SATs Sentence Structure & Punctuation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?
- Running down the street, the dog chased the ball.
- Running down the street, the ball was chased by the dog. (Correct answer)
- The dog, running down the street, chased the ball.
- The dog chased the ball while running down the street.
Correct answer: Running down the street, the ball was chased by the dog.
A dangling modifier occurs when the introductory phrase does not logically refer to the subject of the main clause.
Question 2: Which revision best corrects the misplaced modifier in 'She served sandwiches to the guests on paper plates'?
- On paper plates, the guests were served sandwiches by her.
- She served the guests sandwiches, on paper plates.
- She served sandwiches on paper plates to the guests. (Correct answer)
- On paper plates, she served guests nothing but sandwiches.
Correct answer: She served sandwiches on paper plates to the guests.
Placing 'on paper plates' directly after 'sandwiches' clarifies that the plates hold the food, not the guests.
Question 3: Which sentence demonstrates correct parallel structure?
- She likes hiking, to swim, and running.
- She likes hiking, swimming, and to run.
- She likes hiking, swimming, and running. (Correct answer)
- She likes to hike, swimming, and running.
Correct answer: She likes hiking, swimming, and running.
All items in a series must use the same grammatical form to maintain parallel structure.
Question 4: Which sentence correctly uses correlative conjunctions with parallel structure?
- Either you come with us or staying home.
- Either you come with us or you stay home. (Correct answer)
- Either come with us or you should be staying home.
- Either coming with us or you stay home.
Correct answer: Either you come with us or you stay home.
Correlative conjunctions (either/or, neither/nor) require parallel grammatical structures on each side.
Question 5: "_______ the rain was heavy, the game continued." Which subordinating conjunction shows the correct logical relationship?
- Because
- Since
- Although (Correct answer)
- Unless
Correct answer: Although
'Although' introduces a concessive clause, correctly showing contrast between the heavy rain and the game continuing.
Question 6: "The professor _______ taught our class won a national award." Which word correctly fills the blank?
- which
- whom
- who (Correct answer)
- whose
Correct answer: who
'Who' is the correct relative pronoun for a person acting as the subject of a relative clause.
Question 7: Which sentence correctly punctuates the appositive phrase?
- My brother, a doctor works in Boston.
- My brother a doctor, works in Boston.
- My brother, a doctor, works in Boston. (Correct answer)
- My brother a doctor works in Boston.
Correct answer: My brother, a doctor, works in Boston.
A nonrestrictive appositive phrase that adds extra information must be enclosed in commas on both sides.
SATs Sentence Structure & Punctuation 3
Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?