Subject-Verb
Neither smoking nor drinking alcoholic beverages are good for your long-term health.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. to smoke nor drinking alcoholic beverages is
C. smoking nor to drink alcoholic beverages are
D. smoking nor drinking alcoholic beverages is
D – "Neither" and "neither/nor" can be singular or plural depending on the situation. These constructions follow the second noun in the list to decide if they are singular or plural. For example, "Neither the cat nor the dogs" is plural. "Neither the dogs nor the cat" is singular.
Alone on the prairie, one often begins to feel that they have a special connection to the desolate landscape.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. it has
C. one has
D. we have
C – "They" is a plural pronoun, but the sentence states that one (a singular antecedent) often begins to feel a connection to the landscape. Stay consistent and singular by using "one" a second time.
On our travels through Germany, Raphael, Bill, and me met both weary travelers and excited explorers.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. me met both wearily
C. I met both weary
D. I met both wearily
C – Use the "one at a time" test: "Raphael met…"/ "Bill met…" / "Me met…" Whoa whoa – "Me met" doesn't sound so good. It should be the subjective pronoun case "I met," which should sound much more familiar. Choices B and D also make Adjectives & Adverbs mistakes
David was surprised to learn that frogs were primarily carnivorous, he had assumed that they mostly ate plants and vegetables.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. carnivorous, he had assumed,
C. carnivorous (he had assumed
D. carnivorous; he had assumed
D - Choice C is no good, because it uses an open parentheses with no close parentheses. Choices A and B won't work, because this sentence is made of two Independent Clauses (see next chapter on Sentence Structure), and we can only use a comma to connect two Independent Clauses if we also add an appropriate conjunction or subordinating word (see Lesson 7, Conjunctions & Transitions). That leaves us with Choice D, which is perfect: a semicolon acts just like a period, and is effective for dividing two "complete sentences" or Independent Clauses, as we have in this situation.
There are a wide variety of modern dance forms and styles to enjoy. That's one reason my hometown has many different dance studios.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. enjoy that's
C. enjoy, that's
D. enjoy (that's
A - NO CHANGE. This practice question is best left as a pair of complete, independent sentences, given our options. We can't use Choice D, because it uses an open parentheses with no close parentheses. Choice C is out, because you can't connect two Independent Clauses with only a comma (see also next chapter on Sentence Structure). Choice B uses no punctuation mark at all, creating a Run-On Sentence.
The field of ceramics, which some laypeople simply call "pottery," are wide and varied in application.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. is wide and varied
C. were wide and varied
D. and is wide and varied
B – Get rid of all the details and this sentence reads "The field are wide." Big singular/plural mistake: "field" is a singular subject noun, but the verb "are" is plural. Change to the singular verb form "is" to agree with the singular subject "field."
Many people, after touring the medieval fair, become an apprentice to blacksmiths or jewelry-makers.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. be an apprentice
C. become apprentices
D. choose to be an apprentice
C - The classic career trick, as in Question 12: "many people" is plural, so all those people can't make the decision to become (singular) "an apprentice." Instead, those plural people would like to become many apprentices, plural. Therefore, change to the plural "apprentices."
Us students are leading a solidarity march in order to protest the unfair treatment of migrant farm workers.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. Ourselves are
C. Us students were
D. We students are
D – The antecedent "someone" is singular, so we can't use the plural pronoun "they" or we'll cause a Pronoun-Antecedent disagreement. Change from the plural pronoun "they" to the singular pronoun "he or she."
A professional long-distance runners life revolves around his or her workout schedule, sleep routine, and dietary needs.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. runner
C. runner's
D. runners'
C - This question tests our understanding of apostrophes, possessives, and singular-plural. We can tell we have a singular "runner" because of the clues "a… runner" and "his or her," which both are singular. That eliminates Choices A and D, which are plural. Choice A also doesn't included a possessive form, and neither does Choice B. That leaves only Choice C, which is perfect, because it is both singular and possessive: this sentence describes a single runner's life. In other words, the apostrophe helps show that our singular runner "possesses" his or her own life.
The art exhibit's brochure read like a "who's who" of famous Italian artists;Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci…
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. artists,Michelangelo
C. artists:Michelangelo
D. artists (Michelangelo
C - This sentence is a textbook example of the ideal time for colon usage. Check the two colon criteria. First, there is a complete sentence before the colon. Second, the colon introduces one or more examples or a definition. Choice D uses an open parentheses without a close parentheses, and Choice A uses a semicolon, but the second half of the sentence is not an Independent Clause (see Lesson 9 on Sentence Structure).
The vote of the American people, who turned out in record numbers, demonstrate that our nation longs for more honest politicians to take office.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. numbers, demonstrates
C. numbers demonstrates
D. numbers which demonstrate
B –What exactly does the "demonstrating" in this sentence? It's not "the American people," plural, but "the vote," singular, that demonstrates. "Demonstrate" is a plural verb form, so it doesn't currently agree with its singular subject, "the vote." Change to the singular verb "demonstrates" for successful agreement
One of my classmates thinks that their parents are the most productive and generous members of society who ever lived.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. his parents are
C. their parents is
D. one's parents are
B - "Their" is a plural possessive pronoun; it creates a Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement error with its antecedent "one of my classmates," which is singular. We can correct this mistake by changing the plural pronoun "their" to the singular pronoun "his."
My puppy and I go to the dog park as often as possible; I love to watch his rambunctious antics as he chases other friendly dogs and plays in the river.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. I go
C. Me and my puppy go
D. My puppy and me go
A – NO CHANGE. "I go to the park" would be correct, using the "one at a time" test. This test also confirms that you can't use "me": "Me goes to the park" definitely sounds like a caveman.
Though the words "vintage" and "classic" are often applied interchangeably, there is a subtle difference: "vintage" has a primary reference to age, while "classic" can add an additional connotation of elegance.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. difference, "vintage"
C. difference ("vintage"
D. difference, so "vintage"
A - NO CHANGE. Elimination helps here. Choice C uses an open parentheses without a close parentheses. Choice B improperly uses a comma to connect two Independent Clauses without a conjunction or subordinating word. Choice D uses a "double conjunction" ("Though… so…") which is not allowed (review Lesson 7, Conjunctions & Transitions). That leaves us with Choice A, which uses a colon. Evaluate according to the two colon criteria: Is it preceded by a complete sentence? (Yes). Does it introduce one or more examples or a definition? (Yes!)
Alvin is struggling in math class this year; and there are many topics in Precalculus that he finds both challenging and frustrating.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. this year (there are
C. this year, there are
D. this year; there are
D - Choice B is out instantly: it uses an open parentheses with no close parentheses. Choice A won't work because you can only use a semicolon between two complete sentences, but the second half begins with "and" - a subordinating conjunction that prevents the second half from standing on its own (see next chapter on Sentence Structure). Choice C is out because you can't use a comma to connect two Independent Clauses without a conjunction. Choice D is perfect because it uses a semicolon to separate two complete Independent Clauses.
Pham Tuyen's compositions, many of which praise Vietnamese Communism, is proof that music can simultaneously be art and propaganda.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. Communism, are proof that music can at the same time simultaneously be
C. Communism, and music can simultaneously be
D. Communism, are proof that music can be both
D –What exactly "is proof" in this sentence? "The compositions," plural, are the proof – so the singular verb "is proof" creates a Subject-Verb Disagreement error. Choice D correctly uses the plural verb form "are." Choice B is wrong because it is redundant: "simultaneously" and "at the same time" mean the same thing, and would be considered wrong on the SAT & ACT for reasons of Redundancy (Lesson 13).
What any particular antique violin is worth is determined by its age and maker.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. are worth is
C. is worth are
D. are worth are
A – NO CHANGE. This can be a tough one. "What any violin is worth" is a singular noun; we're talking about a singular "what it's worth," a single amount of value. Therefore, the plural verb "are worth" is disagreeing; change to the singular verb form "is" for better Subject-Verb Agreement (Lesson 1). Then, consider "a violin", which is also singular. Keep the singular verbs all around and go with "is" and "is."
Annabelle is an old acquaintance of our family; my brother and her may even get married someday.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. she and he
C. her and my brother
D. she and my brother
D – Use the "one at a time" test: "My brother may get married someday." "Her may get married someday." The second one sounds really bad, because it's trying to use an objective- form pronoun to do a subjective-form job. Change "her" to "she": "She may get married someday." Sounds better, right? Good.
A synthesizer - an entirely electronic musical instrument: can usually be categorized into either an "East Coast" or a "West Coast" design philosophy.Musical Instruments
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. instrument, can
C. instrument - can
D. instrument; can
C - This is the perfect time to use a dash mark in the same way we use parentheses. The dash mark in Choice C will partner with the first dash mark in the sentence to create a "Parenthetical Clause" (see next chapter on Sentence Structure). This separates the sentence into two main chunks: the Independent Clause ("A synthesizer… can usually be categorized…") and a Parenthetical Clause in the middle ("an entirely electronic musical instrument") that is opened and closed by a pair of dash marks.
Surfing (riding the waves on a wooden or plastic board) gained much of its' popularity in the 1950s and 60s in Hawaii, California, and Australia.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. much of its popularity
C. much of it's popularity
D. much of their popularity
B - This question tests usage of the word "its" combined with apostrophes. Remember that its' is not a real word, so we can eliminate Choice A immediately. Choice D is wrong because it commits a Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement mistake (Lesson 5) by using the plural pronoun "their" to refer to the singular antecedent "surfing." Choice C incorrectly uses the contraction it's, meaning "it is," when a possessive singular pronoun is what we actually need. That leaves us with only Choice B, its, which is the correct singular possessive pronoun form.
Down the wildflower-covered mountain runs the trickle of snowmelt and the roaring river that ends in a foaming waterfall.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. mountain run the trickle
C. mountain, the trickle
D. mountain, runs the trickle
B – This might be one of the toughest questions in the book. In this case, the main verb "runs" is placed before its plural compound subject, which is very unusual in everyday speech, but not unacceptable grammatically. In fact, the SAT & ACT often exploit this loophole to create tough questions.
Take a closer look – both the "trickle of snowmelt" and "the roaring river" are running down the mountain. Since two bodies of water are running (plural), we need to use the plural verb form "run" instead of the singular form "runs."
As I have taught my little sister more and more about soccer, she and me spend more time kicking the ball around outside.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. she and I have spent more time
C. she and I will spend more time
D. her and me have spent more time
B – Take out the details and split up the nouns using the "one at a time" test to identify the mistake in the original, like this: "She spends more time…" and "Me spend more time…" The first version sounds fine, the second sounds like a caveman. We need to use the pronoun "I" instead of "me," as in "I spend more time." Choice C commits a Verb Tense error.
Playing the way us Wildcats do is sure to guarantee victory in the tournament.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. our way, us Wildcats
C. in our own way, we Wildcats
D. the way we Wildcats do
D - Get rid of some of the details and the mistake is more clear, like this: "Playing the way us do…" We never say "Yes, us do like electronic music," do we? No, but "we do" sounds right. That's because "we" is the proper Pronoun Case: the subjective case, correctly playing the role of the sentence's subject. Choice C gets the Pronoun Case right, but incorrectly mixes a plural pronoun and a singular verb ("We is"). If you miss this, review Subject-Verb Agreement (Lesson 1) and Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
When working at the kennel, Samantha was often astonished at the sheer variety of the dogs' collars, including spiked ones, simple ones, and colorful ones.Dogs
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. the dogs' collar
C. the dog's collars
D. the dogs collars
A - NO CHANGE.This question tests the use of apostrophes to show singular and plural possessive nouns. We are talking about multiple dogs with multiple collars, so we definitely want to stick with our plural options. That eliminates Choice C, which is a singular " dog." Also, Choice B refers to only a singular "collar," so that's out as well. Choice D lacks any possessive apostrophe. Only Choice A correctly uses both plural form and applies the possessive apostrophe to the end (dogs').
Brian Eno is the foremost composer of ambient music (a genre based in slow, evolving soundscapes that can be either ignored in the background or attended to carefully, as the listener may determine for himself or herself.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. ambient music; a genre
C. ambient music - a genre
D. ambient music. A genre
C - This question makes use of a dash mark acting like a colon. Let's narrow things down first with some elimination. Choice B uses a semicolon, but lacks an Independent Clause in the second half of the sentence (see next chapter on Sentence Structure). Choice D is wrong for a similar reason - after the period is an incomplete sentence, and we also know that semicolons and periods follow the same rules as each other. Choice A uses an open parentheses without a close parentheses, which isn't allowed. That leaves Choice C. Imagine that the dash mark is a colon and evaluate according to the two colon criteria - you will see that the rules apply perfectly.