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Syntax Introduction

Think you know your stuff? CLICK HERE to quiz yourself.

Syntax may sound like a diabolical super-villain sent from the future to destroy all mankind, but it actually refers to the rules that we use to create vibrant, concise, easy-to-understand sentences.

Close enough.

We know what you're thinking. "Rules? Ha! I don't follow the rules." We appreciate your renegade spirit, Shmooper. We really do. But understanding syntax is what lets you make meaningful sentences, convey ideas, and achieve your purpose as a writer extraordinaire.

So why not rebel against confusing sentences instead? You'll be armed with the knowledge of modifiers, parallelism, active voice vs. passive voice, wordiness, idioms, and point-of-view… and maybe a really cool outfit.

Quiz Yourself on Syntax

1/5

Identify the sentence that uses active voice.

(A) On the first of the month, the country was invaded and all their chocolate was stolen.
(B) If you were to be loved by someone like me, then you would experience what life as a princess would be like.
(C) I was running away from the wolf when I found a huge castle made of candy in the middle of the forest.
(D) Our baby hamsters are being taken care of by my sister's boyfriend, who is an aspiring veterinarian.

Your teacher returns your paper on A Christmas Carol with "Don't modify absolutes!" written at the top. Which sentence is she referring to?

I. Scrooge was the inspiration for Dr. Seuss' Grinch.

II. Marley was deader than a doornail.

III. The Christmas Carol teaches us an extremely excellent lesson about the true meaning of Christmas

IV. The Ghost of Christmas Past gave me nightmares.

(A) I
(B) II, IV
(C) III
(D) II, III

Choose the option that would most improve the following statement.


We have many tasks to complete if we are to be ready for this carnival on time. Barnum, please go ahead and start spinning the cotton candy. Bailey, take the cats out on their afternoon walk, but be careful not to upset Lucy the Lioness. She's been acting up lately and swatting at her tamer.


(A) Plug in the word going after we are.
(B) Delete the words go ahead and.
(C) Substitute out for up in the last sentence.
(D) None of the above.

Which of these sentences is in the passive voice?

I. The field mice multiplied rapidly when the farmer left the door to his grain silo open.

II. There were so many that the local supply store ran out of mousetraps.

III. The townspeople decided to fine the farmer and forced all farmers in the area to install automatically shutting doors on their grain silos.

(A) I
(B) I and II
(C) II and III
(D) None

Can you name the error in this sentence?


Having seen Werner Herzog's videos on texting and driving, my phone will stay in the back seat from now on.


wordiness
(B) dangling modifier
(C) faulty parallelism
(D) misplaced comma

Here are your results. Want to give it another go?
Click TRY AGAIN for a new quiz. Or click NEXT to get to studying.

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