PTA Writing and Grammar 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In a SOAP note, which section documents the patient's subjective complaints and symptoms as reported by the patient?
- O (Objective)
- S (Subjective) (Correct answer)
- A (Assessment)
- P (Plan)
Correct answer: S (Subjective)
The S (Subjective) section records what the patient reports about their own condition, symptoms, and concerns.
Question 2: Which sentence uses active voice correctly?
- The exercises were performed by the patient.
- The patient performed the exercises. (Correct answer)
- The exercises had been performed.
- Exercises were being performed by the staff.
Correct answer: The patient performed the exercises.
Active voice places the subject (patient) before the verb (performed), making the sentence more direct and clear.
Question 3: Which punctuation correctly completes: 'The patient reported three symptoms___ pain, swelling, and stiffness'?
- semicolon
- comma
- colon (Correct answer)
- em dash
Correct answer: colon
A colon is used to introduce a list or explanation that follows an independent clause.
Question 4: Which sentence contains a comma splice?
- The patient improved; therapy was effective.
- The patient improved, therapy was effective. (Correct answer)
- The patient improved because therapy was effective.
- The patient improved after effective therapy.
Correct answer: The patient improved, therapy was effective.
A comma splice incorrectly joins two independent clauses with only a comma instead of a conjunction or semicolon.
Question 5: A clinical note reads: 'The patients records were updated.' What correction is needed?
- Change 'patients' to 'patient's' (Correct answer)
- Change 'updated' to 'updating'
- Add a comma after 'The'
- Change 'were' to 'are'
Correct answer: Change 'patients' to 'patient's'
A possessive apostrophe (patient's) is required to show the records belong to the patient.
Question 6: Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement with a collective noun in American English?
- The therapy team are disagreeing about the plan.
- The therapy team is working collaboratively. (Correct answer)
- The team of therapists were all late.
- The staff have submitted their individual opinions.
Correct answer: The therapy team is working collaboratively.
Collective nouns like 'team' take singular verbs in American English when acting as a unified group.
Question 7: Which sentence demonstrates correct parallel structure?
- The patient needs to stretch, strengthening, and walk.
- The patient needs stretching, to strengthen, and walking.
- The patient needs to stretch, to strengthen, and to walk. (Correct answer)
- The patient needs stretching, strengthening, and to walk.
Correct answer: The patient needs to stretch, to strengthen, and to walk.
Parallel structure requires using the same grammatical form for each item in a series (to stretch, to strengthen, to walk).
PTA Writing and Grammar 2
In a SOAP note, which section documents the patient's subjective complaints and symptoms as reported by the patient?