Regents English Grammar and Language Usage 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?
- The students in the class was excited.
- Each of the players are ready.
- The group of teachers is meeting today. (Correct answer)
- Everyone are doing their homework.
Correct answer: The group of teachers is meeting today.
The subject 'group' is singular, so it takes the singular verb 'is'; collective nouns are treated as singular when acting as a unit.
Question 2: Which sentence uses a comma correctly?
- She ran quickly, but she did not win the race. (Correct answer)
- She, ran quickly but she did not win.
- She ran quickly but, she did not win.
- She ran, quickly but she did not win the race.
Correct answer: She ran quickly, but she did not win the race.
A comma is placed before a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) when joining two independent clauses in a compound sentence.
Question 3: Which of the following is an example of a 'run-on sentence'?
- She studied hard, and she passed the exam.
- He ran the race he won the trophy. (Correct answer)
- Although it rained, the game continued.
- The student read the book carefully.
Correct answer: He ran the race he won the trophy.
A run-on sentence incorrectly joins two independent clauses without proper punctuation or a conjunction.
Question 4: Which sentence uses the correct pronoun-antecedent agreement?
- Everyone must bring their own pencil. (Correct answer)
- Everyone must bring his own pencil.
- Everyone must bring its own pencil.
- Everyone must bring our own pencil.
Correct answer: Everyone must bring their own pencil.
In modern English usage, 'their' is widely accepted as a singular gender-neutral pronoun, especially with indefinite pronouns like 'everyone.'
Question 5: Which of the following corrects a 'dangling modifier'?
- Walking to school, the rain began to fall.
- Walking to school, she got caught in the rain. (Correct answer)
- Walking to school, the rain was falling hard.
- Walking to school, the streets were wet.
Correct answer: Walking to school, she got caught in the rain.
A dangling modifier must logically refer to a named subject; 'Walking to school, she got caught in the rain' correctly identifies the person walking.
Question 6: Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
- I love reading; and I love writing.
- She was tired; however, she kept studying. (Correct answer)
- He went to the store; to buy milk.
- We will go; if the weather is nice.
Correct answer: She was tired; however, she kept studying.
A semicolon can be used before a conjunctive adverb like 'however' when joining two independent clauses.
Regents English Grammar and Language Usage 1
Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?