HESI Grammar Practice Test 1 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which of the following is grammatically correct?

The athlete did ran quickly to the finish line.
The athlete ran quickly to the finish line. (Correct answer)
The athlete ran quick to the finish line.
The athlete did run quickly to the finish line.

Correct answer: The athlete ran quickly to the finish line.

The sentence 'The athlete ran quickly to the finish line' is grammatically correct. 'Ran' is the simple past tense of 'run,' and 'quickly' is an adverb that correctly modifies the verb 'ran,' describing how the athlete performed the action. Options A and D use an unnecessary auxiliary verb ('did') with 'ran' or 'run,' and option C incorrectly uses the adjective 'quick' instead of the adverb 'quickly'.

Question 2: Ruby was ____________ exhausted than her sister after they ran the race.

more (Correct answer)
increasingly
the more
most

Correct answer: more

The word 'than' indicates a comparison between Ruby's level of exhaustion and her sister's. For adjectives with three or more syllables, like 'exhausted,' the comparative form is created by preceding the adjective with 'more.' Therefore, 'more exhausted than' correctly expresses the comparison.

Question 3: Which of the following words is a noun?<br/> The teenager jumped into the air to catch the ball.

air (Correct answer)
catch
into
jumped

Correct answer: air

A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. In the given sentence, 'air' is a thing (a substance or space) that the teenager jumped into. 'Jumped' is a verb, 'into' is a preposition, and 'catch' is a verb in this context.

Question 4: Neither of the flower bouquets ____________ as full as the one we purchased yesterday.

being
are
is (Correct answer)
were

Correct answer: is

The subject of the sentence is 'Neither,' which is a singular indefinite pronoun. When 'neither' acts as the subject, the verb must agree with it in the singular form. Therefore, 'is' is the correct singular verb to use, making the sentence grammatically sound.

Question 5: Which of the following is grammatically correct?

She could except anything from him, accept a lie.
She could accept anything from him, except a lie. (Correct answer)
She could except anything from him, except a lie.
She could accept anything from him, accept a lie.

Correct answer: She could accept anything from him, except a lie.

This sentence correctly uses the homophones 'accept' and 'except.' 'Accept' means to receive or agree to something, which is appropriate for 'accept anything from him.' 'Except' means excluding or other than, correctly used to indicate 'except a lie.' The other options incorrectly interchange these words.

Question 6: The alarm needs to be loud enough for all students to ____________.

listen
heard
here
hear (Correct answer)

Correct answer: hear

'Hear' means to perceive sound with the ear, which is the correct verb to describe students perceiving the alarm. 'Here' is an adverb indicating location. 'Heard' is the past tense of 'hear.' 'Listen' implies intentional effort to perceive sound, whereas 'hear' refers to the ability to perceive it.

Question 7: Aimee was ____________ about the natural science in fifth grade.

taught (Correct answer)
learnt
learned
teached

Correct answer: taught

'Taught' is the correct past participle of the verb 'to teach,' used here in the passive voice ('was taught') to indicate that Aimee received instruction. 'Learned' is the past tense/participle of 'to learn,' meaning to acquire knowledge oneself. 'Learnt' is an older or British English form, and 'teached' is grammatically incorrect.

Question 8: Brian ___________ up ten minutes after his alarm was supposed to go off.

woke (Correct answer)
woken
awakened
awoke

Correct answer: woke

'Woke' is the simple past tense of the verb 'to wake,' which is appropriate for a completed action in the past. The phrasal verb 'woke up' is a common and natural way to express this. 'Woken' is the past participle and requires an auxiliary verb (e.g., 'had woken'). 'Awakened' is also correct but 'woke' is more common in this context.

Question 9: Which of the following statements is a declarative sentence?

Before greeting a patient, wash your hands.
Is the pharmacy open at this time?
It's a bit dark outside today. (Correct answer)
Complete the prescription.

Correct answer: It's a bit dark outside today.

A declarative sentence makes a statement or expresses a fact or opinion. 'It's a bit dark outside today' is a statement about the current conditions. Options A and D are imperative sentences (commands), and option B is an interrogative sentence (a question).

Question 10: The team with the _____________ penalties usually wins a basketball game.

the least
fewer (Correct answer)
the fewest
less

Correct answer: fewer

'Fewer' is used when referring to countable nouns, such as 'penalties,' which can be individually counted. 'Less' is used for uncountable nouns (e.g., 'less water' or 'less time'). Since penalties are discrete units, 'fewer' is the correct comparative adjective to indicate a smaller quantity.

Question 11: If Angel ________________ the module like she was supposed to, she would have known what was on the exam.

shouldn’t have read
had read (Correct answer)
will have read
would have read

Correct answer: had read

This sentence uses the third conditional structure, which describes a hypothetical situation in the past and its hypothetical result. The 'if' clause requires the past perfect tense ('had read') to indicate a condition that did not occur in the past. The main clause then uses 'would have known' to express the consequence.

Question 12: After the storm, telephone poles ____________ all over the street.

were lying (Correct answer)
were laying
lied
laid

Correct answer: were lying

The verb 'to lie' (meaning to recline or rest) is intransitive, meaning it does not take a direct object. Its present participle is 'lying.' The sentence describes telephone poles resting on the street. 'To lay' (meaning to place something down) is transitive and requires a direct object, while 'lied' is the past tense of 'to lie' (to tell an untruth).

Question 13: After my car was repaired, it ____________ again.

ran more well
ran good
ran well (Correct answer)
None of the above

Correct answer: ran well

'Well' is an adverb that correctly modifies the verb 'ran,' describing the manner in which the car performed. 'Good' is an adjective and should not be used to modify a verb. Therefore, 'ran well' is the grammatically correct and appropriate phrasing.

Question 14: John sat on the bed with his favorite dog and ___________ its head gently.

pet
petted (Correct answer)
pat
patted

Correct answer: petted

'Petted' is the correct simple past tense of the verb 'to pet,' meaning to stroke or caress an animal gently. 'Pet' is the present tense or a noun. 'Pat' and 'patted' refer to striking lightly, which is a different action than gently stroking an animal's head.

Question 15: My dearest friend was in a terrible automobile accident last Sunday night that left him hurt ____________.

worst
badly (Correct answer)
bad
baddest

Correct answer: badly

'Badly' is an adverb that correctly modifies the verb 'hurt,' describing the extent or manner of the injury. 'Bad' is an adjective and should not be used to modify a verb. Therefore, 'hurt badly' is the grammatically correct way to express the severity of the injury.

Question 16: I believe you will be hired for the job you interviewed for last week. You seemed very _____________.

unprepared
prepare
prepared (Correct answer)
preparing

Correct answer: prepared

'Prepared' is an adjective that describes someone who is ready or organized for an event, such as a job interview. In this context, it correctly describes the state of the person who seemed ready for the job. 'Prepare' is a verb, 'unprepared' is the opposite, and 'preparing' is a present participle.

HESI Grammar Practice Test 1

Which of the following is grammatically correct?