California POST Test Grammar and Punctuation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Choose the sentence that avoids a double negative.
- The witness didn't say nothing to the officer.
- The witness didn't say anything to the officer. (Correct answer)
- The witness said nothing not to the officer.
- The witness hadn't said nothing important.
Correct answer: The witness didn't say anything to the officer.
Using 'anything' with 'didn't' avoids the double negative error present in the other options.
Question 2: Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
- The suspect who was armed, fled north on Main Street.
- The suspect, who was armed fled north on Main Street.
- The suspect, who was armed, fled north on Main Street. (Correct answer)
- The suspect who was armed fled, north on Main Street.
Correct answer: The suspect, who was armed, fled north on Main Street.
A nonrestrictive clause ('who was armed') must be set off by commas on both sides.
Question 3: Identify the correct pronoun: '___ wrote the incident report, Officer Davis or Officer Lee?'
- Who (Correct answer)
- Whom
- Whoever
- Whomever
Correct answer: Who
'Who' is correct because it functions as the subject of the verb 'wrote.'
Question 4: Which sentence uses commas correctly with a series?
- The report included the date time and location of the incident.
- The report included the date, time, and location of the incident. (Correct answer)
- The report included the date, time and, location of the incident.
- The report included, the date, time and location of the incident.
Correct answer: The report included the date, time, and location of the incident.
In a series of three or more items, commas should separate each item including before the final 'and' (Oxford comma).
Question 5: Which word correctly completes the sentence: 'The evidence was ___ convincing to ignore.'?
- to
- too (Correct answer)
- two
- tow
Correct answer: too
'Too' meaning 'excessively' or 'also' is the correct homophone in this context.
Question 6: Choose the sentence in the active voice.
- The search warrant was obtained by the detective.
- The crime scene was processed by forensics.
- The detective obtained the search warrant. (Correct answer)
- Evidence was collected at the scene.
Correct answer: The detective obtained the search warrant.
In active voice, the subject ('the detective') performs the action ('obtained').
Question 7: Which sentence is grammatically correct?
- Between you and I, the report needs revision.
- Between you and me, the report needs revision. (Correct answer)
- Between you and myself, the report needs revision.
- Between I and you, the report needs revision.
Correct answer: Between you and me, the report needs revision.
Prepositions like 'between' require object pronouns; 'me' is the correct object pronoun.
California POST Test Grammar and Punctuation 3
Choose the sentence that avoids a double negative.