تمرینات دستور زبان II-1
1. Rewrite the following general statements using singular nouns. Make sure that the verbs agree with their subjects. For example:
Engineers must be familiar with computers.
An engineer must be familiar with computers.
Trees produce oxygen.
A tree produces oxygen.
1. Automobiles should be kept in good repair.
2. Bats locate insects by means of sonar.
3. Diplomats should, if possible, be multilingual.
2. Rewrite the following general statements using plural nouns. Make sure that the verbs agree with their subjects. For example:
A bicycle is a convenient means of transportation.
Bicycles are a convenient means of transportation.
A secretary should be proficient in spelling and grammar.
Secretaries should be proficient in spelling and grammar.
1. A sportsman needs to remain calm under pressure.
2. An eagle has good eyesight.
3. A conference requires careful planning.
3. Rewrite the following general statements using singular nouns. Make sure that the verbs agree with their subjects. For example:
Frogs are amphibians.
A frog is an amphibian.
Wrenches are tools.
A wrench is a tool.
1. Pines are evergreens.
2. Otters are mammals.
3. Computers are machines.
4. Rewrite the following general statements using plural nouns. Make sure that the verbs agree with their subjects. For example:
A robin is a bird.
Robins are birds.
A refrigerator is an appliance.
Refrigerators are appliances.
1. A schooner is a ship.
2. A mallard is a duck.
3. A rhododendron is a bush.
5. Paying attention to whether the people and things referred to have been mentioned previously, fill in each blank with a, an or the, or leave the blank empty if no determiner is required.
I once had the chance to see ___ Chinese opera. It was very exciting. As well as ___ singers, there were ___ dancers and ___ acrobats. ___ acrobats staged ___ fights. During ___ fights, some of ___ acrobats wielded ___ swords, and others leaped over ___ swords. Many of ___ dancers carried scarves. ___ dancers ___ flourished ___ scarves to make ____ patterns in the air.
Behind ___ screen was a group of ___ musicians. ___ musicians played various oriental instruments. ___ instruments included ___ drums, ___ cymbals, ___ flutes and ___ gong. ___ flutes usually played the melody, and ___ gong was sounded at particularly exciting moments.
Of course there were ___ hero and ___ heroine. ___ hero had to rescue ___ heroine from ___ magician. ___ hero and ___ heroine had both proved their courage by the end of ___ opera.
6. Fill in each blank with the or leave it empty, as appropriate. Be prepared to justify your choices. For example:
Those participants are ____ lawyers.
Those participants are lawyers.
____ eagles are birds of prey.
Eagles are birds of prey.
___ deaf have their own language.
The deaf have their own language.
___ Dutch are members of the European Union.
The Dutch are members of the European Union.
____ planets circle the sun.
The planets circle the sun.
1. ____ English have a reputation for being animal lovers.
2. ____ wounded were treated immediately.
3. His friends are ____ scientists.
4. ____ crows are black.
5. ____ stars are covered by clouds.
7. Paying attention to the rules for the use of the with proper nouns, fill in the blanks with the or leave them empty, as appropriate. For example:
___ Rick is one of ___ Smiths who live on our street.
Rick is one of the Smiths who live on our street.
___ Channel Islands lie south of ___ England.
The Channel Islands lie south of England.
___ Rhine River flows through ___ Lake Constance.
The Rhine River flows through Lake Constance.
____ Isle of Man lies in ____ Irish Sea.
The Isle of Man lies in the Irish Sea.
Part of ___ New York City is situated on ___ Long Island.
Part of New York City is situated on Long Island.
1. ____ Hawaiian Islands are in the middle of ____ Pacific Ocean.
2. ____ Salt Lake City is the capital of Utah.
3. ____ London lies on ____ Thames River.
4. ____ Suez Canal connects ____ Mediterranean Sea with Red Sea.
5. ____ Lake Huron and ____ Lake Erie are two of ____ Great Lakes.
6. ____ Calcutta lies north of ____ Bay of Bengal.
7. ____ North Sea separates British Isles from ____ Norway and ____ Denmark.
8. Paying attention to whether a singular or plural verb should be used, complete each of the following sentences by filling in the blank with is or are. For example:
My scissors ___ very sharp.
My scissors are very sharp.
One pair of scissors __ not enough for the whole class.
One pair of scissors is not enough for the whole class.
Five pairs of scissors ___ sufficient for a small class.
Five pairs of scissors are sufficient for a small class.
1. Her jeans ______ white.
2. Only one pair of jeans ______ clean.
3. Three pairs of jeans ______ being washed.
CHAPTER 2
1. For the following sentences, fill in the blanks with a or an or leave the blanks empty, as appropriate. Fill in the blanks with a or an before countable nouns, and leave them empty before uncountable nouns. For example:
__ bird is singing outside the window.
A bird is singing outside the window.
___ copper is used in making electrical wiring.
Copper is used in making electrical wiring.
1. ___ air is made up of elements such as ___ oxygen and ___ nitrogen.
2. ___ book is lying on the floor.
3. ___ Russian is a difficult language.
4. ___ onion is ___ vegetable.
5. ___ butter and ___ cream are made from ___ milk.
6. ___ letter has been delivered to the wrong house.
7. ___ child is playing on the sidewalk.
2. Paying attention to whether the nouns in the following paragraphs are countable or uncountable, and to whether or not the nouns refer to things which have been mentioned before, fill in the blanks with a or the, or leave the blanks empty, as appropriate.
Phil Jones was ____ prospector, who was looking for ____ gold. He had to travel a long way, crossing ___ mountains and ____ streams to reach his destination.
Previously, he had been ____ miner and had mined ___ copper and ___ coal. But ____ copper had given out, and mining ____ coal was dangerous work. When he had heard about ___ gold in ____ mountains, Phil had left his job and traveled west. He knew he would need ___ courage and ___ determination to reach his goal.
One evening he camped beside ___ stream. When he tested ____ stream, he found there was a small amount of glittering gold dust in it. As usual, Phil made ___ fire to prepare his evening meal. He took ____ ___ flour and ___ salt from his knapsack, and got ___ water from ____ stream. Then he mixed ___ salt with ___ flour, and gradually added ___ water, to make ___ pancakes over ___ fire.
As ___ fire died away, Phil looked up and down ___ stream. Expecting to see only ___ darkness, to his surprise, he saw ____ lights from many small fires. He knew they must be ____ fires of other prospectors. "I've reached end of my journey", he thought. Now he was in the goldfields, and with ___ luck, he would find ___ gold he had come to seek.
3. For each of the following sentences, change the word one to two, put the subject of the verb into the plural, and make sure that the verb agrees with its subject. For example:
One bar of soap will be provided.
Two bars of soap will be provided.
One bag of flour is on the counter.
Two bags of flour are on the counter.
1. One piece of luggage is allowed per passenger.
2. One bottle of water is enough.
3. One jar of honey is larger than the others.
4. One piece of furniture will be delivered.
4. Fill in each blank with a or an if the noun following the blank is used as a countable noun, or leave the blank empty if the noun following the blank is used as an uncountable noun. For example:
The bowl is made of ___ glass.
The bowl is made of glass.
Would you like __ glass of water?
Would you like a glass of water?
1. The sun gives off ___ heat and ___ light.
2. There is ___ light suspended from the ceiling.
3. She will buy ___ paper to find out what movies are being shown.
4. ___ paper can be made from ___ wood or ___ cloth.
5. She has a keen sense of ___ honor.
6. It is ___ honor to be invited to speak.
5. Paying attention to which verbs can be followed by an infinitive and which can be followed by a gerund, for each sentence, fill in the blank with the infinitive or gerund of the verb shown in brackets. For example:
Please stop _____ that! (to do)
Please stop doing that!
He has decided _______ a holiday. (to take)
He has decided to take a holiday.
1. Has he finished __________ the report? (to read)
2. We plan __________ the concert. (to attend)
3. They will discuss __________ a club. (to organize)
4. She offered _________ the letter. (to write)
5. They asked __________ us. (to accompany)
6. You should practise __________ the speech. (to give)
7. I would suggest __________ the work by next week. (to finish)
8. He has not dared __________ you. (to contradict)
9. They delayed _________ us. (to call)
10. She deserves ___________. (to succeed)
CHAPTER 3
1. For each of the following phrases, change the noun indicating possession from the singular to the plural. For example:
the man’s experiences
the men’s experiences
the doctor’s office
the doctors’ office
1. The musician’s instruments
2. The child’s adventures
3. The animal’s habitat
2. For each of the following phrases, change the noun indicating possession from the plural to the singular. For example:
the owners’ permission
the owner’s permission
the mice’s nest
the mouse’s nest
1. The surgeons’ skill
2. The policemen’s warning
3. The directors’ decision
3. Show the relationships between the possessors and the things possessed by using the ending ‘s or the word of, as appropriate. For example:
|
|
Possessor |
Thing Possessed |
Indicating Possession |
|
|
visitor |
map |
the visitor’s map |
|
|
stairs |
top |
the top of the stairs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. |
woman |
scarf |
|
|
2. |
children |
answers |
|
|
3. |
door |
color |
|
|
4. |
concert |
beginning |
|
|
5. |
instructor |
advice |
|
|
6. |
deficit |
size |
|
4. For each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with either the singular or the plural verb form shown in brackets. Be prepared to explain why the form you have chosen is correct. For example:
The committee ____ put forward a new proposal. (has, have)
The committee has put forward a new proposal.
In this example the committee is acting as a whole. Therefore a singular verb is used.
The committee ____ disagreed on what policy to adopt. (has, have)
The committee have disagreed on what policy to adopt.
In this example, the members of the committee are acting as individuals. Therefore a plural verb is used.
Two tons of coal __ required. (is, are)
Two tons of coal is required.
In this example, the amount two tons is considered as a whole. Therefore a singular verb is used.
1. The crew ______ preparing the ship to go to sea. (is, are)
2. The crew ______ different levels of experience. (has, have)
3. Two pounds of butter _____ too much. (is, are)
4. The class _____ not agree on what should be done. (does, do)
5. The class _____ contributed eighty dollars to the cause. (has, have)
5. For each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with either the singular or the plural verb form shown in brackets. Be prepared to explain why the form you have chosen is correct. For example:
Both the sky and the water ___ blue. (is, are)
Both the sky and the water are blue.
The two nouns of a compound subject with and refer to two different things. Therefore a plural verb is used.
Wilson and Brothers __ a company dealing in antiques. (is, are)
Wilson and Brothers is a company dealing in antiques.
The two nouns of a compound subject with and refer to one thing. Therefore a singular verb is used.
Either Richard or his uncle __ sure to be there. (is, are)
Either Richard or his uncle is sure to be there.
A singular noun is nearest the verb in a compound subject with or. Therefore a singular verb is used.
Neither the main office nor the branch offices ___ open. (is, are)
Neither the main office nor the branch offices are open.
A plural noun is nearest the verb in a compound subject with nor. Therefore a plural verb is used.
1. Either a large jar or two small jars _____ required. (is, are)
2. Neither the road nor the highway ______ to Pictou. (leads, lead)
3. A duck and a heron _____ in the pond. (is, are)
4. Either spring or summer _____ a good time to visit our region. (is, are)
5. Both the bow and the arrows ______ to the instructor. (belongs, belong)
6. Neither the boats nor the raft _____ in good repair. (was, were)
7. Milk and porridge _____ a nutritious breakfast. (is, are)
8. Either his brother or his sister ______ here. (lives, live)
9. Both boys and girls _____ eligible to apply. (is, are)
6. For each of the following sentences, place brackets around the phrase which describes the noun subject. Then, using the Simple Present tense, fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb shown in brackets. For example:
The tools, including the hammer, ___ made of iron. (to be)
The tools, [including the hammer,] are made of iron.
The ferry, as well as the other boats, ___ at anchor. (to be)
The ferry, [as well as the other boats,] is at anchor.
1. The letter, as well as the postcards, _____ on the table. (to be)
2. The windows at the front of the house _____ to be repaired. (to need)
3. His friends, as well as his sister, _____ about to leave. (to be)
4. The meadow, filled with flowers, _____ a beautiful sight. (to be)
5. The children in the class _____ eager to learn. (to be)
CHAPTER 4
1. In the sentences below, fill in the blanks with the personal pronouns which agree with the underlined antecedents. For example:
The man walked slowly, because __ was carrying a heavy parcel.
The man walked slowly, because he was carrying a heavy parcel.
Although ___ knew it was dangerous, the girl wanted to ride the horse.
Although she knew it was dangerous, the girl wanted to ride the horse.
The tree is very tall, but __ does not give much shade.
The tree is very tall, but it does not give much shade.
She and I are not coming, because __ are too busy.
She and I are not coming, because we are too busy.
Doughnuts taste best when ____ are fresh.
Doughnuts taste best when they are fresh.
1. The children are happy because _______ have a holiday today.
2. My father and I had planned to visit the park, but since it was raining _______ decided not to go.
3. This chair is valuable because _______ is so old.
4. The woman is pleased because _______ has found work.
5. Until _______ retired, their father managed a business.
2. Paying attention to the meanings of the sentences below, fill in each blank with he, she, it, we or they, and underline the antecedent of the pronoun. For example:
My grandfather does not want to retire, because __ likes his work.
My grandfather does not want to retire, because he likes his work.
His wife will be there if __ can find a baby-sitter.
His wife will be there if she can find a baby-sitter.
The bicycle must be repaired before __ can be ridden again.
The bicycle must be repaired before it can be ridden again.
My cousin and I live in different towns, but __ write to each other often.
My cousin and I live in different towns, but we write to each other often.
The bananas are quite soft, but ___ can be used in banana cake.
The bananas are quite soft, but they can be used in banana cake.
1. When the moon is full, ______ rises just as the sun sets.
2. Tracy and I like spending time together, because _______ share many interests.
3. When my uncle was young, _______ enjoyed playing soccer.
4. The students worked hard, because _______ were anxious to complete the assignment.
5. When the lady entered the hotel, ______ asked to speak with the manager.
3. The underlined pronouns in the following sentences are ambiguous, since it is not obvious to which antecedents they refer. For each sentence, first underline the two possible antecedents of the pronoun. Then make the sentence unambiguous by choosing one of the antecedents and repeating it, instead of using the pronoun. When repeating the antecedent, it is also necessary to repeat any words which modify it. For example:
I invited the woman and her sister, but she could not come.
I invited the woman and her sister, but her sister could not come.
or I invited the woman and her sister, but the woman could not come.
George gave Tom a book. Then he went home.
George gave Tom a book. Then Tom went home.
or George gave Tom a book. Then George went home.
The boys challenged the girls to a game, but they did not play well.
The boys challenged the girls to a game, but the boys did not play well.
or The boys challenged the girls to a game, but the girls did not play well.
1. I used your pen to finish the assignment, but then I lost it.
2. My father told my uncle the story, but he did not believe it.
3. When the students met the teachers for the first time, they were not sure what to expect.
4. The girl was dressed like her mother, except that she was not wearing a hat.
5. The man had arranged to meet his son at four o’clock, but he was late.
4. Rewrite each of the following sentences, using the construction with the pronoun it, followed by the verb, followed by an infinitive. For example:
Traveling by ship was quite relaxing.
It was quite relaxing to travel by ship.
Finding the right path could take a long time.
It could take a long time to find the right path.
1. Paying close attention can be crucial.
2. Crossing the mountains would be very difficult.
3. Learning everything was not easy.
5. For each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with the personal pronoun which agrees with the underlined word. The objective case must be used, since the pronouns in these sentences are the objects of verbs. For example:
I am looking for the post office. Can you help __?
I am looking for the post office. Can you help me?
Since you are new here, I will show ___ the way.
Since you are new here, I will show you the way.
If my father is at home, I will ask ___ what to do.
If my father is at home, I will ask him what to do.
My aunt and uncle invited me to visit ___.
My aunt and uncle invited me to visit them.
1. Because she is your friend, I offered to help ______.
2. I wish someone would tell ______ the answer.
3. They look familiar. I am sure we have met _______ before.
4. If you are ready, we will drive _______ home.
5. We would like you to call ______.
6. He is our neighbor. We have known _______ for years.
7. This is the book I need. May I borrow ______ ?
6. For each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with the personal pronoun which agrees with the underlined word. Use the subjective case if the pronoun is the subject of a verb, and use the objective case if the pronoun is the object of a verb. For example:
They invited me to come, but __ did not have time.
They invited me to come, but I did not have time.
Just after we had mailed you the letter, ___ called us.
Just after we had mailed you the letter, you called us.
That boy is quite friendly. I like ___.
That boy is quite friendly. I like him.
He offered to lend me two books, but I had read ___ already.
He offered to lend me two books, but I had read them already.
1. I saw your brother after school. _____ lent me his bicycle.
2. Would you like me to help ______ ?
3. My friend and I expect the woman to call ______.
4. If I am ready in time, ______ will meet you there.
5. This woman is one of our relatives, ______ is my husband’s cousin.
6. Her grandfather is a wise man. Everybody respects ______.
7. The chimney is old. ______ needs to be repaired.
7. Paying attention to the case of the personal pronouns, rewrite each of the following sentences so that the meaning is reversed. For example:
We gave them the pen.
They gave us the pen.
I like you.
You like me.
1. She helped us.
2. He asked them to come.
3. I recognized her.
4. You warned me.
8. Fill in each blank with either the subjective case or the objective case of the pronoun given in brackets. Use the subjective case if the pronoun follows the verb to be. Otherwise, use the objective case. For example:
That is __. (he)
That is he.
We remember ___. (he)
We remember him.
It was __ who did it. (we)
It was we who did it.
He threw __ the ball. (we)
He threw us the ball.
1. It was ______. (I)
2. Please hand ______ the book. (I)
3. I told _______ the secret. (she)
4. It was _______ who was here. (she)
5. It was _______ who knew the answer. (they)
9. For each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with the personal pronoun which agrees with the underlined word. The objective case must be used, since the pronouns in these sentences are the objects of prepositions. For example:
I want you to address the letter to __.
I want you to address the letter to me.
This jar is the largest. Rice was stored in __.
This jar is the largest. Rice was stored in it.
The girl was shy, but we had an enjoyable conversation with ___.
The girl was shy, but we had an enjoyable conversation with her.
We went to the post office, but there was no mail for __.
We went to the post office, but there was no mail for us.
1. They want us to go with _____.
2. I would like you to wrap this gift for ______.
3. She thinks we are talking about ______.
4. The wall was so high that I could not see over ______.
5. Your nephew wants us to write to ______.
6. You should ask them to send it to ______.
7. Nancy and I would like you to come with ______.
10. For each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with the personal pronoun which agrees with the underlined word. Use the subjective case if the pronoun is the subject of a verb, and use the objective case if the pronoun is the object of a verb or the object of a preposition. For example:
They looked at me, but __ did not recognize them.
They looked at me, but I did not recognize them.
We told you what would happen, but ___ did not listen.
We told you what would happen, but you did not listen.
We saw them, but they did not see __.
We saw them, but they did not see us.
They asked us a question, but we could not tell ____ the answer.
They asked us a question, but we could not tell them the answer.
Their son did not know the way, but we pointed it out to ___.
Their son did not know the way, but we pointed it out to him.
The girl is so mischievous, we do not know what to do with ___.
The girl is so mischievous, we do not know what to do with her.
1. His father works hard. ______ is a doctor.
2. Because the woman seemed friendly, we asked ______ for directions.
3. The cupboards are so full, we cannot put anything else into _____.
4. You will be surprised if we beat ______ in the race.
5. Have you been looking for me? ______ had to run an errand.
6. My niece wants us to send the photographs to ______.
7. We have invited them to visit ______.
8. The store was open, but we did not have time to go into ______.
9. She will be angry if we make fun of ______.
10. You and I are good friends, ______ hardly ever argue.
11. Fill in each blank with the possessive adjective which agrees with the underlined antecedent. For example:
I am looking for __ keys.
I am looking for my keys.
The lady left ___ gloves on the counter.
The lady left her gloves on the counter.
Personal pronouns must agree with _____ antecedents.
Personal pronouns must agree with their antecedents.
1. I opened _______ book.
2. Did the man finish _______ work?
3. The bear is licking _______ paws.
4. Please show us to _______ seats.
5. She has already purchased _______ ticket.
6. Have you heard from _______ friends recently?
7. The students live near _______ school.
12. For each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with the possessive adjective which agrees with the noun or pronoun shown in brackets. For example:
___ barking kept us awake. (the dog)
Its barking kept us awake.
___ arriving on time was fortunate. (we)
Our arriving on time was fortunate.
_____ swooping and darting was a sign that it would rain. (the swallows)
Their swooping and darting was a sign that it would rain.
1. ________ following the guidelines was a good idea. (you)
2. _______ agreeing to forward the mail was helpful. (the students)
3. _________ answering the questions so easily was unexpected. (he)
13. Fill in each blank with the possessive pronoun which agrees with the underlined antecedent. For example:
If you cannot find your pen, I will lend you ____.
If you cannot find your pen, I will lend you mine.
I failed my exams, but my brother passed ___.
I failed my exams, but my brother passed his.
Their umbrellas are rather tattered, but we have mended ____.
Their umbrellas are rather tattered, but we have mended ours.
1. Your coat may be warm, but I think _______ is more elegant.
2. Because I had no gloves, my niece offered me _______.
3. I forgot to bring my camera. Did you bring _______.
4. When I lost my map, your son lent me _______.
5. They discarded their old telephone directories, but we kept _______.
6. We have not planted our peas yet, but the farmers have planted ______ already.
14. Fill in each blank with either the possessive adjective or the possessive pronoun which agrees with the underlined antecedent. Remember that the possessive adjective must precede a noun or gerund, whereas the possessive pronoun is used independently. For example:
Last night I wrote to __ sister.
Last night I wrote to my sister.
I thought the book was yours, but in fact, it was ____.
I thought the book was yours, but in fact, it was mine.
She has ordered ___ tickets in advance.
She has ordered her tickets in advance.
Although they do not know it yet, the prize is ______.
Although they do not know it yet, the prize is theirs.
The rain continued ___ pattering on the roof.
The rain continued its pattering on the roof.
1. I always enjoy _______ vacation.
2. I mailed my letter. Did you mail _______?
3. He is eager to try out _______ skis.
4. I am sure _______ handling of the situation was correct.
5. I rarely use a car, but they drive ________ everywhere.
6. My aunt visits _______ cousins once a year.
7. We are proud of _______ record.
8. I have never met your children. Have you met _______?
15. For each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with the reflexive pronoun which agrees with the underlined word. For example:
I found ______ in a difficult situation.
I found myself in a difficult situation.
The children warmed __________ in front of the fire.
The children warmed themselves in front of the fire.
1. He should take better care of ______________.
2. You may help ____________.
3. I saw it ________.
4. She likes to involve ____________ in community affairs.
5. We could see ______________ reflected in the mirror.
6. The bird perched _____________ on the window sill.
7. The students found the solution ______________.
CHAPTER 5
1. For each of the following general statements, change all of the pronouns and possessive adjectives to agree with the pronoun given in brackets. For example:
We must work to keep our environment healthy. (you)
You must work to keep your environment healthy.
You should always pay your income tax before the deadline. (one)
One should always pay one's income tax before the deadline.
One should not think only of oneself. (we)
We should not think only of ourselves.
1. We should work in order to realize our ambitions. (one)
2. When you are overworked, you should try to give yourself time to relax. (we)
3. One can never be sure whether one's intuitions are correct. (you)
4. If one organizes one's time properly, one can accomplish a great deal. (we)
5. If you own property, you should protect yourself with a good insurance policy. (one)
6. We should never be afraid to state our views. (you)
2. For each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with this or these. Use this to refer to a single person or thing, and use these to refer to more than one person or thing. For example:
____ is her bicycle.
This is her bicycle.
Is ____ jacket too large?
Is this jacket too large?
_____ are our books.
These are our books.
_____ boots are warm.
These boots are warm.
1. Does __________ bus go downtown?
2. __________ are their suitcases.
3. __________ is his camera.
4. __________ trees are over one hundred years old.
5. Is __________ flower a daffodil?
3. For each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with that or those. Use that to refer to a single person or thing, and use those to refer to more than one person or thing. For example:
____ is a hovercraft.
That is a hovercraft.
____ plane flies to Geneva.
That plane flies to Geneva.
_____ are peacocks.
Those are peacocks.
Are _____ children on vacation?
Are those children on vacation?
1. __________ is his pen.
2. __________ girls are Australian.
3. Has __________ chair been painted?
4. __________ watches are not expensive.
5. Does __________ train usually arrive on time?
4. Rewrite the following sentences, changing the subjects and verbs from the singular to the plural. For example:
Is this ready?
Are these ready?
This towel is fluffy.
These towels are fluffy.
That measures the temperature.
Those measure the temperature.
That pail is made of aluminum.
Those pails are made of aluminum.
1. This was finished last week.
2. Is that radiator working?
3. This picture is ours.
4. That has been completed.
5. This was designed by his aunt.
5. Rewrite the following sentences, changing the subjects and verbs from the plural to the singular. For example:
These were on sale.
This was on sale.
Are these books interesting?
Is this book interesting?
Those have been useful.
That has been useful.
Those plays were popular.
That play was popular.
1. These were necessary.
2. Those colors are beautiful.
3. Are these bells too loud?
4. Have those been polished?
5. These shirts are clean.
6. Paying attention to correct word order, arrange each of the following sets of words to form questions beginning with interrogative pronouns which are the objects of the verbs. If necessary, add the auxiliary do, does or did. For example:
you, prefer, which
Which do you prefer?
they, heard, what
What did they hear?
we, have found, what
What have we found?
I, should choose, which
Which should I choose?
1. they, have decided, what
2. you, want, which
3. I, should wear, what
4. she, said, what
5. he, likes, what
6. you, are reading, what
7. one, can do, what
8. they, bought, which
7. For each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with the interrogative pronoun who or whom. Use who if the pronoun is the subject of the verb, and use whom if the pronoun is the object of the verb or the object of a preposition. For example:
___ is there?
Who is there?
___ has been notified?
Who has been notified?
____ are we expecting?
Whom are we expecting?
For ____ did you buy the flowers?
For whom did you buy the flowers?
1. _______ has read the book?
2. To _______ did he give the letter?
3. _______ is at the door?
4. _______ was awarded the prize?
5. _______ did he tell?
6. _______ answered the question correctly?
7. _______ does she like the best?
8. _______ would be the most suitable person for the job?
9. For _______ are they waiting?
10. _______ has been informed of the situation?
8. Paying attention to grammatically correct usage, for each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with who, whom or whose. In these sentences, use whose only as a possessive adjective, preceding a noun. For example:
___ is raking the leaves?
Who is raking the leaves?
____ did you call?
Whom did you call?
To ____ was he speaking?
To whom was he speaking?
_____ bicycle is leaning against the steps?
Whose bicycle is leaning against the steps?
1. By _______ was this written?
2. _______ gloves are lying on the table?
3. _______ lives here?
4. _______ did they help?
5. _______ child is this?
6. _______ was allowed to enter the competition?
7. _______ handwriting is the most legible?
8. With _______ was she speaking?
9. For each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with either what or which. For example:
____ is happening?
What is happening?
_____ of my coats do you like the best?
Which of my coats do you like the best?
____ a surprise!
What a surprise!
1. _________ time does the train leave?
2. _________ of the three schools do you attend?
3. _________ is your name?
4. _________ a wonderful idea!
5. _________ planet is larger, Jupiter or Saturn?
10. Using the introductory phrase Please tell me, rewrite the following direct questions as indirect questions. Make sure that the subjects precede the verbs in the indirect questions. For example:
Who will choose the winners?
Please tell me who will choose the winners.
Whom did they choose?
Please tell me whom they chose.
For whom had you bought the present?
Please tell me for whom you had bought the present.
1. Who was selected?
2. Whom have you consulted?
3. To whom will she address the letter?
4. What did you accomplish?
5. Which boy opened the door?
6. To which cities has he traveled?
11. Using the introductory phrase We will ask, and paying attention to the correct word order, rewrite the following direct questions as indirect questions. For example:
Who is that?
We will ask who that is.
What was that noise?
We will ask what that noise was.
Who is here?
We will ask who is here.
1. What is this?
2. Who was there?
3. Who was first?
4. Which was it?
5. Which is ready?
6. Who is she?
12. Paying attention to correct word order, use the phrases given in brackets to rewrite the following direct questions as indirect questions. For example:
Who baked the cake? (They will ask)
They will ask who baked the cake.
Whom did you tell? (We want to know)
We want to know whom you told.
To which student had she given the prize? (Did you find out)
Did you find out to which student she had given the prize?
Who was that? (Please tell me)
Please tell me who that was.
1. Who are you? (I want to know)
2. Who swept the floor? (We will ask)
3. For whom did you organize the party? (Tell me)
4. Whom had they met? (I asked)
5. At what time will you reach the station? (I need to know)
6. Which horse won the race? (They will ask)
7. Whose answer is correct? (I wonder)
8. Which hill did they climb? (We will ask)
13. For each of the following sentences, underline the relative clause, and indicate whether the clause is defining or non-defining. For example:
The sky, which was perfectly clear, was covered with stars.
The sky, which was perfectly clear, was covered with stars. [Non-defining]
The shoes which are by the bed are mine.
The shoes which are by the bed are mine. [Defining]
1. The new appliances, which are quite expensive, will be on sale next week.
2. The picture which is hanging on the wall was painted by our friend.
3. The people who own the hotel have a great deal of business experience.
4. His uncle, who sings in the choir, is a friend of my father.
14. Paying attention to grammatically correct usage, for each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with who, whom or whose. For example:
The person ___ owns the bookstore is my friend.
The person who owns the bookstore is my friend.
The singer to ____ we gave the bouquet will be performing again tonight.
The singer to whom we gave the bouquet will be performing again tonight.
The contestants _____ names were announced should prepare to start.
The contestants whose names were announced should prepare to start.
1. My best friend, ________ I see every day, always has something new to tell me.
2. Most students ________ live in residence find it easy to make friends.
3. Our neighbors, to ________ we lent our lawnmower, are conscientious and considerate.
4. The volunteers, ________ enthusiasm was obvious, finished the work quickly.
5. The musicians ________ we heard yesterday have played together for many years.
6. Parents ________ children do well in school usually consider themselves fortunate.
15. Paying attention to grammatically correct usage, for each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with who, whom or which. Use who or whom for antecedents which refer to persons, and use which for antecedents which refer to things. For example:
The woman ___ borrowed the books is a librarian.
The woman who borrowed the books is a librarian.
The key _____ opens this door is difficult to turn.
The key which opens this door is difficult to turn.
The children ____ we met are well-behaved.
The children whom we met are well-behaved.
The story _____ you heard is true.
The story which you heard is true.
The man to ____ you told the news is my brother.
The man to whom you told the news is my brother.
I have not yet received the letter to _____ you refer.
I have not yet received the letter to which you refer.
1. The window ________ is open is the kitchen window.
2. The girl _________ recited the poem is my niece.
3. The woman to ________ we were introduced was quite helpful.
4. The opportunity to _________ she owed her success came unexpectedly.
5. The man ________ they trusted was unreliable.
6. The book _________ you read is the best book by that author.
CHAPTER 6
1. Paying attention to whether reference is being made to a group of two objects, or a group of more than two objects, for each of the following sentences fill in the blank with the correct word chosen from the pair given in brackets. For example:
There are two trees on the lawn. ____ of them are spruce trees. (All, Both)
There are two trees on the lawn. Both of them are spruce trees.
I had three pencils. Have you seen ___ of them? (any, either)
I had three pencils. Have you seen any of them? (any, either)
There are four bushes in the garden, but ____ of them are rhododendrons. (neither, none)
There are four bushes in the garden, but none of them are rhododendrons.
1. I have three winter coats, but ________ of them are new. (neither, none)
2. There are two umbrellas here, but _________ of them is mine. (neither, none)
3. He owns twelve cows. _______ of them are Jerseys. (All, Both)
4. She has painted dozens of pictures. Have you seen ________ of them? (any, either)
5. Amy and Beth are twins. They _______ play the guitar. (all, both)
6. Two people said “Hello” to me, but I did not recognize ________ of them. (any, either)
7. My wife and I _______ enjoy classical music. (all, both)
8. I found all of the questions difficult. Did you answer ________ of them correctly? (any, either)
9. I asked six different people, but ________ of them knew where Walnut Street was. (neither, none)
2. Paying attention to whether the singular or the plural form is correct, fill in the blanks with the correct words chosen from the pairs given in brackets. For example:
Several of my friends ____ present. (was, were)
Several of my friends were present.
One of his friends ___ absent. (was, were)
One of his friends was absent.
Each of the dogs pricked up ___ ears. (its, their)
Each of the dogs pricked up its ears.
All of the dogs pricked up _____ ears. (its, their)
All of the dogs pricked up their ears.
1. Each of her friends ________ a university degree. (has, have)
2. Many of the birds in this park _________ here throughout the year. (live, lives)
3. Both of the children wanted to finish _________ work early. (his, their)
4. Every writer should learn from _________ own experiences. (his or her, their)
5. Either of my daughters can lend you _________ skis. (her, their)
6. Few of her ideas ________ as intriguing as this one. (are, is)
7. All of the visitors expressed _________ thanks. (his or her, their)
3. Paying attention to whether an adjective, pronoun or adverb is required, complete the following sentences by filling in the blanks with no, none or not, as appropriate. For example:
There is __ danger.
There is no danger.
____ of the trees are evergreens.
None of the trees are evergreens.
It was ___ raining when I left home.
It was not raining when I left home.
1. There is ________ wind this morning.
2. I have ________ finished reading the book.
3. _______ of the children were late for school.
4. We did ________ tell anyone the secret.
5. I have ________ idea what time it is.
6. ________ of the streets have been plowed.
4. Rewrite the following sentences as negative statements, in which the word some is replaced by the word any. For example:
He has sold some apples.
He has not sold any apples.
I need to buy some shoes.
I do not need to buy any shoes.
1. I will make some salad.
2. We need some onions.
3. I have met some of your friends.
4. He has photographed some of the most beautiful parts of the city.
5. She wants to take some courses in Archaeology.
6. I recognized some of the students.
5. Rewrite each of the following sentences to express a negative meaning. Each sentence contains a word beginning with some. If the word beginning with some occurs at the beginning of the sentence, change the word beginning with some to the appropriate word or phrase beginning with no. For example:
Some of the coats are expensive.
None of the coats are expensive.
Someone is at home.
No one is at home.
If the word beginning with some occurs later in the sentence, change the sentence to a negative statement, and change the word beginning with some to the appropriate word beginning with any. For example:
I have some paper.
I do not have any paper.
I saw your glasses somewhere.
I did not see your glasses anywhere.
1. He has some relatives in the city.
2. I know someone here.
3. Some of us were surprised by the announcement.
4. I plan to go somewhere on my vacation.
5. Some tickets were sold this morning.
6. I heard someone playing the bagpipes.
7. I gave her some advice.
8. Something is wrong.
9. We bought something at the flea market.
6. Paying attention to the grammatical structure, complete each of the following sentences by filling in the blank with another, other, others or else, as appropriate. For example:
Would you like _______ cup of tea?
Would you like another cup of tea?
The _____ guests have already arrived.
The other guests have already arrived.
Five of the books were returned on time , but three ______ were overdue.
Five of the books were returned on time, but three others were overdue.
Who ____ was at the party?
Who else was at the party?
1. I want to borrow ___________ book from the library.
2. Three people moved out, and two ____________ moved in.
3. Who ___________ knows the secret?
4. There are several ____________ possibilities.
5. Where ____________ should I look?
6. Some students enjoyed the film, but ____________ did not.
7. He lives on the ____________ side of the lake.
8. I have _____________ idea.
7. The following five sentences, abeled A to E, are identical except for the position of the word only:
A. My only friend drew the picture of the child yesterday.
B. My friend drew only the picture of the child yesterday.
C. My friend drew the only picture of the child yesterday.
D. My friend drew the picture of the only child yesterday.
E. My friend drew the picture of the child only yesterday.
The meanings of the preceding five sentences are given in the five sentences below. For each sentence, fill in the blank with the letter (A to E) which corresponds to the sentence above which has the same meaning.
1. ___ My friend drew the one existing picture of the child yesterday.
2. ___ My friend drew nothing except the picture of the child yesterday.
3. ___ My friend drew the picture of the child as short a time ago as yesterday.
8. Explain the differences in meaning of the sentences in the following pairs.
1. There is a little butter left.
2. There is little butter left.
3. We encountered a few difficulties.
4. We encountered few difficulties.
9. Paying attention to the grammatical structure, for each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with such, so or too, as appropriate. In some of the sentences, the word that has been omitted. For example:
I saw ____ beautiful flowers, I wished I had brought my camera with me.
I saw such beautiful flowers, I wished I had brought my camera with me.
The sun was __ bright that we had to wear sunglasses.
The sun was so bright that we had to wear sunglasses.
I saw __ many flowers that I could not identify them all.
I saw so many flowers that I could not identify them all.
By the time I received your message, it was ___ late to call you.
By the time I received your message, it was too late to call you.
1. She sang ________ soothing lullabies that the baby was soon asleep.
2. He owned ________ many books that his walls were lined with bookcases.
3. The boys were _______ excited to sit still.
4. He has ________ varied interests, one never knows what he will do next.
5. They have ________ few enemies, they are accepted wherever they go.
6. The snow was ________ deep for us to walk across the field.
7. Yesterday I walked ________ far that I fell asleep immediately after supper.
CHAPTER 7
1. Combine each of the following phrases with the adjective given in brackets by changing the adjective to a pronoun, and using the word of. For example:
an original recipe (our)
an original recipe of ours
these red scarves (either)
either of these red scarves
the old movies (no)
none of the old movies
1. That new bicycle (my)
2. The students (each)
3. Those leather briefcases (neither)
4. These two books (your)
5. Her latest inventions (some)
2. Place the adjectives given in brackets before the accompanying nouns, arranging the adjectives in the correct order. For example:
cats (two, my)
my two cats
apples (these, three)
these three apples
people (other, four)
four other people
chairs (more, seven)
seven more chairs
1. Maps (our, ten)
2. Cows (twenty-five, all)
3. Book (one, that)
4. Socks (other, six)
5. Lamps (those, twenty)
6. Icicles (two, the)
3. Place the adjectives given in brackets before the accompanying nouns, arranging the adjectives in the correct order. For example:
bags (heavy, three)
three heavy bags
windows (two, large, the)
the two large windows
1. Envelopes (large, four, her)
2. Tables (small, both, the)
3. Birds (tiny, those, three)
4. Brothers (tall, two, her)
4. Place the adjectives given in brackets before the accompanying nouns, arranging the adjectives in the correct order. Make sure that the general descriptive adjectives are separated from one another by commas. For example:
mirror (small, octagonal, the, highly-polished)
the small, highly-polished, octagonal mirror
horses (frisky, their, young, three)
their three frisky, young horses
1. Jacket (light, your, short-sleeved)
2. Lenses (curved, small, three)
3. Puppy (four-week-old, our, damp, warm)
4. Discoveries (two, unexpected)
5. Place the adjectives given in brackets before the accompanying nouns, arranging the adjectives in the correct order. For example:
cloth (cotton, purple)
purple cotton cloth
vases (Chinese, blue)
blue Chinese vases
1. Tents (canvas, green)
2. Houses (Victorian, crimson)
3. Curtains (white, lace)
4. Cheese (Swiss, yellow)
6. Place the adjectives given in brackets before the accompanying nouns, arranging the adjectives in the correct order. Make sure that the general descriptive adjectives are separated from one another by commas. For example:
skirt (beautiful, black, new, velvet, a)
a beautiful, new black velvet skirt
fossils (Devonian, three, white, small)
three small white Devonian fossils
box (brass, her, square, heavy)
her heavy, square brass box
1. Belt (green, beautiful, leather, a)
2. Hood (dry, his, warm)
3. Actors (old, two, Shakespearian, famous)
4. Beads (glass, round, blue, tiny)
5. Baby (lively, her, six-month-old)
7. Rewrite the following phrases, changing the underlined words to defining adjectives. For example:
black boots used for hiking
black hiking boots
a plastic cup used for holding eggs
a plastic egg cup
a green carton used for storing milk
a green milk carton
1. A new beater used for beating eggs
2. A wooden ladle used for serving soup
3. A large tin used for storing cookies
4. An old brush used for scrubbing
5. A glass plate used for baking pies
8. Paying attention to the usual order of attributive adjectives, place the adjectives given in brackets before the accompanying fixed expressions. Insert commas between the adjectives where appropriate. For example:
cuckoo clock (brown, a, Swiss, small)
a small brown Swiss cuckoo clock
life jackets (foam, thick, orange, three, new)
three thick, new orange foam life jackets
1. Watering can (round, a, heavy, metal)
2. Salt shaker (white, beautiful, porcelain, her)
3. Computer games (Nintendo, new, two, exciting)
4. Rose bush (prickly, small, two-year-old, this)
5. Table cloths (cotton, these, pink)
6. Willow branches (green, trailing, long)
7. Fire engines (medium-sized, red, two)
9. Explain how the following expressions differ in meaning:
the last interesting chapter
the interesting last chapter
10. Underline the attributive adjectives in the following paragraph, and insert commas where necessary.
At one end of the large old rectangular room was a long low sofa covered with an orange cotton cloth. Against the two wooden arms of the sofa rested red velvet cushions with beautiful long dangling silk tassels. Near the sofa was a small intricately-woven Persian carpet with a fascinating design. Two proud elegant peacocks with shimmering turquoise feathers were depicted against a background of short lush grass, clear reflecting pools, and white marble statues in a delightful palace garden.
11. Paying attention to the types of adjectives which immediately precede the nouns, for each of the following phrases, underline the word or words which receive the most stress in spoken English. For example:
a big black box
a big black box
a yellow straw hat
a yellow straw hat
convenient downtown shopping
convenient downtown shopping
an ordinary Monday morning
an ordinary Monday morning
a towel rack
a towel rack
1. Soup bowls
2. A convenient cupboard
3. Underwater photography
4. The telephone directory
5. Rubber gloves
6. A bread board
7. A sunny day
8. A new kitchen sink
9. Long green grass
10. A fine Sunday afternoon
12. Using the Simple Present of the verb to be, rewrite the following phrases as sentences, changing the attributive adjectives to predicate adjectives, and making any other changes that are required. For example:
the strong wind
The wind is strong.
the thick, warm shirts
The shirts are thick and warm.
the lively, interesting, entertaining festivals
The festivals are lively, interesting and entertaining.
the long, broad, well-managed, intensively-cultivated estate
The estate is long, broad, well-managed and intensively-cultivated.
the three-day-old colts
The colts are three days old.
1. The hot water
2. The large, threatening grey clouds
3. The thin blue book
4. The Spanish recipe
5. The one-year-old park
6. The collapsible umbrellas
7. The large white basins
13. Paying attention to which adjectives are normally used only attributively and which are normally used only predicatively, write phrases or sentences in which the adjectives shown in brackets modify the accompanying nouns. Write a phrase if the adjective can be used only attributively, and write a sentence if the adjective can be used only predicatively. For example:
nonsense (utter)
utter nonsense
the bird (alive)
The bird is alive.
1. The children (asleep)
2. The street (main)
3. Our friends (here)
4. Their assistant (afraid)
5. The consideration (principal)
14. Using the Simple Past tense of the verbs shown in brackets, change the following phrases into sentences in which the adjectives are used as predicate adjectives. For example:
the beautiful music (to sound)
The music sounded beautiful.
the delicious stew (to smell)
The stew smelled delicious.
1. The sour lemon (to taste)
2. The rough surface (to feel)
3. The excited child (to grow)
4. The relieved students (to seem)
15. For each of the following sentences, insert commas where appropriate, in order to separate the interpolated adjectives from the rest of the sentence. For example:
The marshes broad and windy stretched as far as the eye could see.
The marshes, broad and windy, stretched as far as the eye could see.
Delighted and encouraged the researchers continued their efforts.
Delighted and encouraged, the researchers continued their efforts.
1. Leaping and dancing the flames lit up the lakeshore.
2. The bells deep and resonant could be heard a mile away.
3. The flowers sweet-smelling and colorful attracted many bees.
4. Sunny and warm the climate was ideal for tourists.
16. For each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with either the present participle or the past participle of the verb shown in brackets. Use a present participle to refer to something being done by the thing being described; and use a past participle to refer to something which has been done to the thing being described. For example:
The evidence is __________. (to convince)
The evidence is convincing.
The ______ treasure was discovered accidentally. (to hide)
The hidden treasure was discovered accidentally.
1. Yesterday she heard ________________ news. (to surprise)
2. The ______________ tools must be returned by five o’clock. (to rent)
3. The ______________ rabbit stayed perfectly still. (to frighten)
4. We had a ________________ experience. (to frighten)
5. The play is ________________. (to entertain)
6. The ______________ picture hung on the wall. (to complete)
7. That is an ________________ story. (to interest)
17. Each of the following sentences contains an interpolated adjectival phrase which is separated from the noun or pronoun to be modified by another noun or pronoun. For each sentence, underline the word to be modified, and correct the sentence by moving the adjectival phrase so that it is positioned close to the word to be modified. For example:
The bird perched in the tree, folding its wings.
Folding its wings, the bird perched in the tree.
Lighting a cigarette, the door was opened by a young woman.
The door was opened by a young woman, lighting a cigarette.
He searched for his keys, tired from the journey.
Tired from the journey, he searched for his keys.
1. Wanting to entertain us, the story was told to us by a nurse.
2. She decided to apply for the position, attracted by the advertisement.
3. Driving a brightly colored van, the parcel was delivered by a courier.
4. He looked through the book, glancing from time to time at his watch.
18. This exercise contains sentences in which the noun or pronoun to be modified by the interpolated adjectival phrase is missing. Below each sentence is a rewritten, partially corrected version of the sentence. Study the corrections which have already been made, and complete the sentences with personal pronouns which make sense in the sentences. For example:
Incorrect: Following in his footsteps, our destination was soon reached.
Corrected: Following in his footsteps, __ soon reached our destination.
Following in his footsteps, we soon reached our destination.
Incorrect: Finding no one at home, his plans had to be changed.
Corrected: Finding no one at home, __ had to change his plans.
Finding no one at home, he had to change his plans.
1. Incorrect: Anxiously waiting for her guests to appear, the hands of the clock seemed to stand still.
Corrected: As _________ anxiously waited for her guests to appear, the hands of the clock seemed to stand still.
2. Incorrect: Wanting to make a good impression, his hair was carefully combed.
Corrected: Wanting to make a good impression, _____ carefully combed his hair.
3. Incorrect: Knowing what we did, the message was easy to interpret.
Corrected: Knowing what we did, _______ easily interpreted the message.
4. Incorrect: Quickly opening her presents, wrapping paper was scattered all over the floor.
Corrected: Quickly opening her presents, _______ scattered wrapping paper all over the floor.
5. Incorrect: Attempting to dry the dishes, one of the plates slipped out of his hand.
Corrected: As ______ attempted to dry the dishes, one of the plates slipped out of his hand.
19. Explain the two possible meanings of each of the following sentences.
The flag was lowered at noon.
The work was finished yesterday evening.