Card 0 of 132
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Despite disinterest in school elections, the majority of the students voted Shindra the treasurer, president of the student government. No error
"The treasurer" here is an appositive: it renames or restates Shindra in different words, and it should be surrounded with commas. The correct sentence should be: "the students voted Shindra, the treasurer, president . . ."
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Shortly the windows opened and a strong gust blew all the papers on the desk.
The underlined portion of the sentence contains just one error. The word "Shortly" is used as an introductory phrase, describing when the action of the sentence took place. Any introductory phrase needs to be set off by a comma. "Shortly, the windows opened" is the best choice to improve the sentence.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Even Mr. Williams, who had a great deal of experience working with all manner of students, was unable to help the young girl. No error
"Who had a great deal of experience working with all manner of students" here acts as an interrupting phrase, and, in this instance, is correctly separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. The sentence is correct as written.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Perdita the lost princess, was found and raised by a shepherd. No error
Commas should be used to set off the phrase "the lost princess," as it is in apposition to (gives a description of) the subject Perdita, but the sentence still makes sense without it. So, "Perdita the lost princess," contains the sentence's error, and the sentence should read, "Perdita, the lost princess, was found and raised by a shepherd."
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined portion of the sentence below that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Whenever I get depressed I try to think of things that make me happy, like my dog Sam. NO ERROR
In the sentence above, "Whenever I get depressed" acts as an introductory phrase. It should be separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
If you decide to go to the beach make sure to wear sunscreen to protect your skin! No error
The phrase "If you decide to go to the beach" is an introductory phrase, and all introductory phrases need to be set apart from the rest of the sentence by a comma. So, after being corrected, the sentence would read, "If you decide to go to the beach, make sure to wear sunscreen to protect your skin!"
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Istanbul, despite being an old city has recently been the site of major commercial developments hoping to bring international business to the country. No error
Here "despite being an old city" needs to be separated by the main clause by two commas, not just one.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
At the insistence of the manager, the entire team dropped the project immediately_;_ the project leader however, continued her work without interruption. No error
The word "however" here is considered a non-essential phrase: it can be removed, leaving a complete sentence. So it must be surrounded with commas: "The project leader, however, continued . . ."
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Finally the teacher returned our papers, and despite our initial worries, we discovered all of us had received passing marks. No error
Here, "finally" is considered an introductory word, so it must be followed by a comma: "Finally, the teacher . . ."
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Daisy and her sister, Margot, shared a large family but a special relationship; even among their numerous older and younger sisters, Margot, and Daisy had a special bond. No error
Because the sentence states that Margot is not Daisy's only sister, the commas and which frame her name in "their numerous older and younger sisters, Margot, and Daisy" are incorrect. The comma that sets apart Margot's name at the beginning of the sentence ("Daisy and her sister, Margot, shared") is correctly used, because here, Margot is being specified as Daisy's sister in an appositive phrase that renames "her sister" as "Margot."
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
First take the pie crust out of the freezer, and then fill it with the sliced apples, cinnamon, and maple syrup. No error
In this sentence, "First" is used as an introductory word (specifically an adverbial phrase) and must therefore be followed by a comma: "First, take . . ."
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Most schoolchildren have heard the tale of Robin Hood the medieval outlaw who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. No error
The phrase "the medieval outlaw who stole from the rich and gave to the poor" is an appositive phrase. It restates the noun "Robin Hood" in a way that presents more details, but is not grammatically necessary to the sentence for the sentence to be complete and understandable. ("Most schoolchildren have heard the tale of Robin Hood" is a completely correct sentence on its own.) The appositive phrase should therefore be preceded by a comma ("Robin Hood, the medieval outlaw who stole from the rich and gave to the poor").
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Unsure of how to proceed he hesitated at the top of the pass. No error
The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence is to use a single comma and separate it from the remainder of the sentence. The phrase "unsure of how to proceed" here acts as an introductory phrase, and it should be separated from the independent clause with a comma.
The full, correct version of this sentence reads: "Unsure of how to proceed, he hesitated at the top of the pass."
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Patton a man known for his pugnacious character, was highly regarded for his generalship. No error
In this sentence, the phrase "a man known for his pugnacious character" is acting as an interrupting phrase. An interrupting phrase is a group of words which interrupts the flow of the sentence; interrupting phrases need to be separated from the rest of the sentence with commas (or dashes). In this case commas are needed after "Patton," and after "character."
The full, correct version of this sentence reads: "Patton, a man known for his pugnacious character, was renowned for his generalship."
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
In many great novels, the author will explore multiple themes. No error
Here, the phrase "in many great novels" is acting as an introductory phrase for the rest of the sentence. In light of the fact that the rest of the sentence can stand on its own (grammatically speaking), this introductory phrase should be separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma, which, in this case, it is. The sentence has no grammatical errors.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Ramen a traditional dish from Japan, is an extremely hearty meal. No error
Here, the phrase "a traditional dish from Japan" acts as an interrupting phrase in the sentence, disrupting the flow of the sentence for a contextual, not a grammatical, purpose. As such, the phrase should be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. As written in the example, there is a comma missing between the word "ramen," and "a traditional dish from Japan."
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
One of the greatest generals of all time Alexander the Great had a nearly perfect military career. No error
Here the phrase "one of the greatest generals of all time" acts as an introductory phrase for the rest of the sentence. The clause provides a relevant contextual detail, but one that precedes the grammatically essential structure of the sentence, therefore a comma is need between "time" and the rest of the sentence.
The full, correct version of the sentence reads: "One of the greatest generals of all time, Alexander the Great had a nearly perfect military career."
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I really hated losing to John, the biggest jerk in school but he simply outplayed me. No error
Here, the phrase "the biggest jerk in school" is an interrupting phrase in the sentence. The phrase comes in to give us a description of John's personality, but does not affect the grammatically relevant portion of the sentence, "I really hated losing to john, but he simply outplayed me." "The biggest jerk in school" should therefore be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. Also, since the coordinating conjunction "but" is used, a comma is required after "school" in order to prevent a run-on sentence.
The full, correct version of the sentence reads: "I really hated losing to John, the biggest jerk in school, but he simply outplayed me."
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Acting one of the most challenging art forms, is my passion. No error
"One of the most challenging art forms," is here used as an interrupting phrase. It should therefore be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. The author's opinion that acting is "one of the most challenging art forms" is descriptive, but not grammatically relevant to the fundamental subject-verb relationship of this sentence. The sentence could read: "Acting is my passion."
The full, correct version of this sentence reads, "Acting, one of the most challenging art forms, is my passion."
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Cheese, my favorite food is the main reason I can never become a vegan. No error
Here, the phrase "my favorite food" is being used as an interrupting phrase, therefore it must be separated from the rest of the sentence with commas. "Cheese," the subject of the sentence, must be connected to the primary verb "is," so the interrupting phrase must be enclosed with commas, one on either end.
The full, correct version of the sentence reads: "Cheese, my favorite food, is the main reason I can never become a vegan."
Compare your answer with the correct one above