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PARTS OF SPEECH

SENTENCE STRUCTURE

PUNCTUATION

USAGE

EXERCISES

Answer Key

Miscellaneous Usage Errors - Exercise 1

Wording may vary.  Below are suggested corrections.

     

1.  Marianne hit the ball hard; nobody could catch it.

      Marianne hit the ball hard, so nobody could catch it.

      Marianne hit the ball hard. Nobody could catch it.

Your answer:  question1

Refer to the comma splices page for help.

    

2.  A collection of new songs arrives in the mail every day.

Your answer:  question2

Refer to Rule #1 on the subject-verb agreement page for help.

    

3.  My friends are more likely than I to get the answer right.

Your answer:  question3

Refer to Rule #3 on the pronoun case page for help.

     

4.  Distracted by the lights, Mel did not see the oncoming car.

Your answer:  question4

Refer to the dangling modifiers page for help.

     

5.  One of the girls lost her surfboard in the undertow.

Your answer:  question5

Refer to Rule #1 on the pronoun-antecedent agreement page for help.

   

6.  After Joe paid Bill, Joe (or Bill) seemed happier.

Your answer:  question6

Refer to the faulty pronoun reference page for help.

     

7.  The musicians earned nearly $400 for the evening's work.

Your answer:  question7

Refer to the  misplaced modifiers page for help.

    

8.  The camp offered its program to children of all ages.

Your answer:  question8

Refer to the apostrophe use page for help.

    

9.  Yoga often helps people lose weight, increase flexibility, and reduce stress.

Your answer:  question9

Refer to the  parallel structure page for help.

     

10.  Anyone who enjoys seafood will like the food at Bill's Eatery.

Your answer:  question10

Refer to Rule #4 on  the  comma use page for help.