DLAB Grammar 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the grammatical term for a word that derives its meaning entirely from context and refers to a previously mentioned noun, such as 'it' or 'they'?
- Antecedent
- Anaphora (pronoun) (Correct answer)
- Deictic marker
- Expletive
Correct answer: Anaphora (pronoun)
A pronoun used anaphorically derives its reference from an antecedent noun already introduced in the discourse.
Question 2: Which of the following is an example of a coordinating conjunction?
- Although
- Because
- Yet (Correct answer)
- Whereas
Correct answer: Yet
'Yet' is one of the seven coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) used to join equal grammatical elements.
Question 3: In morphology, what is the difference between a 'free morpheme' and a 'bound morpheme'?
- Free morphemes can stand alone as words; bound morphemes cannot and must attach to another morpheme. (Correct answer)
- Free morphemes change meaning; bound morphemes change pronunciation only.
- Free morphemes are prefixes; bound morphemes are suffixes.
- Free morphemes occur in formal registers; bound morphemes occur in informal registers.
Correct answer: Free morphemes can stand alone as words; bound morphemes cannot and must attach to another morpheme.
Free morphemes are independent words (e.g., 'run'), while bound morphemes (e.g., '-ing,' 'un-') must attach to a base to convey meaning.
Question 4: Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
- The debrief was long; but it was thorough.
- The debrief was long; it covered every incident. (Correct answer)
- The debrief; was long and thorough.
- The debrief was long; and covered every incident.
Correct answer: The debrief was long; it covered every incident.
A semicolon joins two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction; inserting 'but' or 'and' after it is incorrect.
Question 5: What grammatical feature is illustrated by the contrast between 'I eat rice' (simple present) and 'I am eating rice' (present progressive)?
- Voice
- Aspect (Correct answer)
- Mood
- Case
Correct answer: Aspect
The contrast between simple present (habitual) and present progressive (ongoing) reflects grammatical aspect, not tense.
Question 6: Which term describes the grammatical relationship in which two clauses are joined at the same syntactic level, as in 'He trained hard and he passed'?
- Subordination
- Complementation
- Coordination (Correct answer)
- Embedding
Correct answer: Coordination
Coordination links two independent clauses of equal syntactic rank using a coordinating conjunction such as 'and.'
Question 7: Identify the type of sentence: 'Report to headquarters immediately!'
- Declarative
- Interrogative
- Exclamatory
- Imperative (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Imperative
An imperative sentence issues a command or directive; the subject ('you') is typically understood rather than stated.
