CHSPE Language - Grammar and Usage 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses correct subject-verb agreement?
- The team are playing well.
- Each of the students have a book.
- Neither of the boys was late. (Correct answer)
- The data shows clear results, but some are missing.
Correct answer: Neither of the boys was late.
'Neither' is singular and takes the singular verb 'was.'
Question 2: Which sentence correctly uses a comma?
- I went to the store, and I bought milk. (Correct answer)
- She ran, quickly down the street.
- He said, that he was tired.
- They finished the project, however it was late.
Correct answer: I went to the store, and I bought milk.
A comma is correctly placed before a coordinating conjunction (and) joining two independent clauses.
Question 3: Identify the pronoun case error: 'Between you and I, the test was difficult.'
- 'Between' should be 'Among'
- 'I' should be 'me' (Correct answer)
- 'you' should be 'your'
- No error exists
Correct answer: 'I' should be 'me'
After a preposition like 'between,' use objective case: 'between you and me.'
Question 4: Which word is an adverb in this sentence: 'She quickly finished her homework.'?
- She
- quickly (Correct answer)
- finished
- homework
Correct answer: quickly
'Quickly' modifies the verb 'finished' and answers the question 'how?'—making it an adverb.
Question 5: Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?
- Running to class, she dropped her books.
- Running to class, the bell rang. (Correct answer)
- She dropped her books while running.
- As she ran to class, the bell rang.
Correct answer: Running to class, the bell rang.
In 'Running to class, the bell rang,' the modifier 'running to class' has no logical subject in the sentence.
Question 6: Select the sentence with correct apostrophe use:
- The dog wagged it's tail.
- The students books were on the desk.
- Carlos's project won first place. (Correct answer)
- The Ross' family lives nearby.
Correct answer: Carlos's project won first place.
For singular nouns ending in s, add 's to show possession: 'Carlos's.'
CHSPE Language - Grammar and Usage 1
Which sentence uses correct subject-verb agreement?