Quiz for Lessons 431 - 435 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Parentheses

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Instructions: Use parentheses where needed in these sentences.

1. I'll get back to you tomorrow Friday.

2. Which country countries do you want to visit?

3. You put fifty-four 54 books on that shelf.

4. The ACLU American Civil Liberties Union is going to bring a suit.

5. If you want to be healthy, you must 1 eat good food, 2 get sufficient exercise, and 3 get adequate sleep.

6. The Atomic Energy Commission AEC is very concerned about what is happening in Europe.

7. We are going to visit Brazil I don't know where this spring.

8. I need seven 7 dollars for tonight.

9. To take this ride, you need to 1 shut your eyes, 2 hang on tight, and 3 pray.

10. That movie reminded me I remember it well about the adventure we had.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. I'll get back to you tomorrow (Friday).

2. Which country (countries) do you want to visit?

3. You put fifty-four (54) books on that shelf.

4. The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) is going to bring a suit.

5. If you want to be healthy, you must (1) eat good food, (2) get sufficient exercise, and (3) get adequate sleep.

6. The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) is very concerned about what is happening in Europe.

7. We are going to visit Brazil (I don't know where) this spring.

8. I need seven (7) dollars for tonight.

9. To take this ride, you need to (1) shut your eyes, (2) hang on tight, and (3) pray.

10. That movie reminded me (I remember it well) about the adventure we had.

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Lesson 435 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Parentheses

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Use parentheses to indicate alternative terms (as in form letters). 

 

Example: 

You may study any lesson(s) on our site.

Instructions: Use parentheses to indicate alternative terms in these sentences.

1. Please indicate the lecture that you want to attend.

2. I would like to know the city where your firm is located.

3. I can't tell you my favorite book from that list.

4. Be sure to indicate the nation that you want to visit.

5. I don’t need your silly look any more today.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Please indicate the lecture(s) that you want to attend.

2. I would like to know the city (cities) where your firm is located.

3. I can't tell you my favorite book(s) from that list.

4. Be sure to indicate the nation(s) that you want to visit.

5. I don’t need your silly look(s) any more today.

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Lesson 434 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Parentheses

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Use parentheses to enclose abbreviations synonymous with spelled-out forms occurring after the forms or if the order is reversed. 

 

Examples: 

I will meet with U.E.A. (Utah Education Association) leaders at 4:00. 

I will meet with Utah Education Association (U.E.A.) leaders at 4:00.

Instructions: Use parentheses where needed in these sentences.

1. The FFA Future Farmers of America boys from our school won many awards.

2. What was the ruling by the Federal Communications Commission FCC?

3. The pipe that will be used is PVC polyvinyl chloride.

4. The National Education Association NEA will have its conference in February.

5. The BSA Boy Scouts of America has come under fire recently.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. The FFA (Future Farmers of America) boys from our school won many awards.

2. What was the ruling by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)?

3. The pipe that will be used is PVC (polyvinyl chloride).

4. The National Education Association (NEA) will have its conference in February.

5. The BSA (Boy Scouts of America) has come under fire recently.

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Lesson 433 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Parentheses

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Use parentheses to enclose Arabic numerals which confirm written numbers. 

 

Example: 

They will arrive in (30) thirty days.

Instructions: Use parentheses where needed in these sentences.

1. The phone deal is for one hundred fifty 150 minutes a month.

2. It is interest free for ninety 90 days.

3. We only have room for forty-five 45 guests.

4. The firm has thirteen 13 openings at the present time.

5. They will lay off four hundred 400 workers in the next 6 six months.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. The phone deal is for one hundred fifty (150) minutes a month.

2. It is interest free for ninety (90) days.

3. We only have room for forty-five (45) guests.

4. The firm has thirteen (13) openings at the present time.

5. They will lay off four hundred (400) workers in the next (6) six months.

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Lesson 432 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Parentheses

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Use parentheses to mark numbered or lettered divisions within sentences or paragraphs. 

 

Example: 

We will read the following chapters for our discussion tomorrow: (1) Africa, (2) India, and (3) Iceland.

Instructions: Use parentheses where needed in these sentences.

1. Before you turn in your paper, check 1 spelling, 2 punctuation, 3 capitalization, and 4 footnotes.

2. Our trip will take us to 1 Swanee, 2 Moreno Valley, 3 Taber, and 4 Rio de Janeiro.

3. We must set 1 our short term goals, 2 our long term goals, and 3 the ways they will be accomplished.

4. Our possible means of transportation are as follows: 1 bicycle, 2 ox cart, 3 train, 4 bus, or 5 by foot.

5. We must include 1 our family, 2 our friends, and 3 our neighbors so we don't offend anyone.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Before you turn in your paper, check (1) spelling, (2) punctuation, (3) capitalization, and (4) footnotes.

2. Our trip will take us to (1) Swanee, (2) Moreno Valley, (3) Taber, and (4) Rio de Janeiro.

3. We must set (1) our short term goals, (2) our long term goals, and (3) the ways they will be accomplished.

4. Our possible means of transportation are as follows: (1) bicycle, (2) ox cart, (3) train, (4) bus, or (5) by foot.

5. We must include (1) our family, (2) our friends, and (3) our neighbors so we don't offend anyone.

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Lesson 431 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Parentheses

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Parentheses are used much like the dash, but it is used to set off unimportant material that interrupts the sentence thought or structure.

Use parentheses to set off supplementary, parenthetic, or explanatory material that does not change the meaning of the main sentence. 

 

Example: 

Joe Jones (you knew him) visited me yesterday.

Instructions: Use parentheses where needed in these sentences.

1. We fished or should I say drowned worms in the murky river.

2. They listened to the teacher's stories they were very dull which gave some background for the book.

3. Terri and Mark you remember them moved to a new house last week.

4. Even though he was not qualified according to his transcripts, he knew more than most of the others.

5. Another possibility the possibilities seem endless was suggested by a person at the back of the room.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. We fished (or should I say drowned worms) in the murky river.

2. They listened to the teacher's stories (they were very dull) which gave some background for the book.

3. Terri and Mark (you remember them) moved to a new house last week.

4. Even though he was not qualified (according to his transcripts), he knew more than most of the others.

5. Another possibility (the possibilities seem endless) was suggested by a person at the back of the room.

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Quiz for Lessons 426 - 430 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Dashes

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Dashes are used to give emphasis to written ideas and are typed by using two hyphens. They should be used sparingly.

Instructions: Use dashes where they are needed in the following sentences.

1. I I I don't know what you mean!

2. We need to paint everything the window frames, the doors, the walls.

3. Next week how I dread it! I have to go to court.

4. You know the man across the street you are not even listening to me.

5. The dishes, the windows, the tile they were all broken by the storm.

6. They fished in the lower river a waste of time!

7. We had many things to do for the trip buy tickets, get passports, pack, arrange for the animals.

8. We we we shouldn't be in this warehouse.

9. This movie what a thriller! was the best I have seen recently.

10. Have you met my wife my best friend and eternal companion?

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. I--I--I don't know what you mean!

2. We need to paint everything--the window frames, the doors, the walls.

3. Next week--how I dread it!--I have to go to court.

4. You know the man across the street--you are not even listening to me.

5. The dishes, the windows, the tile--they were all broken by the storm.

6. They fished in the lower river--a waste of time!

7. We had many things to do for the trip--buy tickets, get passports, pack, arrange for the animals.

8. We--we--we shouldn't be in this warehouse.

9. This movie--what a thriller!--was the best I have seen recently.

10. Have you met my wife--my best friend and eternal companion?

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Lesson 430 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Dashes

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Use a dash to emphasize appositives or to set off a series of appositives. 

 

Example: 

Everything--cars, bikes, furniture--must be moved.

Dashes are used to give emphasis to written ideas and are typed by using two hyphens. They should be used sparingly.

Instructions: Use dashes where they are needed in the following sentences.

1. Have you met Larry Millward the best friend I've ever had?

2. We lost in the fire everything clothes, jewelry, photos, memories.

3. We stopped in three cities Butte, Great Falls, Sweetgrass.

4. I want you to visit Brazil my other country and second home.

5. Everyone men, women, children will be cared for immediately.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Have you met Larry Millward--the best friend I've ever had?

2. We lost in the fire everything--clothes, jewelry, photos, memories.

3. We stopped in three cities--Butte, Great Falls, Sweetgrass.

4. I want you to visit Brazil--my other country and second home.

5. Everyone--men, women, children--will be cared for immediately.

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Lesson 429 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Dashes

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Dashes are used to give emphasis to written ideas and are typed by using two hyphens. They should be used sparingly.

Use dashes to show hesitation. 

 

Example: 

I--I--I don't know what you mean!

Instructions: Use dashes where they are needed in the following sentences.

1. You you you are the one who did it.

2. I heard him say "Oh oh oh my head!"

3. I I I didn't mean to do it.

4. Well well well I guess I can try to help with it.

5. Soon very soon we should be there.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. You--you--you are the one who did it.

2. I heard him say "Oh--oh--oh my head!"

3. I--I--I didn't mean to do it.

4. Well--well--well I guess I can try to help with it.

5. Soon--very soon we should be there.

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Lesson 428 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Dashes

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Dashes are used to give emphasis to written ideas and are typed by using two hyphens. They should be used sparingly.

Use a dash to indicate a summarizing clause. 

 

Example: 

The house, the yard, the garage--they had remained untouched.

Instructions: Use dashes where they are needed in the following sentences.

1. Kitchen, living room, bedrooms they were just as dirty as ever.

2. Oil, steel, wheat they were the backbone of industrialization.

3. Policemen, teachers, garbage collectors these are people that we cannot do without.

4. Cars, homes, businesses they were destroyed everywhere by the earthquake.

5. Families, jobs, hope these the war had nearly decimated everywhere.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Kitchen, living room, bedrooms--they were just as dirty as ever.

2. Oil, steel, wheat--they were the backbone of industrialization.

3. Policemen, teachers, garbage collectors--these are people that we cannot do without.

4. Cars, homes, businesses--they were destroyed everywhere by the earthquake.

5. Families, jobs, hope--these the war had nearly decimated everywhere.

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Lesson 427 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Dashes

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Dashes are used to give emphasis to written ideas and are typed by using two hyphens. They should be used sparingly.

Use dashes to emphasize parenthetical material. 

 

Example: 

Tomorrow--how I fear it!--is the big test.

Instructions: Use dashes where they are needed in the following sentences.

1. All the presentations especially the one by Emily were excellent.

2. I leave I am so excited! for school today.

3. That game what an exciting one it was! is one that we will long remember.

4. There are several persons including myself, incidentally who resent your implications.

5. We approached the dog what a monstrous creature he was! with caution.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. All the presentations--especially the one by Emily--were excellent.

2. I leave--I am so excited!--for school today.

3. That game--what an exciting one it was!--is one that we will long remember.

4. There are several persons--including myself, incidentally--who resent your implications.

5. We approached the dog--what a monstrous creature he was!--with caution.

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Lesson 426 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Dashes

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Dashes are used to give emphasis to written ideas and are typed by using two hyphens. They should be used sparingly.

Use a dash to show a break in thought or sentence structure. 

 

Example: 

He had tried to change--you're not even paying attention!

Instructions: Use dashes where they are needed in the following sentences.

1. We will invite Susan she is the new girl next door to our party.

2. The dog slid on the vinyl his nails acting like skates and crashed into the trash can.

3. When our stockpile was sold indeed, dumped for surplus all our sales were compromised.

4. Today has been but I will not bore you with my troubles.

5. Let me tell you about watch where you are going!

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. We will invite Susan--she is the new girl next door--to our party.

2. The dog slid on the vinyl--his nails acting like skates--and crashed into the trash can.

3. When our stockpile was sold--indeed, dumped for surplus--all our sales were compromised.

4. Today has been--but I will not bore you with my troubles.

5. Let me tell you about--watch where you are going!

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Why is grammar important?

Grammar lays the groundwork for effective communication.  Just as an improperly configured telephone wire can cause static during a phone conversation, improper grammar can likewise affect the meaning and clarity of an intended message.

Some common errors are with sentence structure, subject/verb tense, punctuation, spelling, and other basic mechanics and parts of speech. Even something as simple as a misplaced comma can completely change the meaning of a sentence. For example: "Let's eat Grandpa." vs. "Let's eat, Grandpa."

Grammar makes written content more readable and in turn more interesting. If it is necessary to repeatedly reword sentences while reading, the flow becomes disrupted and involvement in the story halted.

How do you know when to use "is" or "are"?

When deciding which of the verbs "is" and "are" to use look at whether the subject is plural or singular.  If the subject is singular use "is," if it is plural or there is more than one subject (compound subject) use "are."

Examples: 

The cat is eating all of his food.

The cats are eating all of their food.

The cat and dog are eating all of their food.