NoRedInk Grammar Rules 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence avoids a comma splice?
- I was tired, I went to bed early.
- The dog barked, it scared the cat.
- We finished dinner, and then we watched a film. (Correct answer)
- She loves hiking, she goes every weekend.
Correct answer: We finished dinner, and then we watched a film.
Adding 'and' after the comma creates a correctly joined compound sentence.
Question 2: What is the function of an appositive?
- It replaces the subject of a sentence.
- It renames or identifies a nearby noun. (Correct answer)
- It modifies the main verb.
- It introduces a subordinate clause.
Correct answer: It renames or identifies a nearby noun.
An appositive is a noun or noun phrase placed next to another noun to identify or describe it.
Question 3: Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly?
- She likes to swim, running, and bike rides.
- She likes swimming, running, and biking. (Correct answer)
- She likes to swim, to running, and biking.
- She likes swim, run, and to bike.
Correct answer: She likes swimming, running, and biking.
All three activities end in '-ing,' maintaining consistent parallel form.
Question 4: In which sentence is the pronoun case correct?
- Between you and I, this is wrong.
- He gave the award to she and me.
- The winners were him and me.
- Between you and me, this is correct. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Between you and me, this is correct.
'Between' is a preposition requiring object pronouns; 'me' is the correct object form.
Question 5: Which sentence correctly punctuates a nonrestrictive clause?
- The book that I bought yesterday is great.
- My sister who lives in Austin called me.
- My sister, who lives in Austin, called me. (Correct answer)
- The car which is red belongs to him.
Correct answer: My sister, who lives in Austin, called me.
A nonrestrictive (non-essential) clause must be set off by commas.
Question 6: Which correctly identifies a gerund?
- She is running a marathon.
- Running a marathon is her goal. (Correct answer)
- She ran a marathon last year.
- She will run a marathon soon.
Correct answer: Running a marathon is her goal.
'Running a marathon' is a gerund phrase acting as the subject of the sentence.
Question 7: Choose the sentence that avoids a split infinitive where clarity is not improved.
- To boldly go where no one has gone.
- She decided to quickly leave the room.
- She decided to leave the room quickly. (Correct answer)
- He tried to carefully open the jar.
Correct answer: She decided to leave the room quickly.
Moving 'quickly' after the infinitive 'to leave' avoids splitting it without losing clarity.
NoRedInk Grammar Rules 3
Which sentence avoids a comma splice?