OSSLT Using Correct Grammar 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses apostrophes correctly?
- The childrens' toys were scattered on the floor.
- The children's toys were scattered on the floor. (Correct answer)
- The childrens toys' were scattered on the floor.
- The childrens toy's were scattered on the floor.
Correct answer: The children's toys were scattered on the floor.
For irregular plurals like 'children' that don't end in 's', add apostrophe + s to show possession.
Question 2: Identify the sentence with correct pronoun-antecedent agreement.
- Everyone must bring their own lunch.
- Everyone must bring his or her own lunch. (Correct answer)
- Everyone must bring its own lunch.
- Everyone must bring our own lunch.
Correct answer: Everyone must bring his or her own lunch.
The indefinite pronoun 'everyone' is singular, so it should agree with the singular pronoun 'his or her' in formal writing.
Question 3: Which sentence uses the correct comparative form?
- This essay is more better than your last one.
- This essay is gooder than your last one.
- This essay is better than your last one. (Correct answer)
- This essay is more good than your last one.
Correct answer: This essay is better than your last one.
'Better' is the correct comparative form of 'good'; 'more better' and 'more good' are double comparatives and incorrect.
Question 4: Which sentence avoids a misplaced modifier?
- I almost drove my kids to school every day last year.
- I drove my kids to almost every school last year.
- I drove almost my kids to school every day last year.
- I drove my kids to school almost every day last year. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: I drove my kids to school almost every day last year.
Placing 'almost' before 'every day' correctly modifies how frequently the action occurred.
Question 5: Select the sentence that correctly uses a colon.
- I need: eggs, milk, and butter.
- My goals are: to graduate, travel, and succeed.
- She had one dream: to become a doctor. (Correct answer)
- The store sells: fruits, vegetables, and grains.
Correct answer: She had one dream: to become a doctor.
A colon should follow a complete independent clause before introducing a list, explanation, or appositive.
Question 6: Which sentence correctly uses an adjective instead of an adverb?
- She looked sadly at the broken vase.
- She looked sad at the broken vase. (Correct answer)
- She looked sadly after the broken vase.
- She looked sadder at the broken vase.
Correct answer: She looked sad at the broken vase.
After a linking verb like 'looked,' use an adjective ('sad') to describe the subject, not an adverb ('sadly').
Question 7: Which sentence uses the subjunctive mood correctly?
- If I was taller, I would play basketball.
- If I were taller, I would play basketball. (Correct answer)
- If I am taller, I would play basketball.
- If I been taller, I would play basketball.
Correct answer: If I were taller, I would play basketball.
The subjunctive mood uses 'were' (not 'was') for hypothetical or contrary-to-fact conditions.
OSSLT Using Correct Grammar 3
Which sentence uses apostrophes correctly?