Grammar and Sentence Structure Flashcards

Which sentence avoids a double negative?

Answer: He didn't say anything about the meeting.

Standard English requires only one negative per clause; 'didn't say anything' correctly uses one negative element.

Which version correctly joins these two independent clauses? 'The traffic was heavy. We arrived on time.'

Answer: The traffic was heavy; however, we arrived on time.

A semicolon followed by a conjunctive adverb and a comma correctly joins two independent clauses showing contrast.

Which sentence correctly uses a reflexive pronoun?

Answer: I hurt myself while cooking dinner.

Reflexive pronouns are correct when the subject and object refer to the same person; 'I hurt myself' is the proper reflexive use.

Which sentence shows the correct use of an appositive phrase?

Answer: My brother, a doctor, works in Chicago.

An appositive phrase renames or identifies the noun immediately before it and is set off by commas on both sides.

Which sentence correctly uses 'fewer' vs. 'less'?

Answer: We need fewer resources to complete this task.

'Fewer' is used with countable nouns (resources can be counted) while 'less' is used with uncountable or mass nouns.

Which sentence demonstrates the correct use of the present perfect tense?

Answer: They have lived in New York for three years.

The present perfect with 'for' describes an action that began in the past and continues to the present; it cannot be used with specific past time markers like 'last year' or 'ago'.

Identify the sentence with a correctly punctuated introductory adverbial clause.

Answer: After the meeting ended, we went to lunch.

An introductory adverbial clause at the beginning of a sentence should be followed by a comma before the main clause.