ATI TEAS 6 English & Language Study Guide

To be verbs
Am, is, are

'Person, place, thing, animal, idea, or feeling' are examples of what?
Nouns

What are the 3 types of verbs?
Action verbs - Passive verbs - Linking verbs

What type of word modifies nouns and pronouns, primarily by describing a particular quality of the word they are modifying?
Adjectives

What type of word or phrase modifies an adjective, verb, or another adverb, expressing a relation of place, time, circumstance, manner, cause, degree, etc. (e.g., gently, quite, then, there ).
Adverbs

'In, out, around, about' are examples of what kind of phrases?
Prepositional phrases

What is a string of two or more words, with a subject and a verb?
Clauses

Ex. When the saints go marching in

Ex. Obediah Simpson is uglier than a rabid raccoon.

What is a string of two or more words, that do not have a subject and a verb?

Phrase
Ex. because of her glittering smile

Ex. broken into thousands of pieces

What is used to separate a quotation from interrupting text?
Comma

'The (definite)' and 'A & an (indefinite)' are examples of what kind of adjectives?
Articles

First person
Point of view:
Subjective

Singular: I
Plural: We

Second person
Point of view:
Singular: Mom can you grab the keys

Plural: Everyone needs to raise their
hand if they have a question

What is used between a title and sub-title of a book?
Colon

Third person
Point of view:
'He, she, or it'

Objective

What joins two or more words or phrases?
Coordinating conjunctions

'For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so'

What joins two or more clauses?
Subordinating conjunction

'Because, though, although, as, as if, when, while'

What is the term for making a noun from a verb, adverb, or adjective?
Nominalization

What kind of verb shows an action performed by the subject of the sentence?
Active verb

Ex. Sheila and tom take a walk in the park

What kind of verb is past tense?
Passive verb

Ex. Was cooked. Was seen.

Sentence: Definition
In his wood working he used a type of file known as a rasp

Sentence: Description
Allen is malcontent

Sentence: Example
The menu listed such delicacies as frog legs, snails, etc.

Sentence: Synonym
The ophthalmologist, or eye doctor told me to wear these

Sentence: Antonym
Unlike life in the country, henderson was a quaint existence

Parenthetical expressions should be offset by what?
Comma

What kind of sentence explains how two items are similar?
Sentence: Comparison

Sentence: Contrast
Emphasizes the differences rather than the similarities.

Sentence: Explanation
He was awarded a degree posthumously; He died a month before graduation

What precedes conjunctive adverbs?
Semi colon

What is added to the beginning of the word to modify it?
Prefix

What is added to the end of the word to modify it?
Suffix

What is the root meaning of the word?
Root word

What type of sentence contains only one clause, and has complete meaning (independent clause)?
Simple sentence
Ex. Some students like to study in the mornings.

Ex. Alicia goes to the library and studies every day.

What type of sentence is usually given at the beginning of the paragraph?
Topic sentence

Periodic sentence
This type of sentence he meaning of the sentence isn't revealed until the end, usually in the form of an independent clause

Independent clause
A group of words that contain a subject and a verb, and expresses a complete thought

Dependent clause
A group of words that contain a subject and a verb, and does not contain a complete thought

Cumulative sentence
The independent clause is at the beginning of a sentence

Ex. He dipped his hands in the bichloride solution and shook them--a quick shake, fingers down, like the fingers of a pianist above the keys

ie
'I' before 'e' except after 'c' or in words like neighbor and weigh

Suffixed for words ending in 'e'
Word ends in silent 'e', added suffix begins with vowel, drop the letter 'e' when adding the suffix: age+ing=aging

Word ends in silent 'e', added suffix begins with consonant, keep the letter when adding suffix: awe+some=awesome

Suffixed for words ending in 'y'
If word ends with a 'y' preceded by a vowel, keep the 'y' when adding the suffix: Annoy+ance=annoyance

If a word ends with a 'y' precede by a consonant drop the y when adding a suffix: Carry+ed=carried

Suffixes for words ending in a consonant-vowel-consanant pattern (CVC)
If a word ends with a CVC then double the final consanant: Bag+age = Baggage

If a word has more than one syllable, and the accent is on the last syllable, double the final consanant before adding the suffix: allot+ed = allotted

Prefix: un
Not: unarmed

Prefix: re
Again: Readjust

Prefix: in
Not: Invisible

Prefix: dis
Not: disorganized

Suffix: ia, y
State or condition: amnesia, democracy

Suffix: ic, ical, ac
Having to do with: physical, cardiac, endoscopic

Suffix: ism
Belief in: activism

Suffix: ology
The study of: archeology

Suffix: or, er
one who takes part in: conductor, fighter

Root: arch
Ruler: tetrarch

What is placed between two independent clauses, if the latter clause expands on the former clause?
Colon

What is placed between two related independent clauses?
Semicolon

Root: audio
Sound: audiovisual

Root: bio
Life: biochemistry

Root: chrom
Color: monochrome

Root: geo
Earth: geode

Root: graph
Written: biographic

Root: morph
Form: morphine

Root: ortho
Correct: unorthodox

Root: ped
Foot: millipede

Root: terra
Earth: terrace

Root: therma
Heat: exothermal

Nonrestrictive phrases and clauses
Groups of words that don't contain information that is necessary to interpreting the meaning of the sentence

Should be offset by commas

Ex. Jack Smith, who studied drama in New York City, was ideal.

Random comma rules
Separate quotations from text: 'Yo', dad exclaimed

When an independent clause preceeds a dependent clause: Some of us could not spend it more foolishly, If time were gold.

Separate city from state: Las Vegas, NV

Semicolon rules
Placed between two related independent clauses

Precede conjuctive adverbs: However, therefore

When a sentence contains a series of elements that contain one or more commas, the division between the elements should be a semicolon

Colon Rules
Herald something that is to immediatly follow an independent clause: this usually comes in the form of a list

Pronoun: Nominative
I, you, he, she, it, we, they

Pronoun: Objective
me, you, him, her, it, us, them

Pronoun: Possessive
my, mine, your, your's, his, her, her's, it's, our, ours, their, theirs

Suffixes for words ending in 'C'
If a word ends in 'c' and the suffix is a 'e', 'i', or 'y', then the letter 'k' should be inserted

Ex. colic+y= colicky; mimic+ed= mimicked

What should follow the salutation of an informal letter?
Comma

Ex. Dear Mom,

Words ending in -ceed
Emceed, exceed, proceed, succeed

Words ending in -sede
Supersede

Words end in -cede
Accede, antecede, concede, intercede, recede, retrocede

Words ending in -able
If the root word is a complete word add the suffix -able.

Ex. avail+able= available

If the root word ends in 'e' drop the 'e' before adding -able

Ex. love+able= lovable

Words ending in -ible
If the root word isn't a complete word ad -ible

Ex. aud+ible= audible

Words ending in -ance, -ancy, -ant
If the suffix is proceeded by a hard 'c' or 'g' then add the suffix

Ex. Extravagant, elegance, vacancy

Words ending in -ence, -ency, -ent
If the suffix is proceeded by a soft 'c' or 'g' then add the suffix

Absence, agency, emergent

Words ending in -tion and -sion
If the word ends in 't' -tion can be added

If the word ends in 's' -sion can be added

Distraction, regression

Words ending in -cian
If a word names a person then it should end in -cian

Physician, technician, musician

Homophones: Affect and Effect
Affect (verb): To have an effect on

Effect (noun): Something that is brought about by a cause

Homophones: Ascent and Assent
Ascent (noun): A slope that angles upwards

Assent (noun): Agreement

Homophones: All ready and Already
All ready (adjective): Everyone or everything is ready

Already (adverb): By this time

What should be used to herald something, that is to immediately follow an independent clause?
Colon

Homophones: All together and Altogether
All together (adjective): Everyone in a group

Altogether (adverb): Entirely, completely

Homophones: Altar and Alter
Altar (noun): A structure used in worship

Alter (verb): To change

Homophones: Bear and Bare
Bear (verb): To carry or support

Bare: (verb): To expose

Homophones: Capital and Capitol
Capital (noun): A leading or governing city

Capitol (noun): A building that houses the states lawmakers

Homophones: Cite and Site
Cite (verb): To use as an example, to quote

Site (noun): A location

Homophones: Complement and Compliment
Complement (noun): An element that completes

Compliment (noun): A remark of appreciation

When a sentence contains a series of elements that contain one or more commas, what Divides the elements?
Semicolon

Homophones: Council and Counsel
Council (noun): A body of people assembled for advice

Counsel (noun): Advice

Homophones: Descent and Dissent
Descent (noun): A slope that angels downward

Dissent (noun): Disagreement

What should separate a city from a state?
Comma

Homophones: Dying and Dyeing
Dying (verb): Ceasing to live

Dyeing (verb): Coloring a fabric

Homophones: Forth and Fourth
Forth (adverb): Forward in place or time

Fourth (noun): The element in a series that is after the 3rd

Homophones: Principal and Principle
Principal (noun): Chief or Leader

Principle (noun): A belief or rule of conduct

What should follow a salutation of an informal letter?
Colon

Homophones: Stationary and Stationery
Stationary (adjective): Not moving
Stationery (noun): Paper for writing letters

Homophones: Their, They're, and there
Their (adjective): Belonging to them

They're: Contraction of 'they are'

There (adjective): In that place

Introductory words (yes and no) should be separated by what?
Comma

Ex. 'Yes, sir'

Homophones: To, Too, and Two
To (preposition): Indicates movement or intent

Too (adverb): Also

Two (adjective): Something that has two units

Homophones: Whose and Who's
Whose (adjective): Belonging to whom

Who's: Contraction of 'who is'

Homophones: Your and You're
Your (adjective): Belonging to you

You're: Contraction of you are

Capitalization
Geographical locations
Cardinal directions
Historical documents and events Nationalities, races, and religions Monuments, ships, and planes
Proper names and titles of rank
Showing family relationship (when they stand alone or are followed by a personal name)
Main words or titles of books poems, plays, etc.
Deities
The first word of a quotation
Names of seasons if they are personified

Ellipses
Used to suggest hesitation, attempt to conceal something, unfinished thought, or difficulty expressing oneself

When a dependent clause precedes an independent clause in a complex sentence; What should separate the two?
A comma

If a word does not fit entirely on a line what is place to separate the word?
Hyphen

If compound numbers function as adjective, what separates them?
Hyphen

What is used to join a prefix and a proper adjective or noun?
Hyphen

Words that need to be hyphenated
Self-sufficient

Self-esteem

What encloses supplementary or explanatory material that interrupts the main sentence?
Parentheses

When should a period be added in the parenthesis?
If the material in the parenthesis is a complete sentence that is not located within another sentence

What is used to enclose chapters, articles, and short stories, songs, plays, etc?
Quotation marks

What is used to enclose technical terms or slang?
Quotation marks

What is used when making a quotation inside of a quotation?
Single quotes

What do you add to a noun or indefinite pronoun (that doesn't end in 's') to form a possessive case?
Apostrophe

Ex. The boy's cat was stuck in the tree.

How do you form a possessive case of a plural noun that ends in an 's'?
Apostrophe

Ex. The tree's look beautiful

Apostrophes are used in certain expression of time
A week's vacation

How do you pluralize letters, numbers, and words?
Apostrophe

Ex. Dot your i's and cross your t's; 4's; no if's and's or but's about it

How do you show omission of letters or numbers as in contractions or dates?
Apostrophe

Ex. '05; can't

Where are commas used within dates?
They separate two textual or two numerical elements

Ex. Saturday, January 14, 2031

Parenthetical expressions
Expressions that are not really part of the main idea of the sentence, or that interrupt the main sentence.

Ex. The tortoise, as far as we know, likes eating lettuce

Appositives
Renames a noun in another part of the sentence

Ex. Our teacher, Paul, will be online later today

Words of direct address
Uses the names of the people to whom you are speaking, or it may use other words which take the place of the actual names

Ex. Boys, are you ready to go? (boys)

'Who'
A subject pronoun, in reference to people

Performer of the action

Tip: Who=He

Ex. Who threw the ball?

'Whom'
An object pronoun, in reference to people.

The receiver of the action.

Tip: Whom=Him

Ex. Jim threw the ball to whom?

'That' and 'Which'
That= people and things

Which= things

Direct object
Bob and Mitch played soccer last night.

1. Find the action verb= played
2. Find the subject= Bob and Mitch
3. Who/What (Direct object)= soccer

Indirect object
The Cook baked the children cookies.

1. Find the action verb= baked
2. Find the subject= The Cook
3. Who/What (Direct object)= cookies
4. To/For whom (Indirect object)= children

Conjunctive adverbs
Adverbs that act like conjunctions; therefore they connect the information in two clauses or sentences.

Common Noun
Name general people, animals, places, and things

Ex. Firefighter, City, Mountain

Proper Nouns
Name specific People, animals, places, and things.

They always begin with a capital letter.

Ex. John, New York, Mt. Rushmore

Compound adjectives
Two or more words that are modifying or limiting a noun.

Ex. Follow the step-by-step instructions.

Indefinite Pronoun
They don't refer to anything or anyone specific (vague).

Ex. They

Direct Dialogue
When you quote, exactly, directly, what a person said.

Antecedents
A noun that existed before a pronoun

Action Verbs
Present tense

Ex. Sheila and Tom are walking in the park

Conjunctive adverbs
Furthermore, accordingly, indeed, nonetheless