SATs Grammar 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses correct subject-verb agreement? A) The list of ingredients were posted online. B) The list of ingredients was posted online. C) The list of ingredients are posted online. D) The list of ingredients have been posted online.
- A only
- B only (Correct answer)
- C only
- D only
Correct answer: B only
The subject is 'list' (singular), so the verb must be 'was,' not 'were' or 'are.'
Question 2: Choose the sentence that correctly uses a semicolon. A) I wanted to go; but it was raining. B) She studied hard; she passed the exam. C) He ran quickly; to catch the bus. D) They arrived; and then left.
- A
- B (Correct answer)
- C
- D
Correct answer: B
A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses without a conjunction.
Question 3: Which word correctly completes the sentence: 'Neither the coach nor the players _____ responsible for the delay'?
- was
- were (Correct answer)
- is
- has been
Correct answer: were
With 'neither…nor,' the verb agrees with the subject closer to it ('players,' plural), so 'were' is correct.
Question 4: Identify the error in this sentence: 'Everyone on the team must submit their report by Friday.'
- 'Everyone' should be plural
- No error; 'their' is acceptable with 'everyone' (Correct answer)
- 'their' should be 'his or her'
- 'must submit' should be 'must submits'
Correct answer: No error; 'their' is acceptable with 'everyone'
Modern usage and SAT standards accept singular 'they/their' with indefinite pronouns like 'everyone.'
Question 5: Which revision corrects the dangling modifier? 'Walking through the park, the flowers smelled wonderful.'
- Walking through the park, wonderful smells came from the flowers.
- Walking through the park, we noticed the flowers smelled wonderful. (Correct answer)
- The flowers, walking through the park, smelled wonderful.
- Through the park walking, the flowers smelled wonderful.
Correct answer: Walking through the park, we noticed the flowers smelled wonderful.
The modifier 'walking through the park' must describe a person (we), not the flowers.
Question 6: Which sentence demonstrates correct use of the apostrophe? A) The dog wagged it's tail. B) Its the best solution available. C) The committee reached its decision. D) The committee reached it's decision.
- A
- B
- C (Correct answer)
- D
Correct answer: C
'Its' (no apostrophe) is the possessive pronoun; 'it's' always means 'it is.'
Question 7: Which option correctly completes the sentence using parallel structure? 'The candidate promised to lower taxes, _____, and protect civil rights.'
- the creation of jobs
- creating jobs
- job creation
- to create jobs (Correct answer)
Correct answer: to create jobs
The list uses infinitives ('to lower,' 'to protect'), so parallel structure requires 'to create jobs.'
SATs Grammar 2
Which sentence uses correct subject-verb agreement?
A) The list of ingredients were posted online.
B) The list of ingredients was posted online.
C) The list of ingredients are posted online.
D) The list of ingredients have been posted online.