Grammar and Correct Usage Flashcards
6 cards from real Civil Service Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Grammar and Correct Usage flashcards as text
Which of the following sentences uses correct subject-verb agreement?
Answer: The number of applicants has increased this year.
'The number of' takes a singular verb. 'The number of applicants has increased' is grammatically correct because 'number' is the subject.
Choose the sentence that contains NO grammatical errors.
Answer: Fewer employees were absent this quarter than last.
'Fewer' is correctly used with countable nouns (employees). 'Less' would be used for uncountable quantities.
Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
Answer: The report is due Friday; however, an extension may be granted.
A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses when followed by a conjunctive adverb ('however') and a comma.
Identify the sentence with correct parallel structure.
Answer: The training covered report writing, data entry, and customer service.
Option C uses parallel structure with three noun phrases: 'report writing, data entry, and customer service.' All items in the series follow the same grammatical form.
Which word correctly completes the sentence: 'The new policy will _____ all departments equally.'
Answer: affect
'Affect' is the correct verb meaning 'to influence or have an impact on.' 'Effect' as a verb means 'to bring about,' which does not fit this context.
Which of the following sentences uses the correct form of the possessive?
Answer: The employees' lounge is on the third floor.
For plural nouns ending in 's,' the possessive is formed by adding only an apostrophe. 'Employees'' correctly shows that the lounge belongs to multiple employees.