VEPT Grammar and Sentence Structure 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence avoids a double negative?
- I don't have no time for that.
- She couldn't find nobody to help her.
- He didn't say anything about the meeting. (Correct answer)
- They haven't done nothing wrong.
Correct answer: He didn't say anything about the meeting.
Standard English requires only one negative per clause; 'didn't say anything' correctly uses one negative element.
Question 2: Which version correctly joins these two independent clauses? 'The traffic was heavy. We arrived on time.'
- The traffic was heavy, we arrived on time.
- The traffic was heavy; however, we arrived on time. (Correct answer)
- The traffic was heavy however, we arrived on time.
- The traffic was heavy, but, we arrived on time.
Correct answer: The traffic was heavy; however, we arrived on time.
A semicolon followed by a conjunctive adverb and a comma correctly joins two independent clauses showing contrast.
Question 3: Which sentence correctly uses a reflexive pronoun?
- My colleague and myself finished the project early.
- Please send the report to John and myself.
- I hurt myself while cooking dinner. (Correct answer)
- Herself decided to quit the job.
Correct answer: I hurt myself while cooking dinner.
Reflexive pronouns are correct when the subject and object refer to the same person; 'I hurt myself' is the proper reflexive use.
Question 4: Which sentence shows the correct use of an appositive phrase?
- My brother, a doctor he works in Chicago.
- My brother a doctor, works in Chicago.
- My brother, a doctor, works in Chicago. (Correct answer)
- My brother works in Chicago, a doctor.
Correct answer: My brother, a doctor, works in Chicago.
An appositive phrase renames or identifies the noun immediately before it and is set off by commas on both sides.
Question 5: Which sentence correctly uses 'fewer' vs. 'less'?
- There are less students in the class this year.
- I have less books than you do.
- We need fewer resources to complete this task. (Correct answer)
- She drinks less coffees than her coworker.
Correct answer: We need fewer resources to complete this task.
'Fewer' is used with countable nouns (resources can be counted) while 'less' is used with uncountable or mass nouns.
Question 6: Which sentence demonstrates the correct use of the present perfect tense?
- I have seen that movie last year.
- She has finished her homework an hour ago.
- They have lived in New York for three years. (Correct answer)
- He has went to the store already.
Correct answer: They have lived in New York for three years.
The present perfect with 'for' describes an action that began in the past and continues to the present; it cannot be used with specific past time markers like 'last year' or 'ago'.
Question 7: Identify the sentence with a correctly punctuated introductory adverbial clause.
- After the meeting ended we went to lunch.
- After the meeting ended, we went to lunch. (Correct answer)
- We went to lunch, after the meeting ended.
- We went to lunch after, the meeting ended.
Correct answer: After the meeting ended, we went to lunch.
An introductory adverbial clause at the beginning of a sentence should be followed by a comma before the main clause.
VEPT Grammar and Sentence Structure 5
Which sentence avoids a double negative?