Which of the following sentences contain a verbal phrase acting as a noun? Check all of the boxes next to correct answers.

Question

“To be or not to be is a silly question.”

“She rose, taking the tablecloth with her.”

“Walking the dog is a fun chore.”

“You have always been a good friend.”

“Take time to smell the roses.”

Answer 1

The sentences that contain a verbal phrase acting as a noun are:

• “To be or not to be is a silly question.” (The phrase "to be" acts as a noun.)

• “Walking the dog is a fun chore.” (The phrase "Walking the dog" acts as a noun.)

The other sentences do not contain verbal phrases acting as nouns.

So, you should check the boxes next to the first and third sentences.

Answer 2

Which of the following sentences contain adverbial phrases and clauses? Check each answer below that is correct.

“They should jog before they go to work.”

“People who are kind impress me.”

“Enchiladas with spinach are delicious.”

“I try to go to the gym whenever I can.”

“I am allowed to drive until sundown.”

Answer 3

The sentences that contain adverbial phrases or clauses are:

• “They should jog before they go to work.” (The phrase "before they go to work" is an adverbial clause.)

• “I try to go to the gym whenever I can.” (The phrase "whenever I can" is an adverbial clause.)

• “I am allowed to drive until sundown.” (The phrase "until sundown" is an adverbial phrase.)

The other sentences do not contain adverbial phrases or clauses:

• “People who are kind impress me.” (This contains a relative clause, which is not adverbial.)

• “Enchiladas with spinach are delicious.” (This is a simple declarative sentence with no adverbial phrases or clauses.)

So, you should check the boxes next to the first, fourth, and fifth sentences.

Answer 4

According to Strunk, what is the correct way to punctuate this compound sentence?

“Tony cooked dinner and I made the salad, but Mike just ate.”

“Tony cooked dinner, and I made the salad, but Mike just ate.”

“Tony cooked dinner, and I made the salad but Mike just ate.”

Answer 5

According to Strunk's principles of punctuation, the correct way to punctuate the compound sentence would be:

“Tony cooked dinner, and I made the salad, but Mike just ate.”

This version correctly uses a comma before the conjunction "and" as it joins two independent clauses, and it also has a comma before "but" which joins the last independent clause.

Answer 6

According to Strunk, what is the correct way to place an adverbial clause in this sentence?

“While she walked to school, the dog kept barking at Megumi.”

“The dog, while she walked to school, kept barking at Megumi.”

“The dog kept barking at Megumi while she walked to school.”

Answer 7

According to Strunk's principles of clarity and conciseness in writing, the best choice for placing the adverbial clause in this sentence is:

“The dog kept barking at Megumi while she walked to school.”

This version clearly maintains the order of actions and avoids any potential confusion. The clause "while she walked to school" is positioned at the end of the sentence, making it clear that it is providing context for when the action of the dog barking is happening.

The first option ("While she walked to school, the dog kept barking at Megumi.") is also a valid sentence, but it changes the emphasis. The third option is the most straightforward and preferred for clarity.

Answer 8

As you read the passage below, highlight needless words.

The candidates debated as to whether the current policies were appropriate due to the fact that the economy had changed, there were shifts in the population, and the war had ended.

Answer 9

Here’s a revised version of the passage with the needless words highlighted and removed for clarity:

"The candidates debated whether the current policies were appropriate because the economy had changed, there were shifts in the population, and the war had ended."

Needless words removed:

• "as to"
• "due to the fact that"

These phrases can often be simplified to make writing clearer and more concise.

Answer 10

Replace the needless words with more appropriate choices.

The candidates debated
the current policies were appropriate
the economy had changed, there were shifts in the population, and the war had ended.

Answer 11

Here’s a revised version of the passage with more concise and appropriate word choices:

"The candidates debated whether the current policies were suitable given the changes in the economy, shifts in the population, and the conclusion of the war."

Changes made:

• Replaced "appropriate" with "suitable" for a slightly different nuance.
• Replaced "due to the fact that" with "given" for conciseness.
• “The war had ended” was streamlined to “the conclusion of the war” for a more formal tone.

This version maintains the original meaning while being more concise and clear.