Grammar Pretest

Nouns and Pronouns

Read 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.
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. There are no pronouns in this sentence
2. “The mistake is all mine,” she admitted willingly, deeply moved by the consequence of her action.
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. There are no pronouns in this sentence
3. These are the cutest shoes I have ever seen!
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. There are no pronouns in this sentence
4. The teacher asked her to report on that later.
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 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.
1. 2
2. 3
3. 4
4. 5
6. The book you want is located on the second shelf of the bookcase in the den.
1. 2
2. 3
3. 4
4. 5
7. Mrs. Jeffrey wants us to attend the celebration dinner that is to be served tonight.
1. 2
2. 3
3. 4
4. 5
8. The flock of birds consisted of one leader and several other birds that made up the typical “V” formation.
1. 2
2. 3
3. 4
4. 5

                                                 

Prepositions

Pick out the preposition in each sentence

9. They were reassured about the outcome.
1. The
2. Were
3. About
4. Outcome
10. A crater is a hole in the ground.
1. In
2. The
3. Is
4. A
11. Josh ducked under the bed.
1. Under
2. The
3. Bed
4. Josh
12. Matt was born on October 17^th in Kansas City.
1. Was, on
2. In, was
3. In, On
4. Matt, In

Verbs

Read each sentence, then choose the number of Verbs in each sentence.

13. Hunt was a devoted dad, a man who loved to spend time with his children.
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
14. The real estate agent asked her to sign a listing agreement on the house.
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
15. Karen wasn’t sure to whom the award should go.
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4

Identifying Subjects and Predicates

Choose the answer that correctly identifies the boldfaced word or words in each sentence.

16. The mail carrier left a package at our front door.
1. Complete subject
2. Complete predicate
3. Simple predicate, or verb

17. The whaling ship followed the whale for days.
1. Complete subject
2. Complete predicate
3. Simple subject
18. The mountain steam looks clear and clean.
1. Complete subject
2. Complete predicate
3. Simple predicate, or verb

Recognizing Subjects

Choose the correct subject from each sentence.

19. Can you see the scoreboard from your seat?
1. You
2. Scoreboard
3. Seat
20. After the lightning came the thunder.
1. After
2. Lightning
3. Thunder
21. Here is a letter from the vacation resort
1. Here
2. (You)
3. Letter

Recognizing Fragments and Run-Ons

Choose the answer that identifies each group of words.

22. With wide eyes and a wider smile.
1. Fragment
2. Complete sentence
3. Run-on
23. Wait for me I’m hurrying.
1. Fragment
2. Complete sentence
3. Run-on
24. The bus is late today.
1. Fragment
2. Complete sentence
3. Run-on
25. Became a U.S. citizen.
1. Fragment
2. Complete sentence
3. Run-on

Using Possessive Pronouns

Choose the pronoun that correctly completes each sentence.

26. We will stop by _____ house before we go to the party.
1. You’re
2. Your
27. The full moon shone _____ light on the ocean.
1. Its
2. It’s
28. The snowbound residents could not leave _____ houses for days.
1. They’re
2. Their
29. Is this _____ bag, Maddie?
1. Your
2. You’re

Correcting Pronoun Problems

Choose the pronoun the correctly completes each sentence.

30. The salesclerk gave _____ customers a free sample.
1. We
2. Us
31. _____ gardeners are anxious for spring to come.
1. We
2. Us
32. The finalists in the contest were Zach and _____.
1. I
2. Me

Using Principal Parts of Verbs

Choose the principal part that correctly completes each sentence.

33. Brandon _____ the answer to most of the quiz show questions.
1. Known
2. Knew
34. Are you _____ at the swim meet this Friday?
1. Dive
2. Diving
35. Drew is _____ his karate class today.
1. Began
2. Beginning

Identifying and Using Tenses

Identify the tense of the boldface verb in each sentence.

36. A few minutes ago, the clock struck four times.
1. Present
2. Future
3. Past
37. Kim was riding her bike when she hit a rock.
1. Past
2. Past progressive
3. Past perfect
38. Barb had wanted to be the lead in the play.
1. Present perfect
2. Past perfect
3. Future perfect

Using Troublesome Verb Pairs

Choose the verb that correctly completes each sentence.

39. Danny _____ in the back row.
1. Was sitting
2. Was setting
40. I _____ my gloves on the radiator.
1. Had lain
2. Had laid
41. Please _____ the window shade to let some light in.
1. Raise
2. Rise

Identifying Adjectives

Find the adjective in each sentence. Do not include the articles.

42. Nectarines are sweeter than oranges.
1. Sweeter
2. Oranges
3. Than
43. Does everyone here like Chinese food?
1. Everyone
2. Here
3. Chinese
44. The frightened kitten ran up the tree.
1. Frightened
2. Up
3. Tree
45. Were you comfortable on the plane?
1. You
2. Comfortable
3. Plane

Identifying other words used as adjectives

In each sentence, identify a noun or a pronoun used as an adjective.

46. Joel is going on his first train ride today.
1. First
2. Today
3. Train
47. Which book do you recommend most highly?
1. Which
2. Most
3. Highly
48. The park trails are easy to follow.
1. Easy
2. Follow
3. Park

Identifying Adverbs

Identify the adverb or adverbs in each sentence.

49. In the bright sunlight, your hair looks quite red.
1. Bright, quite
2. Bright, red
3. Quite
50. The concert started late.
1. Concert
2. Started, late
3. Late

51. Rachel is almost certainly going to be chosen.
1. Almost, certainly
2. Certainly, chosen
3. Chosen

Making Comparisons

Choose the word that correctly completes each sentence.

52. Which is the  _____ river in the world?
1. Longer
2. Longest
53. Summer drives _____ than her brother.
1. More carefully
2. Most carefully
54. This sauce is _____ than the sauce my mother makes.
1. Spicier
2. Spiciest
55. This is the _____ puppy in the whole store.
1. Friendlier
2. Friendliest

Using Prepositional Phrases

Identify the prepositional phrase in each sentence.

56. Before the storm, the sky grew dark.
1. Before the storm
2. The storm
3. Grew dark
57. The rules of the games have changed a little
1. Have changed
2. A little
3. Of the game
58. I know I left my camera somewhere around here.
1. Aournd here
2. Left my camera
3. Somewhere around
59. Everyone except Eileen has seen the cartoon.
1. Seen the Cartoon
2. Except Eileen
3. Has seen

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

60. Jerry found a quarter near the walkway.
1. Adjective
2. Adverb
61. Several members of the other team objected strongly.
1. Adjective
2. Adverb
62. Let’s have a picnic beside the lake!
1. Adjective
2. Adverb

When you are finished with the test, please turn it over on your desk and wait until I tell you to pass it forward. Than

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