Language Proficiency Grammar and Usage 5

Question 1

Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly?

Accepted Answer

The boss's office is on the third floor.

Answer

Singular nouns ending in 's' still form the possessive by adding 's, making 'boss's' correct.

Question 2

Which sentence avoids a comma splice?

Accepted Answer

He finished the report, and then he submitted it.

Answer

Using a coordinating conjunction after the comma correctly joins two independent clauses without a comma splice.

Question 3

In which sentence is the word 'whom' used correctly?

Accepted Answer

Whom should I contact for help?

Answer

'Whom' is correct as the object of the infinitive 'to contact'; it answers 'him/her,' not 'he/she.'

Question 4

Which sentence correctly uses the past perfect tense?

Accepted Answer

He had left before the meeting started.

Answer

The past perfect 'had left' correctly shows an action completed before another past action.

Question 5

Which example correctly uses an em dash?

Accepted Answer

The answer—42—surprised everyone.

Answer

Em dashes set off parenthetical information or create emphasis, correctly used here around '42.'

Language Proficiency Practice Test