Question 1

Which tense is used most often in essay writing?

Accepted Answer

A)   Simple present
B)   Present continuous
C)   Future continuous
D)   Present perfect A

Question 2

What is the best way to avoid creating a misplaced modifier? Using that method, rewrite the following sentence to eliminate the misplaced modifier: Running towards the moving curtain, Hamlet's rapier struck Polonius.

Accepted Answer

The best way to avoid creating a misplaced modifier is to place the modifier next to the noun or phrase they modify so there is no ambiguity. The revised sentence should appear as follows: Running towards the moving curtain, Hamlet struck Polonius with his rapier.

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of a perfect tense?

Accepted Answer

A)   We ate the rest of the chicken
B)   We have finished the assignment
C)   We isolated the gene responsible for that trait
D)   All of the above B

Question 4

I am working is an example of what verb tense?

Accepted Answer

A)   Future perfect continuous
B)   Present perfect continuous
C)   Simple present
D)   Present continuous

Question 5

Which of the following uses the correct form of the main verb with auxiliary verbs?

Accepted Answer

A)   I do not speak French
B)   He can French
C)   He can speak French fluently
D)   A and C

Question 6

Changing from past to present tense or from present to past confuses the reader. Rewrite the following passage using only present tense:
The Hobbit tells the story of Bilbo Baggins. The wizard Gandalf gets Bilbo to accompany thirteen dwarves on their quest to retrieve their treasure from the dragon Smaug. The group encountered goblins, elves, and spiders as they travel to the Lonely Mountain. Bilbo found the ring that became central to the sequel story, The Lord of the Rings. Because the ring made him invisible, he helps the dwarves escape from sticky situations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Changing from past to present tense or...

Question 7

Which tenses should be used sparingly in essay?

Accepted Answer

A)   Past
B)   Present
C)   Future
D)   None of the above

Question 8

Which of the following does not use parallel structure?

Accepted Answer

A)   She added celery, carrots, potatoes, and beets, and then she seasoned the soup.
B)   She added celery, carrots, potatoes, beets, and then seasoned the soup.
C)   She added celery, carrots, potatoes, beets, and seasonings.
D)   All of the above

Question 9

Which of the following is not a sentence fragment?

Accepted Answer

A)   It is a problem, as he does not know the correct procedure.
B)   Which is a problem because he does not know the correct procedure.
C)   Because he did not know the correct procedure.
D)   Not knowing the correct procedure.

Question 10

Which of the following does a sentence need?

Accepted Answer

A)   Subject and adjective
B)   Subject and predicate
C)   Subject and phrase
D)   Subject and noun

Question 11

What is the primary function of a prepositional phrase? Write a sentence that contains at least three prepositional phrases and underline the prepositions.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the primary function of a...

Question 12

The simple past tense is used __________________.

Accepted Answer

A)   to describe uncomplicated actions that happened previously
B)   to describe something that began in the past but is still true today
C)   to describe completed actions that happened at a defined time in the past
D)   to describe a situation where one action happened before another

Question 13

What word is the conjunction in the following sentence? They spent hours on the problem, yet they could not solve it.

Accepted Answer

A)   The
B)   Yet
C)   Could
D)   Not

Question 14

Which of the following is not the role of a modal verb?

Accepted Answer

A)   Express ability
B)   Show permission
C)   Express politeness
D)   All of the above

Question 15

Why should passive voice not be overused in essay writing? Give at least two reasons why.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why should passive voice not be overused...

Question 16

When checking the grammaticality of a sentence, why is it worthwhile to identify the simple subject and simple predicate? What are some challenges to doing so? Name at least two.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When checking the grammaticality of a sentence,...

Question 17

When is a verb said to be in the passive voice?

Accepted Answer

A)   When the subject does the action of the verb
B)   When the subject is only mentioned after the verb
C)   When the sentence has the subject acted upon
D)   When the sentence has more than one subject

Question 18

What type of nouns cannot be made singular or plural? Give at least three examples of these nouns.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What type of nouns cannot be made...

Question 19

How do you fix a run-on sentence?

Accepted Answer

A)   Add a conjunctive adverb
B)   Use a semicolon
C)   Add a conjunction
D)   B and C

Question 20

Use an s ending and apostrophe when __________________.

Accepted Answer

A)   writing about more than one thing with an s ending
B)   indicating the third person singular form of the verb
C)   writing about something belonging to someone
D)   using a contraction of a verb and pronoun

Exam 7: Grammar and Sentence Structure