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OSU-OKMULGEE
SENTENCE SKILLS REVIEW
This review tests your understanding of sentence structure—of how sentences are put together and what makes a sentence complete and clear.
There are 20 questions on this review.
Before you begin, work the two sample questions to get the feel of the instructions. The correct answers are indicated.
Some questions on the review will ask you to select the best version of the underlined part of the sentence. The first choice is the same as the original. If you think the original sentence is best, choose the first one, for example,
Mr. Wilson planning to teach a course in physics next fall. a. planning b. are planning c. with a plan d. plans
The correct answer is d. plans.
The revised sentence should read “Mr. Wilson plans to teach a course in physics next fall.”
In other questions, the review will ask you to think through the sentences and the answer choices for a good revision. A new sentence beginning is provided. Your new sentence should be well written and should have basically the same meaning as the original sentence. Rewrite the following:
Using the spell checker, she eliminated a number of errors on her paper.
Rewrite, beginning with
She eliminated a number of errors on her paper…
The next words will be a. on account of she used b. by her using c. because she used d. being as she was using
The correct answer is c. because she used. The rewritten sentence should be
“She eliminated a number of errors on her paper because she used the spell checker."
For the first three problems , select the answer that is the best version of the underlined part of the sentence. The first choice is the same as the original. If you think the original sentence is best, choose the first one.
- Working as a receptionist for my uncle’s business taught me to handle customer complaints, answering the telephone, and how to maintain a Rolodex.
a. to handle customer complaints, answering the telephone, and how to maintain a Rolodex. b. how to handle customer complaints, answering the telephone, and maintaining a Rolodex. c. how to handle customer complaints, how to answer the telephone, and how to maintain a Rolodex. d. handling customer complaints, answering the telephone, and maintenance of a Rolodex.
- Judy is dating a man that has a seven hundred-acre ranch near the foothills outside of town.
a. a man that has a seven hundred-acre ranch near the foothills outside of town. b. a man, that has a seven hundred-acre ranch near the foothills outside of town. c. a man, who has a seven hundred-acre ranch near the foothills outside of town. d. a man who has a seven hundred-acre ranch near the foothills outside of town.
- These books, which was published in the late eighteenth century, are very valuable.
a. books which was published in the late eighteenth century b. books in the late eighteenth century c. books which were published d. books, which is published, in the eighteenth century
For the following three problems, think through the sentences for a good revision. A new sentence beginning is provided. Your new sentence should be well written and should have basically the same meaning as the original sentence.
- The hikers were at the bottom of the canyon, and they discovered an abandoned mineshaft.
Rewrite, beginning with
After the hikers were…
The next words will be
a. at the bottom of the canyon, and they discovered an abandoned mineshaft. b. at the bottom of the canyon, they discovered an abandoned mineshaft. c. at the bottom of the canyon they discovered an abandoned mineshaft. d. at the bottom of the canyon when they discovered an abandoned mineshaft.
- Good money managers control their present expenses, and they invest surplus dollars to meet their future needs.
Rewrite the sentence using because
The best choice will be
a. Good money managers, because they control their present expenses, they invest surplus dollars to meet their future needs.
The new sentence should read
a. Since it was our anniversary; we ordered lobster. b. Since it was our anniversary, we ordered lobster. c. Since it was our anniversary we ordered lobster. d. Since it was our anniversary, and we ordered lobster.
- Tornadoes are winds which rotate in a counterclockwise direction and look like a funnel at the bottom of a cloud, as anyone who is familiar with Oklahoma weather knows.
Rewrite, beginning with
Anyone who is …
Your new sentence will include
a. knowing tornadoes b. and knows tornadoes c. has knowledge of tornadoes d. knows that tornadoes….
- Our supervisor, Betty White, handles all of the personnel problems that arise because she is an extremely diplomatic person in working with people.
Rewrite, beginning with Being extremely diplomatic in working with people,
The next words would
a. all of the personnel problems…. b. our supervisor, Betty White, …. c. and that …. d. problems arising with personnel….
In the next three problems , select the best version of the underlined part of the sentence. The first choice is the same as the original. If you think the original sentence is best, choose the first one.
- Chief Harrigan was invited to our safety meeting, he can demonstrate the correct use of fire extinguishers.
a. Chief Harrigan was invited to our safety meeting, he can demonstrate the correct use of fire extinguishers. b. Chief Harrigan was invited to our safety meeting, therefore, he can demonstrate the correct use of fire extinguishers.. c. Chief Harrigan was invited to our safety meeting; therefore to demonstrate the correct use of fire extinguishers. d. Chief Harrigan was invited to our safety meeting so that he can demonstrate the correct use of fire extinguishers.
- Coming in from Fourth Street, the Student Union is seen by students who are arriving on campus. a. Student Union is seen by students who are arriving on campus. b. students who are arriving on campus see…. c. the students having seen the Student Union….
d. the Student Union is being seen ….
- Because modern machinery can function unattended, the unemployment rate may increase, this could possibly cause the poverty rate to be higher.
a. this could possibly cause the poverty rate to be higher. b. possibly causing a higher poverty rate. c. the possible raising of the poverty rate will be the result d. this causes the poverty rate to increase.
For the following four problems, think through the sentences for a good revision. A new sentence beginning is provided. Your new sentence should be well written and should have basically the same meaning as the original sentence.
- Due to the fact it was raining on the scheduled day of the picnic, the drama club had to cancel and reschedule a new date for the event.
Rewrite, beginning with
The drama club had to…
The next words should be
a. due to the fact it was raining on the scheduled day of the picnic, cancel and reschedule a new date for the event. b. reschedule the picnic because of rain. c. cancel the picnic and reschedule it because of rain d. reschedule a new date for the picnic because it was canceled due to rain.
- While it was raining, we decided to play cards.
Rewrite, beginning with
We decided to play …
The next words should be
a. cards while it was raining b. cards, while it was raining. c. cards; while it was raining. d. cards; but while it was raining.
- While we were in Illinois, we visited General Grant’s home.
Rewrite, beginning with
We toured General Grant’s …
The next words should be
a. home, it is in Illinois. b. home, and it is in Illinois. c. home; in Illinois. d. home visiting in Illinois.
ENGLISH REVIEW ANSWER SHEET
- c. Parallel form is needed for expressing similar ideas. Repeating “how to” with each action accomplishes this.
- d. When referring to a person or people, use the relative pronoun “who.” Since the clause beginning with “who” is essential to the meaning of the sentence, a comma is unnecessary. The reader needs to know “who” Judy is dating.
- c. Use “were” for subject-verb agreement. “Which” is plural because it refers to “books.”
- b. Introductory dependent clauses need a comma to set them off from the main clause. Sentences beginning with “after, when, if as, before, because, etc.” usually need a comma after the introductory dependent clause.
- b. Sometimes sentences contain ideas that are unequal. If one idea explains the other, it is put in a subordinate (lesser) position. This idea should be expressed in a subordinate clause. A dependent clause at the beginning of a sentence must be followed by a comma.
- c. Avoid using ambiguous references to “you.” Also, construct sentences for clarity. People don’t have traffic jams; cars do.
- c. A misplaced modifier is a word or word group that is improperly separated from the word it modifies making the sentence sound awkward, ridiculous, or confusing. An introductory verbal must modify the subject.
- d. Modifiers should be close to the word they modify; otherwise, they are misplaced (see #7).
- b. A pronoun must agree in number with the antecedent (word it modifies). “Person” is singular; “they” is plural and this causes a shift in number. To avoid sexist language, both “he” and “she” are used to refer to “person” since “person” is not gender-specific.
- b. When a dependent clause introduces a sentence, a comma is needed after the clause.
- d. The new sentence upgrades the dependent clause”as anyone…knows” to an independent clause “Anyone …knows.” The new sentence includes “knows that tornadoes are”—subordinating the main idea, “Tornadoes are winds….”
- b. The dependent clause has been reduced to an introductory verbal phrase modifying the subject.
- d. This sentence contains the error of a comma splice (two independent clauses separated by a comma only). One way to correct this is to subordinate a clause. When the dependent clause is at the end of a sentence, a comma is usually not necessary.
- b. An introductory verbal phrase must modify the subject of the sentence.
- b. The last two clauses contain a comma splice. To correct this, the last clause can be reduced to a verbal phrase modifying “increase.”
- b. Avoid unnecessary words which can jumble the flow of the sentence.
- a. When an independent clause is followed by a dependent clause, a comma is usually unnecessary.
- b. Two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, so, or, for, nor, yet) need a comma after the first clause.
- d. When a dependent clause introduces the sentence, a comma is needed after the clause.
- b. For clarity, use parallel wording: “ having a large sum of money… knowing the basics of decorating."
ENGLISH REVIEW ANALYSIS
If you missed Study
1, 20 Parallel Form
2, 9 Pronoun Reference
3 Subject – Verb Agreement
Dependent Clauses, Subordinating Ideas and Sentence Structure
6 Clarity
7, 8 Misplaced Modifiers
13, 15 Comma Splices
14 Verbal Phrases (Introductory)
16 Wordiness
18 Punctuating Compound Sentences
