FSOT English Grammar and Usage 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses the subjunctive mood correctly?
- If I was president, I would change the law.
- If I were president, I would change the law. (Correct answer)
- If I am president, I will change the law.
- If I had been president, I would change the law.
Correct answer: If I were president, I would change the law.
The subjunctive mood uses 'were' (not 'was') for hypothetical or contrary-to-fact conditions.
Question 2: Which word is an example of a dangling modifier in this sentence? 'Running down the street, the tree caught my eye.'
- Running (Correct answer)
- street
- tree
- eye
Correct answer: Running
'Running' is a dangling modifier because the tree cannot run — the subject performing the action is missing.
Question 3: Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
- She studied hard; but she failed the exam.
- She studied hard; she still failed the exam. (Correct answer)
- She studied hard; and passed with honors.
- She studied; hard every night.
Correct answer: She studied hard; she still failed the exam.
A semicolon joins two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction; using it before 'but' or 'and' is incorrect.
Question 4: What is the correct plural of the word 'criterion'?
- criterions
- criteria (Correct answer)
- criterias
- criterian
Correct answer: criteria
'Criteria' is the correct plural of the Greek-derived word 'criterion.'
Question 5: Which sentence avoids a split infinitive?
- She wanted to boldly go where no one had gone.
- She wanted to go boldly where no one had gone. (Correct answer)
- She boldly wanted to go where no one had gone.
- She wanted to go where no one had boldly gone.
Correct answer: She wanted to go boldly where no one had gone.
Placing the adverb 'boldly' after the infinitive 'to go' avoids splitting the infinitive.
Question 6: In formal writing, which is the correct usage?
- The data shows a clear trend.
- The data show a clear trend. (Correct answer)
- The datas show a clear trend.
- The data are showing a clear trend.
Correct answer: The data show a clear trend.
'Data' is the plural form of 'datum' and takes a plural verb in formal, academic, and government writing.
Question 7: Which sentence correctly uses 'fewer' versus 'less'?
- There are less students in the class this year.
- There are fewer students in the class this year. (Correct answer)
- There are less amount of students this year.
- The class has fewer population than last year.
Correct answer: There are fewer students in the class this year.
'Fewer' is used with countable nouns (students), while 'less' is used with uncountable nouns.
FSOT English Grammar and Usage 2
Which sentence uses the subjunctive mood correctly?