Sunday, July 27, 2008

ACROSTIC

In an acrostic, you start with a theme word and use each letter of that word to start another word or phrase that describes the theme word. The acrostic below is based on the theme word SNOW.
……………S Slippery
……………N Numbing
……………O Obliterating
……………W Wintery
Write an acrostic based on one of the following “summer” themes: SUMMER, HOLIDAY, VACATION, SUNSHINE, RELAXATION, NATIONAL PARKS, BEACHES, FESTIVALS.

CINQUAIN POEM

A cinquain poem is a five-line poem that is diamond-shaped. Start with a theme word (noun) and then use the pattern 1 noun, 2 adjectives, 3 gerunds, 1 full sentence, and finally a synonym for the first noun.
SNOW
.....................Snow.........................
.................Cold, white......................
..........Falling, freezing, numbing..............
..........It chills fingers and toes..............
.....................Ice..........................

Write a cinquain poem based on one of the following “summer” themes:
SUMMER, HOLIDAY, VACATION, SUNSHINE, RELAXATION, NATIONAL PARKS, BEACHES, FESTIVALS.

GRAMMAR QUESTION, July 27th, 2009

Correct the errors in the following sentence:

Peter and me are needing knowing to who to address the letter before its written in it's envelope and been posted by us too the company.
Remember that there is more than one possible correct answer.

Note: you can still see previous Grammar Questions of the Week; they are posted in the archive in the side bar and listed a year previous to their date of posting.

PUZZLE, July 27th, 2009

No one solved this puzzle. For the answer, please see below.

Identify the three letters that have been removed from the quotes below:

1. Acion is a ga so and build of confidnc. Inacion is not only h sul, bu h caus, of fa. Phaps h acion you ak will b succssful; phaps diffn acion o adjusmns will hav o follow. Bu any acion is b han no acion a all.

2. Pay is a hough, a blif, a fling, aising wihin h mind of h on paying.

Answer: r, e, and t.
1. Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause, of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different action or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all.
-Norman Vincent Peale

2. Prayer is a thought, a belief, a feeling, arising within the mind of the one praying.
-Ernest Holmes

ALL CHANGE, July 27th, 2009

Change the words in the sentence below as indicated. You can only change the exact word in the sequence given; after someone else has posted the next change, then you can post another change. For instance, student 1 writes #1 Subject Noun, and changes the subject noun; Student 2 writes #2 Direct Object Noun, and changes that noun. Each student only makes one change at a time and keeps to the order indicated.If you complete all 7 changes, then start making more changes again from 1 to 7. Each student should build on the changes that the previous students make.

The old man quickly paid the overdue bill to the newly trained bank teller.

1. change the subject noun 2. change the direct object noun
3. change the indirect object noun 4. change the adjective
5. change the adverb 6. change the verb name
7. change the verb tense

COMPLETE THE SENTENCE ... July 27th, 2009

Use the type of clause, phrase, or grammar indicated to complete the following sentence; you can add the phrase or clause before or after (not both) the clause below:

...I am looking forward to the long August weekend ...

1. Use a phrase
2. Use a dependent clause
3. Use an independent clause

Note:you can still see previous Sentence Completion questions; they are posted in the archive in the side bar.

VOCABULARY, July 27th, 2009

Vocabulary building is important for both reading comprehension and writing. Use the following two words (note the part of speech) in one sentence.

Predictability (noun) + biodegradable (adjective)

Correct answers will be saved to the Blog archive.


To further improve your vocabulary, check Word of the Day every day! There are also word games and puzzles on this site.

PLAIN ENGLISH, July 27th, 2009

span style="font-style:italic;">Writing clear, direct English is particularly important in a business context. Please rewrite the following item; there are many different but correct ways of doing this.

We will be forwarding detailed instructions with regard to the humane disposal of the ants that have been trapped in the containers provided by staff; these instructions will be developed, distributed and posted by the Health and Wellness Committee.

Hint: Check Chapter 9 of Barron's Business English, and avoid using the passive voice and other wordy construction!

Thursday, July 17, 2008

GRAMMAR QUESTION, July 17th, 2009

Correct the errors in the following sentence overheard in the supermarket:

Seeing that Starbucks’ opens at Safeway stores now I wonder if it would now loose customer’s from their regular outlets.

Remember that there is more than one possible correct answer.

Note: you can still see previous Grammar Questions of the Week; they are posted in the archive in the side bar and listed a year previous to their date of posting.

PUZZLE, July 17th, 2009

Congratulations to Miranda for successfully solving last week's puzzle. For the answer, please see last week's puzzle in the archive.

Two quotes by Groucho Marx have all their vowels removed. Put the appropriate vowels in each blank.

1. _ bl_ck c_t cr_ss_ng y_ _r p_th s_gn_f_ _s th_t _n _n_m_l _s g_ _ng s_m_wh_r_.

2. H_m_r _s r_ _s_n g_n_ m_d.

ALL CHANGE, July 17th, 2009

Change the words in the sentence below as indicated. You can only change the exact word in the sequence given; after someone else has posted the next change, then you can post another change. For instance, student 1 writes #1 Subject Noun, and changes the subject noun; Student 2 writes #2 Direct Object Noun, and changes that noun. Each student only makes one change at a time and keeps to the order indicated.If you complete all 7 changes, then start making more changes again from 1 to 7. Each student should build on the changes that the previous students make.

My maternal grandparents built the house completely over the ruins below.

1. change the subject noun 2. change the direct object noun
3. change the indirect object noun 4. change the adjective
5. change the adverb 6. change the verb name
7. change the verb tense

COMPLETE THE SENTENCE ... July 17th

Use the type of clause, phrase, or grammar indicated to complete the following sentence; you can add the phrase or clause before or after the clause below:

... summer is the best time of the year in Canada ...
1. Use a phrase
2. Use a dependent clause
3. Use an independent clause

Note:you can still see previous Sentence Completion questions; they are posted in the archive in the side bar.

VOCABULARY, July 17th, 2009

Vocabulary building is important for both reading comprehension and writing. Use the following two words (note the part of speech) in one sentence.

equanimity (noun) + loquacious (adjective)

Correct answers will be saved to the Blog archive.


To further improve your vocabulary, check Word of the Day every day! There are also word games and puzzles on this site.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

GRAMMAR QUESTION, July 8th

Correct the errors in the following sentence overheard in the supermarket:

The twin’s were amused, first they entertained there friends’ by telling jokes, than they had chased after the dog, and it was ended when they imitated their friends.

Remember that there is more than one possible correct answer.

Note: you can still see previous Grammar Questions of the Week; they are posted in the archive in the side bar and listed a year previous to their date of posting.

PUZZLE, July 8th

No one successfully solved last week's puzzle:

What nine letter word in the English language is still a word when any of one of the nine letters is removed one by one?

STARTLING, starling, staring, string, sting, sing, sin, in, I

This week try this puzzle:
Without changing the order of the letters, place the four letter words on the dashes to form eight letter words.
Veto, Rake, Hilt, Clam, Tile

1. __ um__ __ i __ y
2. Pro __ __ __ i __
3. __ err __ b __ __
4. __ __ xa __ i __ n
5. Ove __ t __ __ __

ALL CHANGE, July 8th

Change the words in the sentence below as indicated. You can only change the exact word in the sequence given; after someone else has posted the next change, then you can post another change. For instance, student 1 writes #1 Subject Noun, and changes the subject noun; Student 2 writes #2 Direct Object Noun, and changes that noun. Each student only makes one change at a time and keeps to the order indicated.If you complete all 7 changes, then start making more changes again from 1 to 7. Each student should build on the changes that the previous students make.

My wonderful parents lovingly raised their son’s children.

1. change the subject noun 2. change the direct object noun
3. change the indirect object noun 4. change the adjective
5. change the adverb 6. change the verb name
7. change the verb tense

VOCABULARY, July 8th

Vocabulary building is important for both reading comprehension and writing. Use the following two words (note the part of speech) in one sentence.

retort (noun) + supercilious (adjective)

Correct answers will be saved to the Blog archive.


To further improve your vocabulary, check Word of the Day every day! There are also word games and puzzles on this site.

COMPLETE THE SENTENCE ... July 8th

Use the type of clause, phrase, or grammar indicated to complete the following sentence; you can add the phrase or clause before or after the clause below:

... I have many plans for the summer ...
1. Use a phrase
2. Use a dependent clause
3. Use an independent clause

Note:you can still see previous Sentence Completion questions; they are posted in the archive in the side bar.