Friday, May 28, 2010

GRAMMAR QUESTION, May 28th, 2010

Correct the errors in the following sentence:
For instant; the way in which the correspondents course differ then classrooms , is that the equipments' costs are very expensive  for  students are ought to have computer, internet, and another modern up to date things.

PUZZLE, May 28th, 2010

Previous puzzle: Suggested answers
   
1.    stop doing--that thing                           (quit/it)
2.    peculiar behaviour--annoy                      (quirk/irk)
3.    subatomic particle--large boat                 (quark/ark)
4.    small game bird--to be unwell                   (quail/ail)
5.    large feather pen--unwell;faulty               (quill/ill)
6.    nausea; uncomfortable--simple                   (queasy/easy)
7.    unit of liquid measure--product of creativity  (quart/art)
8.    misgivings; scruples--donations to the poor    (qualms/alms)

New Puzzle:  move a single letter from one word to the other, make a pair of synonyms, or near synonyms. For example: Boast - Hip, move the 's' from 'Boast' to 'Hip' creating two synonyms: Boat - Ship.
1. Flat / Pump ?
2. Feather / Crate ?
3. Bet / Stop ?
4. Ear / Trip ?
5. Lopes / Shills ?

ALL CHANGE! May 28th, 2010

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 simple answer generally hides the deeper complexity of an issue.

Changes: 1. subject noun 2. direct object noun 3. indirect object noun 4. adjective(s) 5. adverb(s) 6. verb name 7. verb tense

COMPLETE THE SENTENCE, May 28th, 2010

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) to the clause below:

I find it harder to study in summer …
1. Use a phrase 2. Use a dependent clause 3. Use an independent clause

VOCABULARY, May 28th, 2010

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

circumlocution (noun) + either adverse (adjective) or adversely (adverb)
To further improve your vocabulary, check Word of the Day every day! There are also word games and puzzles on this site.

Friday, May 14, 2010

GRAMMAR QUESTION, May 14th, 2010

Correct the errors in the following sentence:
Every one: women, elders, and children were cried when we had arrived with the survivors who had terrifyingly been injured and burned in a crushable plain.

PUZZLE, May 14th, 2010

Previous puzzle: Suggested answers
original word (a)
original word (b)
new word (a)
new word (b)
burn
bead
bun
bread
rid
tripe
ride
trip
grove
rout
groove
rut
charm
rush
harm
crush
cream
sweep
scream
weep

New Puzzle:  Let’s “behead” a few more words;-)
Remove the first letter and still have a valid word. The clue for the longer of the two words is first (behead the first word).
Example: a. Begin  b. Sour, acidic         Answer: Start and Tart.

Word A
Word B
Answer
1.
stop doing
that thing
?
2.
peculiar behaviour
annoy
?
3.
subatomic particle
large boat
?
4.
small game bird
to be unwell
?
5.
large feather pen
unwell; faulty
?
6.
nausea; uncomfortable
simple
?
7.
unit of liquid measure
product of creativity
?
8.
misgivings; scruples
donations to the poor
?

ALL CHANGE! May 14th, 2010

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

A small deer lazily nibbled the lush grass around the tall trees.
Changes:  1. subject noun   2. direct object noun                 3. indirect object noun                       4. adjective(s)      5. adverb(s)           6. verb name           7. verb tense

COMPLETE THE SENTENCE, May 14th, 2010

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) to the clause below:

... hockey season will soon be over ...

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

VOCABULARY, May 14th, 2010

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


proclivity (noun) + obsessive (adjective)

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

SENTENCE COMBINATION, May 14th, 2010

Learning to combine ideas into more complex sentences is an important skill in writing. There are many ways to do this--many possible bonus points! Try to combine the following three sentences.
Sentence 1: Victoria Day is celebrated only in Canada.
Sentence 2: It is always celebrated on the 3rd Monday of May.
Sentence 3: May 18th is the earliest date it can occur; the latest is May 25th.

Monday, May 3, 2010

GRAMMAR QUESTION, May 3rd, 2010

Correct the errors in the following sentence:


If you shouldn't mind me to ask where you are going when me and my sister’s seen you last week as you had been getting on bus on the Main street.

Remember that there is more than one possible correct answer.

PUZZLE, May 3rd, 2010

Previous puzzle: Suggested answers
1. a. Outer layer                       b. Oxidized metal          Crust / Rust
2. a. Defraud; violate rules        b. Thermal energy in transit  Cheat / Heat
3. a. Sensation of cold b. Local land elevation Chill / Hill
4. a. Go upward                       b. Jointed appendage; branch Climb / Limb
5. a. Strong metal rope             b. Having necessary skill  Cable / Able
6. a. Confined; restrained          b. Old; grew older  Caged / Aged
7. a. Stop; discontinue b. Freedom from hardship  Cease / Ease
8. a. Lacking dirt                      b. Lacking fat 8. Clean / Lean

New Puzzle: Take the given words, and by moving a single letter from one word to the other, make a pair of synonyms, or near synonyms. For example, given: Boast - Hip, move the 's' from 'Boast' to 'Hip' creating two synonyms: Boat - Ship.

1. Burn - Bead
2. Rid - Tripe
3. Grove - Rout
4. Charm - Rush
5. Cream - Sweep

ALL CHANGE! May 3rd, 2010

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 hungry girl quickly ate the tasty food on her plate.

Changes: 1. subject noun   2. direct object noun                 3. indirect object noun                       4. adjective(s)      5. adverb(s)           6. verb name           7. verb tense

VOCABULARY, May 3rd, 2010

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

Recidivist or recidevism (noun) + gratuitous (adjective)

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, May 3rd, 2010

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) to the clause below:

...Mother’s Day is a very special celebration...

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

SENTENCE COMBINATION, May 3rd, 2010

Learning to combine ideas into more complex sentences is an important skill in writing. There are many ways to do this--many possible bonus points! Try to combine the following three sentences.

Sentence 1: In many countries, Mother’s Day is celebrated in early May.
Sentence 2: In some countries Mothering Sunday is a church celebration held in March.
Sentence 3:  The date of the celebration is irrelevant as the significant thing is to honour the importance of our mothers in our lives.