Grammar and Usage Flashcards

Which sentence correctly uses 'who' versus 'whom'? A) Who did you speak with at the conference? B) Whom called the office this morning? C) To whom should I address this letter? D) Whom is coming to the party tonight?

Answer: To whom should I address this letter?

'Whom' is correct as the object of the preposition 'to'; if you can substitute 'him,' use 'whom.'

Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement with an inverted structure: A) In the drawer is the scissors and the stapler. B) There was several options available. C) Here are the documents you requested. D) There is many reasons to celebrate.

Answer: Here are the documents you requested.

'Documents' is the true subject (plural), so 'are' is correct even though it follows the verb.

Which option correctly completes this sentence? 'The board of directors _____ voted on the merger proposal.' A) have unanimously B) has unanimously C) unanimously have D) were unanimously

Answer: has unanimously

In American English, collective nouns like 'board' take singular verbs, so 'has' is correct.

Which underlined portion contains a grammatical error? 'She is one of those athletes who trains / every day and (A) pushes / themselves / to the limit.' A) trains B) pushes C) themselves D) No error

Answer: trains

The antecedent of 'who' is 'athletes' (plural), so the verb should be 'train,' not 'trains.'

Which sentence avoids a dangling modifier? A) Having finished the test, the classroom grew quiet. B) Having finished the test, the students relaxed. C) The classroom grew quiet, having finished the test. D) Finished, the test resulted in a quiet classroom.

Answer: Having finished the test, the students relaxed.

Only 'the students' can logically be the ones who finished the test, making this the correct sentence.

Select the correct use of 'lay' versus 'lie': A) She lay the book on the table yesterday. B) He lies the coat over the chair every morning. C) The cat lay in the sunspot all afternoon. D) Please lie the package by the door.

Answer: The cat lay in the sunspot all afternoon.

'Lay' is the past tense of 'lie' (to recline); the cat reclined, so 'lay' is correct here.

Which sentence correctly uses a nonrestrictive clause with proper punctuation? A) My professor who teaches biology is brilliant. B) My professor, who teaches biology is brilliant. C) My professor, who teaches biology, is brilliant. D) My professor who, teaches biology, is brilliant.

Answer: My professor, who teaches biology, is brilliant.

A nonrestrictive clause adds extra information and must be enclosed in commas on both sides.