Exercises on Sentence Structure

1) : Decide whether the following groups of words are complete sentences or fragments.

1. Asmaa has never taken a drawing class. ___

2. Because the waves were enormous. ___
3. People often heavy leather belts decorated with metal and jewels. ___
4. The more clothes a person could afford to wear, the wealthier that person was. ___
5. Antarctica is covered in ice and snow. ___
6. After finishing secondary school. ___
7. The most successful performance of the season. ___
8. Many of the songs from West Side Story have become famous. ___
9. Practice the part now, and memorize the lines in time for the audition. ___
10. She great because she exercises regularly. ___

2) : Read the following sentences, and put C if the sentence is CORRECT; put F if it is a FRAGMENT.
Correct the fragments. Punctuate them correctly.
1. It rained heavily last night when I was at home. ____

2. New species of insects discovered by scientists every year. ____

3. What time we going to eat? ____

4. It is a miracle that were no injuries in the car accident. ____

5. Would you mind turning on the lights? ____

6. After he graduated, he started to work for Microsoft. ____

7. Sarah has in New York for two years as a teacher. ____

8. Maria’s English is improving every day. ____

9. How long will you for the exam? ____

10. If she gives me some money. ____

3) : Read the following sentences, and put C if the sentence is CORRECT; put F if it is a FRAGMENT.

Correct the fragments. Punctuate them correctly.

1. She has to give a speech about cancer in England next month. ____
2. While I was waiting for the bus. ____
3. We won’t able to play tennis today. ____

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 4. A river which is polluted not safe for swimming. ____
5. Because he was very angry and upset. ____
6. We stayed there until finished our work. ____
7. Some people do not earn equal pay for equal work. ____

4) : Correct the mistakes with run-ons and comma splices. Use the four ways.
1. The girls practiced every day, they did not win the tennis tournament.
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2. Lots of people depend on caffeine, that’s why they get headaches.
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3. Another reason is diet some people have headaches because of the food they eat.
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4. There are many popular games like Zombie and Angry Bird you can play it in your free time.
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5. Shopping at the city center was fabulous the shops seemed endless.
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6. There are dolphins there, we can swim and take pictures with them.
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7. We arrived at Atlantis it is an amazing resort.
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8. The Blackberry Messenger is very good, I can chat with my friends easily.
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9. First of all, I like the shape, the Blackberry has many shapes.
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10. When I started talking to her, my impression on her changed, I no longer think of her the same way.

5) : Correct the mistakes with run-ons and comma splices. Use the four ways.
1. Education is the key to success, you should always try your best.
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2. The car did not start the battery was dead.
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3. Although Sarah did her homework for a week, she failed the reading class, she missed all the other weeks.
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4. Writing an essay is hard work it is satisfying.

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5. Carl wanted to buy a new car it is too expensive.

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6. Ali couldn’t stand Khaled even though Khaled did not do anything, Ali was a mean person.
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7. She has the exam next week she went to the library to study.
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 8. He does not realize his illness is serious he needs to alter a diet.
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9. I wanted to book a tutoring appointment the tutor is fully booked.

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10. The bridge was closed, we could not drive on the other side of the river.
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6) : Instructions: Decide if the sentence is RO (for a run-on sentence), CS (for a comma splice) or F

(for a fragment). Make all the necessary corrections.

1. Ali went to the movie Ahmad went to the store.

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2. Ninety-five percent of Antarctica covered with ice.
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3. Farah looked out of the window, she saw it was going to rain.
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4. Salma likes to chase Kawther in the yard Asma likes to play with Sara.
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5. The basketball team won the championship this year they celebrated.
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6. Mariam went downstairs to do the laundry, her sister walked upstairs to tidy the bedroom.
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7. Since we were completely out of time.
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8. Shahad washed the dishes Batoul dried them.
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9. The birds flew into the woods they started singing.
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10. When you have finished your homework and are ready to take a break.
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11. The wind blew stronger today, it started raining.
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12. One of the best ways to improve your writing.
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13. We walked to school, it was a sunny day.
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7) : Fragments and Run-ons: Correct the fragment or run-on and rewrite the sentence correctly.
1. In the morning I drink coffee; moreover, I eat toast and cereal.

2. I attended the conference last week this week I am going on vacation.

3. Though they do not study much they always seem to pass their exams.

4. The Iphone 6 has the best features it is easily internet accessible.

5. She likes to go shopping; in addition she also likes to eat dessert during lunch.

6. And there are no second chances the teacher told his class.

7. Every semester students must pass their classes they must do well on their exams.

8. In only five minutes she has taken twelve selfies of herself during class lecture.

9. He has never brought a pencil to class he also has never turned in an assignment.

10. Although there are no passing students they have learned very much this semester.

11. In the morning he eats pancakes, waffles, three apples, and two chocolate cupcakes; in addition, he drinks
four cups of coffee and one Turkish coffee.

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8) : Carefully read the sentences given below. If the sentence is complete, write “C.” If it is a

Fragment, correct it be adding necessary information and then correctly punctuate the complete
sentence. Do not correct the fragment by deleting Conjunctions.
1. While she was looking at Tom’s paper during the exam.

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2. I afraid of cats and dogs.

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3. For example, her friend and her sister.

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4. But was too shy to raise her hand and volunteer an answer.

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5. Although he did not want to be rude in the middle of the class.

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6. When mom entered the room, she saw that Mohammed had fallen asleep on a remote control.

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7. While cleaning under his bed.

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8. And he continued knocking on the door.

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9. Sometimes life is very beautiful.

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10. We had a wonderful holiday in Germany last summer.

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9) : Find and correct Run-on and Comma Splice mistakes in the sentences below. Add
punctuation marks where necessary.
1. He put on some sun cream the sun was extremely hot.

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2. My sister was taller than me when we were young now I am the tallest.

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3. I love school and I love learning, my teacher is nice.

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4. Blue is my favorite color it is the color of the sky and the sea.

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5. When I get older, I want to have a big family I like big families.

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6. The children went to the park, then we went to the mall to shop.

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7. I had to complete my homework as I did laundry at some point, I also had to wash the dishes that had been
left in the sink over night.

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8. Last summer, my family and I visited the White House from our visit we all gained an appreciation of
how government works at the top levels.

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9. Our assignment was to present a project that was about a personal triumph I presented a project about how
I overcame being the smallest in my class by becoming the funniest.

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10. Fred and Mark wanted to use their time constructively, they discussed various ideas.

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 Exercises on Pronouns
1) : Fill in the blanks with appropriate pronouns:
1. Everyone who wants to be a doctor will have to pass Medical Licensing Exam.

2. Everybody who went on the field trip was supposed to bring permission form.

3. All customers complained that an item was missing in order.

4. Mary and Tom left their bags at the ticket counter, but they weren’t sure if bags were safe.

5. The class stayed in desks when the teacher walked in.

6. Each of the boys had assignment ready.

7. Everyone in the women’s basketball team improved skills.

8. Jane and Sarah said were too tired to skate any longer.

9. The committee finally made decision public.

10. The tour guide, as well as the entire group, checked supply list.

Pronoun Agreement and Reference

2) : On the line provided in each sentence, write a pronoun that agrees with
its antecedent or antecedents.

EX. Both Debra and Stephanie invited their parents.

1. Neither Julian nor Mary memorized _____________ speech.

2. Both Carla and Annie wanted _____________ own bikes.
3. Heidi and Sara spent _____________ allowances on birthday gifts.
4. Fahad or Faisal will bring _____________ CD player to the party.
5. John and Bryan took _____________ dogs to the park.
6. Wendy’s children or Maria will read _____________ poem to the seminar.
7. Neither the principal nor the teachers will bring_____________ parents to the meeting.
8. Neither Ali nor Ahmad forgets to wear _____________ seat belt in the car.
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 9. Both the senator and the representative from our district have said _____________ will support the
President’s position.
10. Sybil, Gordon, and Ms. Tanaka all said that _____________ would contribute to the organization.
11. After submitting a story to the authors’ club, neither Leo nor Jim was certain that
_____________ story would be accepted.
12. As they watched oil leaking from the car, both Steve and Judy knew that
_____________ concern for the car was justified.

3) B. Read the following pairs of sentences and underline the one that has a clear pronoun reference.

1.

a. When I loaded the new program on the computer, it crashed.

b. When I loaded the new program on the computer, the computer crashed.

2.

a. At the gym, the instructors showed me how to use the equipment.

b. At the gym, they showed me how to use the equipment.

3.

a. I wanted to buy a new computer, but they didn't have one I could afford.

b. I wanted to buy a new stereo, but the store didn't have one I could afford.

4.

a. When she put the box on the table, the table collapsed.

b. When she put the box on the table, it collapsed.

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4) : Underline the correct choice in the text box following each sentence.
1. When I went for the job interview, (they, the manager) didn't seem very interested in me.
2. He hammered the nail onto the picture frame, and now (it, the nail) is crooked.
3. Ms. Simmons decided to postpone the pop quiz so that (they, her students) could discuss their new
essay.
4. (The scientists, they) claim that the next big earthquake might dump half of California into the Pacific
Ocean.
5. Mary received a lot of praise and earned over $7 million, but she was very modest about (the praise, it).
6. Jennifer’s sister asked Jennifer if (she, Jennifer) was tall enough to be a model.

5) Write the correct possessive pronoun for each sentence:

EX: 1 That car belongs to me. That car is mine.

1. That book belongs to them. That book is _____________ .

2. That pen belongs to me. That pen is _____________.

3. This dog belongs to us. This dog is _____________.

4. This car belongs to him. This car is _____________.

5. This house belongs to me and my brother. This house is _____________.

6. That motorcycle belongs to that man. That motorcycle is _____________.

7. These books belong to those students. These books are _____________.

8. This hat belongs to you. This hat is _____________.

9. This cat belongs to my aunt. This cat is _____________.

10. This ball belongs to those boys. This ball is _____________.

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6) Add the correct possessive adjective or pronoun.

Possessive Adjectives:
my - your - his - her - its - our - your - their

Possessive Pronouns:
mine - yours - his - hers - its - ours - yours - theirs
Example: I have a pencil, it's my pencil. It's mine.

1. She has a book, it's _____________ book. It's _____________.

2. You have an umbrella, it's _____________ umbrella. It's _____________.

3. They have some magazines, they're _____________ magazines. They're _____________.

4. Here is Bob's house. It's _____________ house.

5. These are Tom and Jackie's bags. They're _____________ bags.

6. I have a puppy. It's _____________.

7. Tyler's brother has a new apartment. It's _____________.

7) Add the correct possessive adjective or pronoun.

1. Paul and Jeannie are going to visit _____________ friends tomorrow.

2. He usually goes to England for _____________ holidays.

3. Sheila is buying a present for _____________ mother.

4. We are living in _____________ new home.

5. This is their car. It's _____________.

6. This is my computer. It's _____________.

7. You received a letter from _____________ brothers.

8. The dog has _____________ own place here.

9. This is his telephone. It's _____________.

10. Monica and Sheila will meet _____________ parents.

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