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Grammar-Quizzes contrasts points of grammar and provides examples, explanations, practices and interactive quizzes for adjectives, verbs, prepositions, clauses, phrases, expressions and much more!  This site, improved for faster loading and better accessibility, is available to instructors and their students without charge and is supported by Google Ads.  Please let me know if you find a page error.  Contact Info   Keyboard Options   Grammar-Quizzes Friends (Google Friends Connect )  GQ Cards   Last updated 

Adjective Summary

Summary of adjective and modifier use

Adjective Order

Using multiple adjectives, word order; a big, new, shiny, red wagon

Number Modifiers

Changing numbers to modifiers: a ladder with six steps  vs. a six-step ladder

Noun Modifiers

Changing nouns to modifiers (adjectives); four-wheel drive

Modifiers to Adj

Modifiers to adjectives: quantities and adverbs; two feet high / tall / long; color modifiers: grass green

Fewer / Less

Contrasting the use of fewer w/count nouns and less w/non-count nouns; many more and much more  

Part Adj 1 -ed / -ing

Participial adjectives: agent vs. receiver;  amused vs. amusing; -ed vs. -ing endings

Part Adj 2 -ed / -ing

Participial adjectives: ongoing vs. completed, a roasting  vs. roasted chicken; -ed vs. -ing endings 

Participial Adj Quiz

Participial adjective auto-correcting quiz: surprised vs. surprising, aged vs. aging
 

Adjective Clauses

Summary of adjective clause practices

That

Adding an adjective, modifying clause; sentence transformation: dependent & independent clauses; that

Who-whom

Using relative Pronouns: who, whom in adjective clauses

Whose

Adding an adjective clause with the possessive pronoun: whose

When-Where

Adding an adjective clause with time and place pronouns: when, where and in/on/at which

Wh-ever

Adding a modifying clause with indefinite pronouns: whoever, whatever, whenever, wherever. however

All of which

Using quantity phrases to add modifying clauses:  all of which / some of whom

The X of which

Using inanimate possessives (things):  the x of which vs. whose

That / Which

Using clause punctuation; identifying vs. nonidentifying clauses; restrictive vs. non-restrictive; that, which

Some or All

Punctuating restrictive (one/some) vs. non-restrictive (all) clauses: some vs. all; commas

Which-clause

Referring to an idea which (all of the preceding clause) vs. that (preceding noun)

Phrases [be]

Reducing a clause to a modifying phrase using "that + be deletion" [who is] living

Particpl Phrases

Reducing a clause by changing the verb to a present participle phrase: [who lives] living

Adj Clause Qz

Adjective clause quiz: possessives and phrases of quantity: whose, some of whose 

 Related pages

pastpartciple phrs

Reducing a clause to a phrase using [that + be] deletion

presentparticiple phrs

Past & present-participle modifying phrases: served as / serving as  

Ch 13 Adj Clauses

Review of chapter 13 in Azar v.3 "Understanding and Using English Grammar"
 

Adverb summary

Summary of adverb modifiers (under construction)

Adv Uses 

Uses— words modified by adverbs, word order, emphasis position; irregular adverbs; split-infinitive debate

Adv_present

Present tense adverbs  indicating when or how frequently actions or events occur: always, now, this month

Adv_past

Past tense adverbs:  indicating when or how frequently actions or events occured: last year, yesterday, a minute ago

Adv_pres perfect

Present perfect adverbs:  indicating how long or frequently actions or events have occured: for, since, already, yet

Adv place 

Adverbs & prepositional phrases as modfiers: out, out of, outside, behind, back, backward, etc.

Adv_degree

Adverbs of degree:  intensifiers, modifying verbs, adverbs and adjectives: rather, extremely, totally; so, such, too, very, enough

Mixed times

Adverbs in future time (mixed verb tense) - before, after, as soon as, when, while, as

By-the-time

Future perfect tense: comparing relative events: by the time

When-while

Adverbs introducing clauses of same-time actions of short and long duration: when, while

Adverb phrases

Shortening clauses to modifying phrases:indicating same-time, earlier or later events: when, while, before, after

Because phrases

Shortening clauses to modifying phrases: because expressing reason (cause-effect) : same-time, earlier time

PhrasalVerbs

Contrast adverbs of place with phrasal verbs: look up vs "look up"   See Commonly Confused Words

Comparisons

Words (inc. adverbs) that compare and contrast: similarly, differently, -er, more, funner(?)   See Connectory Summary

So-Such-that

Adverb so modifying adverbs and adjectives; so ... that   See Connectory Summary
 

Agreement Summary

Summary of subject-verb agreement : sentence, clause, quantifier phrases

RegPluralNouns

Using plural Noun Forms (spellings): -s, -es, -ies, -ves

IrregPluralNouns

Identifying uncommon plural noun forms: -ee-, -en, -oes, -a, -ae, -ices, -i;  nouns with same plural form: fish; varieties: fishes

Irreg Plural Noun Practice

Editing for irregular plural nouns; -i, oes, -a, -es, -ves

IrregAgreement

Exceptions; irregular agreement examples: English is vs. the English are 

Final -S Prac

Editing - final -s / -es in sentences; Final S sounds  Listening for final -s  [s] / [z] in words (audio)

3rd Person Agreement

Sentence practice changing the verb to third-person agreement: -s

Count and Non-count

Examples of count and uncountable (mass) nouns:  money vs. dollars, coins, cents 

Count Noun Practice

Group (mass) nouns - Identifying count & non-count nouns: jewelry vs. rings

Group Nouns

Referring to group nouns vs. items in the group:  equipment – computers; candy – candy bars

Noncount Nouns

Paragraph practice selecting count and non count nouns: lessons – homework; messages – communication

ExpressionsQuantity

 count and non-count nouns: some, several, a lot of, much

Much-Many

 Count & non-count: much vs. many

Quantifiers for Food

Quantifiers used for food nouns:  slice, cup, stick, bottle, spoonful ; pig - pork; calf–veal

Quantity Phrases

Subject-verb agreement within sentences with expressions of quantity: some of, all of, the/a number of, none, neither...nor

ComplexAgreement

Subject-verb agreement within sentences with clauses or phrases: The monkey under the bananas is hiding.

ThereAgreement

Subject -verb agreement with there

Pronouns

Replacing subject and object nouns with pronouns: he, she, we, they — him, her, us, them

Indefinite Pronouns

Pronoun agreement with quantifier phrases: everyone has his / their hat; gender neutral phrasing

Possessive Nouns

Sentence Agreement with Possessive Nouns: girl's vs. girls'

PossessivePronouns

sentence agreement of quantity phrases and pronouns: his, hers, ours, every, each, all of X, some of X

Common Mistakes

Sentence editing for common mistakes in sentence agreement: Everyone is;  two percent is; two-thirds of the book(s) is/are

Gender Agrmnt

Gender and pronoun use; Everyone has his hat vs. their

Agreement Editing

Sentence editing practice.

Essay Agreement

Edit a paragraph for agreement

Agreement In Context

Subject-verb agreement in context 
 

Article Summary

Summary of Article Usage

a-unspecific

Mentioning one as an example of all: A violin has four strings.

a-specific

"A comet" (one as an example) versus "a comet" (one in particular)

all/the-class

Speaking in general: "the wolf" (the class-unspecific) versus "wolves" (all-unspecific)

The class/ A-unspec

"The lion" ( the class - unspecific) versus "a lion" (one - unspecific)

All / The-Specfic

"People" (all) versus "The people" (specific);

The-identified

The - noun identified by earlier mention

The-Included parts

The - noun identified by as part of another larger item

SharedKnowledge

The - noun identified by other means-uniqueness, name, shared knowledge

Landmarks

The - used with landmarks

Geography

The - used with geographical features

Countries

The - used with country names

Most-Most of the

The - used with "expected parts" and expressions of quantity

Second-Mention 

First / Second Mention: a unidentified - the identified (indefinite-definite)

Identifying Nouns

The - many ways in which nouns can be identified (definite)

ArticleExpressions

Special Uses of the:  wars, eras, dates, worlds events

Superlatives

   Superlatives and the   Articles - audio

Known-New

  Review: Known or New? The,  A, no marker  Sentence editing

Speaking-general

Paragraph Editing - Furniture: in general; specific vs. general nouns

Paragraph-Edit

 Paragraph Editing

Articles-In Context

Determining which article to use;  Luxury items on Castaway TV show.

PRINTED PRACTICES

Article Summary.pdf  |  ArticlesGeneric.pdf   |  Artprac.pdf  

Conditional Summary

Summary of conditional usage

PresentReal

Real conditions; present and future: cause-effect facts & preditions; if, will, can

PastReal

Real conditions; present and past tense: cause-effect habits &  customs; if, whenever

PresentUnreal

Unreal conditions :present: strategizing with hypothetical statements; if, could, might, would

PastUnreal

Unreal conditions: past: analyzing with hypothetical statements; if, had had, would have

PastUnreal2

Unreal conditions: past: cause-effect relationship: analyzing accidents; if, could have, would have

Late Advice

Hypothetical statements with modals: options not taken; advice after-the-fact; should have, could have

MixedTenses

Mixed tenses in hypothetical sentences & clause tense: If you had fed the dog, she wouldn't be hungry now.

ImpliedConditions

Understanding implied conditions – whether X will happen or not: Jack will/ would cut the grass if he has time.

Wishes

Various meanings of using: wish

Wish Agreement

Wishes – past, present and future:  My father wished I had gone / would go; I wish my father had understood / would understand

If-Whether

Condition vs. alternative: indirect questions, after prepositions, before infinitives; formal vs. informal contexts; if, whether

If-Unless

Conditional adverbs: if, only if, unless, otherwise

Omitting "If"

Rephrasing "if" clauses: had, should, were

In-case

Adverbs for urgent conditions  - in the event, in case and should 

Confusing Word Sum

Review confusing words

accept/except

Contrast:  accept/except

affect/effect

Contrast:  affect/effect

during/in

Contrast:  during / in

even/even though

Contrast: even, even though, even if

If-Whether

Contrast: if, whether

ifonly/onlyif

Contrast: if only / only if

lie/ lay

Contrast:  lie / lay

like/as

Contrast: like / as

make/ do

Contrast:  make / do

rise/raise

Contrast:  rise / raise

say/tell

Contrast:  say / tell; other words for said

sit/set 

Contrast:  sit / set

 Related pages

so-that/so that  

Contrast:  so…that, so that, so-so, so and other "so" phrases.   

used to vs. be used to

Contrast:  used to / be used to

when/while

Contrast:  when / while

phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs (two-word verbs): do up, get up, give up, go after, have over, let on, look on, make over, etc.
 

Connector Summary

Summary of connectors, adverbs and transition words

Conjunctions

Combining Independent Clauses: FANBOYS - for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so; punctuation for combining clauses

Contrasts

Stating direct contrasts or contrary (unexpected) outcomes.

Because-though

Advebial clauses and phrases of expected and unexpected outcome: because, though, because of, inspite of

But / Though

Contrast of usage after statements of intent: but, though

So-Such That

Cause and effect phrases  so . . . that  & such . . . that

So phrases  

So clauses; contrasting  so . . . that versus so that, so-so, so and other phrases.  

Cause & Effect

Cause and effect - because, since, consequently, therefore, as a result, so 

Both-and 

Paired Conjunctions: both...and, either... or, not only...but also, neither...nor, (or else)

Indeed-Even

Adverbs for emphasis: indeed, in fact, even, even though, even if whether or not; onlyif vs. if only;

Comparisons 

Making comparisons — same as, different from, similar to, as...as, the same... as

Connector Review 

Sentence Connector Summary and Review - Practice

Connector Edit

Editing -- for connectors, transitions, sentence boundaries and punctuation

Connector Paragr

Selecting connectors and transition words in an essay; main cause, as a result, because

Parallel Phrasing

Parallel phrasing: using similar word forms in a series: My English is improving slowly but surely.

SentenceEditing

Editing -- for connectors, transitions, sentence boundaries and punctuation  

Modifying Phrases1

Shortening clauses to modifying phrases - before, after, while, when, since

Because Phrases

Shortening clauses to modifying phrases: reason – because;  earlier and later time frames

Run-On Sentences

Avoiding run-on sentences and fragments

 Related Pages

 (Also see Adverbs and Conditionals.)

If-Whether

Condition vs. alternative: in indirect questions, after prepositions, before infinitives; formal v. informal contexts; if, whether

If-Unless

Conditional adverbials: if, only if, unless, otherwise, or else 

In case

Conditional adverbials: in the event, in case and should 

Because-Though

Adverbs with unexpected outcomes: Because, since, due to vs. Although, in spite of, despite, regardless, nevertheless; Adverbs before noun phrases: because of, due to, in spite of, despite, regardless of

Gerund Summary

Summary of gerund usage

Gerund Subjects

Gerunds as subjects; parallel phrasing, bulleted lists, spelling adding  -ing

Gerund Objects

Gerunds as objects; expressing attitudes about activities

Verb Phrs + Gerunds

Verbal phrases (verb+preposition) before gerunds: insisted on going ; looking forward to seeing

Gerund + Ind Obj

Gerunds as with direct & indirect objects; expressing attitudes and gratitude

By / With

Gerund Phrases: Methods and means:  by verb+ing, with a noun

Function & Purpose

Stating function, purpose and means: by verb+ing, for verb+ing, to+verb

Special Verbs

Two -ING forms: gerunds vs. participial phrases; verbs after: see, hear, find, catch, watch, sit, stand, etc.

Gerund / Infin Prac1

 Gerund vs. Infinitive phrase completion

Gerund / Infin Prac2

 Gerund vs. Infinitive phrase completion

Verbal Phrases 1 

Verbs + prepositions before gerunds

Verbal Phrases 2

Verbs + prepositions before gerunds

Means-Methods 

Methods and means: "by verb+ing", with

Parallel Gerunds

Parallel phrasing with gerunds

Related Pages

Gerunds In Context

Identifying gerunds in context of an article 

Verb & Prepositions

  Preposition practice with verbal phrases
 

Infinitive Summary

Summary of infinitive usage

Infinitive Subjects

Infinitives as subjects; formal use, definitions

Infinitive Objects

Expressing attitudes and opinions about activities; enjoy, hate, like

Inf Indirect Objects

Getting other people to do things; also, have, do, let, make

Infinitive Commands

Changing command clauses to infinitive phrases: Imposing will on others; order, command, want, expect

It takes + Infinitive

Infinitives in expressions ; it takes X + to verb

Too / Enough

Infinitives in expressions; too, enough

Adjective + Infinitve 

Adjectives followed by infinitives; happy; amazed + infin; practice with verb forms

In order + Infinitive

Infinitives in expressions; stating purpose: in order to

Infinitives In Context

Identifying infinitives in the context of a news article

Related Pages

Infinitives with prepositions: see prepositions

Verb Phrases 1

 Gerund vs. Infinitive phrase completion. 

Modal Summary

Summary of modal usage

Degrees of Certainty

Expressing degrees of uncertainty: will, may, might could, may have, might have

Future Intent

Expressing scheduled events vs. intent: will, be going to

Mixed Tenses

Using connectors with mixed time frames: so that, said that, which, who, if ... then

Predictions

Expressing predictions and expectations: will, should and be supposed to

Future Perfect

Stating plans vs. making predictions for completion: will have done

Advisability

Expressing advisability - should, ought to

Ability

Expressing ability: can, could, be able to

Request-Suggest

Giving permission, making requests and offering suggestions: may, can, could, would, shall, let's

Problem Solving

Using should and could to offer ideas and advice.

Expressions-Would

Expressions with would: stating preference, making requests, used to, making excuses would have

PRACTICE

Modal Review - Review the many meanings of modals

Modals Article

Modals in context; recognizing modals and meanings

PRACTICE

Modal Flash Cards

Late Advice

Hypothetical statements with modals: options not taken; advice after-the-fact; should have, could have

Modal Quiz

Auto-correcting practice quiz 

Noun Clause Sum

Summary of embedding questions, statements and commands as noun clauses

Noun Clauses 1

Reported/Indirect Speech: Wh Questions

Noun Clauses 2

Reported/Indirect Speech: Yes-No Questions

Noun Clauses 3

Reported/Indirect Speech: Commands

Noun Clauses 4

Reported/Indirect Speech:  Statements (Quoted Speech)

PRACTICE

Infinitive-Subjunctive   Commands: changing infinitive phrases to clauses : order, command, want, expect

Noun Clauses 5 

Beginning a sentence with a that or a what clause

PRACTICE

Azar Chapter Review 12 - noun clauses

Noun Clause Quiz

Practice Quiz (auto-correcting quiz)

Reported Speech Qz 

In context: An Interview - changing reported speech to quoted speech (auto-correcting quiz) 

passive sum

Summary of passive voice usage

focus on obj

Sentence transformation to place emphasis on the receiver.

"by" phrases

Determining when to include the "agent"; by phrase

focus ind obj

Leading with the indirect object in a passive sentence.

never passv

Verbs that cannot take passive voice: happen

 get passive

Expressions with get; It's not my fault; I did it myself; I got it done

participial adj 1

Participial adjectives: agent vs. receiver;  amused vs. amusing; -ed vs. -ing endings

participial adj 2

Participial adjectives: ongoing vs. completed, a roasting  vs. roasted chicken; -ed vs. -ing endings

particpl prep

Participles adjectives and prepositions; interested in, surprised at

PRACTICE

part prep prac Participial Adjectives and prepositions:  known for; concerned with; accustomed to

ppartcpl phrs

Past participle modifying phrases: was located / located

ppparti phrs

Past & present-participle modifying phrases: served as / serving as  

passv contxt

Recognizing Passive Voice

been-being

Contrast the sounds/words been and being

Past Summary

Summary of past and past perfect usage

past-complete

Referring to past actions and activities

past-source

Reporting source or response; past tense vs. present perfect

past-series

Reporting a series of events; past v. past perfect

past-adverbs

Contrasting "earlier" from "later" past events; past adverbials, before, after, when

pastperf-edit

Paragraph editing practice 

Participles1

Practice / review with past and past participle form of irregular verbs:  awake - lay

Participles2

Practice / review with past and past participle form of irregular verbs:  let - wear

Preposition Sum

Summary of preposition use

Preps_Time

Prepositions of Time: in, on, at;

Preps_Place 

Prepositions of Place: in, on, at, aside, beneath, among, under, inside, near, upon, etc.

PRACTICE

Prepositions in a paragraph: in, on, at

Adverbs of Place 

Adverbs & prepositional phrases as modifiers: out, out of, outside, behind, back, backward, etc.

Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs or two-word verbs: go about, go at, go away, go down, go off, go on, go out of, go over, go with.

Verb Phrs + Gerunds

Verbal phrases (verb+preposition) before gerunds: insisted on going ; looking forward to seeing

Preps IO Gerunds

Indirect Object and Preposition Phrases after Gerunds: excused him for burping/ excused his burping

PRACTICE

Verb+Prep Phrases 1  Verb+Preposition Phrases before Gerunds: about, against, after, for, etc.

PRACTICE

Verb+Prep Phrases 2  Verb+Preposition Phrases before Gerunds: put off doing, keep from hearing, etc.

Participle & Preps

Participles Adjective+Preposition Phrases; interested in, surprised at

PRACTICE

 Participle+Prep Prac    Participles Adjective+Preposition Phrases:  known for, concerned with, accustomed to

During vs. In

Special conditions for using during or in; also, use with present perfect

Verbs & Preps 

Verbs and adjectives followed by prepositional phrases: about, against, after, for, from, in, like, of, off, on, over, to, with

Present Summary

Summary of Present tense usage

General Truth

Using present tense in stating facts (about nature) vs. making observations: turns vs. is turning

Present Prac

Using simple present tense in the context of weathert:  El Niño

At the Moment

Present progressive; as used in more temporary and ongoing activities: blogging   

Habits and Customs

Simple present tense; as used for enduring customs and activities

Pres vs Progressive

Present and present progressive practice

Scheduled Events

Scheduled Events - Future Activities

Stative Verbs

States of "being" vs. Activities

Special Adverbs

Future Sequence of Actions: before, after, as soon as, while, when etc.

Story Telling

Narration - Telling stories and jokes

Troublesome Verbs

Commonly Confused Verbs - make/do, say/tell, lie/lay, rise/raise, sit/set

Present In Context

Identifying present tense in the context of a news article 

Pres Perf Summary

Summary of present perfect verb tense usage.

Up to Now

Past events continuing to present; for, since, so far, to date

Repeated Activ

Activities that have repeatedly continued up to now; several times

Perm vs Temp

Permanent events vs. temporary activities; since, ever since, for, this morning, all morning

Experience

Stating experience; ever, never, before

Pres Perf Prog

Completed vs. ongoing activities

Recent Activ

Activities completed Recently: recently, just, lately

Already/Yet

Activities completed sooner or later than expected; already, yet

PresPerfContext Prac

Context practice - evaluating sentences: ongoing-completed, repetitive-non-repetitive, temporary-permanent

PresPerfSent Prac

Past vs Present Perfect adverb use: up to now, so far, since, this year, in my life; last year, yesterday, then

PresPerf MindState

The present perfect state of mind; connecting the past to the present

PresPerf ParagPrac

Present perfect paragraph practice

Participle Practice 1

Irregular Participles 1

Participle Practice 2

Irregular Participle 2   

Punctuation Sum

Summary of punctuation

Compl Thought 

The Sentence to Nowhere", writing a complete thought

Run-On Sentences

Using a period to mark the end of a sentence; avoiding run-on sentences and fragments

Items in Series

Using commas with items in a series, clarifying meaning: commas

Comma/Paren  

Punctuating comments within sentences: commas, parentheses and dashes.

Bullet Lists  

Punctuating bulleted lists: parallel phrasing, introductory phrases, colons, semicolons, periods, capitals

Hyphens

Usage of hyphens and capitalization of hyphenated words in titles and headlines

So vs so that

Using a comma with a so (result) but not with so that (purpose)

Punc-Conjunc

Using commas with coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

Punc-WordOrder

Using a comma to mark a word order change

Punc-Conditional

Using a comma with a conditional sentence

Punc-Adv-Even

Using a comma with an adverb of emphasis - even

Punc-AdjClause

Using a comma with a non-restrictive clause

Punc-Restrictive

Using a comma with a clause to include "all" or "some"; restrictive vs. non-restrictive

Punc-Which

Using a comma with which to refer to a whole sentence instead of just one word
 

Review Sum

Summary of review and diagnostic pages on this site

gen-review1

A series of diagnostic questions to find which grammatical points need to be reviewed 

gen-review2

(with links from each item to a support page)

gen-review3

gen-review4

ch6-8-agreement

Chapter review of singular-plural agreement (follows Azar v.3 text chapters)

ch12-nounclause

Chapter review of noun clauses

ch13adjclauses

Chapter review of adjective clauses

ch16-19adv phrs

Chapter review of adverbials and other miscellaneous words and phrases

ch19connectors

Chapter review of sentence connectors and coordinators

ch20conditionals

Chapter review of conditional and hypothetical sentences  

Writing Summary

Employing writing stratgiesand writing ethics

Planning Guide

Planning before beginning to write; pyramid of time spent

Creating a Thesis

Creating a thesis sentence for your paper (research)

Focusing Your Topic

Narrowing your topic down to a focused thesis

Introductions

Four Types of Introductions

Spatial Organization

VR example of using focus to reveal details of your story

Ethics & Fair Use

"What is Fair Use?" ; resources

PRACTICE

Ethics and Fair Use Check; practice identifying copyrighted materials

Avoiding Plagiarism

Strategies for avoiding plagiarism; resources

PRACTICE

Plagiarism Examples; practice identifying plagiarized variations of original text

Citing Your Sources

Examples of in-text and bibliographic citations; resources

PRACTICE

MLA Citation Self-Quiz; practice arranging elements into correct order

PRACTICE

Citation Practice; practice identifying correctly written citations

Evaluating Web Pages

Criteria for evaluating the authority of web pages; resources

PRACTICE

Evaluating Web Page Authority; practice evaluating three contrasting sources for a topic 

Text Book : Understanding and Using English Grammar - Azar; 0-13-958661X- Student Book, Full Edition Version 3
Note: Because of copyright laws, the practices above follow the Azar book, but do not reproduce it .

ESL Links and Resources 

Julie Sevastopoulos http://www.smccd.edu/accounts/sevastopoulos/

Retired from College of San Mateo
San Mateo Community College District http://collegeofsanmateo.edu
1700 W Hillsdale Blvd
San Mateo, California 94402  USA

Updated: 

This web site existed from November 1998 - April 2008 , as "Grammar Check", on the San Mateo Community College District server.