Common Core: 8th Grade English Language Arts : English Grammar and Usage in Writing and Speaking: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.8.1

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Common Core: 8th Grade English Language Arts

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All Common Core: 8th Grade English Language Arts Resources

1 Diagnostic Test 54 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Example Questions

Example Question #6 : Use Indicative, Imperative, Interrogative, Conditional, And Subjunctive Verbs: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.8.1.C

Choose which answer choice best expresses the underlined portion of the following sentence. If the original sentence is the best choice, select “NO CHANGE.”

The young prince knew that if he is king, he would mandate that no child in the kingdom goes hungry.

Possible Answers:

was king, he mandated that no child in the kingdom would have gone

were king, he would mandate that no child in the kingdom go

was king, he would have mandated that no child in the kingdom went

NO CHANGE

Correct answer:

were king, he would mandate that no child in the kingdom go

Explanation:

The correct answer uses the subjunctive mood at the beginning of the answer choice and the imperative mood at the end.  Because the prince is talking about a conditional event that hasn’t happened (and might not), we use the subjunctive “if he were king.”  And because the phrase “mandate that…” calls for the imperative mood, we use “mandate that no child go” hungry.

 

 

Example Question #32 : Language

Choose which answer choice best expresses the underlined portion of the following sentence. If the original sentence is the best choice, select “NO CHANGE.”

Every Saturday afternoon, Ruthie calls her grandfather to tell him about the results of her soccer game.

Possible Answers:

is calling

NO CHANGE

call

will have called

Correct answer:

NO CHANGE

Explanation:

This sentence doesn’t feature any conditional events that would trigger the subjunctive mood or commands that would require the imperative mood, so the indicative mood “Ruthie calls” is the appropriate use of the verb. Note that “is calling” is a current, temporary event and that is an inappropriate use given that this is an event that happens every Saturday, not just “now, in the moment” as the “is + ing” form would indicate. 

 

 

Example Question #7 : Use Indicative, Imperative, Interrogative, Conditional, And Subjunctive Verbs: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.8.1.C

Choose which answer choice best expresses the underlined portion of the following sentence. If the original sentence is the best choice, select “NO CHANGE.”

While disappointed that he didn’t make the varsity team, Michael knew deep down that if he practiced harder over the summer he gave himself a better chance.

Possible Answers:

he had practiced harder over the summer, he had given

NO CHANGE

he had practiced harder over the summer, he would have given

he would have practiced harder over the summer, he gave

Correct answer:

he would have practiced harder over the summer, he gave

Explanation:

In this conditional event in the past, the past subjunctive form “if he had practiced harder” sets up the proper verb usage to be followed by the past conditional “he would have given himself.”  Note that since we know that Michael did not practice harder last summer - we’re presented with the conditional “if” to start that idea - the verbs “he gave” and “he had given” are illogical as those give the meaning that those outcomes did happen, when we know that they did not.

 

 

Example Question #8 : Use Indicative, Imperative, Interrogative, Conditional, And Subjunctive Verbs: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.8.1.C

Choose which answer choice best expresses the underlined portion of the following sentence. If the original sentence is the best choice, select “NO CHANGE.”

In the class I took last year, my teacher required that I included a bibliography with every report I turned in.

Possible Answers:

will include

had to include

NO CHANGE

include

Correct answer:

include

Explanation:

The use of the phrase “my teacher required that” calls for the imperative mood here, and the imperative mood uses the infinitive (“to include”) form of the verb, minus “to.”  So the proper verb here is “that I include.”  Note that “will include” improperly shifts the verb tense in addition to botching the imperative mood form - this class took place last year, so a future tense is illogical.  And “had to include” is redundant, as “my teacher required” already denotes that the inclusion of a bibliography is something that had to happen.

 

Example Question #31 : English Grammar And Usage In Writing And Speaking: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.8.1

Choose which answer choice best expresses the underlined portion of the following sentence. If the original sentence is the best choice, select “NO CHANGE.”

It was a beautiful day at the lake - and a lucky one too. Jim cast his fishing rod into the water and within minutes a fish was caught.

Possible Answers:

NO CHANGE

Jim cast his fishing rod into the water and within minutes he caught a fish.

Jim’s fishing rod was cast into the water and within minutes a fish was caught.

Jim cast his fishing rod into the water and within minutes fish were being caught.

Correct answer:

Jim cast his fishing rod into the water and within minutes he caught a fish.

Explanation:

Answer: "Jim cast his fishing rod into the water and within minutes he caught a fish."  The original sentence mixes the active voice (“Jim cast his fishing rod into the water” with the passive voice (“a fish was caught”). This sets up an unclear meaning - do we really know that “a fish was caught” means that Jim caught it?  Or did Jim cast his rod and someone else caught a fish? The correct answer uses the active voice for both verbs of the sentence: Jim cast his rod and Jim caught the fish. This makes it crystal clear what happened in the sentence.

 

Example Question #2 : Identify And Correct Incorrect Shifts In Verb Voice And Mood: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.8.1.D

Choose which answer choice best expresses the underlined portion of the following sentence. If the original sentence is the best choice, select “NO CHANGE.”

The student handbook mandates that students wear appropriate clothing to school and are abiding by the honor code, which prohibits cheating on tests and copying others’ homework assignments.

Possible Answers:

abide

they are abiding

should be abiding

NO CHANGE

Correct answer:

abide

Explanation:

Answer: “abide”  The sentence uses the imperative mood - the verb form that commands - to say that the student handbook mandates two things. Because of that, you should connect both verbs mandated by the handbook to the phrase “the handbook mandates that students ______”  The handbook mandates that students wear appropriate clothing. And the handbook mandates that students abide by certain rules. Note that the -ing form of the verb suggests that that is ongoing, but the mandate really conveys the idea that this is a command for all times, not a temporary, current action.

 

Example Question #3 : Identify And Correct Incorrect Shifts In Verb Voice And Mood: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.8.1.D

Select the answer choice that corrects the underlined portion of the following sentence:

Since starting high school last month, Priyanka has been learning French and took Geometry.

Possible Answers:

Priyanka learned French and is taking Geometry.

Priyanka has been learning French and will take Geometry.

Priyanka will learn French and take Geometry.

Priyanka has been learning French and taking Geometry.

Correct answer:

Priyanka has been learning French and taking Geometry.

Explanation:

Answer: Priyanka has been learning French and taking Geometry. Notice that this sentence talks about what has happened since Priyanka started high school a month ago. The word “since” suggests that the events started recently and are still going on, and the fact that she only started school a month ago means that it is quite unlikely she has already finished learning French or taking Geometry. And the fact that both events have been occurring in the same short timeframe suggests that they should be in the same tense.  The “started recently and is still ongoing” tense is the present perfect continuous tense, constructed by has been + an -ing verb.  Therefore “Priyanka has been learning French and taking Geometry” is correct.  Note, also, that “will learn” or “will take” does not match with the time signal of “since starting high school” which means that the action started in the past, but “will” means that it will begin in the future.

 

Example Question #4 : Identify And Correct Incorrect Shifts In Verb Voice And Mood: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.8.1.D

Choose which answer choice best expresses the underlined portion of the following sentence. If the original sentence is the best choice, select “NO CHANGE.”

 Allyson started so quickly and was running so swiftly that a record time was recorded in the 100-meter dash.

Possible Answers:

was running so swiftly that she recorded a record time

ran so swiftly that a record time was recorded

NO CHANGE

ran so swiftly that she recorded a record time

Correct answer:

ran so swiftly that she recorded a record time

Explanation:

 

 

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Answer: “ran so swiftly that she recorded a record time”  Two choices in this problem use the passive voice “a record time was recorded” but notice that the passive voice does not directly assign the record time to Allyson. “a record time was recorded” could mean that anyone in the race set a record, leaving it unclear what really happened. And notice, also, that since the record time occurred in the past (either “was recorded” or “she recorded”), the simple past tense “ran so swiftly” is the most efficient way to say what happened - and it is the same tense as “started so quickly.”  The correct answer will use the simple past tense “ran so swiftly” and the active voice “she recorded a record time” to create a logical sequence of events and a clear meaning as to who set the record.

 

 

Example Question #5 : Identify And Correct Incorrect Shifts In Verb Voice And Mood: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.8.1.D

Choose which answer choice best expresses the underlined portion of the following sentence. If the original sentence is the best choice, select “NO CHANGE.”

A new law requires drivers to use headlights even during daylight and they should wear seat belts at all times.

Possible Answers:

should use headlights even during daylight hours and wear seat belts

NO CHANGE

who are using headlights even during daylight hours they should wear seat belts

to use headlights even during daylight hours and wear seat belts

to be using headlights even during daylight hours and they need to wear seat belts

Correct answer:

to use headlights even during daylight hours and wear seat belts

Explanation:

 

 

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Answer: “to use headlights even during daylight hours and wear seat belts.” This sentence uses the imperative mood - the verb form that makes commands to say that drivers are required to do two things: 1) use headlights and 2) wear seat belts. The imperative mood uses a command (such as “requires”) plus the infinitive form of the verb (e.g. “to use”), minus the word “to.”  So you would say that “the law requires drivers to use headlights” or “the law requires drivers to wear seat belts.”  Since the law requires both things, you need “the law requires drivers to use...and wear” and only one sentence has that.  The choices that include “should” or “need to” do so redundantly and incorrectly: you wouldn’t say “the law requires drivers they need to wear” because “need to” or “should” is already conveyed by the word “requires.”

 

 

Example Question #6 : Identify And Correct Incorrect Shifts In Verb Voice And Mood: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.8.1.D

Which of the following sentences contains an improper shift in verb tense?

Possible Answers:

Last week, Jeff started walking to school instead of taking the bus, and he plans to keep doing so for the rest of the school year.

Last month, Carlton began doing his own laundry and will start flossing his teeth after every meal.

Last Friday, Phil ate two full lunches and felt sick for the entire afternoon.

Last year, Will increased his grades from mostly Bs to straight As, so next year he will be attending his dream college.

Correct answer:

Last month, Carlton began doing his own laundry and will start flossing his teeth after every meal.

Explanation:

Answer: Last month, Carlton began doing his own laundry and will start flossing his teeth after every meal. In this sentence, the modifier “last month” applies to every action in the sentence, so the shift from the past tense “began” to the future tense “will start flossing” does not get the timeline right. “Will start flossing” cannot take place in the past.  Notice that the sentences about Will and Jeff take active steps to properly shift to the future: in the sentence about Will, the word “so” sets up a cause and effect situation: because Will increased his grades in the past, the result is that he will be able to go to his dream school in the future. And in the sentence about Jeff, the shift from past to future follows the same action: Jeff started an action (walking to school) and plans to keep doing that action.  In both of those sentences, also, the pronoun “he” begins a new clause (“he will be attending” and “he plans to keep doing so”) which also sets up a new timeframe.  With the sentence about Carlton, there is no pronoun to reintroduce Carlton in a new context.  

 

 

All Common Core: 8th Grade English Language Arts Resources

1 Diagnostic Test 54 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept
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