Written Test Grammar and Mechanics 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence correctly uses a colon?
- He wanted: to travel, to read, and to relax.
- She bought: milk and eggs.
- There is one thing he feared: failure. (Correct answer)
- We need to: plan, prepare, and practice.
Correct answer: There is one thing he feared: failure.
A colon should follow a complete independent clause before introducing a list, example, or explanation.
Question 2: Which sentence is written in the active voice?
- The report was written by the intern.
- The meeting was cancelled by the manager.
- The chef prepared a five-course meal. (Correct answer)
- Mistakes were made by the entire team.
Correct answer: The chef prepared a five-course meal.
In an active voice sentence, the subject performs the action; 'the chef' is the subject performing 'prepared.'
Question 3: Which sentence correctly punctuates a nonrestrictive (nonessential) clause?
- My brother who lives in Texas called me yesterday.
- My brother, who lives in Texas, called me yesterday. (Correct answer)
- My brother who lives in Texas, called me yesterday.
- My brother, who lives in Texas called me yesterday.
Correct answer: My brother, who lives in Texas, called me yesterday.
A nonrestrictive clause provides extra information and must be set off by commas on both sides.
Question 4: What grammatical error appears in this sentence? 'Between you and I, the project is overdue.'
- Tense error
- Pronoun case error (Correct answer)
- Subject-verb disagreement
- Dangling modifier
Correct answer: Pronoun case error
Prepositions like 'between' require objective case pronouns; the correct form is 'between you and me.'
Question 5: Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly?
- She likes to swim, running, and to hike.
- She likes swimming, running, and hiking. (Correct answer)
- She likes to swim, run, and hiking.
- She likes swimming, to run, and hiking.
Correct answer: She likes swimming, running, and hiking.
Parallel structure requires matching grammatical forms; all three activities should be in gerund (-ing) form.
Question 6: Which word is an example of a coordinating conjunction?
- Although
- Because
- But (Correct answer)
- While
Correct answer: But
'But' is one of the seven coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
Question 7: Which sentence contains a comma splice?
- I was tired, so I went to bed early.
- He loves pizza, he eats it every Friday. (Correct answer)
- Although she was late, she finished the work.
- She ordered coffee, and he ordered tea.
Correct answer: He loves pizza, he eats it every Friday.
A comma splice incorrectly joins two independent clauses with only a comma, without a coordinating conjunction.
Written Test Grammar and Mechanics 3
Which sentence correctly uses a colon?