TSIA2 Writing Conventions 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
- She studied all night; and passed the exam.
- She studied all night; she passed the exam. (Correct answer)
- She studied; all night for the exam.
- She; studied all night and passed.
Correct answer: She studied all night; she passed the exam.
A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.
Question 2: Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?
- Running through the park, Maria spotted a deer.
- Running through the park, a deer was spotted by Maria. (Correct answer)
- Maria, running through the park, spotted a deer.
- While running through the park, Maria spotted a deer.
Correct answer: Running through the park, a deer was spotted by Maria.
A dangling modifier occurs when the subject performing the action is not the subject of the main clause; here 'a deer' is not running.
Question 3: Which option corrects the comma splice: 'The report was late, the manager was furious.'?
- The report was late, and the manager was furious.
- The report was late, the manager, was furious.
- The report was late: the manager was furious.
- Both A and C are correct. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Both A and C are correct.
A comma splice can be corrected by adding a coordinating conjunction after the comma or by using a colon when the second clause explains the first.
Question 4: In which sentence is the apostrophe used correctly?
- The students' projects were displayed in the hall. (Correct answer)
- The student's projects were all displayed in the halls'.
- The students projects' were displayed.
- The students's projects were displayed.
Correct answer: The students' projects were displayed in the hall.
When a plural noun already ends in -s, add only an apostrophe to show possession.
Question 5: Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?
- Neither the coach nor the players was ready.
- Neither the coach nor the players were ready. (Correct answer)
- Neither the coach nor the players is ready.
- Neither the coach nor the players has been ready.
Correct answer: Neither the coach nor the players were ready.
With 'neither…nor,' the verb agrees with the subject closest to it; since 'players' is plural, the verb should be 'were.'
Question 6: Which sentence correctly uses a colon?
- Please bring: a pencil, paper, and an eraser.
- She needed three things: a pencil, paper, and an eraser. (Correct answer)
- She needed: a pencil, paper, and an eraser.
- Please bring a pencil, paper: and an eraser.
Correct answer: She needed three things: a pencil, paper, and an eraser.
A colon should follow a complete independent clause before introducing a list or explanation.
Question 7: Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly?
- 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 run.
Correct answer: She likes hiking, swimming, and running.
Parallel structure requires all items in a series to use the same grammatical form; here all gerunds (-ing) are consistent.
TSIA2 Writing Conventions 2
Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?