Sentence Structure and Punctuation Flashcards

Which sentence uses 'who' and 'whom' correctly?

Answer: To whom should I address the letter?

'Whom' is used as the object of a preposition, so 'To whom' is correct.

Which sentence avoids a double negative?

Answer: He barely said anything.

'Barely' combined with 'anything' is a standard construction that avoids a double negative.

Which sentence uses an ellipsis correctly?

Answer: She paused... and then spoke.

An ellipsis of three dots with spaces on each side indicates a pause or omission.

Which sentence correctly uses a restrictive clause without commas?

Answer: Students who study daily tend to score higher.

A restrictive clause is essential to the meaning and is not set off by commas.

Which sentence correctly uses 'its' versus 'it's'?

Answer: The dog wagged its tail.

'Its' is the possessive pronoun; 'it's' is the contraction of 'it is.'

Which option shows correct subject-verb agreement with a collective noun?

Answer: The jury was divided on the verdict.

In American English, collective nouns like 'jury' take singular verbs when acting as a unit.

Which sentence correctly uses an exclamation point?

Answer: She yelled, 'Stop!'

When an exclamation is quoted, the exclamation point goes inside the quotation marks.