Grade 8 Grammar & Style worksheet
from Gradelings · Name: ______________________
How to explain it
- Active voice: the subject acts. Passive voice: the subject receives the action. Active is usually clearer.
- Put commas around extra information: “My brother, who lives in Kelowna, is visiting.”
- Check usage: whose (owner) vs. who’s (who is), its vs. it’s. Keep list items parallel.
Example: “___ coat is on the hook?” Whose or Who’s? Try “who is”: “Who is coat” doesn’t make sense. The question asks about an owner. Answer: Whose
Question 1
Which sentence uses “less” or “fewer” correctly?
- There is fewer apples in the bowl.
- There is less water in the jug.
- There is fewer water in the jug.
- There are less apples in the bowl.
There is less water in the jug.
Hint: Use “fewer” for things you can count (apples) and “less” for amounts you can't count (water).
Question 2
Rewrite in the active voice: “The cake was eaten by Mei.”
- Mei ate the cake.
- The cake was Mei's.
- Eating was done by Mei.
- The cake ate Mei.
Mei ate the cake.
Hint: Active voice puts the doer first: Mei (doer) ate (action) the cake.
Question 3
Which is a complete sentence?
- After the bell rang.
- Running down the hall.
- Because we were late.
- After the bell rang, we left.
After the bell rang, we left.
Hint: A complete sentence has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.
Question 4
Which sentence has a subject-verb agreement error?
- The list of rules are posted on the door.
- The list of rules is posted on the door.
- The rules are posted on the door.
- Each rule is posted on the door.
The list of rules are posted on the door.
Hint: The subject is “list” (singular), so the verb should be “is.”
Question 5
Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
- I wanted to go; however, it was raining.
- I wanted to go however; it was raining.
- I wanted; to go however it was raining.
- I wanted to go; but it was raining.
I wanted to go; however, it was raining.
Hint: A semicolon can join two related complete sentences, often before a word like “however.”
Question 6
In “Walking to school, Ravi found a wallet,” what is “Walking to school”?
- A noun
- A conjunction
- A participial phrase
- A complete sentence
A participial phrase
Hint: A phrase that begins with an -ing verb form and describes a noun is a participial phrase.
Question 7
Which sentence punctuates an appositive correctly?
- Ms. Chen our principal, welcomed us.
- Ms. Chen, our principal, welcomed us.
- Ms. Chen—our principal, welcomed us.
- Ms. Chen, our principal welcomed us.
Ms. Chen, our principal, welcomed us.
Hint: Set off an appositive (extra renaming information) with a comma before and after.
Question 8
Which sentence is in the past perfect tense?
- She finished her essay at dinner.
- She will finish her essay soon.
- She had finished her essay before dinner.
- She is finishing her essay now.
She had finished her essay before dinner.
Hint: Past perfect uses “had” plus a past participle for an action completed before another.
Question 9
Choose the correct word: “__ coat is on the hook?”
- Who's
- Whose
- Whose's
- Whos
Whose
Hint: “Whose” asks about ownership. “Who's” means “who is.”
Question 10
Which sentence is correct?
- Mei and me went to the park.
- Myself and Mei went to the park.
- Me and Mei went to the park.
- Mei and I went to the park.
Mei and I went to the park.
Hint: Use “I” when it is part of the subject. Try it alone: “I went to the park.”
Answer key
- 1. There is less water in the jug.
- 2. Mei ate the cake.
- 3. After the bell rang, we left.
- 4. The list of rules are posted on the door.
- 5. I wanted to go; however, it was raining.
- 6. A participial phrase
- 7. Ms. Chen, our principal, welcomed us.
- 8. She had finished her essay before dinner.
- 9. Whose
- 10. Mei and I went to the park.
Want more than 10 questions?
In Gradelings the questions change every time and adjust to your child, with hints and kind feedback.