Grammar problems exercise 01

This tutorial will test your ability to recognize various types of grammar and punctuation problems. Each of the 10 sentences in this exercise contains some type of problem. You are to select what type of problem from the list below the sentence.

When you are finished, follow the directions of your instructor. (Exiting or quitting this screen before your have saved or printed it will likely delete your answers.)

1. Andrés Segovia, one of the finest guitarists of the 20th century and, too, an expert on Johann S. Bach.
run-on sentence sentence fragment subject-verb agreement pronoun-antecedent agreement incorrect or lack of comma(s) other punctuation problem misuse of pronoun(s) incorrect possessive

2. The hour is too early, the coffee is too cold.
run-on sentence sentence fragment subject-verb agreement pronoun-antecedent agreement incorrect or lack of comma(s) other punctuation problem misuse of pronoun(s) incorrect possessive

3. The team climbed onto the bus, celebrating their victory with loud singing and shouting.
run-on sentence sentence fragment subject-verb agreement pronoun-antecedent agreement incorrect or lack of comma(s) other punctuation problem misuse of pronoun(s) incorrect possessive

4. I doubt that whomever stole the watch is going to return it.
run-on sentence sentence fragment subject-verb agreement pronoun-antecedent agreement incorrect or lack of comma(s) other punctuation problem misuse of pronoun(s) incorrect possessive

5. Both the music and the moon was beautiful that night as ships quietly slipped in and out of the harbor.
run-on sentence sentence fragment subject-verb agreement pronoun-antecedent agreement incorrect or lack of comma(s) other punctuation problem misuse of pronoun(s) incorrect possessive

6. The president did not get any of his bills through Congress, however, he prevented the opposition from having much success.
run-on sentence sentence fragment subject-verb agreement pronoun-antecedent agreement incorrect or lack of comma(s) other punctuation problem misuse of pronoun(s) incorrect possessive

7. Dr and Mrs Charles Reynolds were the guests honored by the civic clubs last night.
run-on sentence sentence fragment subject-verb agreement pronoun-antecedent agreement incorrect or lack of comma(s) other punctuation problem misuse of pronoun(s) incorrect possessive

8. A lawyer can easily handle a problem such as that, but getting an appointment with them is not easy.
run-on sentence sentence fragment subject-verb agreement pronoun-antecedent agreement incorrect or lack of comma(s) other punctuation problem misuse of pronoun(s) incorrect possessive

9. There were too many books on the shelf; too many papers on his desk; too many magazines on the floor; and too much clutter all over the room.
run-on sentence sentence fragment subject-verb agreement pronoun-antecedent agreement incorrect or lack of comma(s) other punctuation problem misuse of pronoun(s) incorrect possessive

10. By striking the clock signaled to us that it was time to leave.
run-on sentence sentence fragment subject-verb agreement pronoun-antecedent agreement incorrect or lack of comma(s) other punctuation problem misuse of pronoun(s) incorrect possessive


When you have finished this exercise, follow the directions of your instructor for printing or saving your work.

Answers and explanations