APCAT English Grammar and Structure 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
- The officer filed the report; and submitted it to the sergeant.
- The suspect fled the scene; the officer gave chase immediately. (Correct answer)
- She wrote the statement; carefully and thoroughly.
- He arrived late; because traffic was heavy.
Correct answer: The suspect fled the scene; the officer gave chase immediately.
A semicolon joins two independent clauses without a conjunction; it should not precede coordinating conjunctions or dependent clauses.
Question 2: Select the sentence that contains a misplaced modifier.
- Running quickly, the officer caught the suspect.
- The detective found the stolen wallet in the alley.
- Barking loudly, the dog startled the officer.
- The officer almost drove fifty miles to reach the scene. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The officer almost drove fifty miles to reach the scene.
'Almost' modifies 'drove' instead of 'fifty miles,' implying the officer barely drove rather than nearly reaching fifty miles.
Question 3: Which of the following is a compound-complex sentence?
- The officer filed the report.
- She interviewed the witness, and he provided key details.
- Although the suspect fled, the officer caught him, and the case was closed. (Correct answer)
- Running after the suspect, the officer slipped.
Correct answer: Although the suspect fled, the officer caught him, and the case was closed.
A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and one dependent clause, as seen in option C.
Question 4: Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.
- Neither the captain nor the officers was available.
- Each of the recruits are required to pass the test.
- The jury have reached their verdict.
- Neither the sergeant nor the constables were present. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Neither the sergeant nor the constables were present.
When using 'neither/nor,' the verb agrees with the subject closest to it — here 'constables' is plural, so 'were' is correct.
Question 5: Which word is used incorrectly in this sentence? 'The principle reason for the arrest was the suspect's prior record.'
- principle (Correct answer)
- reason
- arrest
- prior
Correct answer: principle
'Principal' (meaning main or primary) is correct here; 'principle' refers to a rule or belief.
Question 6: Identify the sentence that uses the passive voice correctly.
- The officer was arrested the suspect.
- The report was filed by the detective before midnight. (Correct answer)
- The evidence was carefully the technician collected.
- The sergeant wrote was the incident report.
Correct answer: The report was filed by the detective before midnight.
Passive voice follows the pattern subject + 'to be' + past participle + 'by' + agent, as in option B.
Question 7: Which sentence demonstrates correct parallel structure?
- The officer's duties include patrolling, to write reports, and interviewing witnesses.
- The officer's duties include patrolling, writing reports, and interviewing witnesses. (Correct answer)
- The officer's duties include to patrol, writing reports, and to interview.
- The officer's duties include patrol, to write, and interviewing.
Correct answer: The officer's duties include patrolling, writing reports, and interviewing witnesses.
Parallel structure requires matching grammatical forms — all gerunds (patrolling, writing, interviewing) in option B.
APCAT English Grammar and Structure 2
Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?