English Grammar, punctuation and spelling paper 1 (May 2018) – with hints
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English grammar, punctuation and spelling.
Paper 1 (May 2018): questions, with hints
- This test is not timed.
- Hints are available for each question.
- Questions are marked as you go.
- Questions and answers can be reviewed at the end.
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Categories
- G1: Grammatical terms / word classes 0%
- G2: Functions of sentences 0%
- G3: Combining words, phrases and clauses 0%
- G4: Verb forms, tenses and consistency 0%
- G5: Punctuation 0%
- G6: Vocabulary 0%
- G7: Standard English and formality 0%
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completed this test on Friday, 18-Apr-25 17:16:41 UTC
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Question 1 of 50
1. Question
1Insert a comma in the correct place in the sentence below.- Although () he () was () the () youngest (,) Tom () was () one () of () the () tallest.
1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
The comma needs to come after the subordinate clause, if you can remember what one of those is.
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Question 2 of 50
2. Question
2Which sentence must end with a question mark?Tick one.
1 mark(s)Correct
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Hint
A question mark goes at the end of a question. You can always answer ‘I don’t know’ to a question. Which sentence could best be followed by the reply ‘I don’t know’ and for the conversation to make sense?
Example: “What is the time?” “I don’t know.” This makes complete sense. ‘So “What is the time?” has a question mark.
“I’d like to know what the time is.” “I don’t know”. This doesn’t make as much sense.
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Question 3 of 50
3. Question
3The prefix re- can be added to the root word play to make the word replay.
Tick the meaning of the word replay.Tick one.
1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
In sport, if a match ends in a draw, sometimes there has to be a replay. What does that mean?
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Question 4 of 50
4. Question
4Answer Q, S, or C to show whether each sentence is a question (Q), a statement (S) or a command (C).- In autumn, many trees lose their leaves (S) Look at the trees carefully (C) Scientists are studying how trees can love for thousands of years (S) How can you tell a tree's age (Q)
1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
A question is trying to obtain an answer. A command is telling you to do something. A statement is just telling you something.
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Question 5 of 50
5. Question
5Add two commas to the sentence below to make it clear that Ana has four favourite things.- Ana’s () favourite () things () are () camping (,) holidays (,) cycling () and () swimming.
1 mark(s)Correct
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Hint
Does Ana mean camping holidays, or are camping and holidays two separate things that she likes?
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Question 6 of 50
6. Question
6Which is the adverb in the sentence below?The lively crowd cheered loudly when the rally car race began.
Tick one.
1 mark(s)Correct
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Hint
A verb is an action word. An adverb adds to the verb, to tell you something about how the action is carried out. So start by finding the verb.
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Question 7 of 50
7. Question
7Insert a pair of commas in the correct place in the sentence below.- My () father (,) who () works () at () the () museum (,) gave () my () class () a () guided () tour.
1 mark(s)Correct
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Hint
Can you spot the relative clause in this sentence? The commas go either side of it.
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Question 8 of 50
8. Question
8Which sentence is grammatically correct?Tick one.
1 mark(s)Correct
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Hint
Only one sentence uses tenses correctly. Tenses place the action in time, so the past, present and future aren’t all mixed up.
Example: “We went..” is in the past tense. It’s already happened. “Next week” is a time in the future, so it won’t usually work if the sentence is using the past tense.
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Question 9 of 50
9. Question
9Which verb is a synonym of the verb produce?Tick one.1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
Synonyms are words with the same or very similar meanings.
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Question 10 of 50
10. Question
10Which sentence is a command?Tick one.1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
A command tells you what to do, without you having to think for yourself.
Example: “It would be a good idea to finish your homework” is not a command even though, if you think about it, you should probably go and do your homework.
“Go and do your homework” is a command because it is very direct and you are being told exactly what to do.
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Question 11 of 50
11. Question
11Match each prefix to a word to make four different words. Use each prefix only once.-
(im)mature(in)correct(en)able(mis)fortune
1 mark(s)Correct
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Hint
Example: un + happy makes a new word: unhappy. -
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Question 12 of 50
12. Question
12Which option completes the sentence in the past perfect?Soon after a Frenchman _____________ the first land speed record, it was broken.Tick one.1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
The past perfect is made using had + a past participle.
If you had forgotten this, try to remember it!
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Question 13 of 50
13. Question
13Which sentence is written in Standard English?Tick one.1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
Questions on Standard English are usually checking to see if you can spot where the correct form of the verb has been used. In Standard English, the verb will change its form to match the time that the thing happened or the subject of the sentence.
Example: the verb is ‘be’. If I’m hungry, it isn’t correct to write “I be hungry”. ‘Be’ changes to ‘am’. “I am hungry”.
I am, you are, he is, she is, we are, they are. These are all different forms of the verb ‘be’. These are what you should use if the action happens in the present.
I was, you were, he was, she was. These are also different forms of the verb ‘be’. You’d use these if the action happened in the past.
“Joe is hungry” is correct if Joe is hungry now, because ‘is’ is the correct form of the verb ‘be’.
“I is hungry” is incorrect because it should be “I am hungry” if I’m hungry now, or “I was hungry” if we’re talking about a time gone by.
“I will be hungry” is another option, if we want to talk about the future.
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Question 14 of 50
14. Question
14Tick the sentence that uses a dash correctly.Tick one.1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
A dash is very useful – especially between two clauses of a sentence.
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Question 15 of 50
15. Question
15What is the grammatical term for the underlined part of the sentence?Charlie spilt his juice, but it didn’t go on his shirt.Tick one.
1 mark(s)Correct
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Hint
Time to review some terms.
Adverbials are used to explain how, where or when something happened; they are like adverbs made up of more than one word.
Example: I like to relax in the garden.A main clause is a clause that can form a complete sentence all by itself.
Example: I like shopping, even though I don’t have a lot of money.A noun phrase can be just a noun (like ‘Iceland’) or several words that identify the subject or object in a sentence (like ‘the man in the blue jacket’). You can always replace a noun phrase with a pronoun (such as ‘it’ or ‘he’ or ‘her’) and the sentence will still make sense, if you choose the right pronoun.
A subordinate clause is a clause in a sentence that depends on the main clause in the same sentence to make sense.
Example: ‘because I haven’t had my lunch’ is a subordinate clause that needs more information. We could add a main clause ‘I am hungry’ and the whole sentence would be ‘I am hungry because I haven’t had my lunch’. -
Question 16 of 50
16. Question
16Which sentence must not end with an exclamation mark?Tick one.1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
I hate exclamation marks!
Don’t you?
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Question 17 of 50
17. Question
17Insert a colon in the correct place in the sentence below.- There () are () two () places () that () I () have () always () wanted () to () visit (:) the () Arctic () and () Antarctica.
1 mark(s)Correct
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Hint
A colon can be used at the start of a list.
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Question 18 of 50
18. Question
18Which sentence uses the underlined word as a noun?Tick one.1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
A noun is a word that identifies a person (man, girl, fire-fighter), or a thing (dog, shop, mist) but can also identify an idea, quality, or state (truth, fear, midnight).
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Question 19 of 50
19. Question
19Which sentence is punctuated correctly?Tick one.1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
A comma adds a short pause. If you were reading these sentences out loud and you paused at every comma, which would sound the best?
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Question 20 of 50
20. Question
20Tick every sentence that contains a modal verb.1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
Modal verbs change or affect other verbs in a sentence. They are used:
to show the level of possibility. Example: Will. It will rain this evening.
to indicate ability. Example: Could. We could climb over that wall.
to show obligation: Example: Must. I must visit my aunty.
to give permission. Example: May. You may go to the toilet.
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Question 21 of 50
21. Question
21Which word class is the underlined word in the sentence below?My brother thinks that football is an amazing game.
Tick one.1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
Let’s quickly review these terms:
adverb: Adds to the verb. Example: if the verb is run, the adverb could be quickly – ‘she runs quickly‘.
adjective: a describing word. Examples: Red, giant, happy. ‘The red ball’.
determiner: Words that come before a noun and tell you a bit more about the noun. Examples: The, my, a. Example: ‘The boy’s kite’.
conjunction: A joining word. There are seven coordinating conjunctions. Examples: For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. The first letters spell FANBOYS. There are other types of conjunctions too, such as these subordinating conjunctions ‘because’, ‘if’ and ‘when’. -
Question 22 of 50
22. Question
22Insert a subordinating conjunction to show that we ate lunch and listened to music at the same time.- We listened to the music (while, whilst, as, when, whenever) we ate our lunch.
1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
A subordinating conjunction comes at the start of a subordinate clause.
Example: He ran home because he was late for dinner. It would be cold although he ran fast.
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Question 23 of 50
23. Question
23Complete the sentence below with a noun formed from the verb invent.- The engineer thought her latest (invention, inventions, inventor, inventors) would solve the problem.
1 mark(s)Correct
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Hint
invent is a verb but nouns can often be made from verbs.
Example: Verb: Teach. Noun: Teacher. Verb: Imagine. Noun: Imagination.
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Question 24 of 50
24. Question
24The underlined words can be replaced with a pronoun. Write the correct pronoun in the space at the end of each sentence.- When Jack’s grandmother came to stay, she gave Jack some money. (him) Jack used his money to buy a game called Gables. (He) Jack could not wait to get home and play the new game. (it)
1 mark(s)Correct
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Hint
Jack is a boy. He is not a girl.
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Question 25 of 50
25. Question
25Which sentence is the most formal?Tick one.1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
There aren’t any hard and fast rules about formal writing! Try saying the sentences to yourself and the one that sounds the least like something you might actually say in conversation (not in a speech) is likely to be the most formal.
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Question 26 of 50
26. Question
26Jane wants to know if the band is playing at the festival. Which question could she ask to find this out? Remember to check for correct punctuation.Tick one.1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
You are only asked for a question. Also make sure the question is the right question.
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Question 27 of 50
27. Question
27What is the subject of the sentence below?The tightrope walker carried a balancing pole.- (tightrope walker)
1 mark(s)Correct
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Hint
The subject will be a noun or a noun phrase. A noun phrase can be more than a single word.
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Question 28 of 50
28. Question
28Write the name of punctuation that could be used instead of commas in the sentence below.Somehow, after much swaying and rocking, the tightrope walker managed to regain his balance.- (dash, dashes, pair of dashes, two dashes, bracket, brackets, pair of brackets, two brackets)
1 mark(s)Correct
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Hint
The commas are being used to divide up the sentence into separate clauses. What other types of punctuation can be used for the same effect? There’s more than one correct answer, but we just need one.
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Question 29 of 50
29. Question
29Complete the invitation by choosing the most formal option from the choices given in square brackets. Three correct answers are needed to gain a mark.- We would like to invite you to a [catch-up] [celebration] [get-together] (celebration) to mark this [fab] [really cool] [momentous] (momentous) occasion. It will [start up] [commence] [kick off] (commence) at 5pm.
1 mark(s)Correct
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Hint
Unless you’re giving a formal speech, formal writing isn’t like speaking to your mates. I bet you can spot some words here that only really work when you’re chatting.
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Question 30 of 50
30. Question
30A noun can be singular or plural.
Tick each sentence where the underlined noun is plural.1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
Some words have an ‘s’ added to indicate the plural, such as ‘toys’.
Some words natually end in ‘s’ without it signifying the plural, such as ‘mess’.
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Question 31 of 50
31. Question
31What is the word class of each underlined word?-
Josef has beautiful writing. (adjective)Josef writes beautifully. (adverb)
1 mark(s)Correct
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Hint
Word forms you are likely to be asked to identify include nouns, noun phrases, verbs, adjectives, adverbs and determiners.
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Question 32 of 50
32. Question
32Which sentence is the most formal?Tick one.1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
There aren’t any hard and fast rules about formal writing! Try saying the sentences to yourself and the one that sounds the least like something you might actually say in conversation (not in a speech) is likely to be the most formal.
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Question 33 of 50
33. Question
33List the four prepositions in the sentence below, in the order that they appear in the sentence.On a mountain bike, you can cycle across rocky ground, along muddy paths and over harsh terrain.-
- (on) 2. (across) 3. (along) 4. (over)
1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
Prepositions tell you where a thing is or when something happened. They describe a position or a time.
The word preposition contains ‘position’ which is a useful reminder for you.
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Question 34 of 50
34. Question
34Insert one hyphen and one comma in the correct places in the sentence below.- My () grandmother () is () a () ballroom (-, –, —)dancing () champion (,) poet () and () singer.
1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
Hyphens are used to join two words that go together into a single phrase. Commas can be used to separate items in a list.
Example: Cave-dwelling bats are small, black, furry insect-eaters.
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Question 35 of 50
35. Question
35Which explanation best describes how the position of the apostrophe changes the meaning of the second sentence?1. What are your brother’s favourite toys?
2. What are your brothers’ favourite toys?
Tick one.1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
An apostrophe can show where a word has been abbreviated, as in the word it’s (short for it is).
It can also show possession, to indicate who something belongs to. Example: My mum’s umbrella.
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Question 36 of 50
36. Question
36Which two sentences use punctuation to show parenthesis?Tick two.1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
Parentheses always go in pairs (like this pair of brackets).
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Question 37 of 50
37. Question
37Find the relative clause in each sentence and copy it to the space at the end.-
We visited the funfair that came to our town. (that came to our town)My uncle who lives in Australia has sent me a present. (who lives in Australia)My friend whose rabbit I look after is on holiday. (whose rabbit I look after)
1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
A relative clause can be used to give additional information about a noun.
They are introduced by a relative pronoun like ‘that’, ‘which’, ‘who’, ‘whose’, ‘when’ and ‘where’.
Example: I want a pencil that doesn’t keep breaking.
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Question 38 of 50
38. Question
38Rewrite the underlined verbs in the simple past tense. Write your answer in the space next to the verb.-
During the winter months, the sun does not appear high in the sky and the days are much shorter than the nights.
does (did)are (were)
1 mark(s)Correct
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Hint
To make the simple past tense from the present tense, change the verb from the form that means something is happening right now to the form you’d use when it’s already happened.
Example: ‘I write my answer’. The verb is ‘write’. In the simple past tense, this would become ‘I wrote my answer’.
Example: ‘The paint is wet’. The verb is ‘be’ and the present tense form of ‘be’ is ‘is’. In the simple past tense, this would become ‘The paint was wet’.
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During the winter months, the sun does not appear high in the sky and the days are much shorter than the nights.
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Question 39 of 50
39. Question
39What is the grammatical term for the underlined words in the sentence below?My prize was a fluffy green pencil case with a gold zip.- (noun phrase, expanded noun phrase, a noun phrase, an expanded noun phrase)
1 mark(s)Correct
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Hint
It isn’t a noun but it’s a lot like one.
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Question 40 of 50
40. Question
40Tick every sentence that is written in the active.1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
In a sentence written in the active, the subject of sentence performs the action. In a sentence written in the passive, the subject receives the action. So ask yourself if the subject is active (doing something) or passive (having something done to them, or it).
Example: The lumberjack cut down the tree. The lumberjack is the subject, the action is cutting down. The lumberjack did it, so this is in the active.
Example: The tree was cut down by the lumberjack. The tree is the subject, the action is cutting down. This is something that happened to the tree so this is in the passive. -
Question 41 of 50
41. Question
41Find where the sentence below has been correctly rewritten as direct speech.I asked her if she needed any help.Tick one.1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
A sentence containing direct speech includes the actual words of the speaker.
Example: “I’ve won!” exclaimed Janet.
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Question 42 of 50
42. Question
42Find the possessive pronoun in the sentence below and write it in the space.When Mum saw that I was wearing Oliver’s gloves, she wanted to know where mine were.- (mine)
1 mark(s)Correct
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Hint
A pronoun is a word that replaces a noun phrase in a sentence, to stop us having to use the same noun phrase again. Some examples of pronouns include I, me, mine, myself, she, her, hers, herself, we, us, ours and ourselves.
Example: ‘This is Sharon. Sharon is a good friend.’
We could shorten this to ‘This is Sharon. She is a good friend.’
A possessive pronoun is a pronoun that shows ownership. Ours, yours, his…
Example: ‘Sharon’s bag’ is a noun phrase. Imagine Sharon is looking for her bag.
You could write, ‘Sharon picked up a bag. It was Sharon’s bag.’
Or you could use a possessive pronoun. ‘Sharon picked up a bag. It was hers.’
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Question 43 of 50
43. Question
43Complete the sentence below by adding an appropriate co-ordinating conjunction.- We have time to play a game (but, , but, and, , and, yet, , yet) we will have to finish it before dinner.
1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
There are the seven coordinating conjunctions. Remember this acronym: FANBOYS. For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.
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Question 44 of 50
44. Question
44Find the adverbial in the sentence below and write it in the space.- On Wednesday, Felix has a dental appointment. (On Wednesday)
1 mark(s)Correct
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Hint
Adverbials are used to explain how, where or when something happened; they are like adverbs made up of more than one word.
Example: I like to relax in the garden. -
Question 45 of 50
45. Question
45Find the relative pronoun in the sentence below and write it in the space.- The boy who knocked on our door was at the wrong house. (who)
1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
A relative pronoun comes after a noun to help to identify which person or thing we are talking about, or to tell us some more information about a person or thing. There are only a few to remember:
- That
- Which
- Who
- Whom
- Whose
Example: The wasp that stung me has flown away.
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Question 46 of 50
46. Question
46Add a suffix to the words in the square brackets to complete the sentences.Example: The [fast] fastest runner won the race.- Our school believes in [equal] (equality, ity) for all pupils. We took [addition] (additional, al) clothing in case it turned cold.
1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
Prefixes go at the start of the root of a word to change its meaning.
Suffixes go at the end of the root of a word to change its meaning.
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Question 47 of 50
47. Question
47Tick each word that should begin with a capital letter in the sentence below.the island called zanzibar is in the indian ocean off the coast of africa.1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
Capital letters are used for names of people and places, but don’t forget they go at the start of sentences too.
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Question 48 of 50
48. Question
48Find the four verbs in the passage below, and write them in the spaces in the order that they appear.There were hundreds of gulls circling in the sky.
They gathered near the dock, searching for scraps.-
- (were) 2. (circling) 3. (gathered) 4. (searching)
1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
Verbs are ‘doing words’. They tell you what action is being performed. (Running, shouted, ate).
However, just ‘being’ is also an action.
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Question 49 of 50
49. Question
49Rewrite the underlined verb in the sentence below so it is in the present progressive.I taught my sister to skateboard.- (am teaching)
1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
The present progressive tense is used when something is happening now, and is still going on.
Example: You are answering question 49.
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Question 50 of 50
50. Question
50Find the subordinate clause in the sentence below and write it in the space.Hassan and I are going to our dance class; we are going to be late as we missed the bus.- (as we missed the bus)
1 mark(s)Correct
Incorrect
Hint
A subordinate clause is a clause that doesn’t work as a complete sentence because it doesn’t express a complete thought.
Like all clauses, a subordinate clause has a subject and verb.
Example: We couldn’t buy a monkey because the monkey store was shut.