Welcome to grammar day on Seriously Write. Ready to test your skills? The following sentences may contain grammar, punctuation, spelling, or other writing misdemeanors. Your job is to find the infraction and set it right. Try not to look at the answers below.
Have fun!
Sentences to correct:
1) Rain had nurished the pink geranuims and other plants growing in the yard. Reaching into the half basket hung in the entry-way to our front door where it was sheltered from the rain, I tested for dryness.
2) My fingers felt something solid and round. I wondered how a rock had found it’s way there. I lifted the object out of the basket to see not a rock; but a bird’s egg.
3) After unhooking the basket from the nail on the wall: I peared inside and discovered a nest built into the dirt and vegetation. I replaced the egg and several days later an additional egg lay cradled next to it.
4) Our yard has a number of tall trees; birch, cherry, and an asortment of evergreens. Large, beautiful floral baskets hang from the house. But, this bird decide to make a home in the smallest and simplest space available.
5) An unusual place but, sheltered from the eliments, as well as creatures who might harm the “family.” It met the need. God works that way. He doesn’t always provide in the way we think he would, should, or could. But, he always provides…
6) ‘Consider the ravens: They do not sew or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are then birds! (Luke 12:24 NIv)”
Corrected sentences:
1) Rain had nourished the pink geraniums and other plants growing in the yard. Reaching into the half basket hung in the entryway to our front door where it was sheltered from the elements, I tested for dryness.
2) My fingers felt something solid and round. I wondered how a rock had found its way there. I lifted the object out of the basket to see not a rock, but a bird’s egg.
3) After unhooking the basket from the nail on the wall, I peered inside and discovered a nest built into the dirt and vegetation. I replaced the egg, and several days later an additional egg lay cradled next to it.
Note: Two extra spaces were included between the words “built” and “into” in the first set of sentences.
Note: A comma should be included after the word “egg” in the second sentence because it includes independent clauses. An independent clause is a part of a sentence that can stand on its own as a complete sentence. If you put two together, and join them with a conjunction (and, but, or, etc.), separate them with a comma.
4) Our yard has a number of tall trees: birch, cherry, and an assortment of evergreens. Large, beautiful floral baskets hang from the house. But, this bird decided to make a home in the smallest and simplest space available.
5) An unusual place, but sheltered from the elements, as well as creatures who might harm the “family.” It met the need. God works that way. He doesn’t always provide in the way we think he would, should, or could. But, he always provides….
Note: In the first sentence, the comma comes before the word “but,” not after.
Note: If an ellipsis is going to be used at the end of the last sentence, four dots are used, indicating the sentence is grammatically complete. A period would work just as well.
6) “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” (Luke 12:24 NIV).
Note: There should be a double quotation mark at the beginning of the quote instead of a single.
Note: When a quotation comes at the end of a sentence, and it is a question or exclamation, that punctuation stays inside the quotation marks. Add a period after the closing parentheses.
How well did you do?
Like anyone else, I’m not perfect. I use The Chicago Manual of Style, The Christian Writers Manual of Style, and Webster’s Dictionary as my sources.
