Writing: Grammar and Sentence Structure Flashcards

A student wrote the following sentences in an essay. Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier, creating ambiguity?

Answer: The mechanic fixed the car for the customer with the broken axle.

The phrase 'with the broken axle' is a misplaced modifier. It is intended to describe the car, but its placement makes it seem like it's describing the customer. The sentence should be rewritten for clarity, such as: 'The mechanic fixed the car with the broken axle for the customer.'

Read the sentences below. Which of the following is a run-on sentence known as a comma splice?

Answer: The concert was sold out, we were lucky to get tickets.

This is a comma splice because two independent clauses ('The concert was sold out' and 'we were lucky to get tickets') are incorrectly joined by only a comma. They could be corrected with a period, a semicolon, or a coordinating conjunction (like 'but' or 'so').

Choose the verb that correctly completes the following sentence to ensure proper subject-verb agreement: 'The box of old photographs, along with several dusty letters, ______ discovered in the attic.'

Answer: was

The subject of the sentence is 'box,' which is singular. The phrases 'of old photographs' and 'along with several dusty letters' are prepositional and parenthetical phrases that do not affect the number of the subject. Therefore, the singular verb 'was' is required to agree with the singular subject 'box.'

Which of the following sentences is written with correct parallel structure?

Answer: For a healthy lifestyle, one should exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and get enough sleep.

This sentence uses a parallel structure where each item in the series is a verb phrase in the same form: 'exercise regularly,' 'eat a balanced diet,' and 'get enough sleep.' The other options mix grammatical forms (e.g., mixing infinitives, gerunds, and nouns).

A student is writing an email to a teacher. Which sentence uses the correct pronoun case?

Answer: The librarian gave the books to my sister and me.

'My sister and me' are the objects of the preposition 'to.' Therefore, the objective case pronoun 'me' is correct. In option A, it should be 'me' (object of preposition 'between'). In option B, 'My friend and I' is the subject. In option D, 'We students' is the subject.

Which of the following sentences uses the words 'affect' and 'effect' correctly?

Answer: Lack of sleep can seriously affect your performance, and a common effect is reduced alertness.

This sentence correctly uses 'affect' as a verb meaning 'to influence' or 'to impact' (Lack of sleep can... affect your performance). It also correctly uses 'effect' as a noun meaning 'a result' or 'a consequence' (a common effect is...).