HAST Written Expression 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence is grammatically correct?
- Neither the students nor the teacher was prepared. (Correct answer)
- Neither the students nor the teacher were prepared.
- Neither the students nor the teacher are prepared.
- Neither the students nor the teacher have prepared.
Correct answer: Neither the students nor the teacher was prepared.
With 'neither...nor,' the verb agrees with the subject closest to it; 'teacher' is singular, so 'was' is correct.
Question 2: Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly?
- The dog's collar is red. (Correct answer)
- The dogs collar is red.
- The dog's' collar is red.
- The dogs' collar is red for one dog.
Correct answer: The dog's collar is red.
To show singular possession, add an apostrophe + s after the noun; 'dog's' correctly shows the collar belongs to one dog.
Question 3: Which word correctly completes the sentence: 'The results of the experiment ___ encouraging'?
- were (Correct answer)
- was
- is
- has been
Correct answer: were
The subject 'results' is plural, so the plural verb 'were' is correct.
Question 4: Which sentence best avoids a dangling modifier?
- Running through the park, she spotted a deer. (Correct answer)
- Running through the park, a deer was spotted.
- A deer was spotted running through the park by her.
- Running, a deer was seen in the park by her.
Correct answer: Running through the park, she spotted a deer.
The participial phrase 'Running through the park' must logically modify the subject that immediately follows; 'she' correctly does the running.
Question 5: Which transition word best connects: 'She studied hard. ___, she passed the exam with top marks.'?
- Consequently (Correct answer)
- However
- Meanwhile
- Nevertheless
Correct answer: Consequently
Consequently signals that the second statement is a logical result of the first, fitting the cause-effect relationship here.
Question 6: Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
- The rain fell all day; the game was cancelled. (Correct answer)
- The rain fell; all day; the game was cancelled.
- The rain; fell all day, the game was cancelled.
- The rain fell all day, the game; was cancelled.
Correct answer: The rain fell all day; the game was cancelled.
A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses that are closely related in meaning.
HAST Written Expression 1
Which sentence is grammatically correct?