Parenthetical Expression Quiz
You can do this quiz online or print it on paper. It covers grammar and punctuation explained on our Parenthetical
Expression page.
1. A parenthetical expression is a word or words that
add details to a sentence
are essential to a sentence
2. A parenthetical expression doesn’t change a sentence’s basic
punctuation or length
structure or meaning
3. If a parenthetical expression is cut from a sentence, the sentence
won’t make sense
will still make sense
4. "Global temperatures, as expected, are rising." The parenthetical expression is
as expected
are rising
5. In Question 4 above, which shows where the parenthetic begins and ends?
a set of quotation marks
a pair of commas
6. Which can separate a mid-sentence parenthetic from the rest of a sentence?
commas, round brackets or long dashes
commas, semi-colons or quotation marks
7. Which sentence includes a parenthetical expression?
The traffic’s terrible, as usual.
It isn’t always this bad, is it?
8. "She likes him very much – or so it seems." Which is the parenthetical expression?
very much
or so it seems
9. Which includes a correctly-punctuated parenthetical expression?
Rock music (or rock-n-roll) began in America.
Rock music, or rock-n-roll – began in America.
10. "Trump – as we all now know – won the election." Without the parenthetic, the sentence is
as we all now know
Trump won the election
1. add details to a sentence
2. structure or meaning
3. will still make sense
4. as expected
5. a pair of commas
6. commas, round brackets or long dashes
7. The traffic’s terrible, as usual.
8. or so it seems
9. Rock music (or rock-n-roll) began in America.
10. Trump won the election
Complete the following sentences using an appropriate transitional adverb (conjunctive adverb).
1. Vegetables are rich sources of vitamins and antioxidants and ……………… eating vegetables is essential for good
health.
since
as
hence
2. ‘The last bus has gone.’ ‘………………….., we are going to have to walk.’
Therefore
As
Then
3. ………………… the starter, I thought the meal was nice.
Apart from
Besides
In addition
4. I bought that car. It looked good and, ………………….., it was reasonably priced.
besides
moreover
5. Studies seem to suggest that bright blue and bright yellow are the most visible and ………………….. the safest
colors for vehicles.
therefore
also
6. You had better mend your ways; ………………….., you will land in serious trouble.
hence
otherwise
7. She didn’t leave her husband ………………….. the fact that he had cheated on her.
however
although
despite
8. ………………….. each individual is unique in many ways, members of the same species share many common
characteristics.
Despite
Although
However
9. They have recruited more people and …………………. the service has improved
as result
as consequence
consequently
10. I was not confident of winning. …………………, I decided to give it a try.
So
Nevertheless
Although
Answers
1. Vegetables are rich sources of vitamins and antioxidants and henceeating vegetables is essential for good health.
2. ‘The last bus has gone.’ ‘Then, we are going to have to walk.’
3. Apart from the starter, I thought the meal was nice.
4. I bought that car. It looked good and, moreover, it was reasonably priced.
5. Studies seem to suggest that bright blue and bright yellow are the most visible and therefore the safest colors for
vehicles.
6. You had better mend your ways; otherwise, you will land in serious trouble.
7. She didn’t leave her husband despite the fact that he had cheated on her.
8. Although each individual is unique in many ways, members of the same species share many common characteristics.
9. They have recruited more people and consequently the service has improved
10. I was not confident of winning. Nevertheless, I decided to give it a try.
Conjunctions are words used to connect two clauses. There are mainly two types of conjunctions – coordinating
conjunctions and subordinating conjunctions.
Complete the following sentences using an appropriate coordinating conjunction.
1. They were poor, ………………. often suffered great hardship.
and
but
2. He overslept himself …………………. thus missed the train.
and
but
3. That coat cannot be mine, ……………… it is too big for me.
and
but
for
4. As a boy he had never been to school, and ………………….. he had no opportunity of learning to read and write.
therefore
for
yet
5. This must not happen again, ……………… you will be dismissed.
or
but
and
6. He is rich, ………………. he is not happy.
and
therefore
but
7. Hurry up, ……………….. you will be late.
and
or
yet
8. He must have done his duty, ……………….. he is a conscientious man.
for
so
therefore
9. He tried hard, ………………. he did not succeed.
but
and
so
10. The parents were horrified ………………. they saw blood stains on the floor and no sign of their child.
therefore
for
so
Answers
1. They were poor, and often suffered great hardship.
2. He overslept himself and thus missed the train.
3. That coat cannot be mine, for it is too big for me.
4. As a boy he had never been to school, and therefore he had no opportunity of learning to read and write.
5. This must not happen again, or you will be dismissed.
6. He is rich, yet he is not happy.
7. Hurry up, or else you will be late.
8. He must have done his duty, for he is a conscientious man.
9. He tried hard, but he did not succeed.
10. The parents were horrified for they saw blood stains on the floor and no sign of their child.
A subordinating conjunction connects a dependent clause to an independent clause.
Complete the following sentences using appropriate subordinating conjunctions.
[when, while, where, though, although, till, before, unless, as, after, because, if, that, since]
1. We were happy ………………. we received the first prize.
because
if
before
2. The people were listening eagerly ……………….. the leader was speaking.
since
while
after
3. This is the place ………………. we were attacked.
when
where
while
4. ………………… he worked hard, he failed.
Please select 2 correct answers
Although
Though
Even if
5. ...................... she is beautiful, she is not intelligent.
Though
As
Because
6. You wait here ……………. I come.
unless
until
before
7. She will not come …………….. we compel her.
if
unless
whether
8. There was a silence ……………….. the guests had gone.
until
after
whether
9. She began to cry ………………… she had lost her golden chain.
whether
because
if
10. ..................... you work hard, you will get the first prize.
If
Unless
Whether
11. She became angry …………………. I had said anything.
before
as
when
Answers
1. We were happy when we received the first prize.
2. The people were listening eagerly while the leader was speaking.
3. This is the place where we were attacked.
4. Although he worked hard, he failed.
5. Though she is beautiful, she is not intelligent.
6. You wait here till I come.
7. She will not come unless we compel her.
8. There was a silence after the guests had gone.
9. She began to cry because she had lost her golden chain.
10. If you work hard, you will get the first prize.
11. She became angry before I had said anything.
