Grammar, Punctuation & Syntax Flashcards
7 cards from real CPP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Grammar, Punctuation & Syntax flashcards as text
Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
Answer: The deadline is tomorrow; therefore, we must finish tonight.
A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses, especially before conjunctive adverbs like 'therefore.'
Which of the following is a dangling modifier?
Answer: After reviewing the manuscript, several errors were found.
The participial phrase 'After reviewing the manuscript' has no logical subject since 'errors' cannot review manuscripts.
In the sentence 'The data suggests the results are conclusive,' what is the grammatical issue?
Answer: 'Data' is plural and should take 'suggest'
In formal writing, 'data' is the plural of 'datum' and requires the plural verb 'suggest.'
Which sentence correctly punctuates a nonrestrictive clause?
Answer: My sister, who lives in Boston, is a copyeditor.
Nonrestrictive clauses provide extra (nonessential) information and must be set off with commas.
Which option correctly completes the sentence: 'Neither the author nor the editors ___ aware of the error'?
Answer: were
With 'neither/nor,' the verb agrees with the nearer subject; 'editors' is plural, so 'were' is correct.
Which sentence uses the hyphen correctly in a compound modifier?
Answer: She is a well-known author.
Compound modifiers are hyphenated when they precede a noun ('well-known author') but not after a linking verb.
Which sentence avoids a comma splice?
Answer: The proof was complete; it was submitted immediately.
A semicolon correctly separates two independent clauses, eliminating the comma splice.