NTN Police Writing and Grammar Skills 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence is written most clearly and correctly for a police report?
- The suspect he ran from the scene quickly.
- The suspect quickly fled the scene on foot. (Correct answer)
- Quickly the suspect, he fled the scene on foot.
- The suspect on foot fled quickly the scene.
Correct answer: The suspect quickly fled the scene on foot.
'The suspect quickly fled the scene on foot' is clear, grammatically correct, and uses active voice appropriate for police reports.
Police reports must be written in clear, direct language using standard grammar. Option B is correct because it uses proper sentence structure (subject-verb-object), active voice, and precise language. Option A is incorrect because 'he' is a redundant pronoun after 'suspect.' Options C and D have awkward word order that makes them difficult to read and understand. Active, direct sentences improve report clarity and credibility.
Question 2: Which word correctly completes the sentence: 'The officer had to ______ the scene before conducting a search.'
- secure (Correct answer)
- securely
- secured
- security
Correct answer: secure
'Secure' is the correct base verb form to follow 'had to' as part of the infinitive.
The phrase 'had to' requires the base (infinitive) form of the verb that follows it. 'Secure' is the base form. 'Secured' is past tense and would be grammatically incorrect after 'had to.' 'Securely' is an adverb, and 'security' is a noun — neither functions as the verb required here. Correct verb form selection ensures reports are grammatically accurate and professional.
Question 3: Identify the grammatical error in the following sentence: 'Neither the officer nor the witnesses was able to identify the vehicle.'
- 'neither' should be 'either'
- 'was' should be 'were' (Correct answer)
- 'identify' should be 'identified'
- There is no error
Correct answer: 'was' should be 'were'
When using 'neither...nor,' the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. 'Witnesses' is plural, so the verb should be 'were.'
The neither/nor construction requires the verb to agree with the subject closest to it (the rule of proximity). In this sentence, 'witnesses' is the subject closest to the verb, and since 'witnesses' is plural, the verb must be 'were,' not 'was.' This is a common grammar error. Police officers must use correct subject-verb agreement to produce professional, credible reports.
Question 4: Which of the following report statements is the most specific and objective?
- The suspect seemed nervous and was acting suspicious.
- The suspect appeared to be in a bad mood.
- The suspect avoided eye contact and repeatedly shifted weight from foot to foot. (Correct answer)
- The suspect was clearly hiding something.
Correct answer: The suspect avoided eye contact and repeatedly shifted weight from foot to foot.
Describing observable behaviors (avoiding eye contact, shifting weight) is objective and specific, unlike subjective interpretations like 'nervous' or 'hiding something.'
Police reports should document observable behaviors and facts, not subjective interpretations or conclusions. Options A, B, and D use subjective language ('seemed nervous,' 'appeared to be in a bad mood,' 'clearly hiding something') that represents an officer's interpretation rather than factual observation. Option C describes specific, observable physical behaviors that any witness could verify. Objective documentation strengthens report credibility and admissibility.
Question 5: Which sentence uses commas correctly?
- The victim, who was bleeding from the arm was taken to the hospital.
- The officer, searched the vehicle, and found a firearm under the seat.
- The suspect, a 35-year-old male, was arrested at the scene. (Correct answer)
- After speaking with witnesses the officer, wrote a detailed report.
Correct answer: The suspect, a 35-year-old male, was arrested at the scene.
'The suspect, a 35-year-old male, was arrested at the scene' correctly uses commas to set off an appositive phrase.
In option C, commas correctly set off 'a 35-year-old male' as an appositive — a noun phrase that renames or further identifies 'the suspect.' Option A is missing a comma after 'arm' to complete the nonrestrictive clause. Option B incorrectly places a comma after 'officer,' creating a comma splice error. Option D incorrectly places the comma after 'officer' rather than after the introductory phrase. Proper comma use aids report readability and prevents ambiguity.
Question 6: An officer writes: 'Me and my partner responded to the scene.' How should this sentence be corrected?
- 'Me and my partner' should be 'My partner and I' (Correct answer)
- 'responded' should be 'response'
- Add a comma after 'partner'
- The sentence is correct as written
Correct answer: 'Me and my partner' should be 'My partner and I'
When a pronoun is used as the subject of a sentence, 'I' (not 'me') is correct. The correct form is 'My partner and I.'
The pronoun 'me' is an object pronoun and should not be used as the subject of a sentence. The correct subject pronoun is 'I.' A simple test is to remove the other person: 'Me responded' is clearly wrong, while 'I responded' is correct. Additionally, convention places the other person first: 'My partner and I.' Using correct pronoun case in police reports reflects professional writing standards and attention to detail.
NTN Police Writing and Grammar Skills 2
Which sentence is written most clearly and correctly for a police report?