Answers to Grammar Drills

Nouns and Pronouns

Nouns name a person, place, thing or idea.
Pronouns are used in place of nouns, for example: he, him, it, you.
(Circle) the nouns in the following passage, and underline the pronouns.

From John 3:1-3

Now there was a (man) of the (Pharisees), named (Nicodemus), a (ruler) of the (Jews). This (man) came to (Jesus) by (night) and said to him, "(Rabbi), we know that you are a (teacher) come from (God); for no one can do these (signs) that you do, unless (God) is with him." (Jesus) answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the (kingdom) of (God)."

Verbs

Verbs tell of action or being.
Circle the action verbs, and underline the verbs that show being, for example: be, is and are.

From Mark 12:28-32

And one of the scribes (came) up and (heard) them disputing* with one another, and seeing that he (answered) them well, (asked)him, "Which commandment is the first of all?" Jesus (answered,) "The first is, '(Hear), O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you (shall love) the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You (shall love)** your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

And the scribe (said)to him, "You are right, Teacher; you (have truly said)** that he is one, and there is no other but he."

*disputing and seeing are participles. (Participles are adjectives that modify nouns or pronouns.)

**include helping verbs with the action verb that they help for this exercise

Adverbs

Adverbs modify a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.
Underline the adverbs.

From John 13:21, 27, 30

When Jesus had thus spoken, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, "Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me."

Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly."

So after receiving the morsel, he immediately went out; and it was night.

Adjectives

Adjectives modify nouns.
Underline the adjectives in the passage

From Psalm 19:7-9

The law of the LORD is perfect, (reviving the soul;)

the testimony of the LORD is sure, (making wise the simple*);

the precepts of the LORD are right, (rejoicing the heart;)

the commandment of the LORD is pure, (enlightening the eyes;)

the fear of the LORD is clean, (enduring for ever;)

the ordinances of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.

*the simple is used as a noun here

**For extra credit, have the students (circle) the participial phrases. (Participles and Participial phrases act as adjectives to modify nouns and pronouns.)

Prepositions

Prepositions show the relation of a noun or pronoun to another word in the sentence.
Underline the prepositions.

From Matthew 13:31-33

Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.

Conjunctions

Conjunctions are joining words like and, or, and but.
Underline the conjunctions in the passage:

From John 1:1-4

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Subject and Predicate

Circle the complete subject
Underline the predicates in this passage

From Proverbs 10:1-4

(A wise son) makes a glad father,

but (a foolish son) is a sorrow to his mother.

(Treasures gained by wickedness) do not profit,

but (righteousness) delivers from death.

(The LORD) does not let the righteous go hungry,

but (he) thwarts the craving of the wicked.

(A slack hand) causes poverty,

but (the hand of the diligent) makes rich.

Capitalization

Capitalize the first word of a sentence and the proper names of people and places.
Underline all the letters that should be capitalized in this passage:

From Luke 2:1-5

in those days a decree went out from caesar augustus that all the world should be enrolled. this was the first enrollment, when quirinius was governor of syria. and all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. and joseph also went up from galillee, from the city of nazareth, to judea, to the city of david, which is called bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of david, to be enrolled with mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

Grammar Drill #1

(Circle) the nouns in the sentence.
Underline the verbs.
Put a [square] around the adjective.
Color the subjects of sentences and clauses + red.
Color the prepositions* green.
Color the object of the prepositions ~ purple.

From Hebrews 11:1-3

Now (faith)+ is the (assurance) of* (things)~ hoped for, the (conviction) of* (things)~ not seen. For by* (it)~ the (men)+ of* (old)~ received [divine] (approval). By* (faith)~ (we)+ understand that the (world)+ was created by* the (word)~ of* (God,)~ so that (what is seen)+ was made out of* (things)~ which do not appear.

*Green, +Red, ~Purple

Grammar Drill #2

(Circle) the nouns in the sentence.
Underline the verbs.
Put a [square] around the adjectives.
Color the subject +red.
Color the direct object >blue. (Some sentences do not contain direct objects.)
Color the prepositions *green.
Color the object of the preposition ~purple.

There are two adverbs. Find them and put a &ampersand over them.

+(Father) sees a [funny] >(bird) *in the (park).

+(Heather) plays the [blue] >(piano) *at (school).

+(Alexie) saves the [lost] >(dogs) *from the (dog catcher).

+(Duncan) &quickly climbs the [tall] >(tree) *by the (fence).

+(Andrew) eats [chocolate] >(ice cream) *for his (birthday).

+(David) &happily plays *with the [little] (legos).

[Little] +(Grace) smiles *at the (shadows) *on the (wall).

+(Mother) bakes [banana] >(cakes) and [blueberry] >(pies) *in the (kitchen).

*Green, +Red, ~Purple, >Blue