RLA Sentence Structure and Punctuation 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence correctly uses parentheses?
- She finally passed (after three attempts) the test.
- She finally passed the test (after three attempts.)
- She finally passed the test (after three attempts). (Correct answer)
- She finally passed the test, (after three attempts).
Correct answer: She finally passed the test (after three attempts).
When parenthetical information ends a sentence, the period goes outside the closing parenthesis.
Question 2: Which option corrects the comma splice: 'I was tired, I went to bed early.'
- I was tired; I went to bed early. (Correct answer)
- I was tired, and, I went to bed early.
- I was tired: I went to bed early.
- I was tired, so I went to bed early, too.
Correct answer: I was tired; I went to bed early.
A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses that are closely related.
Question 3: Which sentence correctly uses a hyphen?
- She is a well-known author. (Correct answer)
- She is well known-author.
- She is a well known author.
- She is a well—known author.
Correct answer: She is a well-known author.
Compound modifiers before a noun are hyphenated, so 'well-known' is correct before 'author'.
Question 4: Which sentence is grammatically correct?
- Neither the players nor the coach were ready.
- Neither the players nor the coach was ready. (Correct answer)
- Neither the players nor the coach are ready.
- Neither the players nor the coach have been ready.
Correct answer: Neither the players nor the coach was ready.
With 'neither...nor,' the verb agrees with the subject closest to it ('coach'), which is singular.
Question 5: Which sentence uses an appositive correctly?
- My brother, a doctor lives in Boston.
- My brother a doctor, lives in Boston.
- My brother, a doctor, lives in Boston. (Correct answer)
- My brother, a doctor lives, in Boston.
Correct answer: My brother, a doctor, lives in Boston.
An appositive phrase that adds non-essential information is set off by commas on both sides.
Question 6: What type of sentence is: 'Although she was tired, she finished her homework.'
- Simple
- Compound
- Complex (Correct answer)
- Compound-complex
Correct answer: Complex
A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one dependent clause introduced by a subordinating conjunction.
Question 7: Which sentence correctly punctuates an introductory clause?
- After the storm passed the town cleaned up.
- After the storm passed, the town cleaned up. (Correct answer)
- After the storm, passed the town cleaned up.
- After the storm passed the town, cleaned up.
Correct answer: After the storm passed, the town cleaned up.
An introductory adverbial clause should be followed by a comma before the main clause.
RLA Sentence Structure and Punctuation 4
Which sentence correctly uses parentheses?