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Grade 9 · English Language Arts · Unit 7 of 8

Grammar & Style

Punctuation, agreement and register

What your child practises

Semicolons, colons, dashes, commas and apostrophes, subject-verb agreement, pronoun case, misplaced modifiers, run-ons and fragments, and choosing a formal or informal register.

Alberta Curriculum learning outcome: General Outcome 4 · sentence structure, grammar and punctuation

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Which sentence uses the active voice?

    • The committee approved the plan.
    • The plan has been approved.
    • The plan was approved by the committee.
    • The plan was approved.
    Show answer

    The committee approved the plan.

    Hint: In active voice, the subject (the committee) does the action.

  2. Question 2

    Which sentence uses a dash correctly for emphasis?

    • She — had only one goal to win.
    • She had — only one goal to win.
    • She had only — one goal to win.
    • She had only one goal — to win.
    Show answer

    She had only one goal — to win.

    Hint: A dash can set off a strong, emphasized addition.

  3. Question 3

    Which sentence uses a colon correctly?

    • You will: need three things a pencil, an eraser and paper.
    • You will need three things: a pencil, an eraser and paper.
    • You will need three things a pencil: an eraser and paper.
    • You will need: a pencil, an eraser and paper.
    Show answer

    You will need three things: a pencil, an eraser and paper.

    Hint: A colon follows a complete statement and introduces a list.

  4. Question 4

    Which sentence has a misplaced modifier?

    • Walking down the street, the trees looked beautiful.
    • I walked down the street and admired the trees.
    • The trees looked beautiful as I walked down the street.
    • Walking down the street, I thought the trees looked beautiful.
    Show answer

    Walking down the street, the trees looked beautiful.

    Hint: The trees aren't walking. The modifier should be next to “I.”

  5. Question 5

    Which is a complete sentence?

    • When the rain stopped, and we.
    • Although the rain stopped.
    • Although the rain stopped, we stayed inside.
    • Because we stayed inside.
    Show answer

    Although the rain stopped, we stayed inside.

    Hint: A complete sentence needs an independent clause. “Although the rain stopped” alone is a fragment.

  6. Question 6

    Which sentence has parallel structure?

    • She enjoys painting, hiking and cooking.
    • She enjoys to paint, hiking and cook.
    • She enjoys painting, hiking and to cook.
    • She enjoys painting, to hike and cooking.
    Show answer

    She enjoys painting, hiking and cooking.

    Hint: List items in the same form: painting, hiking, cooking.

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