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2 Grammar self-assessment

Here is an activity to assess your knowledge and competence in each of these areas. The solutions are given below.

There are no marks for this grammar assessment, but you might like to note how many errors you made overall. Chapter 9 provides a grammar reassessment, so that you can compare your results before and after working through Part A.

2.1 Activities

2.1.1 Parts of speech

This first section asks you to identify certain words by their functions in sentences. See how many you can find correctly before reading about them all in Chapter 4, Parts of speech.

1 Underline the nouns in the following sentences. For example:

Jack and Jill went up the hill.

The jury at the trial in the city is still considering its verdict.

My canary is an excellent whistler.

2 Underline the pronouns in the following sentences:

He made himself a cup of coffee and then left it on the window ledge.

These are the books I need, but I don’t need those over there.

3 Underline the verbs (or verb phrases – that is, verbs consisting of more than one word – in the following sentences; and if you can, also label each as active (A) or passive (P):

He read the label carefully as he had been caught by misleading labels before.

Unless you have enrolled as a full-time student, you will not be given a grant.

4 Underline the adjectives (or adjective phrases – that is, adjectives consisting of more than one word – in the following sentences; and if you can, also label each as positive (P), comparative (C) or superlative (S):

This beautiful rose is the prettiest in my garden which is newer than yours.

His report was the shortest I received, although he was very slow pre­­paring it.

5 Underline the adverbs in the following sentences:

Ann works quietly and efficiently, but nobody works more quickly than Peter.

They are very happy to be home and quite content to live quietly now.

6 Underline the prepositions in the following sentences; and if you can, also draw a circle around one whole prepositional phrase:

The customer in the blue raincoat bought the picture of the old English village.

Under this building is a secret passage leading into the bank next door.

7 Underline the conjunctions in the following sentences:

Although it rained, we enjoyed our picnic because we kept dry in the big beach shelter.

Your essay is not marked yet, but it will be ready tomorrow or the next day.

2.1.2 Sentences or fragments

Say whether the groups of words that follow are whole sentences (S) or only fragments (F) – groups of words that are incomplete as sentences in some way. If there are any fragments, add whatever words are necessary to complete the sentences, either to the beginning or end. Do this without altering the wording of the original groups of words.

1 Although it rained

2 Despite the length of the journey and the number of people she had to see on the way

3 If only you had told me yesterday

4 Please shut the door

5 Before I went out into the freezing cold of the winter day

2.1.3 Check of some areas of spelling and grammar

There are several errors in each of these sentences. Make all necessary corrections. Avoid altering words or word order unless necessary.

1 Its bad manners to except an invitation when your all ready commited to another function.

2 After trying in vain to contact you by phone, this letter will confirm your appointment as head of the communication department.

3 The ladies’ shoes department is on the first floor and the mens’ are on the second floor.

4 When he announced the name of the winner so quickly, it supprised everyone.

2.2 Solutions

2.2.1 Parts of speech

1 jury, trial, city, verdict; canary, whistler

2 He, himself, it; These, I, I, those

3 read (A), had been caught (P); have enrolled (A), will be given (P) (not is not part of the verb phrase: it is an adverb expressing negation)

4 beautiful (P), prettiest (S), newer (C); shortest (S), slow (P)

5 quietly, efficiently, more quickly; very, quite, quietly, now

6 in (in the blue raincoat), of (of the old English village); under (under this building), into (into the bank next door)

7 although, because; but, or

2.2.2 Sentences or fragments

1 F: … , we still went for a walk.

2 F: … , she was not tired.

3 F: …, I could have helped you

4 S

5 F …, I put on a warm jacket.

2.2.3 Check of some areas of spelling and grammar

1 It’s bad manners to accept an invitation when you’re already committed to another function.

2 As I have been unable to contact you by phone, I am writing to confirm your appointment as head of the Communication department.

3 The ladies’ shoe department is on the first floor and the men’s (shoe department) is on the second floor.

4 Everyone was surprised at the speed with which the winner’s name was announced.

OR The name of the winner, which he announced quickly, was a surprise to everyone.