PRAXIS Writing Usage 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses the correct verb form? "Neither the teacher nor the students ____ ready for the assembly."
- was
- were (Correct answer)
- is
- has been
Correct answer: were
With "neither...nor," the verb agrees with the nearer subject, "students," which is plural.
Question 2: Identify the sentence with correct pronoun usage.
- Between you and I, the test was easy.
- The award went to she and her partner.
- The principal spoke with her and me. (Correct answer)
- Him and I finished the project.
Correct answer: The principal spoke with her and me.
Object pronouns "her" and "me" are correct after the preposition "with."
Question 3: Which word correctly completes the sentence? "The committee made ____ decision after long debate."
- it's
- its (Correct answer)
- its'
- their's
Correct answer: its
"Its" is the possessive form; "it's" means "it is."
Question 4: Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.
- Each of the boys have a backpack.
- Each of the boys has a backpack. (Correct answer)
- Each of the boys are having a backpack.
- Each of the boys were having a backpack.
Correct answer: Each of the boys has a backpack.
"Each" is singular and takes the singular verb "has."
Question 5: Which sentence correctly uses an apostrophe for the plural possessive?
- The childrens' toys were scattered.
- The children's toys were scattered. (Correct answer)
- The childrens toys were scattered.
- The childrens's toys were scattered.
Correct answer: The children's toys were scattered.
"Children" is an irregular plural, so the possessive adds apostrophe-s: "children's."
Question 6: Identify the correctly written sentence.
- She could of done better on the exam.
- She could have done better on the exam. (Correct answer)
- She could had done better on the exam.
- She could of did better on the exam.
Correct answer: She could have done better on the exam.
"Could have" is correct; "could of" is a common error.
Question 7: Which sentence uses "who" and "whom" correctly?
- Who did you give the book to?
- Whom is responsible for this?
- To whom should I address the letter? (Correct answer)
- Whom wrote this essay?
Correct answer: To whom should I address the letter?
"Whom" is the object of the preposition "to," so "To whom" is correct.
PRAXIS Writing Usage 2
Which sentence uses the correct verb form? "Neither the teacher nor the students ____ ready for the assembly."