Grammar Worksheets

This is a compilation of grammar notes and worksheets adapted from

http://www.grammar-worksheets.com. Each set of worksheets comes with notes
and exercises.

Comma Splices (Also called Run-on Sentences)

To understand comma splices you must understand grammatical terms like "clause" and
"independent clause.”
Some people use the term “run-on sentence” to refer both to fused sentences and comma
splices. These two terms refer to two different errors.

Definition: A comma splice is a comma that joins (splices) two independent clauses. A
clause is a group of words that has a subject and a verb.
A fused sentence, on the other hand, occurs when two independent clauses (complete
ideas) are joined without any punctuation. It is better to avoid the term run-on sentence
altogether and use only the terms comma splice and fused sentence. They are more
specific and more descriptive.

In standard written American English, comma splices are not allowed. In other English-
speaking communities, they are more accepted. If you are writing for a North American
audience, it is important to avoid comma slices.

Example of an Independent Clause: Robert ate worms.

This is a clause. Robert is the subject, and ate is the verb. This clause is "independent"
because it can stand alone as a sentence.
Now let's take another independent clause: Mary dislikes Robert.
If you take two independent clauses and join them with a comma, you have a comma
splice: Robert ate worms, Mary dislikes Robert.

To "splice" means to join, so a comma splice could easily have been called a comma JOIN,
but that would have been too simple. Some people get confused and think that the word
"splice" means to "separate," as in "split" + "slice" = "splice." But it is not that way.
To splice means to join, and in standard American English, you're not supposed to use
comma splices in writing. It is a formal rule. Comma splices are easy errors for teachers and
editors to notice.

How Do You Fix a Comma Splice?

 Make two sentences instead of one: Robert ate worms. Mary dislikes Robert.
 Use a semicolon (;). Robert ate worms; Mary dislikes Robert.
 Use a subordinating conjunction (because, when, since, although,...). Because
Robert ate worms, Mary dislikes Robert.
 Use a semicolon plus a conjunctive adverb (therefore, then, however,...). Robert ate
worms; therefore, Mary dislikes Robert.
 Use a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) – fanboys – after
the comma. Robert ate worms, so Mary dislikes Robert.

Remember, you can’t use words like however and so just because they make grammatical
sense. These words mean something. The words although, however, but, and yet indicate a
contrast: I was on a diet; however, I still gained weight.
The words because, therefore, and so indicate a cause and effect relationship. The words
and and then indicate that you are simply adding information. Use words cautiously.
Grammar Worksheets: Comma Splices (Also called Run-on Sentences)
Exercises: Each sentence below is wrong; it has a comma splice. Please correct it.

1. Each sentence below is wrong, it has a comma splice.

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2. Eliza ran to the store, then she bought some candy.

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3. The stock market has moved in one direction lately, it has gone down.
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4. Elvis Presley was a great singer, he was never really accepted by the country music's
mainstream.
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5. Computer programs help us live saner lives, obviously the people who write them should
make lots of money.
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6. Dubai has built magnificent office towers with luxuries and conveniences, it is considered
a great location in which to conduct international business.
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7. Brazil has won several world championships in soccer, they are always considered a good
team.
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8. The Quaid-i-Azam campus of Punjab University is considered excellent, it attracts many

students.
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 Grammar Worksheets: Comma Splices, Supplemental Exercises 1
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1. The legislature had enacted laws enabling debtors to discharge their obligations more
easily, the courts put an end to such practices by stipulating that no state could enact such
laws.
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2. Every wall was smashed to rubble, the only thing left of those houses was the land and
the rocks from the rubble.
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3. My heart broke, the owners had no insurance.

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4. The town looked deserted, the streets were so dark and empty that the only thing we
could hear was the wind blowing.
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5. We worked from dusk to dawn, never had so many contracts been written in such a short
time.
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6. Money continued to flow in, we started to live the life of the rich, on weekends we ate at
expensive restaurants.
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7. The river extended beyond the mountains, we saw the clouds merge with the water in
the horizon.
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8. Men and women drink coffee because it adds to their sense of well-being, it smells good
and tastes good to all mankind, all respond to its wonderful stimulating properties.
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9. Caffeine supplies the principal stimulant, it increases the capacity for muscular and
mental work without harmful reaction.
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10. Like all good things in life, the drinking of coffee may be abused, those having an
idiosyncratic susceptibility to alkaloids should be temperate in the use of tea, coffee, or
cocoa.
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11. In every high-tensioned country there is likely to be a small number of people who,
because of certain individual characteristics, cannot drink coffee at all, these people belong
to the abnormal minority of the human family.
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12. Some people cannot eat strawberries, that would not be a valid reason for a general
condemnation of strawberries.
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13. Some writers claim for Persia the discovery of the coffee drink, there is no evidence to
support the claim.
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14. The Persians appear to have used considerable intelligence in handling the political
phase of the coffee-house question, it never became necessary to order them suppressed in
Persia.
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15. Residue from a super-saturated solution make ideal seed crystals for growth in a lab,
these crystals may contain impurities.
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16. The need for occupational therapists has grown substantially, therefore more colleges
are offering programs in this high-demand field.
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Grammar Worksheets: Sentence Fragments

Definition: A sentence fragment is a piece of a sentence. A piece is not whole or complete.

In a formal sense, a sentence fragment is a group of words that is punctuated as a sentence

but that cannot stand alone as a sentence. Here's an example: The paper on the desk.

This is an easy one. The paper on the desk. What about the paper on the desk? This
group of words starts with a capital letter and ends in a period. It is punctuated as a
sentence, but it is not a sentence. This group of words is missing a verb or a verb phrase.
Complete Sentence: The paper on the desk fell to the floor.

How Do You Fix a Sentence Fragment?

• Add a verb or a verb phrase.
FRAGMENT: For example, the cows grazing on the hillside.
COMPLETE SENTENCE: The countryside seemed at peace. Take, for example, the cows
grazing on the hillside.

• Attach the sentence fragment to the sentence before it or after it.

FRAGMENT: Rivers cut deep canyons in the landscape. Weaving their way hundreds of miles
through forests and mountains until they reach the ocean.
COMPLETE SENTENCE: Rivers cut deep canyons in the landscape, weaving their way
hundreds of miles through forests and mountains until they reach the ocean.

• Use a conjunctive adverb (however, therefore) instead of a subordinating conjunction

(although, because, since).
FRAGMENT: Jason never thought he could play baseball. Although, he eventually worked
hard and started for his high school team.
COMPLETE SENTENCE: Jason never thought he could play baseball. However, he eventually
worked hard and started for his high school team.

• Attach a clause with a relative pronoun (who, whom, that, which, whose) to the sentence
it belongs to.
FRAGMENT: Mom always asked me to walk the dog. Who never had to go out anyway.
COMPLETE SENTENCE: Mom always asked me to walk the dog, who never had to go out
anyway.

• Attach a verb phrase that is punctuated as a sentence (the fragment) to the sentence it
belongs to.
FRAGMENT: The psychologist met with his clients in a relaxing environment. And
encouraged them to meditate after the session.
COMPLETE SENTENCE: James counselled his clients in a relaxing environment and
encouraged them to meditate after the session.

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Grammar Worksheets: Sentence Fragments
Exercises: Each item below contains a sentence fragment. Fix it in the space
provided.

1. Salt-water fish can be very colorful. For example, Parrot Fish.

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2. Merwin passed the exam. Although, he got the last five questions wrong.
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3. Robert has met his long-lost daughter. Who had been searching for him over twenty
years.
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4. Because the cities on the west coast of Florida receive cool breezes and warm water from
the Gulf of Mexico.
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5. Jenny never finished high school. Despite the fact that her parents were supportive and
allowed her to stay at home after her arrest.
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6. The conductor finished with a flourish. Waving his baton and gesticulating wildly with his
free hand.
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7. The house survived the tornado. Which clearly demonstrated that the building and zoning
codes were sufficiently strict.
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Supplemental Worksheet 1, Sentence Fragments
http://www.grammar-worksheets.com
Each item below contains a sentence fragment. Fix it in the space provided.

1. Jason Smith, who was the first man from Georgia to serve on the ADFR Commission.
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2. When I was given the opportunity to write a research paper on any topic of my choice.
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3. Not just this wonderful appetizer, but the entire meal.

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4. Making Florida the fourth largest state in the country.

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5. Roddy Burdine set up his trading post along Brickell Avenue. And traded with settlers
along the banks of the Miami River.
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7. No idea about the relationship between the parents’ divorce and the child’s behavior.
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8. For example, attending ski camp over the winter holidays.

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9. In the midst of the storm, when thunder roars and lightning strikes.
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10. Elvis Presly reacted to the situation. Running quickly to avoid the rapidly approaching
mob.
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11. Like the time my cousin threw me to the ground and yelled at me.
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12. Beneath the expressway ramp outside the city limits.

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13. Suffering from acute personality disorders for most of his adult life.
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14. In order to become a cosmetologist and open her own beauty salon.
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15. Beatrice was suspended. Despite the teacher’s having given her permission to publish a
class web page.
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16. With Dwayne Wade, Lebron James, and Chris Bosch all playing for the same team.
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17. I got involved in extracurricular activities. Auditioning for the dance company during my
first year of college.
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18. Disgruntled by the reduction in health benefits because of the significant drop in tax
revenue.
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19. When Mr. Jenkins stumbled into the restaurant, reeking of alcohol and cigarettes.
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Grammar Worksheets: Excessive Nominalizations

In this sheet we discuss, albeit briefly, a problem addressed beautifully by the late Professor
Joseph M. Williams, of the University of Chicago. He spent a great portion of his life
examining the principles of clear writing. He distilled his teachings into a book, Style:
Lessons in Clarity and Grace, 9th ed., Pearson, 2007. This worksheet owes much to
Williams’s work.

Nominalizations: A sentence may seem unclear to a reader because verbs and

adjectives (words that describe nouns) are turned into nouns. In Williams’s words, “A noun
derived from a verb or adjective has a technical name: nominalization” (Williams, 38).

Avoid Making Nouns from Verbs

Take a look at the sentences below.
(a) A re-examination of the evidence led prosecutors to a reconsideration of the
defendant’s guilt.
(b) Prosecutors re-examined the evidence and reconsidered the defendant’s guilt.

Most readers would say that sentence (b) is clearer than (a). The words re-examination and
reconsideration are nouns. Generally, words that end in tion are nouns. In Williams’s
terminology, these words are nominalizations.

The verb forms, re-examined and reconsidered, seem clearer to most readers. The following
table lists just a very few nominalizations and their corresponding verb forms.
Nominalization Verb Form
Analysis Analyze
Belief Believe
Comparison Compare
Conclusion Conclude
Determination Determine
Failure Fail
Reaction React
Suggestion Suggest
In general, choose the verb form over the nominalization. But be careful. Some
nominalizations are useful and necessary. Use them prudently.

Avoid Making Nouns from Adjectives

The same principle applies with adjectives. Avoid turning an adjective, such as careless, into
its corresponding nominalization, carelessness.

Avoid: His carelessness in driving caused a multi-car accident.

Prefer: His careless driving caused a multi-car accident.
Nominalization Adjective Form
Carelessness Careless
Difficulty Difficult
Intensity Intense

Ken Bresler treats the topic of nominalizations quite well, including useful nominalizations,
in his article, “Just Say Know.” Take a look. http://www.clearwriting.com/know.htm

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Grammar Worksheets: Excessive Nominalizations
Exercises: Rewrite each sentence. Turn any unnecessary nominalization
into its
corresponding verb or adjective.

1. The steering committee raised an objection to the proposed parking garage north of the
stadium.
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2. When the faculty senate has made a determination about the desirability of a lecture
series, a proposal will be presented to the chancellor. (Hint. Perhaps we have ONE useful
nominalization.)
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3. Negligence on the part of hospital workers was the reason for the failure of the kidney
machine.
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4. Mercy Hospital made a decision to expand its geriatric facilities.

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5. It was the intention of the screening committee to interview all candidates face to face.
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6. The investor made an incorrect assumption about the volatility of Brazil’s emerging
economy. (Some information might be missing in the original sentence. Did the investor
think that the volatility of Brazil’s emerging economy was high or low? How can the meaning
be made clearer?)
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7. The parole board did not give an explanation for the early release of such a dangerous
inmate.
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8. It is my hope that you apply this material.

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Grammar Worksheets: Parallelism, Including Correlative Conjunctions and
Comparisons

A sentence exhibits parallelism if similar ideas are expressed using the same syntactic and
grammatical structure. Writers use parallel structures to communicate ideas that have the
same importance using the same grammatical structure.

Parallelism is most common using gerund phrases (verb + ing) or infinitives (to + verb).
Faulty parallelism occurs when writers do not use a parallel structure to communicate a
series of ideas.

Faulty Parallelism: Without good pitching, the Marlins can be expected to lose
more than eighty games, to draft early in next year’s draft, and attendance will
suffer greatly.

What are the ideas that seem to have the same importance?
1. The Marlins will lose more than eighty games
2. The Marlins will draft early in next year’s draft.
3. The Marlins’ attendance will suffer greatly.

Note that we have two infinitive phrases and one independent clause. A revision using
parallel structure can be worded as follows:

Correct Parallelism: Without good pitching, the Marlins can be expected to lose
more than eighty games, to draft early in next year’s draft, and to suffer greatly in
attendance.

The term parallelism also applies to using correlative conjunctions and comparisons
properly.

Correlative Conjunctions: both, and; not, but; not only, but also; either, or; whether, or;
neither, nor. These conjunctions connect words, phrases, and clauses that have the same
level of meaning in the same sentence. Use the same grammatical structure with both
elements of the correlative.

Faulty Parallelism: Andrew was both an industrious student, and he was also an
excellent athlete.
Correct Parallelism: Andrew was both an industrious student and an excellent
athlete.

Notice that since an (adjective + noun) pair is used with both elements, no comma is
needed. If you use not only … but also with independent clauses, you must separate the
clauses with a comma, and you sometimes place the subject pronoun between the word but
and the word also.

Example: Jessica not only excelled in mathematics, but she also astounded
audiences with her musical talent.

Comparisons: Use a parallel structure when you connect two words, phrases, or clauses
with a comparison word, including than or as.
Faulty Parallelism: Sharon’s grade point average is much higher than her brother.
Correct Parallelism: Sharon’s grade point average is much higher than her
brother’s (grade point average).
Correct Parallelism: Sharon has a higher grade point average than her brother
(does).
Grammar Worksheets: Parallelism, Including Correlative Conjunctions and
Comparisons Please rewrite each sentence below, correcting each error in parallelism.

1. We debated between two options immigration had given us: going back to Nicaragua or
to stay in the US with no hope of ever going back.
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2. My uncle Julius likes bagels, lox, and eating chicken salad.

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3. Bill not only runs five miles every day, he consumes eight thousand calories.
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4. Jose’s daughter will either attend Harvard, or she plans to go to the Standford.
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5. The principal is excited about both the swim team earning national honors, and that the
debate team won its first tournament.
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6. Fatima’s knowledge of accounting is greater than Farah.

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7. Miranda’s flowers are neither red, nor are they orange.

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8. Stephen King’s book reviews were as positive as Asimov.

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9. The house sitter lost the keys, neglected the dogs, and she also trashed the kitchen.
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Grammar Worksheets: Active and Passive Voice

The term voice, when used in English grammar, refers to the structure of a sentence. There
are two “voices” in English grammar, active voice and passive voice.

Active Voice: In an active voice sentence, the agent (the one who does the action in the
sentence) is stated explicitly as the grammatical subject. The thing that the agent does
something to (the direct object) comes after the verb. Here’s an example.
Active Voice Sentence: Julio cooked fried rice.

“Julio” is the agent. He’s the one who does the action. In this case, he’s the one who
cooked the rice. In this active voice sentence, Julio is the grammatical subject. What did
Julio cook? He cooked fried rice. The words fried rice make up the direct object. The fried
rice is the thing that the agent (Julio) does something to. In this case he cooked it.

Passive Voice: In a passive voice sentence, the thing that the agent does something to,
is placed as the grammatical subject of the sentence. The agent (the one who does the
action) is placed after the subject, usually in a prepositional phrase. In fact, sometimes the
agent is hidden, not even mentioned.
Passive Voice Sentence: The fried rice was cooked by Julio. (The agent is
mentioned.)
Passive Voice Sentence: The fried rice was cooked. (The agent is not mentioned.)

In Academic Writing, Use the Active Voice. Use the active voice in most of the writing
you do in school and at work. Studies in readability indicate that active voice sentences,
where the agent is stated first, are easier to understand than passive voice sentences.

So When Should You Use the Passive Voice?

1. When the receiver of the action is more important than the agent.

Active Voice: The Nobel Foundation awarded President Obama the Nobel Peace Prize.
Passive Voice: President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

The passive voice construction places the emphasis on the receiver of the Nobel Peace Prize,
not on the organization that awarded the prize.

2. When you consciously try to minimize the role of the agent or the agent is not known.

Active Voice: Marie Jenkins could not complete the status report because James
McDonald misplaced the manufacturing data.
Passive Voice: The status report was not completed because manufacturing data
were misplaced.

3. When you write about scientific, technical, or natural processes.

Active Voice: The conveyor belt delivers the shrink-wrapped product to the packing
station.
Passive Voice: The shrink-wrapped product is delivered to the packing station.

Using active voice or passive voice is a stylistic and rhetorical choice about sentence
structure. It’s important to understand the structure so that you control the structure
instead of letting the structure control you. But remember; use the active voice in most of
your academic and work-related writing.
Grammar Worksheets: Active and Passive Voice
Exercises: Convert each sentence from active to passive or from passive to
active. Justify your decision.
1. When the Phillies's Shane Victorino overran him, third base was stolen by Johnny Damon.
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2. A happy Thanksgiving is wished by me for everyone.

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3. The attorney general indicted the notorious gangster, Al Capone, for federal income tax
evasion.
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4. The student services committee forwarded revised disciplinary procedures to the campus
president.
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5. Six Thousand shares of Disney stock were bought by Jenny Allen when she was only
nineteen.
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6. People can view the dazzling meteor shower from the observation tower at the
planetarium.
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7. The acceptance letter from Harvard was received by Jenny Arteaga last Tuesday.
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8. An invitation to Francis Suarez’s victory party was received by Mr. Packer, the state party
chairman.
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9. The Baseball Writers Association of America named Joe Mauer, the Minnesota Twins’
catcher who led the American League with a .365 batting average, MVP for 2009.
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