Exam 7: Grammar and Sentence Structure

Which of the following is the correct use of the continuous tense?

What is the most commonly used gender-neutral singular pronoun in formal writing? What gender-neutral singular pronoun would linguists and editors like to see instead and what reasons do they give for preferring that word? Which do you prefer and why?

Of the twelve verb tenses, how many are commonly used?

Name at least two situations where English uses the s ending for different purposes. Give one or two examples for each.

What is the subject in the following sentence? There are many types of fish in that lake.

What is the role of continuous (or progressive) verb tenses? What types of verbs are they generally not used with? Provide at least one example.

However is what type of word?

What tense should you use in an essay when you want to express a general fact or common event? Why is this a good choice?

Pronoun use in conversational speech is very loose and sometimes ungrammatical. In formal writing, pronouns can cause confusion. Read the following passage and revise it so that the antecedent is clearer (or replaced): Helicopter parents protect their children so much that they may fail to become strong and independent adults. They need to recognize that this hovering is not doing them a favour.

What is the simple subject in the following sentence? The school choir was singing at the performance.

How many main verbs can a sentence have?

The verb to be is both an auxiliary verb and a linking verb. It is also the most common verb in English. Why does it give some English-language learners difficulty?

In what situations are modal verbs used? Give at least two situations and provide an example sentence for each.

Why is the simple present tense difficult for English-language learners? Name at least two challenges.

Should a sentence begin with a coordinating conjunction? Why or why not? If not, what should be used instead and why?

What type of conjunction can be used in formal essay writing?

Will talk is an example of which verb tense?

What is a noun that a pronoun stands in for called?

What are the two essential elements of any sentence? What error occurs when a sentence is missing one of these elements? Name at least two ways to fix this error.

What are coordinating conjunctions used for? Name at least four of the coordinating conjunctions and write as many sentences as it takes for you to use all four of your chosen conjunctions.