Chapter 36: Verbs

Exercise 1, A (p. 530)

In each sentence, a correct or incorrect irregular verb form appears in parentheses. Edit each sentence to make it correct, or indicate that it's already correct.

1. Jeremy (had chose) to work along the levee as part of the volunteer corps.

2. The flood water (had rised) rapidly during the night.

3. The team (had heaved) sandbags for almost twenty-four hours.

4. Jim O'Connor (had hung) plastic sheeting up to plug a leak.

5. By eight o'clock in the morning, people (had woke) up to find that the river (had fall) by six inches and the town was safe.

6.

Exercise 2, A (p. 535)

For each sentence, highlight the appropriate verb form from the choices within parenthesis.

1. Sandy (laid/lay) the article for the newspaper on her editor's desk.

2. To get information for the article, she (sat/set) in the waiting room of the fire commissioner's

3. office for three days.

4. During the interview, she (layed/lay/laid) on his desk a copy of the report criticizing the fire

5. department's performance during the Brocklin Warehouse fire.

6. The commissioner looked the report over and then (sat/set) it next to the other report, which

7. praised the department's performance.

8. After she (lead/led) the three-hour discussion with the commissioner, Sandy was convinced that

9. the department had done an adequate job at the fire.

Chapter 37: Nouns and Pronouns

Exercise 2, A (p. 550)

Correct any errors in pronoun case. One sentence is correct.

1. The rest of us team members decided we should use recent animated movies as the subject of our project.

2. Because their parents own a video store, her brother and her brought in tapes of the movies we planned to study.

3. Bill and I decided to take notes on Aladdin; Pat and her chose to study Beauty and the

4. Beast.

5. I thought the notes we took were more detailed and better than they.

6. Writing the final paper led to some disagreements between the other members and myself.

Chapter 38: Agreement

Exercise 2, A #1-5 (p. 558)

Choose the word in parentheses that creates a subject-verb agreement. Highlight the correct version.

Example: they mayor, as well as members of the city counsel, (has/have) been searching for better ways to fund the zoo.

1. Several large lizards and an eight-foot python (makes/make) up the main attractions in the reptile building of the tiny zoo.

2. The displays as well as the building itself (appears/appear) well designed and well maintained.

3. The animals each (displays/display) good health and normal behavior.

4. Neither the zoo's overseers nor its director (is/are) satisfied with the reptile building and the number of animals on display.

5. Of the zoo's visitors, three-quarters (says/say) that the collection should be enlarged.

Chapter 39: Adjectives and Adverbs

Exercise 2, A (2, 3, & 5) (p. 574)

Revise the following sentences to eliminate any incorrect use of adjectives or adverbs.

Example: I think the real difference between Necco Wafers and Skittles is that Necco Wafers last longest.

2. Which of the two kinds of gummy bears is more sweeter?

3. Broccoli-flavored candy had even badder sales than chocolate-dipped carrots.

5. Some people can't hardly bear the taste of sour-flavored candy.