ALCPT - American Language Course Placement Test Grammar and Sentence Correction 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Identify the error in this sentence: 'Each of the recruits have to pass the physical examination before deployment.'
- Each
- have (Correct answer)
- to pass
- before deployment
Correct answer: have
'Each' is an indefinite pronoun that always takes a singular verb. The correct form is 'has,' not 'have,' regardless of the plural noun that follows in the prepositional phrase.
Question 2: Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: 'The report was _______ by the commanding officer before the mission began.'
- wrote
- write
- written (Correct answer)
- writing
Correct answer: written
Passive voice requires the past participle of the verb. 'Written' is the past participle of 'write,' making it the correct form after the auxiliary verb 'was.'
Question 3: Select the sentence that is grammatically correct.
- The general, along with his officers, are reviewing the battle plans.
- The general, along with his officers, is reviewing the battle plans. (Correct answer)
- The general, along with his officers, were reviewing the battle plans.
- The general, along with his officers, have been reviewing the battle plans.
Correct answer: The general, along with his officers, is reviewing the battle plans.
Phrases introduced by 'along with' do not change the number of the main subject. 'The general' is singular, so the verb must be singular: 'is reviewing.'
Question 4: Identify the error in this sentence: 'The sergeant told the soldiers to clean their rifles and that they should polish their boots.'
- told
- to clean their rifles
- and that they should (Correct answer)
- polish their boots
Correct answer: and that they should
Parallel structure requires that both items in the list follow the same grammatical form. The sentence should read 'to clean their rifles and polish their boots,' using the infinitive form for both actions.
Question 5: Select the correct sentence.
- If the weather will be clear, we will conduct the training exercise.
- If the weather is clear, we would conducted the training exercise.
- If the weather is clear, we will conduct the training exercise. (Correct answer)
- If the weather would be clear, we will conduct the training exercise.
Correct answer: If the weather is clear, we will conduct the training exercise.
In a real conditional sentence (first conditional), the if-clause uses the simple present tense and the main clause uses 'will' plus the base form of the verb. 'If the weather is clear, we will conduct' follows this rule correctly.
Question 6: Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: 'The pilot flew the aircraft _______ than anyone else in the squadron.'
- more skillful
- most skillfully
- more skillfully (Correct answer)
- skillfuller
Correct answer: more skillfully
'Skillfully' is an adverb modifying the verb 'flew,' so an adverb form is required. When comparing two things, the comparative 'more skillfully' is correct, not the superlative 'most skillfully.'
ALCPT - American Language Course Placement Test Grammar and Sentence Correction 4
Identify the error in this sentence: 'Each of the recruits have to pass the physical examination before deployment.'