Thom Harrison's Grammar Review Page

Thomas C. Harrison © 2009

Exercises without answers

Sentence Elements

Active to Passive

Adverbial Clauses and Phrases

Adjectival Clauses and Phrases

Noun Clauses

Gerund Phrases

Abstract Noun Phrases

Infinitive Phrases

Cleft and Pseudo-Cleft Sentences

Forty-Four Ways to Say, "George Gave Mary a Kiss"

        S         V       DO          A
1. Marcia made spaghetti for supper.

         S          V                A
2. Jimmy was hiding under the bed.

        S       V     IO    DO          A
3. Mary made John a cake for his birthday.

           S         V        DO       OC                A
4. The class made Jimmy a scapegoat for their misbehavior.

         S                V    SC       A
5. The weather turns cool after four o'clock.

      S     V        DO         OC
6. We brew our coffee strong.

   __________A__________
           [       S           V    SC]              S                V    SC
7. When the weather turns cold, this fuzzy sweater feels good.
              _________ ___ ____   

   _____________S_______________
                       S       V                DO       V       SC
8. The child  who is making the most noise is my daughter.
                   ___ ________ __________

                          _____DO_____
     S       V   IO         [   S        V ]
9. He asked me when the train left.
                                  ______ ___

         S      V    SC
10. Jogging is healthy.

         S            V                                  IO                                        DO
11. You should make Dr. Flynn's lecture on Irish politics an important part of your day.

      S    V       DO
12. I want to go home.

        S     V           DO
13. We need a place to meet.

      S        V            DO                         A
14. I would give a fortune to have seen his face at that moment.

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        S     V       DO
1. John called Mary
Mary was called by John.

        S       V     DO  OC
2. Mary called John a fool.

        S      V    IO     DO           A
3. Mary gave John a book for his birthday.
a.
b.

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1. I was driving to work. I saw an accident.  
a. While I was driving to work, I saw an accident.
b. While driving to work, I saw an accident.
c. Driving to work, I saw an accident.

2. Paul was called on to recite. He forgot the assigned poem.
a.
b.
c.

3. I had waited for half an hour. Then I left Paul a note and went home.
a.
b.
Or  
c.

4. The children had been told to stay indoors. They tracked mud in the parlor, anyway.
a.
b.
c.

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1. The child is my daughter. The child is making the most noise.
a. The child who is making the most noise is my daughter.
b. The child making the most noise is my daughter.

2. Anyone will be refused admission to the party. That person is not holding a valid ticket.
a.
b.

Change the second sentence into an adjectival (i.e., relative) clause with special attention to grammar and punctuation. Items in parentheses below are optional.

1. The book was on the table. I was reading the book.
The book (which) I was reading was on the table.

2. Mrs. Edwards is the teacher. Everyone respects the teacher.

3. Where is the man? You were talking to the man.

or

4. Spalding is the architect. I was using the architect's design.

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Indirect Address

1. He said this. "I'm going to the store."
He said that he was going to the store.

2. He asked me this. "Are you taking history this quarter?"

3. She asked me this. "When does class start?"

Other

1. He wishes this. He has red hair. [It's brown.]
He wishes (that ) he had red hair.

2. We urge this. He consults a lawyer.

3. This is important. Drive carefully.

With Extraposition:

(Extraposition shifts the real subject--here the noun clause--to the end of the sentence and replaces the subject with it.)

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1. You exercise after a big meal.  This will give you stomach cramps.
Exercising after a big meal will give you stomach cramps.

2. He is used to this.  She wakes him up at seven.

3. I object to this.  He dates my daughter.

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1. We support this.  Someone abolishes the rule against jaywalking.
We support the abolishment of the rule against jaywalking.

2. This surprised everyone.  The politician spoke about the environment.

3. You should make this an important part of your day.  Dr. Flynn lectures on Irish politics.

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Nominal.  Change the secon sentence into a) a noun clause and b) an infinitive phrase.

1. I ask this.  Come see me.
a. I ask that you come see me.
b. I ask you to come see me.

2. This is important.  He comes to class on time.
a.
 or (with Extraposition)
b.
or  (with Extraposition)

Adjectival.  Change the secon sentenc into a) an adjctival (relative) clause and b) an infinitive phrase.

1. He is the man.  You should see the man.
a. He is the man (whom) you should see.
b. He is the man (for you) to see.

2. We need a place.  We can meet in the place.
a.
or
or
b.

Adverbial. Change. the second sentence into a) an adverbial clause and and b) an infinitive phrase.

1. I would give a small fortune.  I could have been a fly on the wall when they met.
a. I would give a small fortune if I could have been a fly on the wall when they met.
b. I would give a small fortune to have been a fly on the wall when they met.

2. Johan would be ashamed.  He drove an economy car.
a.
b.

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Henry gave George a new tie for his birthday last year.

Cleft Sentences

It was Henry who gave George a new tie for his birthday last year. (focusing "Henry")
(focusing "George")
or
(focusing "a new tie")
(focusing "his birthday")
(focusing "for his birthday")
(focusing "last year")

Pseudo-Cleft Sentences

Henry was the one who gave George a new tie for his birthday last year.  (focusing "Henry")
(focusing "George")
or
(focusing "a new tie")
(focusing "his birthday")
(focusing "last year")
(focusing the predicate)

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Please send comments or suggestions to Thom Harrison: thomas.harrison@maconstate.edu