Commonly Asked Grammar Types

1. Word usage
You'll be asked to:
• Correct errors with frequently confused words
• Correct subject-verb agreement errors
• Correct pronoun errors
• Eliminate non-standard English words or phrases

i. Frequently confused words are usually words that sound similar but
have different meanings.
For example:
too, two, and to
new and knew
your and you're
ii. Subject-verb agreement errors are when the subject does not agree
with the verb.
For example:
"my mother is here" not "my mother are here"
"I walk to work" not "I walks to work"
iii. Pronoun-antecedent agreement errors are when the pronoun does
not agree with the word it is referencing.
For example:
"The mayor is meeting with her council members" not "The mayor
is meeting with their council members"
iv. Fixing non-standard English words or phrases.
For example:
"kind of" not "kinda"
"how does your food taste?" not "how is your food tasting?"
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Example Question:
Choose the phrase that correctly completes the sentence below.
It's been many years since he has been back ___________________ he would
not want to miss this special occassion.
A. to his home town, but we new
B. too his home town, but we new
C. to his home town, but we knew
D. too his home town, but we knew

2. Sentence structure
You'll be asked to:
• Eliminate dangling or misplaced modifiers
• Edit sentences for parallel structure and correct use of conjunctions
• Edit for subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent agreement
• Eliminate wordiness or awkward sentence structure
• Eliminate run-on sentences and sentence fragments

i. Examples of dangling or misplaced modifiers:

"my children and I went to the store yesterday" rather than "my children
went to the store, yesterday, along with me"
ii. Parallel structure and correct use of conjunctions:
"he likes reading, swimming, and eating" not "he likes reading,
swimming, and to eat"
"I have many friends, good food, and I am happy" not "I have many
friends, good food, but I am happy"
iii. Subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent agreement:
"my mother is here" not "my mother are here"
"The mayor is meeting with her council members" not "The mayor is
meeting with them council members"

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 iv. Wordiness and awkward sentence structure:
"I am the best candidate for this job" rather than "The reason is that I
am the best candidate for this job."
v. Run-on sentences and sentence fragments:
"We met at the restaurant, but I didn't like the menu because it had too
much fish and I wanted to try a different place. Better and cheaper"
can be made clearer by writing
"We met at the restaurant, but I didn't like the menu. It had too much
fish. I wanted to try a better and cheaper place."

Example Question
The passage below is incomplete. Choose the option that correctly completes
the sentence.
Ellen Gardner, CEO
Skyview PC, Inc.
888 Pyle Rd.
San Marte, CA 94656
Dear Ms. Gardner,
My wife and I have been loyal owners of Skyview computers for over 10 years.
We are currently on our third Skyview laptop computer, which we purchased
three months ago. We appreciate your competitive prices that allow us to
upgrade every few years. Also, we have always been delighted with the
compatibility of Skyview products with software we use for our home-based
business. The speed and power of our Skyview products have been _____.
Q. Choose the option that correctly completes the last sentence in the
paragraph above.
A. outstanding your products are always well-suited to our needs
B. outstanding
C. outstanding, they are always well-suited to our needs
D. outstanding. Always well-suited to our needs

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3. Transition words
• You'll be asked to effectively use transitional words and phrases.
There are many transitional words and phrases. Common examples include
however, although, and in conclusion.
Example Question:
Choose the phrase that correctly completes the sentence below.
Not having to budget for tuition will allow me to reduce my hours at work
___________________ I can take.
A. while increase the number of classes A
B. and increasing the number of classes B
C. while increasing the number of classes C
D. and have increased the number of classes

4. Capitalization, punctuation, and apostrophes

You'll be asked to:
• Use correct capitalization
• Use apostrophes with possessive nouns correctly
• Use correct punctuation
There are many rules for capitalization, punctuation, and apostrophes.
i. An example of using capitalization correctly:
"he wanted to know if i am able to join." - incorrect
"He wanted to know if I am able to join." - correct
ii. An example of using apostrophes with possessive nouns correctly:
Understand the difference between:
"friend's names"
"friends' names"
The placement of the apostrophe makes these two phrases mean two
different things.

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 iii. An example of using correct punctuation:
Understand the difference between these two sentences:
"She finds happiness in cooking her books and her garden."
"She finds happiness in cooking, her books, and her garden."
Punctuation gives these two examples different meanings.

Example Question:
Choose the phrase that correctly completes the sentence below.
Just in front of the ___________________ will lead off the parade through
downtown.
A. Ruiz family's float, the Grand Marshall's car
B. Ruiz familys' float, the Grand Marshall's car
C. Ruiz family's float, the Grand Marshalls' car
D. Ruiz familys' float, the Grand Marshalls' car

Practice
Question 1: Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.
A) The group of students are going on a field trip.
B) The group of students is going on a field trip.
C) The group of students were going on a field trip.
D) The group of students has been go on a field trip.

Question 2: Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.

A) I went to the store, bought some apples milk and eggs.
B) I went to the store and bought some apples, milk, and eggs.
C) I went to the store bought some apples, milk, and eggs.
D) I went to the store; bought some apples, milk, and eggs.

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Question 3: Which sentence is written correctly?
A) The dog barked loudly, he scared the mailman.
B) The dog barked loudly it scared the mailman.
C) The dog barked loudly; it scared the mailman.
D) The dog barked loudly but scared the mailman.

Question 4: Select the sentence with no errors.

A) If I was you, I wouldn’t go to the party.
B) If I were you, I wouldn’t go to the party.
C) If I is you, I wouldn’t go to the party.
D) If I am you, I wouldn’t go to the party.

Question 5: Identify the sentence with a misplaced modifier.

A) Running down the street, I saw my dog chasing a squirrel.
B) I saw my dog chasing a squirrel while running down the street.
C) I saw a squirrel my dog was chasing while running down the street.
D) I was running down the street when I saw my dog chasing a squirrel.

Question 6: Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.

A) I can’t believe it’s already December!
B) I cant believe its already December!
C) I can’t believe its already December.
D) I cant believe it’s already December!

Question 7: Select the sentence with proper capitalization.

A) My uncle lives in the South and drives a ford truck.
B) My Uncle lives in the south and drives a Ford truck.
C) My uncle lives in the South and drives a Ford truck.
D) My Uncle lives in the South and drives a ford truck.

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Question 8: Identify the correctly punctuated sentence.
A) She said, “The concert was amazing”!
B) She said, “The concert was amazing.”
C) She said “The concert was amazing.”
D) She said, “The concert was amazing.”

Question 9: Choose the sentence with correct apostrophe use.

A) The books’ cover is torn.
B) The book’s cover is torn.
C) The books cover is torn.
D) The books’s cover is torn.

Question 10: Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?

A) I have a meeting tomorrow; however, I still plan to attend the event.
B) I have a meeting tomorrow; however I still plan to attend the event.
C) I have a meeting tomorrow, however; I still plan to attend the event.
D) I have a meeting tomorrow; however I still plan; to attend the event.

Question 11: Identify the correct word choice.

A) The weather has an affect on my mood.
B) The weather has an effect on my mood.
C) The weather has no affect on my mood.
D) The weather has no effect on my mood.

Question 12: Select the correct sentence.

A) I should of called you earlier.
B) I should’ve called you earlier.
C) I should have called you earlier.
D) Both B and C.

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Question 13: Which sentence uses “their” correctly?
A) Their going to the movies later.
B) The dog wagged their tail happily.
C) They left their keys on the table.
D) There is a problem with their attitude.

Question 14: Choose the correct usage of “your” and “you’re.”

A) Your late for the meeting.
B) You’re late for the meeting.
C) Your going to be late for the meeting.
D) Both A and C.

Question15: Identify the error in this sentence:

“Everyone should bring their lunch to the meeting.”
A) “Everyone” should be “all.”
B) “Their” should be “his or her.”
C) “Lunch” should be “lunches.”
D) No errors.