HOC N G C PHAP TIENG A N H

PHirONG PHAP M(3I

GRAMMAR
In Plain English
Danh cho hoc vien luyen thi B
va hoc vien trinh do C

Harriet Diamond, M.A.

and
Phyllis Dutwin, M.A.

Nguyen Trung Tanh

DAI H O C n u O C G I A H^NOI
TRUNGT.V.!T,-;GNGTiN.Tli^ViEI^

V.,AMMM>

NHA XUAT BAN THANH PHO HO C H I MINH

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 6
Effective Use of This Book: with Sample Questions 8
Test-Taking Tips 11
1. The Simplest Complete Thought 13
What You've Always Known: The Sentence Pattern of Performer
and Action 13
Recognizing Complete and Incomplete Thoughts 17
Action Words: Special Problems 21
ANSWER KEY 30
2. Performer and Action: Understanding Time and Number 32
Understanding Time 32
Understanding Number 34
ANSWER KEY 42
3. Adding Descriptive Words 43
Descriptive Words: Adding Meaning 43
Descriptive Words: Special Problems 47
ANSWER KEY 50
4. Using Descriptive Words Correctly 51
Descriptive Words: Using Comparisons 52
ANSWER KEY 56
5. Adding Descriptive Phrases 57
Descriptive Phrases: Adding Meaning 57
Descriptive Phrases: Correct Placement 61
ANSWER KEY 65
6. Cumulative Review 67
Practice Exercises
Performer and Action: Agreement in Number 67
Action Words: Agreement in Time 67
Correct Use of Descriptive Words 67
SUMMARY OF RESULTS 75
SKILLS ANALYSIS 76
ANSWER KEY 77
7. Linking Words 78
The Flink Is Pretty: The Subject Is Being, not Doing 78
Subject and Linking Word: Agreement in Number 84
The Missing Link(ing Word) 89
ANSWER KEY 91
8. Agreement: Special Problems 93
Rules Concerning Special Problems of Agreement 94
ANSWER KEY 103

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 9. T i m e : S p e c i a l P r o b t e i ^ ^M-^rf>* 106
Common Misuses'of Has and Hafe 107
C^ommon Misuses of Had 109
Common Misuses of Will Have 111
Common Errors Regarding Simultaneous Actions 113
ANSWER KEY 119
10 P r o n o u n s 122
(lues lo Pronoun Usage 124
WSWER KEY 1.36
11 C u m u l a t i v e R e v i e w 138
Practice Exercises
Agreement in Time and Number 138
Correct Use of Descriptive Words and Phrases 138
Recognizing (.Complete and Incomplete Thoughts 138
Special Problems in Agreement 138
Special Problems in Time 138
Correct Use of Pronouns 138
SUMMARY OF RESULTS 146
SKILLS ANALYSIS 146
ANSWER klY 148
12 B a l a n c e d S e n t e n c e s / C o o r d i n a t e d T h o u g h t s 149
Balanced Sentences 150
Coordinated Ihoughts 157
ANSWER KEY 166
13. P u n c t u a t i o n 168
i:nd Marks 168
Commas 169
Friendly and Business Letters 171
Semicolons 175
ANSWER KEY 180
14. C u m u l a t i v e R e v i e w 182
Practice Exercises
Balanced Sentences 182
Coordinated Thoughts 182
Correct Sentence Structure 182
Punctuation That Affects Sentence Stniclure 182
SUMMARY OF RESULTS 192
SKILLS ANALYSIS 193
ANSWER KEY 194
15 Effective E x p r e s s i o n 19S
Sr>leand Clarity 195
Problems with l-ogic 203
ANSWER KEY 206
 16. M o r e P u n c t u a t i o n C^-k^JUwn C- 208
Quotation Marks 208
Common Errors with Quotation Marks 210
Other Marks of Punctuation 212
A N S W E R KEY 221
17. C a p i U l i z a t i o n 223
Survey Test 225
A N S W E R KEY 231
18. S p e l l i n g 233
Building Blocks of Words: Consonants, Vowels. Syllables 234
Adding to Words 235
Rules Concerning Spelling 235
The Role of Accent Marks 238
Spelling Review 243
Commonly Misspelled Words 252
A N S W E R KEY 257
19. W o r d U s a g e 260
Commonly Misused Words 261
A N S W E R KEY 285
20. C u m u l a t i v e R e v i e w 286
Practice Exercises
Effective Expression 286
Punctuation 286
Capitalization 286
Spelling 286
Word Usage 286
SUMMARY OF RESULTS 302
SKILLS ANALYSIS 302
A N S W E R KEY 304
21. Writing Skills: Essays 307
Strong Sentences 308
Well-Developed Paragraphs 312
Successful Essays 316
More Writing Skills: Letters and Memoranda 325
A N S W E R KEY 336
22. Practice Examination 342
Writing Skills Test, Pan I 342
Writing Skills Test, Pari II 366
A N S W E R KEY 367
G u i d e to G r a m m a t i c a l T e r m s 368

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