English Grammar and Usage Flashcards

Which sentence correctly uses a comma to separate an introductory clause?

Answer: After the storm ended, the roads were cleared.

A comma must follow an introductory subordinate clause before the main clause begins.

Which word correctly completes the sentence: 'The team celebrated ___ victory'?

Answer: its

'Its' is the possessive pronoun; 'it's' is a contraction of 'it is.'

Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.

Answer: Neither the students nor the teacher was late.

When 'neither…nor' joins subjects of different persons, the verb agrees with the closer subject ('teacher,' singular).

Which option correctly punctuates a nonrestrictive clause?

Answer: My sister, who lives in Austin, is a nurse.

Nonrestrictive clauses add extra information and must be set off by commas on both sides.

Choose the correct form: 'There are fewer/less students enrolled this semester.'

Answer: fewer

'Fewer' is used with countable nouns like 'students'; 'less' is used with uncountable nouns.

Which sentence avoids a dangling modifier?

Answer: Running to catch the bus, Maria dropped her bag.

The participial phrase 'Running to catch the bus' must immediately precede the noun it modifies, which is 'Maria.'