ALCPT - American Language Course Placement Test Grammar and Sentence Correction 7 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses the correct verb tense?
- By the time the general arrived, the soldiers already left.
- By the time the general arrived, the soldiers had already left. (Correct answer)
- By the time the general arrived, the soldiers have already left.
- By the time the general arrived, the soldiers will already leave.
Correct answer: By the time the general arrived, the soldiers had already left.
The past perfect tense 'had already left' is required to show an action that was completed before another past action (the general's arrival).
Question 2: Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: 'Each of the recruits _______ required to pass the physical fitness test.'
- are
- were
- is (Correct answer)
- have been
Correct answer: is
'Each' is an indefinite pronoun that is always singular, so it takes the singular verb 'is', regardless of the plural noun that follows in the prepositional phrase.
Question 3: Identify the error in this sentence: 'The sergeant, along with his squad, were ordered to the front line.'
- 'sergeant' should be 'Sergeant'
- The verb 'were' should be 'was' (Correct answer)
- 'along with' should be 'and'
- 'ordered' should be 'ordering'
Correct answer: The verb 'were' should be 'was'
The subject is 'the sergeant' (singular). Phrases beginning with 'along with,' 'as well as,' or 'together with' do not change the subject's number, so the singular verb 'was' is correct.
Question 4: Select the grammatically correct sentence.
- The officers discussed about the new strategy during the briefing.
- The officers discussed the new strategy during the briefing. (Correct answer)
- The officers discussed on the new strategy during the briefing.
- The officers have discussed about the new strategy during the briefing.
Correct answer: The officers discussed the new strategy during the briefing.
'Discuss' is a transitive verb that takes a direct object without a preposition. Adding 'about' or 'on' after 'discussed' is incorrect in standard English.
Question 5: Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: 'The report must be submitted _______ the end of the week.'
- until
- by (Correct answer)
- since
- for
Correct answer: by
'By' indicates a deadline — the action must be completed no later than a specific time. 'Until' indicates a continuous action up to a point, which changes the meaning.
Question 6: Which sentence correctly uses a comparative adjective?
- This mission is more harder than the last one.
- This mission is more hard than the last one.
- This mission is harder than the last one. (Correct answer)
- This mission is the hardest than the last one.
Correct answer: This mission is harder than the last one.
One-syllable adjectives like 'hard' form the comparative by adding '-er,' not by using 'more.' Combining both forms ('more harder') is a double comparative and is grammatically incorrect.
ALCPT - American Language Course Placement Test Grammar and Sentence Correction 7
Which sentence uses the correct verb tense?