CBST Grammar and Punctuation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses the correct form of 'their,' 'there,' or 'they're'?
- Their going to the concert tonight.
- The books are over their.
- They're planning to arrive early. (Correct answer)
- I left my keys over they're.
Correct answer: They're planning to arrive early.
'They're' is a contraction of 'they are,' which fits the meaning of the sentence correctly.
Question 2: Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
- The manager, who approved the plan is in the meeting.
- The manager, who approved the plan, is in the meeting. (Correct answer)
- The manager who approved the plan, is in the meeting.
- The manager who, approved the plan is in the meeting.
Correct answer: The manager, who approved the plan, is in the meeting.
A non-restrictive relative clause ('who approved the plan') should be set off by commas on both sides.
Question 3: Choose the sentence that uses the correct pronoun case.
- Between you and I, the project needs more work.
- Between you and me, the project needs more work. (Correct answer)
- Between you and myself, the project needs more work.
- Between I and you, the project needs more work.
Correct answer: Between you and me, the project needs more work.
After the preposition 'between,' the objective case 'me' — not the nominative 'I' — is required.
Question 4: Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
- She studied hard; but she still failed.
- She studied hard; she still failed. (Correct answer)
- She studied hard; and she still failed.
- She studied; hard she still failed.
Correct answer: She studied hard; she still failed.
A semicolon joins two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction; using one before 'but' or 'and' is incorrect.
Question 5: Identify the sentence with correct parallel structure.
- She likes hiking, to swim, and biking.
- She likes hiking, swimming, and biking. (Correct answer)
- She likes to hike, swimming, and bike.
- She likes hiking, swim, and to bike.
Correct answer: She likes hiking, swimming, and biking.
All three items in the list use the gerund (-ing) form, maintaining consistent parallel structure.
Question 6: Which sentence correctly uses 'fewer' vs. 'less'?
- There is less students in the class today.
- There are fewer students in the class today. (Correct answer)
- There are less students in the class today.
- There is fewer students in the class today.
Correct answer: There are fewer students in the class today.
'Fewer' is used with countable nouns like 'students,' while 'less' is used with uncountable quantities.
Question 7: Which punctuation mark correctly ends this sentence: 'Please submit your report by Friday'?
- ?
- !
- . (Correct answer)
- ;
Correct answer: .
The sentence is a polite directive (imperative mood), which ends with a period, not a question mark or exclamation point.
CBST Grammar and Punctuation 2
Which sentence uses the correct form of 'their,' 'there,' or 'they're'?