English Grammar Test Sentence Structure 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?
- She nearly drove her kids to school every day. (Correct answer)
- The dog that barked loudly ran away.
- He carefully placed the vase on the shelf.
- Walking to the park, she saw a butterfly.
Correct answer: She nearly drove her kids to school every day.
'Nearly' is misplaced; it modifies 'drove' instead of 'every day,' implying she almost drove but didn't.
Question 2: What is the subject of the sentence: 'There are three cats on the roof'?
- There
- three cats (Correct answer)
- roof
- are
Correct answer: three cats
'There' is an expletive; the true subject is 'three cats,' which controls the plural verb 'are.'
Question 3: Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly?
- She likes hiking, to swim, and runs.
- She likes hiking, swimming, and running. (Correct answer)
- She likes to hike, swimming, and run.
- She likes hike, swim, and to run.
Correct answer: She likes hiking, swimming, and running.
Parallel structure requires matching grammatical forms; all three gerunds (-ing) maintain consistency.
Question 4: Identify the type of sentence: 'Although it was raining, we went to the game.'
- Simple
- Compound
- Complex (Correct answer)
- Compound-complex
Correct answer: Complex
A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one dependent clause introduced by a subordinating conjunction like 'although.'
Question 5: Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?
- Running fast, the finish line was crossed. (Correct answer)
- Running fast, she crossed the finish line.
- She crossed the finish line while running fast.
- After running fast, she crossed the finish line.
Correct answer: Running fast, the finish line was crossed.
A dangling modifier has no clear subject; 'Running fast' implies the finish line was running.
Question 6: How many independent clauses does a compound sentence have?
- One
- At least two (Correct answer)
- Zero
- Exactly three
Correct answer: At least two
A compound sentence consists of at least two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction or semicolon.
Question 7: Which is a correctly punctuated compound sentence?
- I wanted coffee, I made tea instead.
- I wanted coffee but I made tea instead.
- I wanted coffee; but I made tea instead.
- I wanted coffee, but I made tea instead. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: I wanted coffee, but I made tea instead.
A coordinating conjunction like 'but' joining two independent clauses requires a comma before it.
English Grammar Test Sentence Structure 2
Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?