Civil Service Exam Grammar and Correct Usage 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence demonstrates correct use of the subjunctive mood?
- If I was the supervisor, I would approve the request.
- The director insists that each employee submits their timesheet.
- It is essential that the report be completed by Friday. (Correct answer)
- I wish I was able to attend the conference.
Correct answer: It is essential that the report be completed by Friday.
The subjunctive mood uses the base form of the verb after expressions of necessity. 'It is essential that the report be completed' correctly uses the subjunctive.
The subjunctive mood is used to express wishes, demands, and hypothetical situations. After expressions like 'it is essential that,' the verb should be in the base form. 'Be completed' is correct subjunctive. Option A should use 'were,' Option B should use 'submit' (base form), and Option D should use 'were.'
Question 2: Choose the sentence with correct comma usage.
- The office, which is located downtown is open from 9 to 5.
- After reviewing the application the clerk approved the request.
- The supervisor, who has 20 years of experience, will lead the training. (Correct answer)
- We need to hire more staff, because the workload has increased.
Correct answer: The supervisor, who has 20 years of experience, will lead the training.
Nonrestrictive clauses that add extra information are set off by commas on both sides. 'Who has 20 years of experience' is nonessential information about the supervisor.
Option C correctly uses commas to set off a nonrestrictive clause. Option A is missing a closing comma after 'downtown.' Option B needs a comma after the introductory phrase. Option D should not have a comma before 'because' when it introduces an essential reason.
Question 3: Which of the following words is spelled correctly?
- Occurrance
- Accomodate
- Separate (Correct answer)
- Concensus
Correct answer: Separate
'Separate' is the only correctly spelled word. The others should be: occurrence, accommodate, consensus.
'Separate' is correct. The correct spellings of the others are: 'occurrence' (double c, double r), 'accommodate' (double c, double m), and 'consensus' (no 'c' before 'ensus'). Memory aid: 'separate' has 'a rat' in it.
Question 4: In the sentence 'The manager, along with her assistants, ___ responsible for the project,' which verb correctly completes the sentence?
- are
- is (Correct answer)
- were
- have been
Correct answer: is
'Is' is correct because the subject is 'the manager' (singular). The phrase 'along with her assistants' is a parenthetical modifier and does not change the subject's number.
Phrases introduced by 'along with,' 'together with,' and similar expressions are parenthetical modifiers, not conjunctions. They do not form compound subjects. The true subject is 'the manager' (singular), so the verb must be singular: 'is.' If the sentence used 'and' instead, the subject would be compound and require 'are.'
Question 5: Which sentence correctly uses 'who' and 'whom'?
- Who did the supervisor assign to the project?
- The employee whom received the award was promoted.
- To who should this report be sent?
- The candidate whom we interviewed was highly qualified. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The candidate whom we interviewed was highly qualified.
'Whom' is correct as the object of the verb 'interviewed.' In the clause 'whom we interviewed,' 'we' is the subject and 'whom' is the object.
Option D: 'we interviewed whom' maps to 'we interviewed him' — 'whom' is correct as the object. Option A should be 'Whom did the supervisor assign.' Option B should be 'who received' (he received). Option C should be 'To whom' (to him).
Question 6: Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
- The department's goals include: efficiency, accuracy, and timeliness.
- The department's goals include efficiency, accuracy, and timeliness. (Correct answer)
- The department's goals include, efficiency, accuracy, and timeliness.
- The department's goals include efficiency; accuracy; and timeliness.
Correct answer: The department's goals include efficiency, accuracy, and timeliness.
No colon is needed after 'include' because it is a verb that directly introduces its objects. A colon should only follow a complete independent clause.
A common error is placing a colon after verbs like 'include,' 'are,' or 'such as.' Since 'The department's goals include' is not a complete sentence without the list items, no colon should follow. Option B correctly flows the verb into its objects with commas. Option C incorrectly uses a comma after 'include.' Option D incorrectly uses semicolons for a simple list.
Civil Service Exam Grammar and Correct Usage 3
Which sentence demonstrates correct use of the subjunctive mood?