AST English Grammar and Usage 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence correctly uses a comma to separate an introductory clause?
- After the storm ended, the roads were cleared. (Correct answer)
- After the storm ended the roads were cleared.
- After, the storm ended the roads were cleared.
- After the storm, ended the roads were cleared.
Correct answer: After the storm ended, the roads were cleared.
A comma must follow an introductory subordinate clause before the main clause begins.
Question 2: Which word correctly completes the sentence: 'The team celebrated ___ victory'?
- its (Correct answer)
- it's
- their's
- its'
Correct answer: its
'Its' is the possessive pronoun; 'it's' is a contraction of 'it is.'
Question 3: Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.
- Neither the students nor the teacher were late.
- Neither the students nor the teacher was late. (Correct answer)
- Neither the students nor the teacher are late.
- Neither the students nor the teacher be late.
Correct 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).
Question 4: Which option correctly punctuates a nonrestrictive clause?
- My sister, who lives in Austin, is a nurse. (Correct answer)
- My sister who lives in Austin is a nurse.
- My sister; who lives in Austin, is a nurse.
- My sister who lives in Austin, is a nurse.
Correct 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.
Question 5: Choose the correct form: 'There are fewer/less students enrolled this semester.'
- fewer (Correct answer)
- less
- lesser
- least
Correct answer: fewer
'Fewer' is used with countable nouns like 'students'; 'less' is used with uncountable nouns.
Question 6: Which sentence avoids a dangling modifier?
- Running to catch the bus, Maria dropped her bag. (Correct answer)
- Running to catch the bus, the bag was dropped.
- Running to catch the bus, the driver saw Maria.
- Running to catch the bus, a bag was dropped by Maria.
Correct 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.'
AST English Grammar and Usage 1
Which sentence correctly uses a comma to separate an introductory clause?