WorksheetsDiction & Syntax
Total questions: 42
Worksheet time: 42mins
What is diction?
the attitude, the feeling
word choice
different types of sentences and punctuation
tells your story
What is syntax?
Dictionary definition of a word
Arrangements of word in a sentence
Tax on sin
Translation of a foreign language
How could you describe the author’s diction in this excerpt?
The way he primps and preens and dresses like the pits of fashion
Our poorest citizens, our farmers, live ration to ration
passionate-carrying strong feelings or beliefs
simple- clear, short, and easy
euphemistic- polite substitute for a less polite word; sometimes insincere
ambiguous- open to interpretation; lacking obvious meaning
William wanted to be honest but still impress his girlfriend. So he told her that the fancy necklace he gave her was _________________________.
inexpensive
cheap
free
stolen
Ollie ___________________ science so much that he can talk about it for hours and hours.
appreciates
adores
reads
watches
Shayla thought her best friend's cat had lost too much weight. Hoping not to be too negative, Shayla told her that the cat looked ________________________
gaunt
ill
skinny
like death
Martin can talk his friends into doing or believing just about anything. Some parents are worried that Martin is ___________________________ them.
telling
brainwashing
blackmailing
influencing
Teddy entered every fencing match thinking he could win but never bragged. Therefore, his teammates saw him as a ______________ competitor.
sure
decent
cocky
confident
The sight of green beans make Ava gag. She ___________________ them.
gags
loathes
runs from
devours
Afraid his teacher would scold him in front of the class, Horace made sure he only _____________ at his lab partner's joke.
snickered
ignored
roared
repeated
The ad described the house as small and cozy. But when the Davenports pulled into the driveway, they were disappointed at the ______________ which stood before them.
home
shack
mansion
residence
Our annoying neighbors watch every move we make. They're just so __________________.
curious
nosy
helpful
aware
Since dying my hair pink and wearing mismatched converse sneakers, my pesky little brother says I'm ___________.
strange
unique
fun
colorful
When you look up a word in the dictionary, you find its ___________.
connotation
denotation
acronym
homonym
What is the term for the emotions that a word stirs in a reader?
synonym
denotation
connotation
acronym
Read the sentence below. The word tranquil has a ___________ connotation.
The baby looked tranquil as he slept.
positive
negative
Read the sentence below. The word dinky has a __________ connotation.
My mom only let me eat a dinky scoop of ice cream.
positive
negative
Read the sentence below. What is the denotation of the word superior?
My old computer kept running out of batteries. My new one is superior.
better
worse
positive
negative
Read the sentences. What is the difference between the words mortified and embarrassed?
A. Same was mortified when he was called to come up onstage during the assembly.
B. Sam was embarrassed when he was called to come up on stage during the assembly.
"Mortified" is antonym of "embarrassed".
"Embarrassed" is more intense and has more negative connotation than "mortified".
"Mortified" is more intense and has a more negative connotation than "embarrassed".
"Mortified" and "embarrassed" have different denotations.
Read the sentences. What is the difference between the words surprised and astounded?
A. Julie was surprised to find out that her grandma was coming for a visit.
B. Julie was astounded to find out that her grandma was coming for a visit.
"Surprised" is antonym of "astounded".
"Astounded" is more intense than "surprised" and implies that Julie was even more shocked.
"Surprised" is more intense than "astounded" and implies that Julie was even more shocked.
"Surprised" and "astounded" have different denotations.
The denotation is the _____________ meaning of a word.
emotional
literal
incorrect
opposite
Read the sentence below. The word gloomy has a __________ connotation.
The weather was gloomy all day.
Positive
Negative
Read the sentences. What is the difference between the words happy and ecstatic?
A. John was happy when he passed the exam.
B. John was ecstatic when he passed the exam.
"Happy" is antonym of "ecstatic".
"Ecstatic" is more intense than "happy" and implies that John was even more joyful.
"Happy" is more intense than "ecstatic" and implies that John was even more joyful.
"Happy" and "ecstatic" have different denotations.
What part of the sentence is emphasized by its SYNTAX?
" I listen as my neighbor's voice trails off."
I listen...
...as my neighbor...
...voice trails off
What part of the sentence is emphasized by its syntax?
"Both his parents had been killed when he was eight years old."
...he was eight years old
Both his parents had been killed...
Identify the use of DICTION in the following sentence:
I appreciated her efforts and complimented her work.
positive
negative
Identify the DICTION in the following sentence:
My brother argued with me and slammed the door.
positive
negative
Which of these words means ALMOST THE SAME as "angry"?
furious
anxious
unconcerned
mysterious
Which of these words means ALMOST THE SAME as "happy"?
shocked
informative
comical
joyful
In their favorite class, students will be analyzing SYNTAX in literature. What will they be examining?
conjugation of verbs
emotional meaning of words
dictionary definitions of words
structure of phrases and sentences
Writers vary the structure of their sentences and phrases because it is a powerful way to convey what to the reader?
meaning
emotion
emphasis
[all of the responses]
TRUE or FALSE? ----- Authors employ different sentence structures to create an emotion in a particular passage. For example, repetition can build up a feeling of anger or passion.
TRUE
FALSE
An abrupt change in syntax, say from long sentences to one short one, can show...
confusion, shock, or betrayal
continuity
TRUE or FALSE -------The length of a sentence and how it’s paired with sentences of different or similar lengths makes NO impact on the meaning, emotion, or emphasis of a passage.
TRUE
FALSE
What is informal diction?
casual, everyday language, usually with short words
fancy or formal language, usually with long sentences
fancy or formal language, but really short sentences.
casual, everyday language, usually with long sentences.
What is formal diction?
long sentences, with very descriptive and precise writing.
short sentences, with general ideas.
casual writing that has a happy tone.
writing that has a serious tone.
1) I don't like art.
2) I like my art teacher.
He started learning English six years ago.
A. He hasn’t learned English for six years.
B. He has learned English for six years.
C. He used to learn English for six years.
D. Six years was a long time for him to lean English.
