Language & Vocabulary — Problem set, Grade 6
Build strong, clear sentences, master the punctuation and conventions that make writing look polished, unlock the meaning of unfamiliar words with context clues and word parts, and explore the figurative language and word relationships that give English its color.
Review the key ideas
Grammar & Sentence Structure
Clear sentences depend on choosing the right pronoun for its job (with a clear antecedent), knowing an independent clause from a dependent one, and catching the two big errors — fragments and run-ons.
Punctuation & Conventions
Set off nonessential information with a matching pair of commas, parentheses, or dashes (chosen for how much emphasis you want), capitalize proper nouns, spell carefully, and keep verb tense consistent.
Context Clues & Word-Solving
To unlock an unfamiliar word, first mine the sentence for context clues, then break the word into its root and affixes, and finally confirm your meaning with a dictionary or thesaurus.
Figurative Language & Word Relationships
Figurative language (like personification and idioms) means more than the literal words; word relationships and analogies reveal how words connect; and a word's connotation — the feeling it carries — can differ sharply from its plain denotation.
Problem 1
Answer and explanation
Corrected: 'Diego and I finished the project, and then Diego told Sam that Diego had done most of the work.' The first fix uses the subject pronoun 'I' (and puts 'Diego' first); the second replaces the vague 'he' with the name so the reader knows exactly who did the work.
Corrected: 'Diego and I finished the project, and then Diego told Sam that Diego had done most of the work.' The first fix uses the subject pronoun 'I' (and puts 'Diego' first); the second replaces the vague 'he' with the name so the reader knows exactly who did the work.
Response criteria
- Answer the actual question with accurate details.
- Explain how the evidence or language choice supports the conclusion.
- State a relevant limit, alternative or justified revision.
Problem 2
Answer and explanation
In the first case, Corrected: 'Diego and I finished the project, and then Diego told Sam that Diego had done most of the work.' The first fix uses the subject pronoun 'I' (and puts 'Diego' first); the second replaces the vague 'he' with the name so the reader knows exactly who did the work. In the changed case, Because the doors closed, Ren waited for the bus. The dependent clause cannot stand alone here. The doors closed, and Ren waited outside. Two independent clauses need a suitable boundary; a comma alone would not join them. The method of defining the relationship and testing relevant evidence transfers; the particular source detail and scope must be checked anew.
In the first case, Corrected: 'Diego and I finished the project, and then Diego told Sam that Diego had done most of the work.' The first fix uses the subject pronoun 'I' (and puts 'Diego' first); the second replaces the vague 'he' with the name so the reader knows exactly who did the work. In the changed case, Because the doors closed, Ren waited for the bus. The dependent clause cannot stand alone here. The doors closed, and Ren waited outside. Two independent clauses need a suitable boundary; a comma alone would not join them. The method of defining the relationship and testing relevant evidence transfers; the particular source detail and scope must be checked anew.
Response criteria
- Answer the actual question with accurate details.
- Explain how the evidence or language choice supports the conclusion.
- State a relevant limit, alternative or justified revision.
Problem 3
Answer and explanation
'The old oak tree, which my grandfather planted, still shades the whole yard.' A pair of commas sets off the nonessential clause, and remembering the second comma (after 'planted') is the key.
'The old oak tree, which my grandfather planted, still shades the whole yard.' A pair of commas sets off the nonessential clause, and remembering the second comma (after 'planted') is the key.
Response criteria
- Answer the actual question with accurate details.
- Explain how the evidence or language choice supports the conclusion.
- State a relevant limit, alternative or justified revision.
Problem 4
Answer and explanation
In the first case, 'The old oak tree, which my grandfather planted, still shades the whole yard.' A pair of commas sets off the nonessential clause, and remembering the second comma (after 'planted') is the key. In the changed case, Jo asked, “Can we add one more line?” Ren nodded, then put the pencil down. The question mark belongs to the spoken question. The second sentence names Ren as the actor; other grammatical versions are possible if the meaning stays clear. The method of defining the relationship and testing relevant evidence transfers; the particular source detail and scope must be checked anew.
In the first case, 'The old oak tree, which my grandfather planted, still shades the whole yard.' A pair of commas sets off the nonessential clause, and remembering the second comma (after 'planted') is the key. In the changed case, Jo asked, “Can we add one more line?” Ren nodded, then put the pencil down. The question mark belongs to the spoken question. The second sentence names Ren as the actor; other grammatical versions are possible if the meaning stays clear. The method of defining the relationship and testing relevant evidence transfers; the particular source detail and scope must be checked anew.
Response criteria
- Answer the actual question with accurate details.
- Explain how the evidence or language choice supports the conclusion.
- State a relevant limit, alternative or justified revision.
Problem 5
Answer and explanation
'Meticulous' means very careful and precise about details. The main clue is a contrast clue (signaled by 'Unlike'), backed up by the examples of lining up pencils and double-checking answers.
'Meticulous' means very careful and precise about details. The main clue is a contrast clue (signaled by 'Unlike'), backed up by the examples of lining up pencils and double-checking answers.
Response criteria
- Answer the actual question with accurate details.
- Explain how the evidence or language choice supports the conclusion.
- State a relevant limit, alternative or justified revision.
Problem 6
Answer and explanation
In the first case, 'Meticulous' means very careful and precise about details. The main clue is a contrast clue (signaled by 'Unlike'), backed up by the examples of lining up pencils and double-checking answers. In the changed case, Impassable means unable to be passed through in this sentence. The blocking branch supplies the context, and im- plus passable supports the inference. Substituting pleasant would contradict the stated obstacle. The method of defining the relationship and testing relevant evidence transfers; the particular source detail and scope must be checked anew.
In the first case, 'Meticulous' means very careful and precise about details. The main clue is a contrast clue (signaled by 'Unlike'), backed up by the examples of lining up pencils and double-checking answers. In the changed case, Impassable means unable to be passed through in this sentence. The blocking branch supplies the context, and im- plus passable supports the inference. Substituting pleasant would contradict the stated obstacle. The method of defining the relationship and testing relevant evidence transfers; the particular source detail and scope must be checked anew.
Response criteria
- Answer the actual question with accurate details.
- Explain how the evidence or language choice supports the conclusion.
- State a relevant limit, alternative or justified revision.
Problem 7
Answer and explanation
(1) Personification — the thunder is described as if it can grumble like a grumpy person. (2) An idiom — 'broke the ice' means Priya eased the awkwardness of the new student joining, not that she shattered any real ice.
(1) Personification — the thunder is described as if it can grumble like a grumpy person. (2) An idiom — 'broke the ice' means Priya eased the awkwardness of the new student joining, not that she shattered any real ice.
Response criteria
- Answer the actual question with accurate details.
- Explain how the evidence or language choice supports the conclusion.
- State a relevant limit, alternative or justified revision.
Problem 8
Answer and explanation
In the first case, (1) Personification — the thunder is described as if it can grumble like a grumpy person. (2) An idiom — 'broke the ice' means Priya eased the awkwardness of the new student joining, not that she shattered any real ice. In the changed case, The first is a metaphor and the second a simile. Both compare the list’s restriction of access with a gate. The word like marks the comparison; neither sentence proves the rule is always harmful or that the sheet is literally a gate. The method of defining the relationship and testing relevant evidence transfers; the particular source detail and scope must be checked anew.
In the first case, (1) Personification — the thunder is described as if it can grumble like a grumpy person. (2) An idiom — 'broke the ice' means Priya eased the awkwardness of the new student joining, not that she shattered any real ice. In the changed case, The first is a metaphor and the second a simile. Both compare the list’s restriction of access with a gate. The word like marks the comparison; neither sentence proves the rule is always harmful or that the sheet is literally a gate. The method of defining the relationship and testing relevant evidence transfers; the particular source detail and scope must be checked anew.
Response criteria
- Answer the actual question with accurate details.
- Explain how the evidence or language choice supports the conclusion.
- State a relevant limit, alternative or justified revision.