Grammar and Writing Flashcards

Which sentence correctly uses the subjunctive mood? A) If she was a better orator, she would have persuaded the council. B) If she were a better orator, she would have persuaded the council. C) If she is a better orator, she would persuade the council. D) If she be a better orator, she might persuade the council.

Answer: If she were a better orator, she would have persuaded the council.

The subjunctive mood uses 'were' (not 'was') for all persons in hypothetical or contrary-to-fact conditions introduced by 'if.'

Which sentence correctly uses 'comprise' or 'compose'? A) The anthology comprises of twelve classical essays. B) Twelve classical essays comprise the anthology. C) The anthology is comprised of twelve classical essays. D) Twelve classical essays are composed by the anthology.

Answer: Twelve classical essays comprise the anthology.

'Comprise' means 'to include or contain,' so the whole comprises the parts; 'comprises of' is always incorrect.

Which sentence avoids a double negative? A) The author didn't include no citations in the bibliography. B) The committee barely accepted no amendments to the proposal. C) She could not find any evidence to support the claim. D) He hasn't read none of the assigned texts.

Answer: She could not find any evidence to support the claim.

Option C uses a single negative ('could not') with the positive form 'any,' correctly expressing a negative idea without doubling the negation.

Which sentence demonstrates the correct use of a gerund rather than an infinitive? A) She avoided to discuss the controversial passage during class. B) She avoided discussing the controversial passage during class. C) She avoided discuss the controversial passage during class. D) She avoided to be discussing the controversial passage during class.

Answer: She avoided discussing the controversial passage during class.

The verb 'avoid' must be followed by a gerund (verb + -ing), not an infinitive; 'avoided discussing' is correct.

Which sentence correctly places the adverb to modify the intended word? A) He only read the first chapter of the assigned text. B) Only he read the first chapter of the assigned text. C) He read only the first chapter of the assigned text. D) He read the first only chapter of the assigned text.

Answer: He read only the first chapter of the assigned text.

In option C, 'only' is placed directly before 'the first chapter,' clearly modifying the quantity read rather than the subject or the verb.

Which sentence correctly distinguishes between 'fewer' and 'less'? A) There were less students enrolled in the classical studies program this year. B) The essay contained less grammatical errors than the previous draft. C) She spent less time on revision and made fewer mistakes. D) Fewer progress was made on the research paper than expected.

Answer: She spent less time on revision and made fewer mistakes.

Option C correctly uses 'less' for the uncountable noun 'time' and 'fewer' for the countable noun 'mistakes.'

Which sentence best varies sentence length and structure to create effective prose rhythm? A) The dialogue was long. The dialogue was complex. The dialogue was difficult. The dialogue was about virtue. B) Long, complex, and difficult, the dialogue centered on the nature of virtue. C) The dialogue was long and complex and difficult and it was about the nature of virtue. D) The dialogue: long, complex, difficult, and about virtue, was assigned.

Answer: Long, complex, and difficult, the dialogue centered on the nature of virtue.

Option B condenses four choppy sentences into one by using a fronted participial phrase and parallel adjectives, producing varied, rhythmic prose.