CALP Academic Grammar and Syntax 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence demonstrates correct use of a subordinating conjunction in academic writing?
- Although the study was limited, however the results were significant.
- Although the study was limited, the results were significant. (Correct answer)
- The study was limited, although but the results were significant.
- Although however the study was limited, the results were significant.
Correct answer: Although the study was limited, the results were significant.
A subordinating conjunction like 'although' introduces a dependent clause and should not be paired with a coordinating conjunction or conjunctive adverb in the same clause.
Question 2: In academic writing, a passive voice construction is most appropriate when:
- The writer wants to emphasize personal opinion.
- The agent performing the action is unknown or unimportant. (Correct answer)
- The sentence needs to be made shorter.
- The writer wants to avoid using any verbs.
Correct answer: The agent performing the action is unknown or unimportant.
Passive voice is preferred in academic contexts when the focus is on the action or result rather than on who performed it, especially in scientific writing.
Question 3: Which sentence correctly uses a relative clause to provide essential information?
- The researcher, who published the findings, won an award.
- The researcher who published the findings won an award. (Correct answer)
- The researcher, that published the findings, won an award.
- The researcher which published the findings won an award.
Correct answer: The researcher who published the findings won an award.
An essential (restrictive) relative clause is not set off by commas and uses 'who' for people, identifying which specific researcher is meant.
Question 4: What is the function of a noun clause in the sentence 'The professor explained what the experiment demonstrated'?
- It serves as the subject of the sentence.
- It serves as the direct object of the verb 'explained'. (Correct answer)
- It serves as an adverbial modifier.
- It serves as a prepositional phrase.
Correct answer: It serves as the direct object of the verb 'explained'.
'What the experiment demonstrated' is a noun clause functioning as the direct object, receiving the action of the verb 'explained'.
Question 5: Which verb form correctly completes this academic sentence: 'The data _____ that the hypothesis was incorrect.'?
- suggest
- suggests (Correct answer)
- are suggesting
- have suggested
Correct answer: suggests
In academic English, 'data' is increasingly treated as a singular collective noun, so 'suggests' (singular) is the preferred form in formal academic writing.
Question 6: Which sentence correctly uses parallel structure?
- The study aimed to collect, analyzing, and reporting data.
- The study aimed to collect, analyze, and report data. (Correct answer)
- The study aimed at collecting, to analyze, and reporting data.
- The study aimed to collect data, analyzing it, and then reporting.
Correct answer: The study aimed to collect, analyze, and report data.
Parallel structure requires that items in a series use the same grammatical form; here, three infinitives ('to collect, analyze, and report') maintain parallelism.
Question 7: In the sentence 'Having reviewed the literature, the researcher identified a gap in the field,' what is the grammatical term for 'Having reviewed the literature'?
- A gerund phrase
- A participial phrase (Correct answer)
- An infinitive phrase
- A prepositional phrase
Correct answer: A participial phrase
A participial phrase begins with a present or past participle and modifies a noun; 'Having reviewed' is a perfect participle modifying 'the researcher'.
CALP Academic Grammar and Syntax 1
Which sentence demonstrates correct use of a subordinating conjunction in academic writing?