Lesson #2--Exercise

I especially misinterpreted Rule No. 3 and 4 on this Exercise. Some of the following sentence rules are wrong.





1. After they took their baths,(9) Winnie sprinkled fairy dust on the elves(10) flying above the tub.
[Hint: Two rules and/or exceptions apply here. Is there an Introductory Clause here, or is that an Introductory Phrase? Secondly, who is flying--Winnie or the elves? Do elves fly? You are the author. You have to determine the meaning for your reader.]

2. On Bob's vacation(9x) he went to see Niagara Falls,(8) the Grand Canyon,(8) and the Comma Museum.
[Hint: Two rules and/or exceptions apply here. There is an Introductory Phrase here, but it starts with a preposition and is short, so do we need a comma after it? Secondly, there are a Series of things which Bob went to see.]

3. Pat,(5) who lives in Alabama,(5) finished her assignments(1xb) before she ate her chocolate-covered(4) jelly(4) beans.
[Hint: Three rules and/or exceptions apply here. Is it Essential that we know Pat lives in Alabama in order to understand the sentence? Secondly, is the conjunction in this compound sentence coordinating or subordinating? Thirdly, what kind of adjectives describe the beans?]

4. The playful(4) rat(4) terrier, Pancho,(5) ate Winnie's i-pod(7) that she just bought.
[Hint: Three rules and/or exceptions apply here. Are the adjectives describing the terrier equal in importance? Secondly, Winnie only has one playful rat terrier, so is it essential to know his name? Thirdly, what kind of clause is modifying the i-pod?]

5. I was born in the white(4) log(4) cabin(6) which sits on the top of the hill.
[Hint: Two rules and/or exceptions apply here. First, are the adjectives describing the cabin equal in importance? Can you switch the adjectives and still make sense? Secondly, is it Essential to know(6) which white log cabin we are talking about?]

6. Please put the plate,(5) smeared with Tina's birthday cake,(5) into the dishwasher(1xb) before it draws flies(8x) and stinks up the kitchen(8x) and attracts the gophers.
[Hint: Three rules and/or exceptions apply here. First, is it Essential that we know the plate we are talking about is the one smeared with Tina's birthday cake? Secondly, do we need a comma before the SUBORDINATING conjunction before? Thirdly, there are elements in a series present, but do we want to separate them with commas since each element is already separated with a conjunction?]

7. Tripping over his old,{3) blue,(3) rocking(4) chair,(9) Danny spilled his drink. Nevertheless,(11) he rose with dignity.
[Hint: Four rules and/or exceptions apply here. First of all, is there an Introduction to the sentence here? Is it a Clause or a Phrase? Secondly and thirdly, there are Adjectives describing the chair. By the way, the chair is not rocking in a motion. Are ALL the Adjectives equal in importance to the noun chair which they modify? Fourthly, does the word nevertheless create continuity from one sentence to the next? ]

8. Winnie's cheesecake,(10x) resting on her windowsill,(10x) has gopher(4) paw(4) prints all over it!
[Hint: Two rules and/or exceptions apply here. There is a Participial Phrase here, but it's not introductory, and it's not ending the sentence. It is in the middle of the sentence. So what rule number applies here? By the way, Winnie only has one cheesecake, so is it essential to know that it is the one resting on the windowsill? Secondly, there are Adjectives describing the prints. Are the Adjectives equal in importance?]

9. Dagnabit,(12) Cindy dropped her Comma Rule Book on Lucy's paw(1xd) and broke her little toe. So(11x) we rushed her to the vet.
[Hint: Three rules and/or exceptions apply here. Is there an expletive here? Secondly, do we need a comma before the coordinating conjunction and joining a clause and a phrase? Thirdly, in the second sentence, do we need a comma after the Introductory Transitional Word which happens to be a Coordinating Conjunction?]

10. Winnie‘s older brother who taught High School English for thirty years(6) refuses to help her grade these comma assignments.
[Hint: Only one rule and/or exceptions applies here. Winnie only has one older brother. So does anybody care that he taught for thirty years? Is that information essential?]