SAEE Language Usage 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses the correct subject-verb agreement?
- Neither the manager nor the workers was present.
- Neither the manager nor the workers were present. (Correct answer)
- Neither the manager nor the workers is present.
- Neither the manager nor the workers be present.
Correct answer: Neither the manager nor the workers were present.
With 'neither/nor,' the verb agrees with the closer subject, 'workers,' which is plural.
Question 2: Choose the sentence with correct pronoun case.
- The award was given to John and I.
- The award was given to John and me. (Correct answer)
- The award was given to John and myself.
- The award was given to he and I.
Correct answer: The award was given to John and me.
After a preposition, the objective pronoun 'me' is required.
Question 3: Which word correctly completes the sentence: 'The team played well, ___ it lost the game.'?
- and
- but (Correct answer)
- so
- for
Correct answer: but
'But' shows the contrast between playing well and losing.
Question 4: Identify the sentence with correct comma usage.
- After the rain stopped we went outside.
- After the rain stopped, we went outside. (Correct answer)
- After, the rain stopped we went outside.
- After the rain, stopped we went outside.
Correct answer: After the rain stopped, we went outside.
A comma follows an introductory dependent clause.
Question 5: Which sentence is free of a misplaced modifier?
- Running down the street, the bus was missed by Tom.
- Tom missed the bus while running down the street. (Correct answer)
- The bus was missed running down the street by Tom.
- Running down the street the bus, Tom missed.
Correct answer: Tom missed the bus while running down the street.
The modifier clearly attaches to Tom, who was running.
Question 6: Choose the correctly spelled word.
- recieve
- receive (Correct answer)
- receeve
- receve
Correct answer: receive
The rule 'i before e except after c' applies, giving 'receive.'
Question 7: Which sentence uses the correct verb tense for a completed past action before another?
- By noon, she finished the report.
- By noon, she had finished the report. (Correct answer)
- By noon, she has finished the report.
- By noon, she finishes the report.
Correct answer: By noon, she had finished the report.
Past perfect 'had finished' shows an action completed before a past point.
SAEE Language Usage 2
Which sentence uses the correct subject-verb agreement?