English Grammar Exercises

Put Your Grammar Skills to The Test

Grammar is one of the many things that writers of all different skill levels struggle with. The more you practice your grammar skills, the better you can improve as a writer.

Test your skills by completing the English grammar exercises below.

Grab a piece of paper, number it 1-29 and write down the letter that corresponds for each answer.

When you are done with these English grammar exercises, scroll to the bottom for the answers.

You may find that you need to review some grammar lessons in order to answer or understand the questions. Click here to review some grammar lessons before you start.

  1. Don’t worry about grammar, punctuation, or spelling when you __________.

    A. Freewrite on a subject

    B. Prepare a scratch outline

    C. Write a first draft

    D. All of the above

  2. During the final step in the writing process, proofreading, you should ___________.

    A. Read your paper aloud

    B. Read one line at a time

    C. Read your paper backwards

    D. All of these

  3. A thesis statement ________.

    A. Is the main idea or point in an essay

    B. Appears in the introductory paragraph

    C. Is devoted in supporting paragraphs

    D. All of these

    4. For a hint, click here to learn more about how to write a thesis.

  4. Most essays have _____support points, developed in _______separate paragraphs.

    A. Five

    B. Three

    C. Two

    D. Four

    5. For more information about how to write a paragraph and the necessary components of one, click here.

    Directions: Identify the subject of the following sentence.

  5. The military recruiter called Heather again today.

    A. Heather

    B. Recruiter

    C. Today

    D. Military

    6. If you are not sure what the subject of this sentence is, click here to learn about the “subjects” of a sentence. Directions: In each of the following sentences, the verbs are correctly italicized. Mark if this is true or false.

  6. Tim seems worried about his mortgage payment.

    A. True

    B. False

  7. As far as I know, my children have always been honest with me.

    A. True

    B. False

    8. Directions: In the English grammar exercises below identify the fragment in each selection. If the selection contains no fragment, select “Correct.”

  8. A . Even though Camille scored a passing grade. B. Her teacher wanted her to rewrite the paper. C. “Everyone can stand to improve,” her teacher said.

    A. A

    B. Correct

    C. B

    D. C

  9. A. To prepare for the 10K race. B. Bill eliminated greasy foods from his diet and began eating fresh fruits and vegetables. C. He also began getting at least eight hours of sleep every night.

    A. A

    B. Correct

    C. C

    D. B

  10. A. Before they left the party, Phillip grabbed the car keys from Alan. B. His reason being that Alan had been drinking all night. C. Instead, Phillip sent Alan home in a cab.

    A. B

    B. A

    C. C

    D. Correct

    11. You are almost done with these English grammar exercises.

  11. Identify the complete sentence.

    A. To visit my family in Ecuador

    B. Since I plan to visit my family in Ecuador

    C. I plan to visit my family in Ecuador

    D. Planning to visit my family in Ecuador

    12. For a hint or to review how to write a sentence, click here.

  12. Identify the complete sentence.

    A. Most people support the sex offender registry, I worry that this information will promote discrimination.

    B. Most people support the sex offender registry, this information will promote discrimination.

    C. Most people support the sex offender registry, and I worry this information will promote discrimination.

    D. No complete sentence.

    13. Directions: In the English grammar exercises below identify the run-on in each selection. If the selection contains no run-on, select “Correct.”

  13. A. Steve welcomed the doctor’s news. B. No polys were found during the colonoscopy. C. He was reluctant to get tested, colon cancer runs in his family.

    A. A

    B. B

    C. C

    D. Correct

  14. A. After I returned home from college, I saw dad in a different way. B. I was shocked to learn that he had a hefty collection of hip hop saved on his MP3 player; furthermore, I was shocked that he knew how to use the technology. C. Even mom enjoys hip hop now.

    A. A

    B. Correct

    C. B

    D. C

  15. A. Christy worried that she would lose her tennis scholarship because she developed carpel tunnel syndrome. B. Fortunately, a teammate recommended an acupuncturist. C. This person was able to help Christy.

    A. C

    B. Correct

    C. B

    D. A

  16. A. Isabella lives in the city, she grows herbs on her apartments balcony. B. Last night, she prepared a delicious pasta dish with fresh basil, rosemary, and tarragon. C. Now I want to grow herbs, too.

    A. B

    B. C

    C. Correct

    D. A

    Click here to review comma rules, which can help you answer this question.

    17. Answer the following English grammar exercises to test your knowledge of MLA format.

    If you need to review MLA paper format, click here.

  17. The margins of your paper should be ½ inch all around the paper.

    A. True

    B. False

  18. The font of your paper should be Times New Roman, always.

    A. True

    B. False

    19. You are more than half-way done with these English grammar exercises. Keep going to test your grammar skills.

  19. Put the title in quotation marks.

    A. True

    B. False

  20. Underline the title.

    A. True

    B. False

  21. Capitalize all the words in a title, including major words, connecting words, and prepositions.

    A. True

    B. False

  22. Skip three lines between the title and the first line of the text.

    A. True

    B. False

    23. For more information on MLA paper format, click here.

    Directions: In the English grammar exercises below answer the following questions regarding the use of quotation marks.

    You may need to review how to quote information before answering the following questions. Click here to do so.

  23. Quotation marks set off the exact words of a speaker or writer.

    A. True

    B. False

  24. Titles of short works are underlined or italicized, while titles of long words are usually set off by quotation marks.

    A. True

    B. False

  25. Select the sentence that uses commas correctly. If commas are unnecessary, select “No commas needed.”

    A. Kamil is the only person who listens intently to Professor Tam’s long, boring, history, lectures.

    B. Kamil is the only person who listens intently to Professor Tam’s long, boring, history lectures.

    C. No commas needed

    D. Kamil is the only person who listens intently to Professor Tam’s long, boring history lectures.

  26. Select the sentence that uses commas correctly. If commas are unnecessary, select “No commas needed.”

    A. Before I forget, I should write down Mile’s phone number, and e-mail address.

    B. Before I forget, I should write down Mile’s phone number and e-mail address.

    C. No commas need

    D. Before I forget I should write down Mile’s phone number, and e-mail address.

  27. Select the sentence that uses commas correctly. If commas are unnecessary, select “No commas needed.”

    A. William Shakespeare’s play, Much Ado About Nothing reminds me of modern romantic comedies.

    B. William Shakespeare’s play, Much Ado About Nothing, reminds me of modern romantic comedies.

    C. William Shakespeare’s play, Much Ado About Nothing, reminds me of modern, romantic comedies.

    D. No commas needed

  28. Select the sentence that uses commas correctly. If commas are unnecessary, select “No commas needed.”

    A. No commas needed

    B. During a geography quiz, Mark confused Jackson, Missouri with Jackson City, Mississippi.

    C. During a geography quiz Mark confused Jackson, Missouri with Jackson City, Mississippi.

    D. During a geography quiz, Mark confused Jackson, Missouri, with Jackson City, Mississippi.

  29. Select the sentence that uses commas correctly. If commas are unnecessary, select “No commas needed.”

    A. “Do you honestly believe,” the police officer asked Zach, “that you weren’t speeding?”

    B. No commas needed

    C. “Do you honestly believe” the police officer asked Zach, “that you weren’t speeding?”

    D. “Do you honestly believe,” the police officer asked Zach “that you weren’t speeding?”

    30. If you had difficulty answering the above questions on the use of commas, click here to review some comma rules.

Finally you are done with these English grammar exercises! Have you attempted to answer each question? If so, click here to see if your answers are correct.

Don’t worry if you got a few wrong. Some of the above English grammar exercises are tough. However in order to improve your writing, you need to use correct grammar in your writing. Click here to learn some grammar lessons to help you improve your answers next time.

If the above English grammar exercises were too easy for you, click here for additional grammar practice.



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