VOCABULARY, Oct. 29th, 2009

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

avert (verb) + panacea (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.

GRAMMAR QUESTION, Oct. 20th, 2009

Correct the errors in the following sentence--it's based on something I heard our Prime Minister actually said on the radio:

Standing over me and saying, are you finished yet the exams nearly over I felt intimidated but I used all the time aloud so that I could do good.

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.

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 “Thanksgiving” themes: THANKSGIVING, TURKEY, PUMPKIN, STUFFING, HORN OF PLENTY, or FALL COLOURS.

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 “Thanksgiving” themes:
THANKSGIVING, TURKEY, PUMPKIN, STUFFING, HORN OF PLENTY, or FALL COLOURS.

GRAMMAR QUESTION, Oct. 6th, 2009

Correct the errors in the following sentence--it's based on something I heard our Prime Minister actually said on the radio:

I wasn’t understanding what he means when in a speech he has given Mr Harper was saying the funding will help those suffering from mental illness and their families.

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.

ALL CHANGE, Oct. 6th, 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 grandmother always cooks a large turkey at Thanksgiving.
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

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!

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.