English & Language Usage (125 Questions) Flashcards
(125 cards)
1
Q
What is a simple sentence?
A
Contains one independent clause
2
Q
What is a compound sentence?
A
Contains two or more independent clauses joined by a conjunction
3
Q
What is a complex sentence?
A
Contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause
4
Q
What is a compound-complex sentence?
A
Contains multiple independent clauses and at least one dependent clause
5
Q
What is a dependent clause?
A
A clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence
6
Q
What is an independent clause?
A
A clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence
7
Q
What is a subordinating conjunction?
A
A word that introduces a dependent clause (because, although, when, etc.)
8
Q
What is a coordinating conjunction?
A
Words that join equal elements (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
9
Q
What is a correlative conjunction?
A
Paired conjunctions (either…or, neither…nor, both…and)
10
Q
What is the difference between “lay” and “lie”?
A
“Lay” requires a direct object; “lie” does not
11
Q
What is the past participle of “drink”?
A
Drunk
12
Q
What is the past tense of “swim”?
A
Swam
13
Q
What is the difference between “bring” and “take”?
A
“Bring” is toward the speaker; “take” is away from the speaker
14
Q
What is the difference between “can” and “may”?
A
“Can” indicates ability; “may” indicates permission
15
Q
What is the subjunctive mood used for?
A
Expressing wishes, hypotheticals, or contrary-to-fact statements
16
Q
When do you use “were” instead of “was”?
A
In subjunctive mood (If I were you…)
17
Q
What is the difference between “will” and “would”?
A
“Will” is future tense; “would” is conditional
18
Q
What is the difference between “shall” and “will”?
A
“Shall” is formal/legal; “will” is common future
19
Q
What is an auxiliary verb?
A
A helping verb (be, have, do, will, would, can, could, etc.)
20
Q
What is a modal verb?
A
Verbs expressing possibility, necessity, or ability (can, must, should, etc.)
21
Q
What is the difference between “each other” and “one another”?
A
“Each other” for two; “one another” for more than two
22
Q
What is the difference between “among” and “between”?
A
“Between” for two; “among” for more than two
23
Q
What is the difference between “into” and “in to”?
A
“Into” shows movement; “in to” are separate words
24
Q
What is the difference between “onto” and “on to”?
A
“Onto” shows movement; “on to” are separate words
25
What is the difference between "everyday" and "every day"?
"Everyday" is an adjective; "every day" means daily
26
What is the difference between "sometime" and "some time"?
"Sometime" means at some point; "some time" means duration
27
What is the difference between "anyone" and "any one"?
"Anyone" means any person; "any one" means any single item
28
What is the rule for using apostrophes with possessives?
Add 's to singular nouns; add ' to plural nouns ending in s
29
How do you make a word ending in 's' possessive?
Add 's (James's) or just ' (James') - both acceptable
30
What is the difference between "its" and "it's"?
"Its" is possessive; "it's" means "it is"
31
What is the difference between "whose" and "who's"?
"Whose" is possessive; "who's" means "who is"
32
When do you use a comma before "and"?
In a series (Oxford comma) and before coordinating conjunctions in compound sentences
33
What is the Oxford comma?
The comma before "and" in a series (red, white, and blue)
34
When do you use a semicolon?
Between independent clauses or in complex lists
35
When do you use a colon?
Before lists, explanations, or quotations
36
What is the rule for commas with quotations?
Commas and periods go inside quotation marks
37
Where do question marks go with quotations?
Inside if part of the quote; outside if not
38
What is the difference between a dash and a hyphen?
Dash (—) separates ideas; hyphen (-) joins words
39
When do you use hyphens?
In compound adjectives before nouns and compound numbers
40
What is the rule for capitalizing titles?
Capitalize major words; lowercase articles, prepositions, and conjunctions (unless first/last)
41
When do you capitalize directions?
When they refer to specific regions (the South) not general directions (go south)
42
What is the difference between "imply" and "infer"?
"Imply" means to suggest; "infer" means to deduce
43
What is the difference between "emigrate" and "immigrate"?
"Emigrate" means to leave; "immigrate" means to enter
44
What is the difference between "historic" and "historical"?
"Historic" means significant; "historical" means relating to history
45
What is the difference between "economic" and "economical"?
"Economic" relates to economy; "economical" means cost-effective
46
What is the difference between "disinterested" and "uninterested"?
"Disinterested" means impartial; "uninterested" means not interested
47
What is the difference between "continuous" and "continual"?
"Continuous" means without interruption; "continual" means repeated
48
What is the difference between "assure," "ensure," and "insure"?
"Assure" means to promise; "ensure" means to make certain; "insure" means to protect financially
49
What is the difference between "allusion" and "illusion"?
"Allusion" is a reference; "illusion" is a false perception
50
What is the difference between "elicit" and "illicit"?
"Elicit" means to draw out; "illicit" means illegal
51
What is the difference between "flaunt" and "flout"?
"Flaunt" means to show off; "flout" means to disregard
52
What is parallel structure?
Using the same grammatical form for similar elements
53
What is an example of faulty parallelism?
"I like swimming, running, and to bike" (should be "swimming, running, and biking")
54
What is a split infinitive?
Placing an adverb between "to" and the verb ("to boldly go")
55
What is a dangling participle?
A participle that doesn't clearly modify the intended noun
56
What is redundancy in writing?
Unnecessary repetition of ideas or words
57
What is wordiness?
Using more words than necessary
58
What is conciseness?
Expressing ideas clearly and briefly
59
What is clarity in writing?
Making meaning easily understood
60
What is coherence in writing?
Logical connection between ideas
61
What is unity in writing?
All parts support the main idea
62
What is emphasis in writing?
Highlighting important ideas
63
What is variety in writing?
Using different sentence structures and lengths
64
What is formal register?
Language appropriate for academic or professional contexts
65
What is informal register?
Language appropriate for casual contexts
66
What is jargon?
Specialized language of a particular field
67
What is slang?
Very informal language used by specific groups
68
What is colloquialism?
Informal expressions used in everyday speech
69
What is dialect?
Regional or social variety of language
70
What is connotation?
The implied or suggested meaning of a word
71
What is denotation?
The literal, dictionary meaning of a word
72
What is euphemism?
A mild expression substituted for a harsh one
73
What is a cliché?
An overused expression that has lost impact
74
What is an idiom?
An expression with meaning different from literal words
75
What is figurative language?
Language that uses figures of speech for effect
76
What is literal language?
Language that means exactly what it says
77
What is ambiguity?
Having more than one possible meaning
78
What is precision in word choice?
Using exact words that convey intended meaning
79
What is appropriateness in language?
Using language suitable for the context and audience
80
What is standard English?
The form of English taught in schools and used in formal contexts
81
What is nonstandard English?
Varieties of English that differ from standard forms
82
What is syntax?
The arrangement of words to form sentences
83
What is diction?
Word choice and usage
84
What is style in writing?
The distinctive way an author uses language
85
What is voice in writing?
The personality or character that comes through in writing
86
What is revision?
Making large-scale changes to improve content and organization
87
What is editing?
Making smaller changes to improve grammar, punctuation, and mechanics
88
What is proofreading?
Final check for errors before publishing
89
What is brainstorming?
Generating ideas without judgment
90
What is outlining?
Organizing ideas in a structured format
91
What is drafting?
Writing the first version of a text
92
What is peer review?
Having others evaluate and provide feedback on writing
93
What is self-assessment?
Evaluating your own work
94
What is audience awareness?
Considering who will read your writing
95
What is purpose in writing?
The reason for writing (to inform, persuade, entertain, etc.)
96
What is context in communication?
The circumstances surrounding the communication
97
What is medium in communication?
The method used to deliver a message
98
What is feedback in communication?
Response from the receiver to the sender
99
What is active listening?
Fully concentrating on and understanding the speaker
100
What is nonverbal communication?
Communication without words (gestures, facial expressions, etc.)
101
What is verbal communication?
Communication using spoken or written words
102
What is interpersonal communication?
Communication between individuals
103
What is mass communication?
Communication to large audiences through media
104
What is digital communication?
Communication using digital technologies
105
What is visual communication?
Communication using visual elements
106
What is rhetoric?
The art of effective communication and persuasion
107
What are the three rhetorical appeals?
Ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), logos (logic)
108
What is ethos?
Appeal based on the speaker's credibility and character
109
What is pathos?
Appeal based on emotions
110
What is logos?
Appeal based on logic and reasoning
111
What is kairos?
The opportune time for an argument
112
What is a rhetorical question?
A question asked for effect, not expecting an answer
113
What is repetition in rhetoric?
Repeating words or phrases for emphasis
114
What is anaphora?
Repetition of words at the beginning of successive clauses
115
What is chiasmus?
Reversal of grammatical structures in successive phrases
116
What is antithesis?
Contrasting ideas in balanced phrases
117
What is juxtaposition?
Placing contrasting elements side by side
118
What is parallelism in rhetoric?
Using similar structures for related ideas
119
What is climax in rhetoric?
Arranging ideas in order of increasing importance
120
What is anticlimax?
A disappointing end after a buildup
121
What is understatement?
Deliberately presenting something as less significant
122
What is overstatement?
Deliberately exaggerating for effect
123
What is satire?
Using humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize
124
What is parody?
Imitating a work or style for comic effect
125
What is allegory?
A story with hidden meaning or moral lesson
