Thursday, September 25, 2008

GRAMMAR QUESTION, Sept. 25th, 2009

Correct the errors in the following sentence:

Because you were giving Tony and I such bad instruction getting to you’re house; we could of went the wrong way and ended up completely lost.

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

PUZZLE, Sept. 25th, 2009

Congratulations to Anthony for being first to solve last week's puzzle:the answer was rose/sore; stop/post;tier/tire;spat/past.

The blanks in the following sentences will be filled in with three different homonyms (words that are spelled differently but sound alike) to make valid sentences. The dashes indicate the number of letters in the words. Can you fill in the blanks?

1. The cut on his _ _ _ _ won't _ _ _ _ in time for the race, so _ _ '_ _ have to drop out.
2. The man was so upset about being _ _ _ _ that he regularly _ _ _ _ _ _ himself up on the bed and _ _ _ _ _ _ his eyes out.
3. I couldn't _ _ _ _ _ any of the _ _ _ _ _ _ in the flower shop, because for some strange reason I had 50 _ _ _ _ _ crammed up my nose.
4. A bloodthirsty pirate will wander the _ _ _ _ and essentially _ _ _ _ _ everything he _ _ _ _.

Please list the missing words.

ALL CHANGE, Sept. 25th, 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.

Where did the kindly old man find the money from the robbery.

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 ... Sept. 25th, 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:

… football season is once again in full swing …

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, Sept. 25th, 2009

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

unequivocal (adjective) + intercede (verb)

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, Sept, 25th, 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.

Having had a number of years of extensive experience as the principal and only aide to the CEO of the company where I am currently employed, I have every reason to believe that the position that was advertized just last week with your company, is one that could be filled by me with complete satisfaction.

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

Sunday, September 14, 2008

GRAMMAR QUESTION, Sept. 14th, 2009

Correct the errors in the following sentence:

As the students’ in our class goes on field trip to the royal Alberta museum seeing the new Exhibition they all have fun and learned a lot.
Remember that there is more than one possible correct answer.

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

PUZZLE, Sept. 14th, 2009

No one solved last week's puzzle: the answer was CARPET

The following sentences can be completed by adding two words that are anagrams of one another. Each word has only four letters. Enjoy!

1. If you prick your finger while picking a ____, it may be very ____.

2. If you need some stamps, then you must ____ by the ____ office.

3. If you eat a whole ____ of a wedding cake, you may develop a spare ____ around your middle.

4. If you have a ____ with your friend, you should forgive them and focus on the future, not on the ____.

Please list the missing words.

ALL CHANGE, Sept. 14th, 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 international student wrote an interesting letter to his parents.

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

ACROSTIC

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 international student wrote an interesting letter to his parents.

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 ... Sept. 14th, 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:

…when the fall equinox occurs winter cannot be too far behind 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, Sept. 14th, 2009

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

amoral (adjective) + psychopath (noun)

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, Sept, 14th, 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.

For your information, at this date, the practice of acknowledging orders that are to be filled immediately has been abandoned, and in many instances the invoice that is sent with these orders is the only response to be received subsequent to the receipt of the order.

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

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

GRAMMAR QUESTION, Sept. 3rd, 2009

Correct the errors in the following sentence:

Not only you, but also your sister’s needs being home early: too clean the house preparing for our dinner party and you will have to make the appetizers.

Remember that there is more than one possible correct answer.

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

COMPLETE THE SENTENCE ... Sept. 3rd, 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:

... many people think of Labour Day as the last long weekend of 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.

VOCABULARY, Sept. 3rd, 2009

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

inordinate (adjective) + speculate (verb)

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.