Grammar Pretest

Nouns and PronounsRead each sentence. Choose the correct number of pronouns from the choices.

1. He sat beneath the shimmering sky, entranced by the beauty of each star’s pronouncement of its mission to enlighten a corner of the world.

a. 1b. 2c. 3d. There are no pronouns in this sentence

2. “The mistake is all mine,” she admitted willingly, deeply moved by the consequence of her action.

a. 1b. 2c. 3d. There are no pronouns in this sentence

3. These are the cutest shoes I have ever seen!a. 1b. 2c. 3d. There are no pronouns in this sentence

4. The teacher asked her to report on that later.a. 1b. 2c. 3d. There are no pronouns in this sentence

Read each sentence. Choose the correct number of nouns from the choices (do not include pronouns)

5. The baseball team wrapped up another winning streak with a 4-1 score in their final game.

a. 2b. 3c. 4d. 5

6. The book you want is located on the second shelf of the bookcase in the den.

a. 2b. 3c. 4d. 5

7. Mrs. Jeffrey wants us to attend the celebration dinner that is to be served tonight.

a. 2b. 3c. 4d. 5

8. The flock of birds consisted of one leader and several other birds that made up the typical “V” formation.

a. 2

b. 3c. 4d. 5

PrepositionsPick out the preposition in each sentence

9. They were reassured about the outcome.a. Theb. Werec. Aboutd. Outcome

10. A crater is a hole in the ground.a. Inb. Thec. Isd. A

11. Josh ducked under the bed.a. Underb. Thec. Bedd. Josh

12.Matt was born on October 17th in Kansas City.a. Was, onb. In, wasc. In, Ond. Matt, In

VerbsRead each sentence, the choose the number of Verbs in each sentence.

13. Hunt was a devoted dad, a man who loved to spend time with his children.

a. 1b. 2c. 3d. 4

14. The real estate agent asked her to sign a listing agreement on the house.

a. 1b. 2c. 3d. 4

15. Karen wasn’t sure to whom the award should go.a. 1b. 2c. 3d. 4

Identifying Subjects and PredicatesChoose the answer that correctly identifies the boldfaced word or words in each sentence.

16. The mail carrier left a package at our front door.a. Complete subjectb. Complete predicatec. Simple predicate, or verb

17. The whaling ship followed the whale for days.a. Complete subjectb. Complete predicatec. Simple subject

18. The mountain steam looks clear and clean.a. Complete subjectb. Complete predicatec. Simple predicate, or verb

Recognizing Kinds of SentencesChoose the answer that identifies each sentence

19.What a gorgeous day this isa. Declarativeb. Interrogativec. Exclamatory

20. Join me on the volleyball teama. Declarativeb. Imperativec. Exclamatory

21.Who is your favorite player on the teama. Declarativeb. Imperativec. Interrogative

22. Rosalie met her guests at the front doora. Interrogativeb. Imperativec. Declarative

Recognizing SubjectsChoose the correct subject from each sentence.

23. Can you see the scoreboard from your seat?a. Youb. Scoreboardc. Seat

24. After the lightning came the thunder.a. Afterb. Lightningc. Thunder

25. Here is a letter from the vacation resorta. Hereb. (You)c. Letter

Recognizing Fragments and Run-ins

Choose the answer that identifies each group of words.

26.With wide eyes and a wider smile.a. Fragmentb. Complete sentencec. Run-on

27.Wait for me I’m hurrying.a. Fragmentb. Complete sentencec. Run-on

28. The bus is late today.a. Fragmentb. Complete sentencec. Run-on

29. Became a U.S. citizen.a. Fragmentb. Complete sentencec. Run-on

Using Possessive PronounsChoose the pronoun that correctly completes each sentence.

30.We will stop by _____ house before we go to the party.a. You’reb. Your

31. The full moon shone _____ light on the ocean.a. Itsb. It’s

32. The snowbound residents could not leave _____ houses for days.a. They’reb. Their

33. Is this _____ bag, Maddie?a. Yourb. You’re

Correcting Pronoun ProblemsChoose the pronoun the correctly completes each sentence.

34. The salesclerk gave _____ customers a free sample.a. Web. Us

35. _____ gardeners are anxious for spring to come.a. Web. Us

36. The finalists in the contest were Zach and _____.a. Ib. Me

Using Principal Parts of VerbsChoose the principal part that correctly completes each sentenve.

37. Brandon _____ the answer to most of the quiz show questions.a. Knownb. Knew

38. Are you _____ at the swim meet this Friday?a. Diveb. Diving

39. Drew is _____ his karate class today.a. Beganb. Beginning

Identifying and Using TensesIdentify the tense of the boldface verb in each sentence.

40. A few minutes ago, the clock struck four times.a. Presentb. Futurec. Past

41. Kim was riding her bike when she hit a rock.a. Pastb. Past progressivec. Past perfect

42. Barb had wanted to be the lead in the play.a. Present perfectb. Past perfectc. Future perfect

Using Troublesome Verb PairsChoose the verb that correctly completes each sentence.

43. Danny _____ in the back row.a. Was sittingb. Was setting

44. I _____ my gloves on the radiator.a. Had lainb. Had laid

45. Please _____ the window shade to let some light in.a. Raiseb. Rise

Identifying AdjectivesFind the adjective in each sentence. Do not include the articles.

46. Nectarines are sweeter than oranges.a. Sweeterb. Orangesc. Than

47. Does everyone here like Chinese food?a. Everyoneb. Herec. Chinese

48. The frightened kitten ran up the tree.a. Frightenedb. Upc. Tree

49.Were you comfortable on the plane?a. Youb. Comfortablec. Plane

Identifying other words used as adjectivesIn each sentence, identify a noun or a pronoun used as an adjective.

50. Joel is going on his first train ride today.a. Firstb. Todayc. Train

51.Which book do you recommend most highly?a. Whichb. Mostc. Highly

52. The park trails are easy to follow.a. Easyb. Followc. Park

Identifying AdverbsIdentify the adverb or adverbs in each sentence.

53. In the bright sunlight, your hair looks quite red.a. Bright, quiteb. Bright, redc. Quite

54. The concert started late.a. Concertb. Started, latec. Late

55. Rachel is almost certainly going to be chosen.a. Almost, certainlyb. Certainly, chosenc. Chosen

Making ComparisonsChoose the word that correctly completes each sentence.

56.Which is the _____ river in the world?a. Longerb. Longest

57. Summer drives _____ that her brother.a. More carefullyb. Most carefully

58. This sauce is _____ than the sauce my mother makes.a. Spicierb. Spiciest

59. This is the _____ puppy in the whole store.a. Friendlierb. Friendliest

Using Prepositional PhrasesIdentify the prepositional phrase in each sentence.

60. Before the storm, the sky grew dark.a. Before the stormb. The stormc. Grew dark

61. The rules of the games have changed a littlea. Have changedb. A littlec. Of the game

62. I know I left my camera somewhere around here.a. Aournd hereb. Left my camerac. Somewhere around

63. Everyone except Eileen has seen the cartoon.a. Seen the Cartoonb. Except Eileenc. Has seen

Choose the way the boldfaced prepositional phrase is used in each sentence.

64. Jerry found a quarter near the walkway.a. Adjectiveb. Adverb

65. Several members of the other team objected strongly.a. Adjectiveb. Adverb

66. Let’s have a picnic beside the lake!a. Adjectiveb. Adverb

When you are finished with the test, please place the question packet and answer sheet in the correct pile on the back counter. Thank you!