DESCRIPTIVE GRAMMAR - MOCK EXAM
TASK ONE: Draw the phrase-markers illustrating the structure of the following:
Our goalkeeper lost a new pair of gloves in a pub.
Usually noun phrase and verb phrase make a full sentence.
a really interesting theory of syntax
TASK TWO: Label the following as parts of speech and sentence elements:
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Part of speech |
Sentence element |
I like dancing on the table. |
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Many people attended the meeting. |
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She's afraid of spiders. |
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Start writing when you are ready. |
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They made me wait for two hours. |
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That I passed the test is pretty surprising. |
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I considered him a genius. |
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I made him a cup of tea. |
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This exercise is much too easy for me. |
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Next week we'll be able to relax. |
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TASK THREE: Mark the sentences TRUE or FALSE
The scope of negation may or may not include the meaning of the auxiliary itself.
Negation is usually formed by inserting not between the operator and the predicate.
Seldom is a negative form.
All phrases are omissible.
A phrase is a sequence of words that can function as a constituent in a sentence.
Subject is dependent on the predicate.
The sentence He is boring contains the same kind of copula as the sentence He becomes angry.
The sentence We started to scream contains Od which is to-inf clause.
TASK FOUR: Give an example of:
A question with mixed orientation.
A wh-question where the Q-element is an adverbial of time
A command with the first person subject
An exclamation where the X-element is a Cs
Passive with extraposition
A Cs which is a co-ordinate adjective phrase.
An indefinite pronoun
A non-finite clause
An echo question
Turn as a dynamic link verb.
A ditransitive prepositional verb
A predicative adjunct
An adjective modified by a degree adverb
An intransitive verb with an obligatory adverbial
A modifier which follows the head
TASK FIVE: Complete the sentences to make true statements about English:
What questions and negative statements have in common is…………………………………………….
Scope and focus of negation are interrelated because……………………………………………………
Determiners are modifiers although……………………………………………………………………...
Uncountable nouns cannot combine with………………………………………………………………..
Only……...………………………………………………………………………….can be co-ordinated.
TASK SIX: Choose the most suitable answer:
The sentence Wasn't it a marvelous concert! is:
an exclamatory question. c) an exclamation
both a) and c) d) a yes/no question with positive orientation.
An exclamation where the X-element is the subject is for instance:
What a horrible person! c) What a horrible person he is !
What a horrible person arrived yesterday! d) What a horrible person I met yesterday!
In a prepositional phrase, the preposition is:
always modified by NP c) usually modified by NP
always complemented by NP d) usually complemented by NP
To prove that the hidden subject of a command is `you' we need to:
make it negative c) add a question tag
make it passive d) use a reciprocal pronoun
EXTRA PRACTICE - TASK ONE: Find the error and explain the grammatical mechanism behind it Four is not always equalled by two plus two…
I don't have nothing to eat.
Students are seemed to be doing their best.
She looked beautifully in that dress.
EXTRA PRACTICE - TASK TWO: Mark ALL true statements:
In the sentence They found her an excellent lawyer the underlined part may be:
direct object c) indirect object
subject complement d) object complement
In the sentence He bought himself a shiny new car the underlined part is:
direct object c) indirect object
subject complement d) noun phrase
A command with a third person subject is for instance:
Let everybody pray for inspiration. c) He must never be late again!
Somebody help me with this! d) John, close he door behind you!
Non-assertive forms:
be subjects in sentences c) combine with each other
be adverbials in sentences d) combine with negative forms
Adjectives can be modified by:
adverbs c) non-finite clauses
other adjectives d) nouns
EXTRA PRACTICE - TASK THREE
Odd one out. Cross out the element that doesn't fit and label the remaining ones:
grow seem turn become ………………………
smell look see grow ………………………
live in the country get into the car write a test go home ……………...
the some him my ………………………
by air my essay rather ugly run fast ………………………
Agent Smith idea keyboard card ………………………
extremely badly rather quite ………………………