ALCPT Identifying Grammatical Errors 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence contains a grammatical error? A) She has been working here since 2010. B) They have went to the store already. C) He had finished the report before the meeting. D) We will have completed it by Friday.
- She has been working here since 2010.
- They have went to the store already. (Correct answer)
- He had finished the report before the meeting.
- We will have completed it by Friday.
Correct answer: They have went to the store already.
'Have went' is incorrect; the correct past participle is 'gone,' making it 'have gone.'
Question 2: Identify the error in this sentence: 'Neither the manager nor the employees was informed about the change.'
- Neither...nor construction
- The word 'was' instead of 'were' (Correct answer)
- The phrase 'about the change'
- No error exists
Correct answer: The word 'was' instead of 'were'
When 'neither...nor' connects subjects, the verb agrees with the closer subject ('employees'), so 'were' is required.
Question 3: Which underlined word is incorrect? 'The data [shows] that the results are [consistent] with [our] [hypothesis].'
- shows (Correct answer)
- consistent
- our
- hypothesis
Correct answer: shows
'Data' is a plural noun, so the correct verb form is 'show,' not 'shows.'
Question 4: Select the sentence with a dangling modifier error.
- Running to catch the bus, John dropped his briefcase.
- Running to catch the bus, the briefcase fell to the ground. (Correct answer)
- While running to catch the bus, John dropped his briefcase.
- John, running to catch the bus, dropped his briefcase.
Correct answer: Running to catch the bus, the briefcase fell to the ground.
The briefcase cannot be 'running to catch the bus'; the modifier dangles because the subject it modifies is missing.
Question 5: Which sentence uses the reflexive pronoun incorrectly?
- She hurt herself during practice.
- Please contact John or myself for details. (Correct answer)
- They prepared themselves for the exam.
- He reminded himself to call back.
Correct answer: Please contact John or myself for details.
Reflexive pronouns like 'myself' should only be used when the subject and object refer to the same person; 'me' is correct here.
Question 6: Find the error: 'Each of the soldiers were required to submit their report by 0800.'
- Each of
- were required (Correct answer)
- to submit
- their report
Correct answer: were required
'Each' is a singular indefinite pronoun, so the verb should be 'was required,' not 'were required.'
Question 7: Which sentence contains a subject-verb agreement error?
- The list of requirements is long.
- A number of soldiers are ready.
- The number of errors is surprising.
- A box of supplies are on the table. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: A box of supplies are on the table.
'A box' is the subject, not 'supplies,' so the singular verb 'is' is required.
ALCPT Identifying Grammatical Errors 4
Which sentence contains a grammatical error?
A) She has been working here since 2010.
B) They have went to the store already.
C) He had finished the report before the meeting.
D) We will have completed it by Friday.