Sentence Correction Flashcards

1. If the books have been cataloged last week, why haven't they been placed on the shelf?

Answer: were cataloged

The phrase 'last week' indicates a specific point in the past, requiring the simple past tense. 'Were cataloged' is the correct simple past passive form, which accurately reflects an action completed at a definite time in the past.

2. Jessica Mitford wrote The American Way of Death, a best-selling book that led eventually to an official investigation of the funeral industry.

Answer: that eventually led

Adverbs of manner or time, such as 'eventually,' typically precede the main verb they modify for better flow and clarity. Placing 'eventually' before 'led' creates a more natural and grammatically smooth sentence, emphasizing the gradual nature of the leading action.

3. Sabotage came from the French saboter, which means "to clatter with wooden shoes (sabots)."

Answer: which means "to

The word 'which' correctly introduces a non-restrictive clause that provides additional, non-essential information about 'saboter.' No comma is needed directly after 'means' and before the opening quotation mark when the quoted phrase directly follows the verb, making the phrasing concise and correct.

4. When studying an assignment, it is wise to read it over quickly at first, than see the major points, and finally outline the material.

Answer: first, then

This question tests the correct usage of 'than' versus 'then.' 'Than' is used for comparisons, while 'then' indicates a sequence of events or time. In this sentence, a sequence of steps is being described ('first, then, and finally'), so 'then' is the grammatically correct word to use.

5. To judge the Tidy City contest, we picked an uninterested party.

Answer: picked a disinterested party.

'Uninterested' means not interested or bored, whereas 'disinterested' means impartial or unbiased. For judging a contest, an impartial party is required to ensure fairness. Therefore, 'disinterested' is the correct word to convey the need for an unbiased judge.

6. Linda decides they had better scram before the killers find them.

Answer: had better leave

'Scram' is informal slang and generally considered inappropriate for standard written English. 'Had better leave' is a more formal and appropriate phrase that conveys the same urgency and meaning in a standard context, making the sentence more suitable for formal communication.

7. I really dug the character of Brutus.

Answer: admired

'Dug' is informal slang for liking or appreciating something and is generally not suitable for formal writing. 'Admired' is a more formal, precise, and appropriate verb that accurately conveys a positive appreciation for a character in a literary context, improving the sentence's tone.

8. Once upon a point a time, a small person named Little Red Riding Hood initiated plans for the preparation, delivery and transportation of foodstuffs to her Grandmother.

Answer: and transportation of foodstuffs to her grandmother.

The word 'grandmother' should not be capitalized unless it is used as a proper noun (e.g., 'Grandmother said...') or as a direct address. In this sentence, it functions as a common noun referring to 'her grandmother,' so it should be lowercase according to standard capitalization rules.

9. The setting of a story effects the story's plot.

Answer: affects the story's plot.

The word "affects" is the correct verb to use here, meaning "to influence." "Effects" is typically a noun meaning "results." Additionally, the subject "setting" is singular, requiring the singular verb form "affects" for proper subject-verb agreement.

10. Arctic trees are scrubbiest than trees in milder climates.

Answer: scrubbier than trees

When comparing two things, the comparative form of the adjective is required, which is "scrubbier" for "scrubby." The word "than" is correctly used to introduce the second part of a comparison. "Scrubbiest" is a superlative form used for comparing three or more things, and "then" refers to time.

11. Quebec rises in a magnificent way above the St. Lawrence River.

Answer: rises magnificently above

The phrase "in a magnificent way" is wordy and can be replaced by the single adverb "magnificently." Adverbs like "magnificently" modify verbs (in this case, "rises") and provide a more concise and elegant description of the action. This choice improves the sentence's flow and conciseness.

12. Someone gives the school gerbils every year.

Answer: Someone gives the school gerbils

The original sentence is grammatically correct and stylistically sound. "Someone" is correctly written as a single word, and the sentence uses active voice effectively to convey that an unspecified person performs the action of giving gerbils. Other options introduce errors in spelling ("Some one") or unnecessary wordiness.

13. During colonial days, a school room looked rather empty.

Answer: colonial days, a schoolroom looked

The correct spelling for the noun referring to a room in a school is "schoolroom," written as one word. The comma after the introductory phrase "During colonial days" is also correctly used to separate it from the main clause. Semicolons are inappropriate here as they typically connect two independent clauses or separate items in a complex list.

14. The helium-filled balloon rose in the air.

Answer: rose into the air.

The preposition "into" is correctly used here to indicate movement from outside the air to inside the air. "In" suggests that the balloon was already situated within the air, whereas "rose" implies an action of entering or moving upwards. Therefore, "rose into the air" accurately describes the balloon's upward motion.

15. If I had the address, I would have delivered the package myself.

Answer: had had the address,

This sentence requires the third conditional structure, which describes an unreal condition in the past and its unreal result in the past. The "if" clause should use the past perfect tense ("had had"), and the main clause uses "would have" + past participle. The comma after the "if" clause is also correctly placed.

16. Do you know that these gloves have lay on the bureau all week?

Answer: have lain on

The verb "lie" means to recline or rest, and its past participle form is "lain." Since the sentence uses the present perfect tense ("have...on"), the correct form is "have lain on." "Lay" is either the present tense of the transitive verb (to place something) or the past tense of the intransitive verb "lie."

17. If I would have known about the team tryouts, I would have signed up for them.

Answer: had known

This is a third conditional sentence, which describes a hypothetical situation in the past that did not happen. The "if" clause must use the past perfect tense ("had known"), not "would have known." The main clause correctly uses "would have signed up."

18. If he would have revised his first draft, he would have received a better grade.

Answer: would have revised

In a third conditional sentence, which expresses an unreal condition in the past, the "if" clause must use the past perfect tense. Therefore, "had revised" is the correct form, not "would have revised." The main clause correctly uses "would have received."

19. Valarie claims that cats made the best pets.

Answer: make the best pets.

When stating a general truth or an ongoing belief, the present tense is appropriate. Valarie's claim about cats being the best pets is presented as a general statement, so the present tense verb "make" is correct. "Made" would imply that cats were the best pets only in the past, which contradicts the nature of a general claim.

20. By next month, Ms. Jones will be Mayor of Tallahassee for two years.

Answer: will have been mayor of Tallahassee

The phrase "By next month" indicates an action that will be completed by a specific time in the future, requiring the future perfect tense "will have been." Additionally, "mayor" should be lowercase because it is a common noun describing a role, not a formal title directly preceding a name.