ALCPT Identifying Grammatical Errors 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Choose the sentence that contains a grammatical error. (A) The soldiers have been training since early morning. (B) Neither the captain nor the privates was ready. (C) She completed the assignment before the deadline. (D) We will depart as soon as the supplies arrive.
- The soldiers have been training since early morning.
- Neither the captain nor the privates was ready. (Correct answer)
- She completed the assignment before the deadline.
- We will depart as soon as the supplies arrive.
Correct answer: Neither the captain nor the privates was ready.
When using 'neither...nor,' the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. 'The privates' is plural, so the verb should be 'were ready,' not 'was ready.'
In correlative conjunctions like 'neither...nor' and 'either...or,' the verb agrees with the subject that is closest to it (the proximate subject rule). Here, 'privates' is plural and nearest to the verb, so 'were' is required. The other sentences are grammatically correct: (A) uses present perfect continuous correctly, (C) uses simple past correctly, and (D) uses present tense in the 'as soon as' clause correctly.
Question 2: Identify the grammatical error in the following sentence: 'The general, along with his aides, are reviewing the mission plan.' (A) general (B) along with his aides (C) are reviewing (D) the mission plan
- general
- along with his aides
- are reviewing (Correct answer)
- the mission plan
Correct answer: are reviewing
Phrases like 'along with,' 'as well as,' and 'together with' do not change the number of the subject. The subject is 'The general' (singular), so the verb should be 'is reviewing,' not 'are reviewing.'
The subject of the sentence is 'The general,' which is singular. Prepositional phrases beginning with 'along with,' 'together with,' or 'as well as' are parenthetical and do not make the subject plural. Therefore, the correct verb is 'is reviewing.' This is a common grammar test item on the ALCPT, measuring understanding of subject-verb agreement with intervening phrases.
Question 3: Which sentence is grammatically correct? (A) Each of the recruits are required to pass the physical exam. (B) Everyone in the barracks have completed their duties. (C) The team of instructors has developed a new curriculum. (D) The committee have reached their decision unanimously.
- Each of the recruits are required to pass the physical exam.
- Everyone in the barracks have completed their duties.
- The team of instructors has developed a new curriculum. (Correct answer)
- The committee have reached their decision unanimously.
Correct answer: The team of instructors has developed a new curriculum.
'The team' is a collective noun used as a single unit here, so it takes the singular verb 'has.' In American English, collective nouns like 'team' and 'committee' typically take singular verbs.
Option (C) is correct: 'The team... has developed' — a collective noun used as a unit takes a singular verb in American English. (A) is wrong: 'Each' is singular, so 'is required' is needed. (B) is wrong: 'Everyone' is singular, so 'has completed' is needed. (D) is wrong in American English context: 'committee' acting as a unit takes 'has reached.' The ALCPT follows American English conventions used in the US Department of Defense.
Question 4: Find the error: 'If I would have studied harder, I would have passed the placement test.' (A) If I would have studied (B) harder (C) I would have passed (D) the placement test
- If I would have studied (Correct answer)
- harder
- I would have passed
- the placement test
Correct answer: If I would have studied
In a third conditional sentence (past unreal condition), the 'if' clause uses the past perfect: 'If I had studied harder.' Using 'would have' in the 'if' clause is a grammatical error.
The third conditional expresses an unreal past condition and its hypothetical result. The correct structure is: 'If + past perfect, would have + past participle.' Therefore, the sentence should read: 'If I had studied harder, I would have passed the placement test.' Using 'would have' in the if-clause is a very common error tested on placement exams like the ALCPT.
Question 5: Which sentence contains an error in the use of articles? (A) She is the best candidate for the position. (B) He plays a guitar in the military band. (C) The United States has a large standing army. (D) An honest soldier is valued by the corps.
- She is the best candidate for the position.
- He plays a guitar in the military band. (Correct answer)
- The United States has a large standing army.
- An honest soldier is valued by the corps.
Correct answer: He plays a guitar in the military band.
When referring to a musical instrument played as a skill or hobby, we use 'the': 'He plays the guitar.' Using 'a guitar' implies one specific guitar rather than the skill of playing guitar.
The standard idiom in English for playing musical instruments is to use the definite article: 'play the guitar,' 'play the piano,' 'play the drums.' Using 'a guitar' would mean he is playing a specific, unnamed guitar as an object, which changes the meaning. (A), (C), and (D) are all correct: superlatives use 'the,' proper nouns like 'The United States' use 'the,' and 'an' is correct before 'honest' because it begins with a vowel sound.
Question 6: Select the sentence with correct parallel structure: (A) The training includes running, to swim, and climb obstacles. (B) Soldiers must be disciplined, have courage, and be loyal. (C) She enjoys reading, writing, and to hike on weekends. (D) The mission requires speed, accuracy, and to communicate well.
- The training includes running, to swim, and climb obstacles.
- Soldiers must be disciplined, have courage, and be loyal. (Correct answer)
- She enjoys reading, writing, and to hike on weekends.
- The mission requires speed, accuracy, and to communicate well.
Correct answer: Soldiers must be disciplined, have courage, and be loyal.
Option (B) uses parallel verb phrases ('be disciplined,' 'have courage,' 'be loyal') maintaining consistent grammatical structure throughout the series.
Option (B) maintains parallel structure: 'be disciplined,' 'have courage,' 'be loyal' — each item is a verb phrase with a similar structure. (A) mixes gerund ('running'), infinitive ('to swim'), and bare verb ('climb'). (C) mixes gerunds ('reading,' 'writing') with an infinitive ('to hike'). (D) mixes nouns ('speed,' 'accuracy') with an infinitive phrase ('to communicate well'). Parallel structure is a key grammar concept tested throughout the ALCPT.
ALCPT Identifying Grammatical Errors 2
Choose the sentence that contains a grammatical error.
(A) The soldiers have been training since early morning.
(B) Neither the captain nor the privates was ready.
(C) She completed the assignment before the deadline.
(D) We will depart as soon as the supplies arrive.