Grammar and Word Usage Flashcards

Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?

Answer: She almost drove her children to school every day.

'Almost' is misplaced—it should be 'She drove her children to school almost every day' to modify 'every day.'

Choose the correct form: 'Neither the coach nor the players ______ satisfied with the result.'

Answer: were

With 'neither/nor,' the verb agrees with the subject closest to it; 'players' is plural, so 'were' is correct.

Which option correctly uses 'fewer' vs. 'less'?

Answer: I have fewer apples than you.

'Fewer' is used with countable nouns like 'apples'; 'less' is used with uncountable nouns.

Identify the appositive phrase in: 'My neighbor, an accomplished pianist, plays every evening.'

Answer: an accomplished pianist

An appositive phrase renames or describes the noun it follows; 'an accomplished pianist' renames 'My neighbor.'

Which sentence correctly uses a colon?

Answer: She brought the following items: her bag, her notebook, and her pen.

A colon follows a complete independent clause and introduces a list, quotation, or explanation.

Select the correct usage: 'The data ______ analyzed before the report was written.'

Answer: was

In American English, 'data' is commonly treated as a singular noun, so 'was' is standard in US usage.

Which sentence correctly uses parallel structure?

Answer: She likes hiking, swimming, and running.

Parallel structure requires matching grammatical forms; 'hiking, swimming, and running' are all gerunds.