TEAS 2025 - English and Language Use

Homophones

Words that sound the same, such as "new" and "knew," but have different meanings

Ex: to/too/two

Homographs

Words that are spelled the same, such as "bass" (a fish) and "bass" (a musical instrument), but have different meanings and may be pronounced differently

Ex: tear (v) = rip something; tear (n) = water drop from the eye

"i" before "e" except after "c" or when sounding like "a"

1) "Fierce"

2) "Conceive"

3) "Neighbor"

__ before ___ except after __ or when sounding like __

1) "F__rce"

2) "Conc__ve"

3) "N__ghbor"

"i" before "e"

Believe

Hygiene

Friend

Field

Relief

"i" before "e"

Bel___ve

Hyg__ne

Fr__nd

F__ld

Rel__f

"i" before "e" EXCEPT after c

Ceiling

Conceit

Deceive

Receive

"i" before "e" EXCEPT after ___

C__ling

Conc__t

Dec__ve

Rec__ve

Exceptions for "i" before "e"

1) Make an "A" sound

beige

rein

sleigh

neighbor

weight

2) General exceptions

codeine

leisure

caffeine

Exceptions for "i" before "e"

1) Make an "A" sound

b__ge

r__n

sl__gh

n__ghbor

w__gh

2) General exceptions

cod__ne

l__sure

caff__ne

Drop the Final "e" - when adding a suffix to a word that ends in "e", drop the "e" if the suffix begins with a vowel

Drop the Final "e" - when adding a suffix to a word that ends in "e", drop the "e" if the suffix begins with a _______

Vowels

a, e, i, o, u

Consonants

Drop the Final "e" before a Vowel

1. Believe + able = believable

2. Advise + ing = advising

3. Guide + ance = guidance

Drop the Final "e" before a _________

1. Believe + able = _____________

2. Advise + ing = __________

3. Guide + ance = ______________

Keep the "e" before a Consonant

1. Nice + ly = nicely

2. Amaze + ment = amazement

3. Rude + ness = rudeness

Keep the "e" before a Consonant

1. Nice + ly = ________

2. Amaze + ment = _______________

3. Rude + ness = _______________

Exceptions to Drop the Final "e" before a Vowel and Keep the "e" before a Consonant

1. Notice + able = noticeable

2. Argue + ment = argument

3. Courage + ous = courageous

Exceptions to Drop the Final "e" before a Vowel and Keep the "e" before a Consonant

1. Notice + able = _______________

2. Argue + ment = _____________

3. Courage + ous = ______________

Double the Final Consonant Rule - double the final consonant when a single vowel precedes the final consonant and the final syllable of the word is stressed after the ending

Ex: prefer --> preferred or preferring

"FER" is stressed, so the "r" is doubled

Double the Final Consonant Rule - double the final consonant when a single vowel precedes the final consonant and the final syllable of the word is stressed after the ending

Ex: prefer --> preferred or preferring

"FER" is stressed, so the "r" is doubled

Double the Final Consonant Rule

Blur + ing = blurring

Plan + er = planner

Begin + ing = beginning

Double the Final Consonant Rule

Blur + ing = ___________

Plan + er = ____________

Begin + ing = ______________

Do not Double the Final Consonant - if the last syllable of a multisyllable word is unstressed, don't double the final consonant. Never double w, x, or y

1. Bleed + ing = bleeding

2. Plow + ed = plowed

3. Despair + ing = despairing

4. Read + ing = reading

Do not Double the Final Consonant - if the last syllable of a multisyllable word is unstressed, don't double the final consonant. Never double __, __, or __

1. Bleed + ing = ____________

2. Plow + ed = __________

3. Despair + ing = ____________

4. Read + ing = _________

Change the final "y" to an "i" - When adding a suffix to a word ending in "y" preceded by a consonant, change the "y" to "i" and add the suffix. Do not change the "y" if the suffix begins with i

Change the final "y" to an "i" - When adding a suffix to a word ending in "y" preceded by a c__________, change the "y" to "i" and add the suffix. Do not change the "y" if the suffix begins with __

Change the final "y" to an "i" following a Consonant

1. Beauty + ful = beautiful

2. Worry + ed = worried

3. Supply + ed = supplier

Change the final "y" to an "i" following a Consonant

1. Beauty + ful = _____________

2. Worry + ed = ___________

3. Supply + ed = ____________

Do not change the "Y" following a Vowel

1. Day + s = days

2. Obey + ed = obeyed

3. Relay + s = relays

Do not change the "Y" following a Vowel

1. Day + s = _____

2. Obey + ed = __________

3. Relay + s = ______

Do not change if the suffix begins with "i"

1. Cry + ing = crying

2. Worry + ing = worrying

3. Supply + ing = supplying

Do not change if the suffix begins with "i"

1. Cry + ing = ___________

2. Worry + ing = _____________

3. Supply + ing = ___________

Rules for Plurals

1. For regular plurals, you only need to add "-s."

- Examples: apple/apples, car/cars, nurse/nurses.

2. Add "-es" for words ending in "-ch," "-s," "-sh," "-x," or "-z."

- Examples: dash/dashes, lunch/lunches, boss/bosses.

3. Change to "-ves" for some words ending in "-f" or "-fe."

- Examples: elf/elves, life/lives, self/selves.

- Exceptions: chief/chiefs, proof/proofs.

Rules for Plurals

1. For regular plurals, you only need to add "-s."

- Examples: apple/_______, car/_____, nurse/_______.

2. Add "-es" for words ending in "-ch," "-s," "-sh," "-x," or "-z."

- Examples: dash/dashes, lunch/________, boss/_______.

3. Change to "-ves" for some words ending in "-f" or "-fe."

- Examples: elf/_______, life/______, self/________.

- Exceptions: chief/_______, proof/________.

Oxford Comma

The comma before the "and" in a simple series of items

Ex: In order to begin training as a long-distance runner, you will need high-quality shoes, socks, and running clothes.

Independent Clause

A group of words that includes a subject and predicate and can stand alone as a complete sentence because it expresses a complete thought​​​​​​

Ex: I have been lifting weights for over a year.

Dependent Clause

A group of words that includes a subject and verb but cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it does not express a complete thought

Ex: Although I enjoy running.....

Simple Sentence

A _________ sentence contains one idea or independent clause and uses only an end mark.

Ex: I have been lifting weights for over a year.

Compound Sentence

A ___________ sentence has two independent clauses. Use a comma before the conjunction that joins the clauses. Use a semicolon between two related independent clauses. Use a semicolon before a transition word that connects two independent clauses and a comma after a transition.​​​​​​​

Ex: I have been lifting weights for over a year, and I finally set a new maximum bench press.​​​​​​​

Complex Sentence

A __________ sentence has an independent clause and a dependent clause. Use a comma following an introductory subordinate clause to separate it from the independent clause. You do not need a comma if the subordinate clause follows the independent clause.

Ex: When I went to the gym, I found it was closed.​​​​​​​

Coordinate Adjectives

Two equally weighted adjectives that describe the same noun and require a comma between them

Ex: I ate a big, red apple.

Predicate

The part of a sentence that explains what the subject does or is like

Ex: I am studying. (subject = I; p__________ = am studying)

Ex 2: Charlie exercises every day (subject = Charlie; p_________ = exercises every day)

Adverbs

__________ describe or modify adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs

Ex: easily, quickly, triumphantly.

Preposition

A word that shows the relationship of a noun or pronoun to another word

Ex: before, according to, since

Conjunction

___________ are connecting words

Ex: and, so, but.

Interjection

___________ represent short bursts of emotion

Ex: Hey! Ouch! Yay!​​​​​​​

Complement

A _____________ is a sentence part that gives more information about a subject or object

Ex: Math is fun

"Math" is the subject, "is" constitutes the simple predicate, and "fun" is a complement because it completes the sentence, which would not make sense without it.

Modifier

A ________ is a word or group of words that provides description for another word

Ex: green shirt

"Green" is an adjective that modifies, or gives more information about, "shirt."

Direct Object

A D______ O_______ is a word or group of words that receives the action of a verb

Ex: The eager, enthusiastic child told the teacher his story in an excited voice.

The simple subject is the child, the predicate is the verb told, the complete predicate includes the indirect object told the teacher, and the d______ o______ is his story

Indirect Object

The I________ O________ is the person or thing to whom or which something is done

Ex: The eager, enthusiastic child told the teacher his story in an excited voice.

The simple subject is the child, the predicate is the verb told, the complete predicate includes the i_______ o_______ told the teacher, and the direct object is his story