Written Test Grammar and Mechanics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
- She loves hiking; and camping.
- I finished the report; however, the boss wanted revisions. (Correct answer)
- He went to the store; bought milk.
- The dog barked; loudly all night.
Correct answer: I finished the report; however, the boss wanted revisions.
A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses, especially when followed by a conjunctive adverb like 'however.'
Question 2: Identify the dangling modifier in this sentence: 'Running down the street, the keys fell from her pocket.'
- Running down the street (Correct answer)
- the keys fell
- from her pocket
- There is no dangling modifier
Correct answer: Running down the street
'Running down the street' is a dangling modifier because it implies the keys were running, not a person.
Question 3: Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'She was ___ tired to finish the race.'
- to
- two
- too (Correct answer)
- tow
Correct answer: too
'Too' means excessively or also, making it the correct choice in this context.
Question 4: Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?
- The team are playing well today.
- Neither of the boys were ready.
- Each of the students is responsible for their homework. (Correct answer)
- The group of engineers were impressed.
Correct answer: Each of the students is responsible for their homework.
'Each' is a singular indefinite pronoun and requires the singular verb 'is.'
Question 5: What is the function of an em dash in a sentence?
- To indicate a pause shorter than a comma
- To join two independent clauses like a semicolon
- To set off a phrase with more emphasis than parentheses (Correct answer)
- To separate items in a complex list
Correct answer: To set off a phrase with more emphasis than parentheses
An em dash sets off a word, phrase, or clause with strong emphasis, more dramatic than parentheses.
Question 6: Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?
- She nearly drove her kids to school every day. (Correct answer)
- The hungry dog ate the leftover food.
- He quietly closed the door behind him.
- They quickly finished their homework.
Correct answer: She nearly drove her kids to school every day.
'Nearly' should modify 'every day,' not 'drove'; the corrected sentence would read 'She drove her kids to school nearly every day.'
Question 7: Which option correctly uses an apostrophe to show possession for a plural noun ending in 's'?
- The student's projects were excellent.
- The students' projects were excellent. (Correct answer)
- The students's projects were excellent.
- The students projects' were excellent.
Correct answer: The students' projects were excellent.
For plural nouns already ending in 's,' the apostrophe is added after the 's' with no additional 's.'
Written Test Grammar and Mechanics 2
Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?