1 Grammar Exercises

GRAMMAR EXERCISES
I. Nouns:In the space provided for each item, circle a or b to complete the following
statements accurately.
1. Two of the contest (a) runner-ups, (b) runners-up protested the judges’ choice.
2. The home was constructed with numerous (a) chimneys (b) chimnies.
3. We asked the (a) Lopez’s, (b) Lopezes to contribute to the fund-raising drive.
4. The stock market is experiencing abnormal (a) ups and downs, (b) up’s and down’s.
5. This office is unusually quiet on (a) Sundays, (b) Sunday’s.
6. Two major (a) countries, (b) countrys will participate in arms negotiations.
7. The (a) board of directors, (b) boards of directors of all the major companies participated in
the surveys.
8. In shipping we are careful to include all (a) bill of sales, (b) bills of sale.
II. Verbs: In the following sentence pairs, choose the one that illustrates consistency in
use of subject, voice, and mood. Circle a or b in the space provided.
1. (a) You need more than a knowledge of technology; one also must be able to interact well
with people.
(b) You need more than a knowledge of technology; you also must be able to interact well
with people.
2. (a) Tim and Jon were eager to continue, but Bob wanted to quit.
(b) Tim and Jon were eager to continue, but Bob wants to quit.
3. (a) Read all the instructions first; then you install the printer program.
(b) Read all the instructions first, and then install the printer program.
4. (a) She was an enthusiastic manager who always had a smile for everyone.
(b) She was an enthusiastic manager who always has a smile for everyone.
III. In the space provided for each item, circle a or b to complete the statement
accurately.
1. Our directory of customer names and addresses (a) was (b) were out-of-date.
2. Improved communication technologies and increased global competition (a) is, (b) are
changing the world of business.
3. Yesterday Mrs. Phillips (a) choose, (b) chose a new office on the second floor.
4. Our management team and our attorney (a) is, (b)are researching the privacy issue.
5. If you had (a) saw, (b) seen the rough draft, you would better appreciate the final copy.
6. Although we have (a) began, (b) begun to replace outmoded equipment, the pace is slow.
7. Changing attitudes and increased job opportunities (a) is, (b) are resulting in increased
numbers of working women.
8. If I (a) was, (b) were you, I would ask for a raise.
9. The hydraulic equipment that you ordered (a) is, (b) are packed and will be shipped Friday.
10. Either of the proposed laws (a) is, (b) are going to affect our business negatively.
IV. Pronouns:In the space provided for each item, circle a, b, or c to complete the
statement accurately.
1. Send e-mail copies of the policy to the manager or (a) me, (b) myself.
2. Much preparation for the seminar was made by Mrs. Washington and (a) I, (b) me
before the brochures were sent out.
3. A number of inquiries were addressed to Jeff and (a) I, (b) me, (c) myself.
4. When you visit Franking Savings Bank, inquire about (a) its, (b) their certificates.
5. Apparently one of the female applicants forgot to sign (a) her, (b) their application.
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6. I’ve never known any man who could work as fast as (a) him, (b) he.
7. Give the supplies to (a) whoever, (b) whomever ordered them.
8. Everyone has completed the reports except Debbie and (a) he, (b) him.
V. Write the opposite of each word - EX. "He wasn't happy; he was sad."
1. North Korea is not a safe country to visit. It is very ______________.
2. This hallway is not wide; it is ______________
3. We thought the water in the river was shallow, but it was very ______________
4. Q: Was your laptop cheap? A: No, it was ______________
5. This paper is too thick. Do you have any ______________paper?
VI. Adjectives and Adverbs:In the space provided for each item, circle a, b, or c to
complete the statement accurately. If two sentences are shown, select a or b to
indicate the one expressed more effectively.
1. After the interview, Tim looked (a) calm, (b) calmly.
2. Because we appointed a new manager, the advertising campaign is running (a) smooth, (b)
smoothly.
3. Darren completed the employment test (a) satisfactorily, (b) satisfactory.
4. Which is the (a) more, (b) most dependable of the two cars?
5. Can you determine exactly what (a) there, (b) their, (c) they’re company wants us to do?
6. Of all the copiers we tested, this one is the (a) easier, (b) easiest to operate.
Circle the correct options:
7. (a) Mr. Aldron almost was ready to accept the offer.
(b) Mr. Aldron was almost ready to accept the offer.
8. (a) We only thought that it would take two hours for the test.
(b) We thought that it would take only two hours for the test.
9. (a) The committee decided to retain the last ten tickets.
(b) The committee decided to retain the ten last tickets.
10. The time passed (a) quicker, (b) more quickly than we expected.
11. Today the financial news is (a) worse, (b) worst than yesterday.
12. You must check the document (a) page by page, (b) page-by-page.
VII. Prepositions and Conjunctions: In the space provided for each item, circle a or b to
indicate the sentence that is expressed more effectively.
1. (a) The chief forgot to tell everyone where today’s meeting is.
(b) The chief forgot to tell everyone where today’s meeting is at.
2. (a) Mr. Samuel graduated college last June.
(b) Mr. Samuel graduated from college last June.
3. (a) Both employees enjoyed setting their own hours.
(b) Both of the employees enjoyed setting their own hours.
4. (a) Mediation in a labor dispute occurs when a neutral person helps union and management
reach an agreement.
(b) Mediation in a labor dispute is where a neutral person helps union and management reach
an agreement.
5. (a) We expect to finish up the work soon.
(b) We expect to finish the work soon.
6. (a) Your client may respond by e-mail or a telephone call may be made.
(b) Your client may respond by e-mail or by telephone.
7. (a) Stacy exhibited both an awareness of and talent for developing innovations.
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(b) Stacy exhibited both an awareness and talent for developing innovations.
8. (a) An ombudsman is an individual hired by management to investigate and resolve employee
complaints.
(b) An ombudsman is when management hires an individual to investigate and resolve
employee complaints.
9. (a) By including accurate data and by writing clearly, you will produce effective messages.
(b) By including accurate data and writing clearly, you will produce effective messages.
VIII. For each of the following sentences, edit any letter that should be capitalized.
1. although english was his native language, he also spoke spanish and could
read french.
2. on a trip to the east coast, uncle henry visited the empire state building.
3. karen enrolled in classes in history, german, and sociology.
4. the business manager and the vice president each received a new dell computer.
5. james lee, the president of kendrick, inc., will speak to our conference in the spring.
IX. Capitalization: In the following sentences, correct any errors that you find in
capitalization.
1. The social security act, passed in 1935, established the present system of social security.
2. Please ask your Aunt and your Uncle if they will come to the Attorney’s office at 5 p.m.
3. Once we establish an organizing committee, arrangements can be made to rent holmby hall.
4. Either the President or the Vice President of the company will make the decision about
purchasing xerox copiers.
5. Some individuals feel that american companies do not have the sense of loyalty to their
employees that japanese companies do.
6. The secretary of state said, “we must protect our domestic economy from Foreign
competition.”
7. All marketing representatives of our company will meet in the empire room of the red lion
motor inn.
8. The special keyboard for the Dell Computer must contain greek symbols for Engineering
equations.
9. In the Fall our organization will move its corporate headquarters to the franklin building in
downtown los angeles.
X. Exercise —Other Punctuation: Insert punctuation in the following sentences.
1. Will you please send me your latest catalog
2. Mr Lee, Miss Evans, and Mrs Rivera have not responded.
3. We have scheduled your interview for 4 45 p m
4. The appliance comes in limited colors black, ivory, and beige , but we accept special orders.
5. Was it the president who said “This, too, will pass
XI. Insert necessary apostrophes and corrections in the following sentences.
1. In five years time, Lisa hopes to repay all of her student loans.
2. All the employees personnel folders must be updated.
3. Both companies headquarters will be moved within the next six months.
4. Some of their assets could be liquidated; therefore, a few of the creditors received funds.
5. The package of electronics parts arrived safely despite two weeks delay.
6. According to Mr. Cortez latest proposal, all employees would receive an additional holiday.
7. His supervisor frequently had to correct Jacks financial reports.
8. Mr. Jackson estimated that he spent a years profits in reorganizing his staff.
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9. The contract is not valid without Mrs. Harris signature.

XII. FREQUENTLY MISSPELLED WORDS: Choose the correct spelling of each word:
1. Which is the correct spelling?
 recieve or receive
2. Which is the correct spelling?
 retreive or retrieve
3. Which is the correct spelling?
 millennium or millenium
4. Which is the correct spelling?
 definite or definate
5. Which is the correct spelling?
 maintenance or maintainance
6. This is one of the side ____________ of this medication.
 effects or affects
7. Are you telling me that ____________ not coming to the party?
 Their or they're
8. Those earrings really ____________ your dress.
 complement or compliment
9. ____________ German, aren't you?
 Your or You're
10. We can't start this business with limited ____________.
 capital or capitol
11. The ____________ decided in favor of the business proposal.
 counsel or council
12. That is the ____________ ingredient.
 principal or principle
13. He talked about the ____________ collapse of the government.
 eminent or imminent