Grammar - San Jose State University

Grammar:

he miniquizzes on the following pages will help you determine your strengths and weaknesses in grammar and punctuation. Each section begins with a quiz. If your score is perfect, go on to the next exercise. If you score below 100 percent, continue by reading the instructions and doing the practice exercise.

See Appendix A for solutions to practice exercises.

Dangling modifiers

Quiz yourself Decide whether each sentence is correct or incorrect. Check the appropriate box.

CORRECT INCORRECT

I. Less expensive,we propose the second option.

0

0

2. Closing out the year end, a calculation error jumped out at him. U

0

3. Although he is only an assistant vice president,his parking space

is closest to the front entrance.

0

0

4. While Director of Communications,several pioneering ideas

became realities.

0

0

.suo!io>!unwuo3Jo JouaJ!a so^ ays al!yM sap!/oaJ awmaq soap! % u ! J ~ ~ ul oo~!a~n a:n~aJJoDuly, luap!saJd

a>!A ~uois!ssouo Xluo s! ay q8noyyo a>uo~luaiuwJ atp 01 lsasol> s! a ~ o d s3ury~ods ! ~ :uaJJo>ul.E .w!y io in0 p a d w n l ~ a r ~uao!io/n>/o>D 'pua J D ~ Aayl jno pasop ay

u a y M ma.uoDu1.z .a~!suadxassal s! y y q '~uo!zdopuoDas ayi asodard a M : ~ D ~ . I J O1D U ~ '

:SY3MSNV

Scoring: 100%:Reward-go on to the quiz on parallelism. Less than 100%:Read the following guideline and complete the practice exercise.

Guideline: Avoid dangling modifiers-phrases that do not logically or clearly modify a specific noun or pronoun. When you can't tell whom or what the introductory word group refers to, rearrange or add to the sentence to include the proper information. Hint: Pay special attention to the word directly after the comma. Does it belong there?

Example: Packed in Styrofoam, you can ship the Fogg smoke detector anywhere.

Written this way, the sentence means that you are packed in Styrofoam,not the detector. Here are two ways to correct this dangling modifier.

Solution #I:

Add the missing subject (Fogg smoke detector) to the beginning of the main statement.

Packed in Styrofoam,the Fogg smoke detector can be shipped anywhere.

Solution #2:

Add the subject (Fogg smoke detector) and a verb to the modifying phrase to make it a clause.

When the Fogg smoke detector is packed in Styrofoam, you can ship it anywhere.

Practice exercise Rewrite the sentences that contain dangling modifiers. (Answers are on p. 253.) I . After spilling the soup at today's luncheon,the new Zappo contract was lost by

John.

2 18

QUIZ YOURSELF: FIND Y O U R PERSONAL STRENGTHS A N D WEAKNESSES

2. While Iwas movingthe computer, the keyboard fell on my toe.

3. Preparingfor the strategic planning meeting, the energy level waned.

4. By editing carefully, a writer can make just a few words hold enormous meaning.

5. After checking my messages, the letter carrier brought the mail, which Iread quickly.

6. When 12 years old, her uncle was promoted t o vice president of a global corporation.

7. Unless completely rewired. no engineers should handle the Zone A networking equipment.

8. Our curiosity was aroused, seeing a large gathering of emergency vehicles in the parking lot.

9. While circling the airport, my mind was focused on the upcoming meeting.

10. Used for only two weeks, Jim expects t o sell his laptop at a good price.

Parallelism

Quiz yourself

Decide whether these sentences are correct or incorrect. Check the appropriate box.

CORRECT INCORRECT

I. The damage was worse than they had anticipated:the rugs

were stained, flood damage, and some wiring had t o be replaced. 5

a

2. Her skills for the new job included researching, organization,

and writing of long reports.

0

0

3. His prospective employer required five references, but he

had only four, so he was worried about his chances of obtaining

the job.

0

0

4. The personnel department couldn't decide between rental and buying a third copy machine for the upcoming rush.

0 0

GRAMMAR: QUIZ YOURSELF

2 19

'lJaJJ03 'E

%.J!z!uD%Jo :13aJJ03Ul 'Z

-3uujnqpuo %u!iua~uaaMaaq: l ~ a . i ~ o ~.pu l

.aA!SUalXa SDM DUD^ p00u :lJa.I.iOJUl' (

:SU3MSNV

Scoring: 100%:Reward-go on to the quiz on consistency. Less than 100%:Read the guideline and complete the practice exercise.

Guideline: In a sentence or a list, present parallel ideas in parallel Form. In other words, sentence elements with identical functions should have identical construction. To achieve this harmony and equality of ideas, choose one form of a word, phrase, or clause and stick to it. Why? Parallel sentence elements channel the reader's attention in the same way as the refrain in a song-there's a familiar repetition to anticipate.

Example: His typing is fast and he does it accurately.

Solution: His typing is fast and accurate.

Practice exercise

In the following sentences, correct the errors in parallelism. Mark "Correct" if the sentence is already correct. (Answers are on p. 253.)

I. The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

a. calling the meeting t o order

c. taking the roll call

b. set date for next meeting

d. electing new officers.

2. The safety committee voted t o install lighting in the parking areas t o replace handrails on the stairway that faulty electrical outlets should be replaced to improve clearing ice from the walks.

3. We think she is dedicated and resourceful, and we recommend her for the job.

4. When you make the list, arrange the items in order of importance,write them in parallel form, and all the items should be numbered.

5. N o t only was the report disorganized and incomplete, but she misspelled many words.

220

QUIZ YOURSELF: FIND YOUR P E R S O N A L STRENGT HS A N D W E A K N E S S E S

ANSWERS:

' I.Incorrect: Sometimes people givelbecousethey don't began. 3. Correct. 4. Incorrect: Does it keep us.

2. Incorrect: fell intolmeeting

0

0

jUO!leUJOJU! BU!U!W~OJOJ s a ~ n o s X ~ e w ! ~ayd:, Xlleuo!l!pe~:,'sa!l!we~Jno y y B~u!~e~~un~uwo:,

pue s ~ a d e d s ~ apue syooq 8u!pea~w o ~sjn daay Xay:, o a

j k a ! : , ~ ~u! axioj a~!:,dn~s!pe s! m.ua:,ul aq:, ley1alq!ssod 1! sl .t,

0

. a ~ u a p u o d s a ~ ~polo3a.to:,s o:, a q d e pue :,au!qe3 8u!ly Mau e osle

:,nq 'saDuaJajuos JOJ aiqe, Buol e Xluo IOU papaau a390 a y l 'E

0

0

iXeM s!q:, uo 09 ays plno3 8uol MOH

.su!8aq Bupaaw lxau a41 aJojaq paleajap Q!ey:, Jay o ~ us!llej ays

'Xlleu!j .lesodo~dJay p a l ~ a l aw~eal aqx ley:, a w p p~!q:, aq:, s e 11~ -z

q n p a y x Xsnq e OUI! y l y o:, ~ o ~qo u ly'uop Xay, asne3aq asp~axa01y ! ~ y s~ ~ o sya~s!SU O S J e~ s~awpawos

i u o yal s:,yB!~ Xue aJV.3 .pasop aJe SMOPU!M1l-e aJns ayew .q 'HO pau~n:,uaaq seq luawd!nba le:,!a3ala Ile 1ey3 yDay3.e :a390 ay:, aAeal noX uayM aJnpaDoJd s!y1 ~ o l l o j ' b ~ a uaAaJasuo3 01'01

.:,uawuoJyua BU!~JOMpoo8 e s e 1~! pue 'X~elesay1*a%ualley3ay-,:suosea~Xue~u~ oqoj ! Mau s!y paXolua aH -6

u o d a ~ n o Xu! pueq plnoqs noX pue 's1lnsaJ ay:, azXleue'Xa~~nasy:, a:,aldwo3 asea~d4Xepulox~au Xg -8

- ~ J O Ms!y u! uo!~eu!%ewj o! 101e sey pue'qBno~oq1'lua!:,l3)a s! a H -L

dep awes a y l u! Ile'auoyd 1la3s!q :,sol pue %u!:,aaw a y l pass!w cXe~y9!ayy l uo u ~ o apyoJq aH .q

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download