DSAT Grammar and Usage 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses the semicolon correctly? A) She studied hard; and passed the exam. B) He was tired; he still finished the project. C) They went to the store; to buy groceries. D) The dog barked; because it was scared.
- She studied hard; and passed the exam.
- He was tired; he still finished the project. (Correct answer)
- They went to the store; to buy groceries.
- The dog barked; because it was scared.
Correct answer: He was tired; he still finished the project.
A semicolon joins two independent clauses; 'He was tired' and 'he still finished the project' are both independent clauses.
Question 2: Identify the error in this sentence: 'Neither the students nor the teacher were prepared for the surprise quiz.' A) 'neither' should be 'either' B) 'were' should be 'was' C) 'prepared' should be 'preparing' D) No error
- 'neither' should be 'either'
- 'were' should be 'was' (Correct answer)
- 'prepared' should be 'preparing'
- No error
Correct answer: 'were' should be 'was'
With 'neither…nor,' the verb agrees with the closer subject ('teacher'), which is singular, so 'was' is correct.
Question 3: Which option correctly completes the sentence? 'The committee has made _____ decision about the budget.' A) it's B) their C) its D) there
- it's
- their
- its (Correct answer)
- there
Correct answer: its
'Committee' is a collective noun treated as singular, so the possessive 'its' is correct.
Question 4: Choose the sentence with correct modifier placement. A) Running through the park, the flowers looked beautiful. B) Running through the park, she noticed the beautiful flowers. C) She noticed the flowers running through the park were beautiful. D) Beautiful flowers were noticed running through the park by her.
- Running through the park, the flowers looked beautiful.
- Running through the park, she noticed the beautiful flowers. (Correct answer)
- She noticed the flowers running through the park were beautiful.
- Beautiful flowers were noticed running through the park by her.
Correct answer: Running through the park, she noticed the beautiful flowers.
The participial phrase 'Running through the park' must be placed next to its logical subject, 'she.'
Question 5: Which sentence avoids a comma splice? A) The rain poured, the streets flooded quickly. B) The rain poured, and the streets flooded quickly. C) The rain poured the streets flooded quickly. D) The rain poured, so, the streets flooded quickly.
- The rain poured, the streets flooded quickly.
- The rain poured, and the streets flooded quickly. (Correct answer)
- The rain poured the streets flooded quickly.
- The rain poured, so, the streets flooded quickly.
Correct answer: The rain poured, and the streets flooded quickly.
A comma followed by a coordinating conjunction ('and') correctly joins two independent clauses.
Question 6: Select the correct form: 'Each of the players _____ responsible for their own equipment.' A) are B) were C) is D) have been
- are
- were
- is (Correct answer)
- have been
Correct answer: is
'Each' is always singular, so it requires the singular verb 'is.'
Question 7: Which sentence correctly uses the apostrophe? A) The childrens' toys were scattered across the floor. B) The children's toys were scattered across the floor. C) The childrens toys were scattered across the floor. D) The children's toy's were scattered across the floor.
- The childrens' toys were scattered across the floor.
- The children's toys were scattered across the floor. (Correct answer)
- The childrens toys were scattered across the floor.
- The children's toy's were scattered across the floor.
Correct answer: The children's toys were scattered across the floor.
'Children' is an irregular plural, so add 's to form the possessive: 'children's.'
DSAT Grammar and Usage 2
Which sentence uses the semicolon correctly?
A) She studied hard; and passed the exam.
B) He was tired; he still finished the project.
C) They went to the store; to buy groceries.
D) The dog barked; because it was scared.