Advanced Grammar: Mechanics and Syntax
Refining punctuation, sentence structure, and clarity
Advanced Grammar: Mechanics and Syntax
Refining punctuation, sentence structure, and clarity
Language Arts - Grade 9-12
- 1
Add the necessary punctuation to this sentence: Although the experiment failed the first time the team revised the procedure and tried again.
Find the dependent clause that comes before the main clause.
The corrected sentence is: Although the experiment failed the first time, the team revised the procedure and tried again. A comma is needed after the introductory dependent clause. - 2
Correct this comma splice: The evidence was convincing, however, the jury requested more time to deliberate.
However often needs stronger punctuation when it connects two complete sentences.
The corrected sentence is: The evidence was convincing; however, the jury requested more time to deliberate. A semicolon is needed before however because it joins two independent clauses. - 3
Rewrite the sentence using a colon correctly: The committee focused on three goals increasing participation improving communication and reducing costs.
The corrected sentence is: The committee focused on three goals: increasing participation, improving communication, and reducing costs. The colon introduces the list that follows a complete independent clause. - 4
Revise the sentence for parallel structure: The coach expects players to arrive early, working hard, and that they support their teammates.
Make all three items follow the same grammatical pattern.
A parallel revision is: The coach expects players to arrive early, work hard, and support their teammates. Each item in the series now uses the same verb form after to. - 5
Revise the sentence to correct the dangling modifier: Walking through the museum, the ancient vase caught Lena's attention.
The noun right after the opening phrase should be the person or thing doing the action in that phrase.
A clear revision is: Walking through the museum, Lena noticed the ancient vase. This version makes Lena the person who was walking through the museum. - 6
Revise the sentence to remove the ambiguous pronoun reference: When Maya told Jordan that she had won the scholarship, she smiled.
A clear revision is: When Maya told Jordan that Maya had won the scholarship, Jordan smiled. This revision makes clear who won the scholarship and who smiled. - 7
Combine these ideas into one polished sentence using subordination: The novel was published in 1925. It still influences writers today. It uses fragmented narration.
One strong combined sentence is: Although the novel was published in 1925, it still influences writers today because it uses fragmented narration. The revision uses subordination to show relationships among the ideas. - 8
Choose the correct verb and explain why: The collection of rare maps is/are stored in the archive.
Ignore the prepositional phrase of rare maps when finding the subject.
The correct sentence is: The collection of rare maps is stored in the archive. The subject is collection, which is singular, so the singular verb is is. - 9
Add commas if needed: My brother who lives in Denver is visiting next week. Assume the speaker has only one brother.
Nonessential information is usually set off with commas.
The corrected sentence is: My brother, who lives in Denver, is visiting next week. Because the speaker has only one brother, the clause is nonrestrictive and should be set off with commas. - 10
Identify the dependent clause and the independent clause in this sentence: Because the power went out during the storm, the debate team postponed its online meeting.
The dependent clause is Because the power went out during the storm. The independent clause is the debate team postponed its online meeting. The dependent clause cannot stand alone because it begins with because. - 11
Correct the punctuation in this sentence: The critic writes that the ending is "deliberately unresolved", and therefore invites multiple interpretations.
The corrected sentence is: The critic writes that the ending is "deliberately unresolved" and therefore invites multiple interpretations. The comma is unnecessary because the compound predicate shares the same subject. - 12
Revise the passive sentence into active voice unless the passive voice is more appropriate: A new attendance policy was approved by the student council after months of debate.
An active revision is: The student council approved a new attendance policy after months of debate. Active voice is clearer here because the actor, the student council, is known and important. - 13
Insert commas only where they are needed: The hikers prepared for a long difficult journey and packed a bright red silk scarf for warmth.
If you can place and between two adjectives naturally, they are probably coordinate adjectives.
The corrected sentence is: The hikers prepared for a long, difficult journey and packed a bright red silk scarf for warmth. Long and difficult are coordinate adjectives, but bright red silk describes different qualities and does not need commas. - 14
Revise the sentence to correct the misplaced modifier: The teacher handed the essay to the student covered in notes.
A clear revision is: The teacher handed the essay covered in notes to the student. This version makes clear that the essay, not the student, was covered in notes. - 15
Rewrite this sentence as a periodic sentence that delays the main idea until the end: The team finally won the championship after years of losses, difficult practices, and injured players.
Begin with the circumstances, then place the main clause at the end.
A periodic revision is: After years of losses, difficult practices, and injured players, the team finally won the championship. The main idea is delayed until the final independent clause.