PAPA Writing Conventions & Grammar 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
- She studied hard; and passed the exam.
- The storm was severe; it knocked out power for three days. (Correct answer)
- He wanted to go; but she refused.
- They arrived early; to get good seats.
Correct answer: The storm was severe; it knocked out power for three days.
A semicolon joins two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction; it should not precede 'and' or 'but' when those conjunctions are already present.
Question 2: Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?
- Running through the park, Maria saw a deer.
- Running through the park, a deer was spotted. (Correct answer)
- While she was running through the park, Maria saw a deer.
- Maria, who was running through the park, spotted a deer.
Correct answer: Running through the park, a deer was spotted.
In 'Running through the park, a deer was spotted,' the participial phrase incorrectly modifies 'deer' rather than the implied human subject.
Question 3: Choose the sentence that correctly uses a colon.
- The supplies she needed were: pencils, paper, and erasers.
- She needed: pencils, paper, and erasers.
- She packed three items: pencils, paper, and erasers. (Correct answer)
- She packed: pencils, paper, and erasers for the trip.
Correct answer: She packed three items: pencils, paper, and erasers.
A colon should follow a complete independent clause before introducing a list; it should not interrupt a verb or preposition from its object.
Question 4: Which option correctly fills the blank? 'Neither the students nor the teacher ___ finished the assignment.'
- have
- has (Correct answer)
- had been
- were
Correct answer: has
With 'neither…nor,' the verb agrees with the subject closest to it; since 'teacher' is singular, use 'has.'
Question 5: Which sentence demonstrates correct parallel structure?
- She likes hiking, to swim, and running.
- She likes hiking, swimming, and to run.
- She likes to hike, to swim, and running.
- She likes hiking, swimming, and running. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: She likes hiking, swimming, and running.
Parallel structure requires that all items in a series share the same grammatical form; all three gerunds (-ing) make this sentence parallel.
Question 6: Which sentence correctly punctuates an appositive phrase?
- My brother, a talented musician plays in a jazz band.
- My brother, a talented musician, plays in a jazz band. (Correct answer)
- My brother a talented musician, plays in a jazz band.
- My brother a talented musician plays in a jazz band.
Correct answer: My brother, a talented musician, plays in a jazz band.
A non-restrictive appositive phrase must be set off with commas on both sides to indicate it adds extra information rather than identifying the noun.
Question 7: Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'The committee must submit ___ report by Friday.'
- it's
- their
- its (Correct answer)
- there
Correct answer: its
'Committee' is a collective noun treated as singular, so the possessive pronoun 'its' (not 'it's' or 'their') is correct.
PAPA Writing Conventions & Grammar 2
Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?