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Question 1. Which of the following is a collective noun? A) teacher B) committee C) apple D) quickly Answer: B Explanation: “Committee” refers to a group acting as a single entity, which is the definition of a collective noun. Question 2. Choose the correct possessive form of the plural noun “children.” A) childrens’ B) children’s C) childrens’s D) childrens’ Answer: B Explanation: The plural “children” already ends in –ren; to make it possessive, add an apostrophe + s → children’s. Question 3. Identify the pronoun that correctly completes the sentence: “Each of the players ___ ready for the game.” A) are B) were C) is D) be Answer: C Explanation: “Each” is singular, so the verb must be singular – “is.” Question 4. Which sentence contains a vague pronoun reference? A) The manager praised the team because they worked hard. B) Sarah gave Lisa her book.
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C) The dog chased its tail. D) He finished the report on time. Answer: B Explanation: “her” could refer to Sarah or Lisa, making the reference ambiguous. Question 5. In “She seems tired,” the verb “seems” is a: A) action verb B) linking verb C) auxiliary verb D) modal verb Answer: B Explanation: “Seems” connects the subject “She” to the adjective “tired,” functioning as a linking verb. Question 6. Which word is an auxiliary (helping) verb in the sentence “They have been waiting for hours”? A) have B) been C) waiting D) hours Answer: A Explanation: “Have” helps form the present perfect progressive tense together with “been waiting.” Question 7. Choose the correct modal verb to express a strong recommendation: “You ___ see a doctor immediately.” A) might B) should C) could D) would
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Question 11. Choose the idiomatic preposition: “She is interested ___ learning French.” A) on B) in C) at D) for Answer: B Explanation: “Interested in” is the standard idiom for expressing curiosity or enthusiasm. Question 12. Which coordinating conjunction correctly completes the sentence: “He wanted to stay, ___ he had to leave early.” A) because B) although C) but D) while Answer: C Explanation: “But” joins two contrasting independent clauses. Question 13. Identify the correlative conjunction pair in the sentence: “Either the manager or the assistant will attend.” A) either…or B) neither…nor C) both…and D) not…but Answer: A Explanation: “Either…or” is a correlative pair presenting two alternatives. Question 14. Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement:
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A) The list of items are on the table. B) The team members runs fast. C) The data was inconclusive. D) The news were surprising. Answer: C Explanation: “Data” can be treated as singular when referring to a collection of information; “was” agrees with singular usage. Question 15. Which sentence contains a compound subject that requires a plural verb? A) The cat, as well as the dogs, are sleeping. B) Neither the teacher nor the students was ready. C) Either the principal or the teachers have arrived. D) The bouquet of roses smells fresh. Answer: C Explanation: With “either…or” the verb agrees with the nearer subject (“teachers”), which is plural, so “have” is correct. Question 16. Identify the indefinite pronoun that takes a singular verb. A) few B) many C) each D) several Answer: C Explanation: “Each” is singular and therefore takes a singular verb. Question 17. Which clause is independent? A) Although the rain stopped B) When she arrived early C) The children played in the yard
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Explanation: Two independent clauses joined by the coordinating conjunction “but” create a compound sentence. Question 21. Which sentence is complex? A) The sun set, and the stars appeared. B) He laughed loudly. C) Because the road was icy, the car slid. D) The dog barked; the cat hid. Answer: C Explanation: It has a dependent clause (“Because the road was icy”) and an independent clause, forming a complex sentence. Question 22. Choose the compound-complex sentence. A) I cooked dinner, and my sister set the table. B) While I was reading, the phone rang, and the doorbell chimed. C) The rain fell heavily. D) She sang and danced. Answer: B Explanation: It contains two independent clauses (“the phone rang,” “the doorbell chimed”) and one dependent clause (“While I was reading”). Question 23. Identify the run-on error: A) He loves coffee; however, he drinks tea. B) She went to the store, she bought bread. C) I enjoy movies, especially comedies. D) After the game, we celebrated. Answer: B Explanation: Two independent clauses are joined only with a comma, creating a comma splice (run-on).
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Question 24. Which revision corrects the fragment: “Because the deadline was missed.” A) Because the deadline was missed, we rescheduled. B) The deadline was missed. Because we rescheduled. C) Because the deadline was missed. D) We missed the deadline because. Answer: A Explanation: Adding an independent clause after the dependent clause fixes the fragment. Question 25. Choose the sentence with a misplaced modifier. A) She served a pizza to the children with extra cheese. B) With extra cheese, she served a pizza to the children. C) She served the children a pizza with extra cheese. D) She served a pizza with extra cheese to the children. Answer: A Explanation: “With extra cheese” appears to modify “children” rather than “pizza.” Option D places the modifier correctly. Question 26. Identify the dangling modifier. A) Running quickly, the finish line was reached. B) Running quickly, the athlete reached the finish line. C) The athlete, running quickly, reached the finish line. D) The finish line was reached while running quickly. Answer: A Explanation: The modifier “Running quickly” lacks a clear subject; it seems to describe “the finish line.” Question 27. Choose the correct simple present tense form: “She ___ (go) to the gym every morning.”
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D) She opened the door and will find a package. Answer: B Explanation: Both verbs are in the simple past, keeping the tense consistent. Question 31. Which verb is irregular? A) walk – walked – walked B) run – ran – run C) jump – jumped – jumped D) talk – talked – talked Answer: B Explanation: “Run” changes to “ran” in the past tense, an irregular pattern. Question 32. Select the correct past participle of “lie” (to recline). A) lie B) lain C) lay D) lying Answer: B Explanation: The past participle of “lie” (recline) is “lain” (e.g., “has lain”). Question 33. Which sentence correctly uses a comma in a list? A) We need pens pencils erasers, and paper. B) We need pens, pencils, erasers, and paper. C) We need pens pencils, erasers and paper. D) We need pens, pencils erasers and paper. Answer: B Explanation: Commas separate each item, and a serial (Oxford) comma appears before “and.”
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Question 34. Identify the correct use of a comma after an introductory phrase. A) After the meeting we went out for dinner. B) After the meeting, we went out for dinner. C) After the meeting we, went out for dinner. D) After, the meeting we went out for dinner. Answer: B Explanation: A comma follows the introductory prepositional phrase “After the meeting.” Question 35. Choose the sentence with correct comma usage for a non-essential clause. A) My brother who lives in Chicago is visiting. B) My brother, who lives in Chicago, is visiting. C) My brother who lives in Chicago, is visiting. D) My brother, who lives in Chicago is visiting. Answer: B Explanation: The clause “who lives in Chicago” adds non-essential information and must be set off by commas. Question 36. Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon? A) I like tea; but I prefer coffee. B) I like tea, I prefer coffee. C) I like tea; I prefer coffee. D) I like tea: I prefer coffee. Answer: C Explanation: A semicolon joins two related independent clauses without a conjunction. Question 37. Identify the correct colon usage. A) She bought three things apples, bananas, and oranges.
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Answer: C Explanation: Periods and commas go inside the quotation marks in American style. Question 41. Choose the correctly capitalized title. A) the great gatsby B) The Great Gatsby C) The great Gatsby D) the Great gatsby Answer: B Explanation: Major words in a book title are capitalized. Question 42. Identify the sentence that correctly capitalizes a geographic name. A) I visited the amazon rainforest. B) I visited the Amazon Rainforest. C) I visited the Amazon rainforest. D) I visited the amazon Rainforest. Answer: C Explanation: “Amazon” is a proper noun; “rainforest” is a common noun, so only “Amazon” is capitalized. Question 42. (Note: numbering continues) Which of the following sentences correctly uses “their,” “there,” or “they’re”? A) Their going to the park later. B) There going to the park later. C) They’re going to the park later. D) Their’ going to the park later. Answer: C Explanation: “They’re” is the contraction of “they are,” appropriate for the sentence.
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Question 43. Choose the correct word to complete: “The ___ of the new policy will be evaluated next month.” A) affect B) effect C) afftect D) eftect Answer: B Explanation: “Effect” (noun) refers to a result; “affect” is a verb. Question 44. Identify the proper use of “to,” “too,” and “two.” A) I have to many books. B) I have too many books. C) I have two many books. D) I have to many books. Answer: B Explanation: “Too” means “excessively,” fitting the context. Question 45. Choose the correct pair: “All ___ invited to the ceremony.” A) except B) accept C) affect D) excepts Answer: A Explanation: “Except” means “excluding,” which fits the sentence. Question 46. Which sentence demonstrates proper parallel structure? A) She likes reading, to write, and painting. B) She likes to read, write, and paint. C) She likes reading, writing, and to paint.
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Question 50. Identify the correct use of “its” versus “it’s.” A) Its a beautiful day. B) It’s a beautiful day. C) Its’ a beautiful day. D) Its’ a beautiful day. Answer: B Explanation: “It’s” = “it is”; the possessive “its” would need a noun after it. Question 51. Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement for an indefinite pronoun. A) Everyone have finished their work. B) Everyone has finished his or her work. C) Everyone has finished their work. D) Everyone have finished his work. Answer: B Explanation: “Everyone” is singular; the verb must be singular (“has”). Traditional formal usage pairs it with “his or her.” Question 52. Identify the sentence that contains a comma splice. A) The sun set, and the stars appeared. B) The sun set; the stars appeared. C) The sun set, the stars appeared. D) The sun set the stars appeared. Answer: C Explanation: Two independent clauses are joined only with a comma. Question 53. Which revision fixes the dangling modifier? “Walking through the garden, the roses smelled wonderful.” A) Walking through the garden, I thought the roses smelled wonderful. B) Walking through the garden, the roses smelled wonderful.
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C) The roses, walking through the garden, smelled wonderful. D) Walking through the garden, the wonderful roses smelled. Answer: A Explanation: Adding “I” provides a clear subject for the participial phrase. Question 54. Choose the correct verb form to complete: “If she ___ (be) late, we will start without her.” A) is B) was C) were D) be Answer: A Explanation: This is a first-conditional sentence; the present simple “is” follows “if.” Question 55. Identify the sentence that correctly uses a modal to express past ability. A) She could swim when she was five. B) She can swim when she was five. C) She could have swim when she was five. D) She could have swum when she was five. Answer: A Explanation: “Could” expresses ability in the past; no perfect form is needed here. Question 56. Choose the proper comparative for the adverb “quickly.” A) more quickly B) quicklier C) most quickly D) quicker Answer: A
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A) She only wanted one thing: to win. B) She only wanted one thing; to win. C) She only wanted one thing, to win. D) She only wanted one thing – to win. Answer: A Explanation: A colon introduces the explanation “to win” after a complete clause. Question 61. Choose the correct form of the verb “to lie” (to tell an untruth) in past tense. A) lay B) lied C) lain D) lie Answer: B Explanation: The past tense of “lie” (untruth) is “lied.” Question 62. Which sentence correctly uses the past perfect? A) By the time he arrived, the movie had started. B) By the time he arrived, the movie has started. C) By the time he arrived, the movie started. D) By the time he arrived, the movie will start. Answer: A Explanation: “Had started” shows an action completed before another past action. Question 63. Identify the sentence that demonstrates correct use of an appositive with commas. A) My sister Maya is a doctor. B) My sister, Maya, is a doctor. C) My sister Maya, is a doctor.
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D) My sister, Maya is a doctor. Answer: B Explanation: The non-essential name “Maya” is set off by commas. Question 64. Choose the sentence that correctly uses a correlative conjunction for contrast. A) Not only he studied, but also he passed the exam. B) Not only did he study, but he also passed the exam. C) Not only he studied, but he also passed the exam. D) Not only he studied, also he passed the exam. Answer: B Explanation: Inverted order after “Not only” requires auxiliary “did” and parallel “but he also.” Question 65. Identify the correct use of “who” versus “whom.” A) Who did you give the book to? B) Whom did you give the book to? C) Who gave the book to you? D) Whom gave the book to you? Answer: C Explanation: “Who” is subject of the clause “who gave,” while “whom” would be object; the correct subject form is “who.” Question 66. Choose the sentence with correct pronoun-antecedent agreement. A) Each of the players have their own locker. B) Each of the players has his or her own locker. C) Each of the players has their own locker. D) Each of the players have his own locker. Answer: B
