PERT Grammar Usage & Sentence Structure 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses the correct verb tense for a completed past action before another past action?
- By the time she arrived, the movie started.
- By the time she arrived, the movie had started. (Correct answer)
- By the time she arrived, the movie starts.
- By the time she arrived, the movie has started.
Correct answer: By the time she arrived, the movie had started.
The past perfect 'had started' shows an action completed before another past event.
Question 2: Identify the sentence with parallel structure.
- She likes hiking, swimming, and to bike.
- She likes hiking, swimming, and biking. (Correct answer)
- She likes to hike, swimming, and biking.
- She likes hike, swim, and biking.
Correct answer: She likes hiking, swimming, and biking.
All items in the list use the same -ing form, creating parallelism.
Question 3: Which sentence correctly uses 'who' versus 'whom'?
- Whom is calling me?
- Who did you give it to?
- To whom did you give it? (Correct answer)
- Whom wrote this letter?
Correct answer: To whom did you give it?
'Whom' is the object of the preposition 'to,' making this correct.
Question 4: Choose the sentence with correct comma usage.
- After the game we went home.
- After the game, we went home. (Correct answer)
- After, the game we went home.
- After the game we, went home.
Correct answer: After the game, we went home.
A comma follows an introductory phrase like 'after the game.'
Question 5: Which sentence avoids a misplaced modifier?
- I almost ate the whole pizza.
- I ate almost the whole pizza. (Correct answer)
- Almost I ate the whole pizza.
- I ate the whole almost pizza.
Correct answer: I ate almost the whole pizza.
'Almost' belongs next to 'the whole pizza' to describe how much was eaten.
Question 6: Identify the correct use of 'fewer' or 'less.'
- There are less cars on the road today.
- There are fewer cars on the road today. (Correct answer)
- There is fewer traffic today.
- There are less cars but fewer traffic.
Correct answer: There are fewer cars on the road today.
'Fewer' is used with countable nouns like 'cars.'
Question 7: Which sentence is a complete sentence, not a fragment?
- Because the store was closed.
- Running through the park quickly.
- The store was closed yesterday. (Correct answer)
- Although she tried very hard.
Correct answer: The store was closed yesterday.
Only this option has a subject and a verb expressing a complete thought.
Which sentence uses the correct verb tense for a completed past action before another past action?