BECE Grammar and Sentence Structure 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses a comma correctly?
- After the game, we went out for pizza. (Correct answer)
- After the game we, went out for pizza.
- After, the game we went out for pizza.
- After the game we went, out for pizza.
Correct answer: After the game, we went out for pizza.
A comma follows an introductory prepositional or adverbial phrase at the start of a sentence.
Question 2: Which of the following is a compound-complex sentence?
- She sings and dances.
- Although she was tired, she finished the project.
- Although she was tired, she finished the project, and she celebrated. (Correct answer)
- She was tired but happy.
Correct answer: Although she was tired, she finished the project, and she celebrated.
A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and one dependent clause.
Question 3: Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
- I love reading; because it improves vocabulary.
- I love reading; however, I rarely have time for it. (Correct answer)
- I love; reading and writing.
- I love reading; and writing.
Correct answer: I love reading; however, I rarely have time for it.
A semicolon before a conjunctive adverb (however, therefore) is the correct usage.
Question 4: Identify the appositive phrase in: 'My neighbor, a retired teacher, loves gardening.'
- My neighbor
- a retired teacher (Correct answer)
- loves gardening
- retired teacher loves
Correct answer: a retired teacher
An appositive renames or gives more information about a noun; 'a retired teacher' describes 'my neighbor.'
Question 5: Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly?
- She likes to sing, dancing, and to act.
- She likes to sing, to dance, and to act. (Correct answer)
- She likes singing, to dance, and acted.
- She likes singing, danced, and to act.
Correct answer: She likes to sing, to dance, and to act.
Parallel structure requires matching grammatical forms; 'to sing, to dance, to act' are all infinitives.
Question 6: What punctuation mark is needed: 'He asked whether she had finished ___ homework'?
- her (Correct answer)
- their
- his
- its
Correct answer: her
The pronoun 'her' agrees with the subject 'she' in gender and number.
Question 7: Which word correctly fills the blank: 'Neither the students ___ the teacher was prepared.'?
- or
- nor (Correct answer)
- and
- but
Correct answer: nor
'Neither...nor' is the correct paired conjunction; 'or' pairs with 'either.'
BECE Grammar and Sentence Structure 3
Which sentence uses a comma correctly?