GCSE SPaG 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence is grammatically correct?
- Between you and I, it was a mistake.
- Between you and me, it was a mistake. (Correct answer)
- Between you and myself, it was a mistake.
- Between I and you, it was a mistake.
Correct answer: Between you and me, it was a mistake.
'Between' is a preposition and requires object pronouns; 'me' is the correct object pronoun, not 'I.'
Question 2: Which of the following words has a silent letter?
- strange
- breath
- knight (Correct answer)
- blank
Correct answer: knight
'Knight' contains a silent 'k' at the beginning, which is not pronounced.
Question 3: What is a 'fronted adverbial'?
- An adverb placed at the end of a sentence
- An adverbial phrase or clause placed at the start of a sentence (Correct answer)
- A noun that acts as an adverb
- An adjective modifying a verb
Correct answer: An adverbial phrase or clause placed at the start of a sentence
A fronted adverbial is an adverbial word, phrase, or clause placed before the main clause, usually followed by a comma.
Question 4: Which sentence correctly uses 'fewer' vs 'less'?
- There are less apples on the tree.
- I have fewer money than last week.
- She made fewer mistakes than before. (Correct answer)
- He has less friends than her.
Correct answer: She made fewer mistakes than before.
'Fewer' is used with countable nouns like 'mistakes,' while 'less' is used with uncountable nouns.
Question 5: Which is an example of a compound-complex sentence?
- She laughed.
- She laughed and he smiled.
- Although tired, she laughed.
- Although she was tired, she laughed and he smiled. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Although she was tired, she laughed and he smiled.
A compound-complex sentence has at least two main clauses and one subordinate clause.
Question 6: Which option shows the possessive form of 'James' correctly?
- James'
- James's (Correct answer)
- Jamess'
- James'es
Correct answer: James's
For singular proper nouns ending in 's,' GCSE guidance accepts 'James's' as the standard possessive form.
Question 7: Which sentence correctly uses a hyphen?
- She is a well known author.
- She is well-known.
- The well-known author signed books. (Correct answer)
- The author was well known-for writing.
Correct answer: The well-known author signed books.
A hyphen is used in compound modifiers placed before a noun, so 'well-known author' is correct.
GCSE SPaG 5
Which sentence is grammatically correct?