English Sentence Structure Test 2015

1. "Avery liked peaches, but Jason liked plums." Based on its structure, what type of sentence is this?

Answers:

• compound

• complex

• simple

• compound-complex

2. What is a predicate?

Answers:

• the grammatical purpose of a sentence

• where a sentence takes place

• who or what a sentence is about

• what the subject of a sentence does

3. "Wind whistled through the trees." What part of speech is "through"?

Answers:

• verb

• conjunction

• adjective

• preposition

4. "Be more careful." Based on its purpose, what type of sentence is this?

Answers:

• interrogative

• exclamatory

• imperative

• declarative

5. "Because this situation needs to change as soon as possible." Which best describes this example?

Answers:

• run-on

• fragment

• sentence

6. "While we were gone, Jason cleaned the house." Which best describes this example?

Answers:

• fragment

• sentence

• run-on

7. Which is a way of correcting a comma splice?

Answers:

• inserting a coordinating conjunction after the comma

• changing the comma to a semicolon

• (All of these)

• making one of the clauses a dependent clause

8. A complex sentence requires an independent clause and one or more ...

Answers:

• relative clauses

• normal clauses

• dependent clauses

• adjectival clauses

9. "Choose me! He may be more handsome, but my love for you is greater than ____"

Answers:

• he

• he's

• his

• him

10. What is a subordinating conjunction?

Answers:

• a word that joins two independent clauses

• a word that orders two phrases

• a word that reverses the meaning of a previous word

• a word that joins a dependent clause to an independent clause

11. What is a subject?

Answers:

• the grammatical purpose of a sentence

• what a sentence is intended to convey

• where a sentence takes place

• who or what a sentence is about

12. What is the following an example of? "George goes to the gym."

Answers:

• Simple sentence

• Dependent clause

• Compound-complex sentence

• Compound sentence

13. "Who wants to know?" Based on its purpose, what type of sentence is this?

Answers:

• exclamatory

• imperative

• declarative

• interrogative

14. "Each piece of data should be recorded, so the scientists can learn from them." What type of error is present in this sentence?

Answers:

• parallel structure

• subject-verb agreement

• modifier placement

• pronoun-antecedent agreement

15. "While I was at work, Jack cleaned the bathroom." Based on its structure, what type of sentence is this?

Answers:

• simple

• compound-complex

• compound

• complex

16. "Which shoes did she wear yesterday?" What part of speech is "Which"?

Answers:

• noun

• preposition

• adjective

• adverb

17. A predicate adjective:

Answers:

• describes a person, place, thing, activity, or action

• modifies a sentence's subject

• modifies a sentence's object

• describes an adjective

18. What is a coordinating conjunction?

Answers:

• a word that joins two independent clauses

• (All of these)

• a word such as "yet," "but," "so," or "nor"

• a word that joins two words of equal syntactic importance

19. What is a comma splice?

Answers:

• an error in sentence construction

• a cause of run-on sentences

• a comma used to join two independent clauses

• (All of these)

20. What is a clause?

Answers:

• a group of words on a related theme

• a group of words containing a subject and a predicate

• a group of words that make an incomplete phrase

• a group of words containing both a verb and an adverb

21. "George went to the bookstore and the laundromat." Based on its structure, what type of sentence is this?

Answers:

• simple

• complex

• compound-complex

• compound

22. "Andrea had gone to France; George was dumbfounded." Based on its structure, what type of sentence is this?

Answers:

• compound-complex

• compound

• simple

• complex

23. A dependent clause:

Answers:

• is always shorter than an independent clause.

• is an incomplete sentence without another dependent clause to complement it.

• is conditional, and therefore requires use of the subjunctive.

• is a sentence fragment without an independent clause.

24. A compound-complex sentence always contains:

Answers:

• one or more independent clauses and two or more dependent clauses

• two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses

• two or more independent clauses, and/or two or more dependent clauses

• at least one dependent clause and at least one dependent clause

25. "Having fallen in the sink, John found his phone no longer worked." What type of error is present in this sentence?

Answers:

• parallel structure

• pronoun-antecedent agreement

• subject-verb agreement

• modifier placement

26. Which is an example of a coordinating conjunction?

Answers:

• yet

• if

• while

• that

27. Indentify the object in the following sentence: "He threw the ball across the field."

Answers:

• the field

• the ball

• He

• across the field

28. Which sentence appears to contain a misplaced modifier?

Answers:

• Having shut down unexpectedly, I restarted my computer.

• Though boiling hot, I guessed he would eat the soup immediately.

• (All of these)

29. Which is an example of a subordinating conjunction?

Answers:

• and

• over

• or

• if

30. All of the following prepositions could complete the sentence EXCEPT: "We finally found him sitting ____ the house."

Answers:

• by

• atop

• on

• upon

31. Which part of the following sentence is incorrect– "Because of she got the job, they moved to London, in spite of the weather."

Answers:

• Run-on sentence

• The second preposition

• Word order

• The first preposition

32. "Jennifer, not her brothers, are at fault." What type of error is present in this sentence?

Answers:

• parallel structure

• subject-verb agreement

• modifier placement

• pronoun-antecedent agreement

33. Indentify the direct object in the following sentence: "Did he send you a letter?"

Answers:

• you

• a letter

• send

• he

34. Identify the subject in the following sentence: "Did you send him a letter?"

Answers:

• a letter

• him

• you

35. An imperative sentence:

Answers:

• makes a statement or states a fact

• makes an emphatic point or exclaims something

• states a demand or order, or gives instructions

• poses a question

36. "The woman smiled sadly." What part of speech is "sadly"?

Answers:

• adverb

• adjective

• preposition

• verb

37. True or false: the adverbs "better" and "best" can correctly be used to extremify both the adjective "good" and the adjective "well."

Answers:

• True

• False

38. "He is the very model of a diplomat." What part of speech is "is"?

Answers:

• adverb

• preposition

• adjective

• verb

39. "I missed my train!" Based on its purpose, what type of sentence is this?

Answers:

• declarative

• interrogative

• exclamatory

• imperative

40. Correct the following sentence: "First thing in the morning, Joe likes to make coffee, to exercise, and then taking a shower."

Answers:

• First thing in the morning, Joe likes coffee, exercise, and then taking a shower.

• Joe likes to make coffee, to exercise, and then taking a shower first thing in the morning.

• First thing in the morning, Joe likes to make coffee, exercise, and then take a shower.

• First thing in the morning, Joe likes to make coffee, exercise, and then taking a shower.

41. True or false: A compound sentence is always longer than a complex sentence.

Answers:

• True

• False

42. "The abandoned puppy climbed out of the box." What part of speech is "abandoned"?

Answers:

• adverb

• adjective

• noun

• verb

43. "Hey, where'd you get that dress?" What part of speech is "Hey"?

Answers:

• conjunction

• interjection

• noun

• preposition

44. "Isabelle was very angry." Based on its purpose, what type of sentence is this?

Answers:

• declarative

• interrogative

• imperative

• exclamatory

45. Which sentence implies that Kate is the only person who cares about Jason?

Answers:

• Kate only cares about Jason.

• Only Kate cares about Jason.

• Kate cares only about Jason.

46. Which sentence implies that the only thing Kate does is care about Jason?

Answers:

• Kate only cares about Jason.

• Only Kate cares about Jason.

47. True or false: A complex sentence always contains a dependent clause.

Answers:

• False

• True

48. Which type of clause can stand by itself?

Answers:

• an independent clause

• a dependent clause

• a relative clause

• an adjectival clause

49. "The day was bright and cold." What part of speech is "and"?

Answers:

• adjective

• conjunction

• interjection

• preposition

50. Which of the following is a complex sentence

Answers:

• Many of the students like to study in the morning.

• Students study in the morning because it gives them free time in the afternoon.

51. True or false: A compound sentence is always longer than a compound-complex sentence.

Answers:

• True

• False

52. "Which of these three possible explanations is ___ likely?"

Answers:

• less

• minus

• the least

• the less

53. "My boyfriend ____ attacked by a group of hooligans."

Answers:

• got

• had

• became

• was

54. A sentence that ends in a question mark is most likely:

Answers:

• an imperative sentence

• an exclamatory sentence

• a declarative sentence

• an interrogative sentence

55. Choose the correct word order:

Answers:

• Steve almost never late is.

• Steve is almost never late.

• Never late is almost Steve.

• Steve almost is never late.

56. "If I only had a brain." is an example of:

Answers:

• compound sentence

• run-on sentence

• sentence fragment

• complex sentence

57. Which part of the following sentence is incorrect– "I have been thinking on my parents ever since I received their letter."

Answers:

• Word order

• preposition

• Vocabulary

• Punctuation

58. Identify the dependent clause in the following sentence: "Since Jim lost his job, he has taken up painting."

Answers:

• lost his job

• Since Jim lost his job

• he has taken up painting

• taken up

59. "It's over, let's go home." Which best describes this example?

Answers:

• Time's Up!

• run-on

• fragment

• sentence

60. "The music is playing, it's time to dance." is an example of:

Answers:

• sentence fragment

• run-on sentence

• compound sentence

• complex sentence

61. The 'comma splice' is a kind of:

Answers:

• complex sentence

• dangling modifier

• sentence fragment

• run-on sentence

62. Which part of this sentence is incorrect: "Only one of the seven countries that participate have any objections."

Answers:

• participate

• have

• Only one

• any

63. Which is an example of a noun phrase?

Answers:

• The long and arduous journey

• Once upon a time

• After the American Civil War

• The kitten fell into a well

64. Identify the indirect object in the following sentence: "Did he send you a letter?"

Answers:

• send

• a letter

• he

• you

65. "She did not take his concern that seriously." What part of speech is "that"?

Answers:

• adjective

• adverb

• pronoun

• article

66. Which part of the following declarative sentence is incorrect? "That horses refuses to be saddled."

Answers:

• article

• predicate adjective

• verb conjugation

• noun number

67. "She accepted the punishment with dignity." What part of speech is "dignity"?

Answers:

• adjective

• noun

• adverb

• conjunction

68. "We looked in the mailbox, the garden, the shed, and behind a tree." What type of error is present in this sentence?

Answers:

• modifier placement

• subject-verb agreement

• parallel structure

• pronoun-antecedent agreement

69. Identify the predicate in the following sentence: "Jim is going to the store to buy eggs."

Answers:

• store

• is going to the store

• to the store to buy eggs

• is going

70. Identify the dependent clause: "Should we clean up together, are you going to do it yourself, or do you expect me to do it for you?

Answers:

• Should we clean up together

• sentence does not contain a dependent clause

• do you expect me to do it for you

• are you going to do it yourself

71. Which sentence contains an error of subject-verb agreement?

Answers:

• I am smarter than she is.

• The dogs and the baby were asleep.

• Neither you nor I am tall enough.

• Either the senators or the president were responsible.

72. "He had no comment concerning the scandal." What part of speech is "concerning"?

Answers:

• adjective

• preposition

• conjunction

• verb

73. Which of the following CANNOT correctly be used between two independent clauses?

Answers:

• a comma and a coordinating conjunction

• a semicolon

• a period

• a comma

74. "He adored the kitten that Jane had rescued." Based on its structure, what type of sentence is this?

Answers:

• complex

• simple

• compound-complex

• compound

75. Is this question grammatically correct? "If my sister can come too, I'll go to the party."

Answers:

• Yes

• No

76. Which sentence contains an error of pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Answers:

• Mary-Kate and Ashley has lost their shoes.

• Jan, Mary, and she won an award.

• Anders and I arrived later in the evening.

• Every hiker should watch their step.

77. "He loved the gift that his mother sent us, but I abhorred it." Based on its structure, what type of sentence is this?

Answers:

• compound

• simple

• compound-complex

• complex

78. True or false– In English, an interrogative sentence will always begin with either a verb or with one of the following words: where, why, how, who, what, where, when.

Answers:

• True

• False

79. "His boss can be overbearing: she sometimes makes him come in on weekends, and he thinks he should be compensated for the extra hours of work." This is an example of:

Answers:

• Compound sentence

• Complex-compound sentence

• Simple sentence

• Complex sentence

80. Identify the predicate adjective in the following sentence: "The thankless, arduous task left him feeling miserably tired.

Answers:

• miserably tired

• thankless and arduous are both predicate adjectives

• tired

• miserably