english and language usage - bladen community college

ENGLISH AND LANGUAGE USAGE

PREP SESSION FOR THE TEAS

The objectives for the English and language usage section of the TEAS are organized

in three categories.

Conventions of standard English 9 questions

Knowledge of language 9 questions

Vocabulary acquisition 6 questions

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

“AURAL” AND “ORAL”?

I BEFORE E

I before E Except after C Sounding like A Exceptions

achieve conceive their caffeine

belief deceive reign neither

chief perceive vein weird

DROP THE FINAL E

Suffix beginning with a

vowel

Suffix beginning with a

consonant

Exceptions

guide + ance = guidance derange + ment =

derangement

due + ly duly

hide + ing = hiding like + ly = likely peace + able =

peaceable

titrate + ing = titrating like + ness = likeness true + ly = truly

DOUBLE THE FINAL CONSONANT

Conditions met Conditions not met On the fence

admit + ed =

admitted

loop + ing = looping travel + ing =

traveling, travelling

bat + ed = batted light + ed = lighted cancel + ed =

canceled, cancelled

stop + ing = stopping visit + ed = visited

CHANGE THE FINAL “Y” TO “I”

Conditions met Vowel before “Y” Suffix begins with “I” Exceptions

beauty + ful =

beautiful

Annoy + ance =

annoyance

Apply + ing =

applying

Memory + ize =

memorize

merry + ment =

merriment

Lay + ing = laying Decay + ing =

decaying

Day + ly = daily

pacify + ed =

pacified

Stay + ed =

stayed

Spy + ing = spying

PUNCTUATION PUNCTUATION IS LIKE A SYSTEM OF ROAD SIGNS FOR WRITTEN

LANGUAGE.

PRACTICE PROBLEMS

1. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLES IS A CORRECTLY PUNCTUATED COMPOUND

SENTENCE?

A. I’VE BEEN RUNNING ALL OVER TOWN; BUT NOW IT’S TIME FOR ME TO RELAX.

B. I PLAN ON TAKING IT EASY FOR THE REST OF THE DAY AND NO ONE HAS ANY CAUSE TO

BOTHER ME.

C. PERHAPS I’LL SEE IF THE SPA IS OPEN, AND IF MY FAVORITE MASSEUSE IS AVAILABLE.

D. GETTING A MASSAGE WOULD BE FANTASTICALLY RELAXING, AND I FEEL THAT I’VE EARNED IT

TODAY.

OPTION D IS CORRECT. THIS SENTENCE INCLUDES TWO

INDEPENDENT CLAUSES, AND IT IS CORRECTLY PUNCTUATED

BY INCLUDING A COMMA BEFORE THE CONJUNCTION.

KNOWLEDGE OF LANGUAGE

USE GRAMMAR TO ENHANCE CLARITY IN WRITING.

KEY TERMS

DICTION

AN INCOMPLETE SENTENCE

FRAGMENT

A VERB FOR AN ITEM THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED

PERFECTIVE

SPECIFIC RULES FOR USING LANGUAGE AND GRAMMAR

PRESCRIPTIVE GRAMMAR

A VERB THAT SHOWS SOMETHING IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING

PROGRESSIVE

A SENTENCE WITH EXTRA PARTS NOT JOINED PROPERLY

RUN-ON SENTENCE

PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE TIMES

TENSE

WORDS THAT LINK OR INTRODUCE IDEAS

TRANSITION WORD

MATCHING LIKE NUMBERS OF SUBJECTS AND VERBS; SINGULAR WITH SINGULAR, PLURAL WITH PLURAL.

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

MATCHING LIKE NUMBERS OF PRONOUNS AND THEIR ANTECEDENTS; SINGULAR WITH SINGULAR, PLURAL

WITH PLURAL.

PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT

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