9. Henry's group practiced life-saving methods in the open ocean; you were expected to swim
one hundred yards and return to the boat.
10. In Cancun, tourists experience sandy beaches and luxurious resorts, but you also see people
living in shacks with dirt floors and no running water.
11. Visitors to the Magic Kingdom can arrive by ferry or monorail, and you can see Cinderella's
castle in the distance.
12. After the football team completes two-a-day summer practices, school begins, and you will
have only one practice session after daily study hall.
13. Myrna remembered that patrons could reenter the museum if you still had the ticket stub.
14. When fans arrive late to a concert, you must wait for a pause in the performance to be seated.
Italics and Underlining Practice Exercises
Problem #6
Italics and Quotation Marks
Identify words or phrases that need underlining or italicizing in the following sentences.
You may check your answers with the key.
Exercises 6.1:
1. "Au revoir mes étudiants," my French professor said to his students.
2. The bee went bzzz as it flew past my ear.
3. The shelf to your left has the Chicago Times, the New York Times, USA Today, and the
L.A. Times; the one on the right has the news magazines TIME, Newsweek, and U.S.
News and World Report.
4. Number the Stars, written by Lowis Lowry, is an engaging novel set in Denmark.
5. How do you know it's what she wants?
6. The flyer says that in Act I of the play Wicked the chorus sings "No One Mourns the
Wicked."
7. The Book of Revelations is in both the Holy Bible and the Jewish Tanakh.
8. The box kite took to the wind and ZOOM flew over the trees and disappeared into the sky.
9. I heard the sizzle of the steak on the grill as Dad barbequed. Mmmm, I couldn't wait until
dinner. Buon appetito!
Exercises 6.2:
In the following sentences put in quotation marks wherever they are needed, and underline
words where italics are needed.
1. Mary is trying hard in school this semester, her father said.
2. No, the taxi driver said curtly, I cannot get you to the airport in fifteen minutes.
3. I believe, Jack remarked, that the best time of year to visit Europe is in the spring. At least
that's what I read in a book entitled Guide to Europe.
4. My French professor told me that my accent is abominable.
5. She asked, Is Time a magazine you read regularly?
6. Flannery O'Connor probably got the title of one of her stories from the words of the old
popular song, A Good Man Is Hard to Find.
7. When did Roosevelt say, We have nothing to fear but fear itself?
8. It seems to me that hip and cool are words that are going out of style.
9. Yesterday, John said, This afternoon I'll bring back your book Conflict in the Middle East;
however, he did not return it.
10. Can you believe, Dot asked me, that it has been almost five years since we've seen each
other?
11. A Perfect Day for Bananafish is, I believe, J. D. Salinger's best short story.
12. Certainly, Mr. Martin said, I shall explain the whole situation to him. I know that he will
understand.
Exercises 6.3: Put in semicolons, colons, dashes, quotation marks, italics (use an underline),
and parentheses where ever they are needed in the following sentences.
1. The men in question Harold Keene, Jim Peterson, and Gerald Greene deserve awards.
2. Several countries participated in the airlift Italy, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.
3. Only one course was open to us surrender, said the ex-major, and we did.
4. Judge Carswell later to be nominated for the Supreme Court had ruled against civil rights.
5. In last week's New Yorker, one of my favorite magazines, I enjoyed reading Leland's article
How Not to Go Camping.
6. Yes, Jim said, I'll be home by ten.
7. There was only one thing to do study till dawn.
8. Montaigne wrote the following A wise man never loses anything, if he has himself.
9. The following are the primary colors red, blue, and yellow.
10. Arriving on the 8 10 plane were Liz Brooks, my old roommate her husband and Tim, their
son.
11. When the teacher commented that her spelling was poor, Lynn replied All the members of
my family are poor spellers. Why not me?
12. He used the phrase you know so often that I finally said No, I don't know.
13. The automobile dealer handled three makes of cars Volkswagens, Porsches, and Mercedes
Benz.
14. Though Phil said he would arrive on the 9 19 flight, he came instead on the 10 36 flight.
15. Whoever thought said Helen that Jack would be elected class president?
16. In baseball, a show boat is a man who shows off.
17. The minister quoted Isaiah 5 21 in last Sunday's sermon.
18. There was a very interesting article entitled The New Rage for Folk Singing in last Sunday's
New York Times newspaper.
19. Whoever is elected secretary of the club Ashley, or Chandra, or Aisha must be prepared to do
a great deal of work, said Jumita, the previous secretary.
20. Darwin's On the Origin of Species 1859 caused a great controversy when it appeared.
Problem #7
Using the Comma Correctly Practice Exercises
Practice 7.1: Using Correct Punctuation in a Letter
Correct the comma usage in the following letter. If you have questions, refer to the
comma usage rules you have just reviewed to help you insert (or delete) commas and
other punctuation marks in the appropriate places.
111 W 1111th Street
New York New York 11111
January 1 2008
Dear Lynne
Can you remember what it was like trying to teach students, how to use the comma. I am having
a very funny and somewhat frustrating, experience teaching commas to my students because they
find the subject incredibly boring. Do you blame them.
Their solution alas to the problem of when to insert a comma is to sprinkle commas throughout
their essays as if they were chocolate sprinkles on an ice cream cone. While I like the idea of ice
cream I have to point out to them that there are rules that must be followed or the reader will end
up very confused. One of my students actually told me that she decided to put them in at a rate of
two commas for every other sentence she figured this would make her writing look more
"professional."
Do you have any suggestions for how I can make commas more fun. Any advice
you can offer will be much appreciated.
Sincerely
Joy
Exercises 7.2:Using Commas Correctly
Insert commas in the appropriate places in the following sentences.
1. A long river the Mississippi can be said to divide the United States into two parts west and
east.
2. When you are traveling west from Philadelphia you arrive in Chicago long before you arrive
in Salt Lake City.
3. "Seeing the country by car" said my tour guide "is really the best way to learn what being an
American is all about."
4. Getting to a scheduled airline flight these days can be very difficult due to the requirement
that you take off your shoes and jacket throw away your water bottle and show your ticket
before you enter the gate area.
5. On the other hand there is no mode of travel that is faster easier simpler and more modern
than air flight.
6. Trekking however is actually my favourite way to see the countryside.
7. My family favors camping vacations which include sleeping eating and even showering out in
nature.
8. The hazards of camping can include mosquitoes ants and sometimes bears.
9. After being awakened by our first bear we drove to town the very next day and bought a big
tent.
10. My mother has always told me that the best education is earned in the following ways:
traveling to new places reading good books and conscientiously practicing all the hard grammar
rules.
Exercise 7.3
Place commas wherever they are needed in the following sentences.
1. There was no question that John's painting a huge colorful and ugly mural was the worst entry
in the art exhibit.
2. Werner von Braun Willy Ley and Edward Teller noted authorities in the field of rocket
development have done much to guide the missile program of the United States.
3. Mr. Cready's ability to say the wrong thing at the wrong time is I believe amazing.
4. Running around the house the dog was abruptly stopped by a fence.
5. If the opposition should win our candidate would never have any political future.
6. Gracefully lightly and daintily the ballerina moved across the stage.
7. Glamour the woman's fashion magazine recently incorporated with Charm another fashion
journal.
8. Joe was born on May 7 1955 and his best friend was born exactly two months later on July 7
1955.
9. Mr. and Mrs. Kwon my parents' best friends sat in front of us at the football game.
10. November 11 1918 the armistice ending World War I was signed.
Exercise 7.4
Place commas wherever they are needed in the following sentences.
1. The problems involved in this operation are I think numerous.
2. Celene who does not usually tell anyone what she feels said she didn't want to go to the dance.
3. To get tickets for some Broadway musicals one has to order three months in advance.
4. Listening to the radio Jun heard an announcement that Spangler his own dog was lost.
5. I used to live at 16689 Sutton Avenue Milpitas California but we have since moved to 1895
Holland Way Dubuque Iowa.
6. The Valley of the Moon the name of a section in Napa County California is the heart of the
state's wine producing area.
7. Chris did not see how he could organize write and proofread this paper in only two hours.
8. By the pilings of the old pier I found four starfish a clam and a sea anemone.
9. Yes Helen did mention that all three of you were coming for lunch.
10. I believe therefore that fraternities are good influences on a college campus.
Exercise 7.5
Place commas wherever they are needed in the following sentences.
1. The girl with the bright friendly smile wore a bright green scarf to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.
2. As he read the Chekhov story he became aware of the Russian's genius.
3. Dauphin Island located off the coast of Alabama is a favorite spot for fishing.
4. She was as a matter of fact mainly interested in showing off her vocabulary.
5. I often go to the seashore and collect rocks there.
6. Before reaching the summit the climbers were forced by a storm to turn back.
7. Did you know that James Agee the novelist and poet was also a film critic?
8. Lady Jane Grey was the queen of England from July 10 1553 to July 19 1553.
9. Joseph registered for English 101 History 204 and Biology 106.
10. After discussing "Rain" we agreed that Somerset Maugham could really tell a good story.
11. Squaw Valley California the scene of the winter Olympics in 1960 is a ski resort.
12. Tomorrow I believe is the last day to register to vote in the November general election.
13. To perform well on Saturday afternoon the athlete must train every day of the week.
14. Understanding history increases your understanding of today's world.
15 Meg Fischer my cousin hopes to graduate from law school in two years.
16. He reads everything: road maps want ads and cereal boxes.
17. Having cut the roses she decided to bring them to her friend in the hospital.
18. "When" Jaime asked "will you return my book?"
Exercise 7.6 : Commas vs. Semicolons - Compound Sentences
Each of the following sentences needs either a comma or a semicolon. Put in the necessary
punctuation.
1. Many companies make sugar-free soft drinks, which are flavored by synthetic chemicals the
drinks usually contain only one or two calories per serving.
2. Mr. Leyland played the viola professionally for many years and he now conducts a community
orchestra.
3. The crab grass was flourishing but the rest of the lawn, unfortunately, was dying.
4. The hill was covered with wildflowers it was a beautiful sight.
5. As I turned around, I heard a loud thump for the cat had upset the goldfish bowl.
6. The artist preferred to paint in oils he did not like watercolors.
7. The house was clean, the table set, and the porch light on everything was ready for the guests'
arrival.
8. He looked carefully in the underbrush but he failed to notice the pair of green eyes staring at
him.
9. The foundations of the house had been poured but, to his disappointment, nothing else had
been done because of the carpenters' strike.
10. The computer could perform millions of operations in a split second however, it could not
think spontaneously.
11. I thought registration day would be tiring but I didn't know I'd have to stand in so many lines.
12. The dog, growling and snarling, snapped at me I was so frightened that I ran.
13. The snowstorm dumped twelve inches of snow on the interstate subsequently, the state police
closed the road.
14. Professors are supposed to be absent-minded and I've seen plenty of evidence to support that
claim since I've been in college.
15. The suspect said that he had never met the victim however, the detective knew that he was
lying.
16. In the first place, it was snowing too hard to see the road in the second place, we had no
chains.
17. I have read Soul on Ice but I have not read The Invisible Man.
18. San Francisco is my favorite city in fact, I plan to spend two weeks there this summer.
19. The quarterback made a brilliant pass and the end crossed the goal line for the winning
touchdown.
20. Large supermarkets fascinate me I can find everything from frozen chow mein to soybean
flour in one place.
21. Ron and Mike were both in English class this morning they gave an interesting presentation
on their research.
22. The obstacles are not insurmountable but they are real and formidable.
23. Riding a bicycle is excellent exercise I ride mine every day.
24. I am not interested in a trip to Asia this year however, I would like to go to Europe.
25. Not all highly educated people enjoy traveling, but many world travelers are particularly well
educated.
26. Jack worked overtime to pay off his education debts at least, that was his explanation for his
long hours.
27. Katherine has given up smoking about five times but she cannot seem to break the habit.
28. His work may be almost totally forgotten but he would certainly be surprised to see how
much current scholarship simply echoes his ideas.
29. Our dog seems to have a built-in alarm clock he wakes us up at exactly the same time every
morning.
30. The passengers on the plane were initially alarmed by the loss of altitude but the pilot and the
crew kept them calm.
31. I realized at once that something was wrong I was not, however, the only person who was
concerned.
32. I had to complete the assignment by Friday otherwise, I would have failed the course.
33. Ralph decided to be a chemist but he changed his mind after taking Chem. 121.
34. I finished reading The Nation and then I went to bed.
35. We always go to the mountains in the fall they are at their prettiest at that time of year.
36. Tim went to the candy store quite often the clerk even knew his name.
37. Criticism of capitalist expansionism does not surface in most discussions of the worldwide
ecological crisis indeed, proposed solutions rarely deviate from a basic message of further
technological "progress."
38. The president has pledged to cut taxes repeatedly and the public has responded
enthusiastically.
39. The office was closed consequently, I could not pay my bill.
40. The air was beautifully clear it was a lovely day.
Problem #8
Exercise 8.1 : Writing Numbers Exercise
Write the correct answer for each sentence, using either words to spell out the numbers
(thirty-one) or numerals where appropriate (31). Write a C if the sentence is correct as is.
1. 351 people attended the performance.
2. There were one hundred and thirty-five pieces in the puzzle.
3. Class started at eight-thirty A.M. in Room Twenty.
4. In the sixties there were sit-ins at 100's of colleges.
5. Every afternoon at two o'clock the chimes rang.
6. The stock deal, which involved $4.5 billion, paid a twelve and a half percent dividend.
7. The Lafayette television station is Channel Eighteen.
8. They needed eight ten-foot poles for the construction.
9. The vote was 126 in favor of the action and only sixteen opposed.
10. The assignment was to read chapter 6, pages 31-39.
11. Only fifty percent of high school students go on to college.
12. We were assigned a report of about 10 pages in length.
Problem #9
Exercise 9.1 : Appositive Exercise
Underline and punctuate the appositives in the following sentences. Not all require
punctuation.
1. My son, the policeman, will be visiting us next week.
2. The captain ordered the ship's carpenters to assemble the shallop, a large rowboat.
3. Walter, the playboy and writer, is very attached to his mother, Mrs. Hammon.
4. Paul Newman the famous American actor directed five motion pictures.
5. Elizabeth Teague, a sweet and lovable girl, grew up to be a mentally troubled woman.
6. Sweetbriar a company known throughout the South is considering a nationwide advertising
campaign.
7. An above-average student and talented musician John made his family proud.
8. The extremely popular American film Titanic was widely criticized for its mediocre script.
9. The greatest American film ever made Citizen Kane won only one Academy Award.
10. 60 Minutes the TV news magazine program featured a story on the popular singer Whitney
Houston.
Exercise9.2 : Eliminating Wordiness
Revise these sentences to state their meaning in fewer words. Avoid passive voice, needless
repetition, and wordy phrases and clauses. The first sentence has been done as an example.
1. Many local farmers plan to attend next Friday's meeting.
2. Although Bradley Hall is regularly populated by students, close study of the building as a
structure is seldom undertaken by them.
3. He dropped out of school on account of the fact that it was necessary for him to help support
his family.
4. It is expected that the new schedule will be announced by the bus company within the next
few days.
5. There are many ways in which a student who is interested in meeting foreign students may
come to know one.
6. It is very unusual to find someone who has never told a deliberate lie on purpose.
7. Trouble is caused when people disobey rules that have been established for the safety of all.
8. A campus rally was attended by more than a thousand students. Five students were arrested by
campus police for disorderly conduct, while several others are charged by campus administrators
with organizing a public meeting without being issued a permit to do so.
9. The subjects that are considered most important by students are those that have been shown to
be useful to them after graduation.
10. In the not too distant future, college freshmen must all become aware of the fact that there is
a need for them to make contact with an academic adviser concerning the matter of a major.
11. In our company there are wide-open opportunities for professional growth with a company
that enjoys an enviable record for stability in the dynamic atmosphere of aerospace technology.
12. Some people believe in capital punishment, while other people are against it; there are many
opinions on this subject.
Exercise 9.3 : Eliminating Wordiness
Directions: Combine each sentence group into one concise sentence.
1. The cliff dropped to reefs seventy-five feet below. The reefs below the steep cliff were barely
visible through the fog.
2. Their car is gassed up. It is ready for the long drive. The drive will take all night.
3. Sometimes Stan went running with Blanche. She was a good athlete. She was on the track
team at school.
4. Taylor brought some candy back from Europe. It wasn't shaped like American candy. The
candy tasted kind of strange to him.
5. Government leaders like to mention the creation of new jobs. They claim that these new jobs
indicate a strong economy. They don't mention that low-wage jobs without benefits and security
have replaced many good jobs.