ALCPT - American Language Course Placement Test Grammar and Sentence Correction 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: 'She has been working at the base _______ three years.'
- since
- for (Correct answer)
- during
- while
Correct answer: for
'For' is used with a duration of time (three years). 'Since' is used with a specific point in time (since 2021). 'During' and 'while' do not fit grammatically with a noun phrase indicating length of time.
Question 2: Identify the error in this sentence: 'The soldiers, along with their sergeant, was ordered to report at dawn.'
- soldiers
- along with their sergeant
- was ordered (Correct answer)
- to report at dawn
Correct answer: was ordered
The subject is 'the soldiers' (plural), so the verb must be 'were ordered,' not 'was ordered.' Phrases like 'along with their sergeant' inserted between subject and verb do not change the subject's number.
Question 3: Select the sentence that is grammatically correct.
- He don't know the answer to the question.
- Each of the recruits have completed their training.
- The officer whom we met yesterday gave us our orders. (Correct answer)
- Neither of the maps were accurate enough to use.
Correct answer: The officer whom we met yesterday gave us our orders.
'The officer whom we met yesterday gave us our orders' is correct. 'Whom' is the proper object pronoun here. The others contain errors: 'don't' should be 'doesn't,' 'have' should be 'has' after 'each,' and 'were' should be 'was' after 'neither.'
Question 4: Choose the correct verb form: 'By the time the reinforcements arrived, the unit _______ already the area.'
- secured
- has secured
- had secured (Correct answer)
- was securing
Correct answer: had secured
The past perfect 'had secured' is required because the securing happened before another past event (the reinforcements arriving). The past perfect shows which of two past actions occurred first.
Question 5: Select the sentence with correct use of articles.
- She is best student in the class.
- He gave me an useful piece of advice.
- We saw an eagle flying over the mountain. (Correct answer)
- They need a honest leader to guide them.
Correct answer: We saw an eagle flying over the mountain.
'We saw an eagle flying over the mountain' is correct. 'An' is properly used before a vowel sound ('eagle'). 'An useful' is wrong because 'useful' starts with a /j/ consonant sound, requiring 'a.' 'A honest' is wrong for the same reason — 'honest' starts with a silent 'h,' so it requires 'an.' 'Best student' needs 'the' before it.
Question 6: Identify the error in this sentence: 'The general, together with his aides, are planning the next operation.'
- The general
- together with his aides
- are planning (Correct answer)
- the next operation
Correct answer: are planning
The main subject is 'The general' (singular), so the verb should be 'is planning,' not 'are planning.' The phrase 'together with his aides' is parenthetical and does not make the subject plural.
ALCPT - American Language Course Placement Test Grammar and Sentence Correction 2
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: 'She has been working at the base _______ three years.'