Using Correct Grammar Flashcards

Which sentence uses the correct form of the verb?

Answer: Neither the students nor the teacher was prepared.

When 'neither/nor' joins subjects, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it ('teacher' is singular, so use 'was').

Choose the sentence that correctly uses a semicolon.

Answer: The movie was long; however, it was entertaining.

A semicolon can join two independent clauses when followed by a conjunctive adverb like 'however'.

Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?

Answer: Running quickly, the ball was chased by Maria.

A dangling modifier occurs when the modifier ('Running quickly') does not logically refer to the subject ('ball') of the main clause.

Select the correct use of 'who' versus 'whom'.

Answer: Who did you speak with?

'Who' is used as a subject and 'whom' as an object; in 'Who did you speak with?' 'who' functions as the object of the preposition.

Which sentence correctly uses the past perfect tense?

Answer: She had finished her homework before her mom arrived.

The past perfect ('had finished') is used for the action completed first, while simple past ('arrived') is used for the action that followed.

Which option corrects the run-on sentence: 'The test was difficult many students struggled'?

Answer: The test was difficult; many students struggled.

A semicolon correctly separates two related independent clauses that are joined without a coordinating conjunction.

Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly?

Answer: She likes hiking, swimming, and riding bikes.

Parallel structure requires all items in a list to use the same grammatical form (here, all gerunds: hiking, swimming, riding).