Language Drills 2017

PART 2

Name: Carlos Miguel G. De Guzman

Date: 09/29/2020

Score: ___/35

Passing: 80%

NOUN FORMS

/5 Use of Correct Noun Forms: In your sentences, you have to make sure that you use the correct noun
forms in your sentences to avoid confusion and awkward sentence construction. Basically, you need to
ensure that you use the plural or singular sense of your nouns and/or verbs correctly in different contexts.
Below, highlight the incorrect noun form in each sentence, and then, revise the sentence to indicate the
correction. Here’s an example:

Each of your body paragraphs should have appropriate topic sentences. {NOTE for reference only:
It sounds as if “each” body paragraph has more than one topic sentence, which isn’t the
case. Logically, there’s only one topic sentence for a single body paragraph. Therefore, the
form of “appropriate topic sentences” must be corrected in order to avoid confusion. In
this case, the second noun’s form should be singular as well.}

Revision: Each of your body paragraphs should have an appropriate topic sentence. {NOTE for
reference only: Here, again, we’re talking about “each” of the body paragraphs, and “each”
body paragraph or a single body paragraph only has a single topic sentence (an
appropriate topic sentence).}
1. Place the author’s last name, the year of publication, and the page number in parenthesis.
Revision: Place the author’s last name, the year of publication, and the page number in
parentheses.
2. The short story Inem fits the criteria of a patriarch text because the story depicts how women in
society are treated as if they are below men, how women are only good as a wife and a mother, and
how men control society.

Revision:The short story Inem fits the criteria of a patriarch text because the story depicts how
women in society are treated as if they are below men, how women are only good as wives and
mothers, and how men control society.

3. MLA only requires quotation marks for titles of short works such as a newspaper article.

Revision: MLA only requires quotation marks for titles of short works such as newspaper articles.

4. The key point of your body paragraphs is not clearly stated in your topic sentence.

Revision: The key point of your body paragraph is not clearly stated in your topic sentence.

5. There are a few idea in your draft that need supporting evidence.

Revision: There are a few ideas in your draft that need supporting evidence.

/4 Noun Form Consistency: When you write your lessons, be sure that the noun forms in your sentences
are also consistent in number to avoid creating odd or awkward sentences. You also need to ensure that you
use the plural or singular sense of your nouns and/or verbs correctly in different contexts. Now, in the
sentences below, you’ll find inconsistent noun forms, and they are underlined for your reference. Your task is
to revise each sentence, making sure that all nouns are consistent in form. Here is an example:
 Your body paragraphs should start with a topic sentence so that readers can easily identify the
supporting reasons for your argument. {NOTE for reference only: As you can see, several body
paragraphs don’t share a single topic sentence. So, there can’t be “a topic sentence” for
the body paragraphs. As for the revision, in this case, the singular sense is more
appropriate since it’s just logical to have one topic sentence per body paragraph. But, of
course, we need to make sure that it is consistent throughout the sentence. Please see the
revision below.}

Revision: Each body paragraph should start with a topic sentence so that readers can easily identify
each supporting reason for your argument.

1. The antecedent of the pronoun in some of your sentences is unclear.

Revision: The antecedent of the pronouns in some of your sentences is unclear.

2. You shouldn’t use cited ideas as a topic sentence, Lorena.

Revision: You shouldn’t use cited ideas as topic sentences, Lorena.

3. Your body paragraphs don’t have a topic sentence that indicates each of the reasons why you are
against school uniforms.

Revision: Your body paragraphs don’t have topic sentences that indicate the reasons why you are
against school uniforms.

4. There are commas missing from your sentences with an introductory element.

Revision: There are commas missing from your sentences with introductory elements.

/5 ARTICLE USAGE: Articles are those words that come before nouns. They help readers (or listeners) tell
if a noun is referring to something specific or general. There are only two types of articles—the definite
article the and the indefinite article a/an—but the rules that govern articles can be a bit complicated. Perhaps
this explains why many of writers commit errors when using articles. It’s either they use the wrong article or
they don’t use any article at all. To ensure that you can detect and address article usage issues, you need to
familiarize yourselves with the rules that govern each article. You’ll learn more about this by visiting our
lesson on Articles and Other Determiners. After reading it, include an article where necessary, or remove or
change the wrong article in the sentences provided below.

1. What is US government's role in regulating the food choices we make?

Revision: What is the US government’s role in regulating the food choices we make?

2. Per APA guidelines, you need to enclose the author’s last name and the year the work was published
in a parentheses.

Revision: Per APA guidelines, you need to enclose the author’s last name and the year the work was
published in parentheses.

3. It looks like there's an issue with the subject-verb agreement here.

Revision: It looks like there’s an issue with subject-verb agreement here.

4. Antoinette receives death penalty for her crime.

Revision:Antoinette receives the death penalty for her crime.

 5. The comma splice happens when you use only a comma in joining two independent clauses.

Revision: The comma splice happens when you use a comma in joining two independent clauses.

/10 VERB TENSE: When writing, it is important that you use the appropriate verb tense. It’s also important
that you use the correct tense consistently and avoid unnecessary verb tense shifts. Now, in tutoring, use
the simple present tense when referring to the student’s draft to acknowledge that it is still a work in
progress. The literary present tense, technically, applies to this context as well since the student’s draft may
be considered as a literary piece. Here is an example:

You present highly relevant background information about your topic, cellular phone usage while
driving, in your introduction. By describing the problems and the debate surrounding your topic, you
help readers grasp the context behind your argument to ban drivers from using cellular phones while
on the road. Good job, Melissa!

You can visit these lessons for more information: Simple Verb Tenses (Chapter 5: Section 2, Lesson 7) and
Verb Tense Shifts (Chapter 5: Section 2, Lesson 9).

There’s an exception, though. Of course, you need to take into account the context when you’re writing. For
instance, assuming that you’re tutoring a student who’s writing a narrative and you need some details about
his/her experience, then you’ll need to use the past tense.

If, however, you’re tutoring a student who’s writing a literary analysis and you need some details about the
actual events or parts of the literature or the text, then you’ll need to use the literary present tense as well.

In the following sentences, fill the blanks with appropriate verbs in their appropriate tense. Use a different
font color except for red for your answers.

1. There are several comma splices in your draft.

2. Let’s look at how you write your first body paragraph: First, the government does not get anything
right.

3. At the end of your introduction, you wrote the following details: I ran on a treadmill, indoor track,
outdoor track, or just anywhere outdoors. The once unbearable exercise routine became easy, and I
learned to crave the feeling of a great run. These sentences are somewhat misleading because you
do not discuss the indoor track or “just anywhere outdoors” in your body paragraphs, and you
discuss a more specific feeling in your final body paragraph.

4. In your essay, you explain your points in separate paragraphs. That strategy helps your readers
easily follow the reasons why you are against net neutrality.

5. Your introduction needs background information about your topic.

6. Kirsten, you mention exercise-induced asthma in your introduction, but you do not discuss it much in
your body paragraphs.

7. You use some confusing key terminologies throughout this essay, and this problem makes it difficult
for readers to understand your main and supporting ideas.

8. During the critical moments of your narrative, you did a great job of explaining your feelings. In your
third body paragraph, for example, you showed your reaction when you received the message from
the scholarship program advisor.
 9. You gave some very thoughtful advice on the steps one must consider when applying for a job. I
particularly found your advice on actually applying for the job—contacting the resource manager,
taking steps to help him/her remember you, and emphasizing the company culture in your cover
letter—very helpful. These are important steps that are often overlooked by applicants!

10. In this part of your work, you claim that free internet access is the leading reason behind the
increasing number of fake social media accounts. This claim is weak because you do not support it
with evidence.

/6 NON-COUNT NOUNS: Generally, noncount nouns cannot be pluralized (i.e. WRONG: evidences,
informations, dialogues, punctuations, etc.). Hence, instead, quantifiers must be used to indicate their
plural form. Here are some helpful lessons on this topic:

(1) Count and Noncount Nouns (Chapter 5: Section 2, Lesson 2)

(2) http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/noncountnoun.htm

(3) http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/noncount.htm

Note: Be sure to also use the correct articles and/or determiners in each of your sentences.

● Write 2 sentences that use “evidence,” one for the singular context and one for the plural context.

1. Singular: You have to have evidence to accuse someone of a crime.

2. Plural: The pieces of evidence all point to him being the culprit.

● Write 2 sentences that use “information,” one for the singular context and one for the plural
context.

1. Singular: I need information that can support my claims.

2. Plural: You should be careful about what sources of information you use.

● Write 2 sentences that use “punctuation,” one for the singular context and one for the plural
context.

1. Singular: You need to practice proper punctuation.

2. Plural: There are many different kinds of punctuation marks.

/5 PRONOUN REFERENCE: Every pronoun you write should refer clearly and unmistakably to ONE
PARTICULAR noun, which is called the antecedent. So, when you write your lessons, be sure to avoid vague
pronoun references. You may refer to this lesson for reference: https://webapps.towson.edu/ows/proref.htm.
For your exercise, read each sentence below that contains faulty pronoun reference. Highlight the vague
pronoun. Then, rewrite each sentence, correcting the faulty reference.

1.  Ella cried and seemed genuinely repentant.  This impressed the parole board.

Revision: Ella cried and seemed genuinely repentant. Her repentance impressed the parole board.

2.  At the Naval Academy, they all wear uniforms.

Revision:At the Naval Academy, students all wear uniforms.

3.  It says in the paper that the governor's top aide is quitting because of the scandal.

Revision: The paper says that the governor’s top aide is quitting because of the scandal.

4.  I was late for class again this morning, which embarrassed me.

Revision:My being late for class again this morning embarrassed me.
5.  Carol insisted on telling everyone about the error.  This annoyed Frank.

Revision: Carol’s insistence on telling everyone about the error annoyed Frank.