U.S. English Sentence Structure (For Writing Professionals) Test

1. Analyze the following sentence, and then choose the correct statement from the options below. 

Her boyfriend and she strolled leisurely on the beach and admired the sand castles left behind by local children.

Answers:

• This sentence contains a compound subject and a subject complement.

• This sentence does not contain a direct object or an adverb.

• This sentence contains a compound subject and a compound predicate.

2. How would the following sentence be categorized?

Being an algebra teacher with a penchant for numerical complexities, I love to decipher challenging equations after my morning shower and before going to bed.

Answers:

• A compound sentence

• A complex sentence

• A simple sentence

• A compound-complex sentence

3. Choose the phrase that best completes the sentence below.

A complex sentence contains ________________________________.

Answers:

• a compound subject and two independent clauses

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

• one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses

• two or more independent clauses

4. Choose the phrase that best completes the sentence below.

Good sentence structure dictates that single-word modifiers and modifying phrases and clauses be placed  ___________________.

Answers:

• as close as possible to the verb of the sentence

• as close as possible to the subject of the sentence

• as close as possible to the word or words they modify

• between the subject and verb so that they are equally close to both sentence elements

5. Complete the following sentence by choosing the adverb clause from the options below.

__________________________ the bride leaned over and whispered to me that she was having second thoughts.

Answers:

• As the groom was slipping the ring on her finger,

• Her eyes wild and her face pale,

• I thought it was strange when

• A bit flustered,

6. Which of the following statements about absolute phrases is false?

Answers:

• An absolute phrase is made up of a noun or pronoun, a participle, and any modifiers of the noun or pronoun.

• An absolute phrase contains a subject but not a predicate, and serves to modify an entire sentence.

• An absolute phrase can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence and is always set off by commas.

• b and c

• None of the statements are false.

7. How would the following sentence be categorized?

Because Joe is a tennis instructor, some of our weekend guests expected him to give free lessons, while others simply pestered him for free advice.

Answers:

• A complex sentence

• A compound-complex sentence

• A simple sentence

• A compound sentence

8. Identify the type of phrase underlined in the following sentence.

The police stood guard over the smoking ruins of the town, their senses alert to any sign of looters.

Answers:

• Participial phrase

• Absolute phrase

• Appositive phrase

• Gerund phrase

9. Which of the following statements about phrases is false?

Answers:

• Noun phrases can act as subjects, direct or indirect objects, subject or object complements, and objects of a preposition.

• Participial phrases always act as adjectives.

• Infinitive phrases can act as adjectives, adverbs, and nouns.

• Gerund phrases always act as nouns.

• b and d

• None of the above statements is false.

10. Identify the type and function of the underlined phrase in the following sentence.

Trying to sell that lemon of a car has become a lesson in futility.

Answers:

• Participial phrase modifying "lesson"

• Gerund phrase acting as the subject

• Noun phrase acting as the subject

• This is not a phrase; it's an adjective clause.

11. Identify, in order as they appear, the types of modifiers underlined in the following sentence.

My neighbor, a tall man with knobby knees, had a bad habit of chasing his dog as the dog chased the cat, resulting in a rather ridiculous display of circular motion.

Answers:

• Appositive phrase, prepositional phrase, adverb clause, adverb, adjective

• Absolute phrase, prepositional phrase, appositive phrase, adjective, adjective

• Appositive phrase, adverb phrase, absolute phrase, adverb, adjective

12. Choose the phrase that best completes the sentence below.

Dependent, or subordinate, clauses _____________________.

Answers:

• may or may not be able to stand alone as complete sentences, depending on how they are used

• can stand alone as complete sentences

• cannot stand alone as complete sentences

13. Choose the series of phrases that best completes the following sentence.

A ______________________ comes at the beginning of ___________________ and establishes the relationship between that clause and the rest of the sentence.

Answers:

• dependent clause, an independent clause

• conjunctive adverb, an independent clause

• subordinating conjunction, a dependent clause

• coordinating conjunction, a dependent clause

14. Complete the following sentence by choosing the adverb clause from the options below.

I have deep respect and admiration for Texas rattlesnakes, _____________________ .

Answers:

• those slithery little rascals

• as long as they stay in Texas

• but I wouldn't want to meet one face to face

15. Which of the following statements about subject-verb agreement is false?

Answers:

• Depending on the context of the sentence, pronouns like none, enough, more, most, some, or all can agree with either singular verbs or plural verbs.

• When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is nearer the verb.

• The words each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone, nobody, somebody, someone, and no one are singular and require a singular verb.

• Collective nouns like jury, gang, committee, and class are singular when considered as groups and plural when considered as individuals acting within the whole.

• b and d

• None of these statements is false.

16. Identify the type of phrase underlined in the following sentence.

The cat ran herself ragged chasing that cricket around the yard all day.

Answers:

• Prepositional phrase

• Appositive phrase

• Infinitive phrase

• Noun phrase

17. Choose the phrase that best completes the following sentence.

The principle of ___________________ states that, in proper sentence structure, singular subjects must take singular verbs and plural subjects must take plural verbs.

Answers:

• Parallel structure

• Pronoun-antecedent agreement

• Subject-verb agreement

• Compound sentences

18. Identify the underlined part of the sentence below. 

Even though the stinging cold isn't exactly what I would wish for in a climate, I intend to spend a good three years of my life at the North Pole.

Answers:

• Adjective clause

• Noun clause

• Adverb clause

19. Identify the type and function of the underlined phrase in the following sentence.

For more than eight years, Waldo has been trying to worm his way into our secret society.

Answers:

• Participial phrase acting as an indirect object

• Infinitive phrase acting as a direct object

• Prepositional phrase acting as a direct object

• Infinitive phrase acting as the subject

20. Identify, in order as they appear, the types of modifiers underlined in the following sentence.

Hands clasped in my lap, I would sit for hours and watch that silly pigeon as he nestled on my windowsill and stared at me silently.

Answers:

• Appositive phrase, adjective, participial phrase, adverb

• Participial phrase, adverb,prepositional phrase, adjective

• Absolute phrase, adjective, prepositional phrase, adverb

• Absolute phrase, adjective, infinitive phrase, adjective

21. Identify the type and function of the underlined phrase in the following sentence.

Fido, perplexed by his inability to catch his own tail, looked at us quizzically and harrumphed.

Answers:

• Infinitive phrase modifying "looked"

• Noun phrase acting as the subject

• Participial phrase modifying "Fido"

• Participial phrase modifying "looked"

22. Choose the series of phrases that best completes the following sentence.

When used to join two ____________________ , a ______________________ is usually preceded by a ___________________ .

Answers:

• dependent clauses, subordinating conjunction, colon

• independent clauses, conjunctive adverb, comma

• subordinating conjunctions, dependent clause, semicolon

• independent clauses, conjunctive adverb, semicolon

23. Identify, in order as they appear, the types of connecting and transitional words underlined in the following sentence.

Marta had a strong Argentine accent, even though her father was Macedonian and her mother Irish.

Answers:

• Subordinating conjunction, coordinating conjunction

• Subordinating conjunction, conjunctive adverb

• Conjunctive adverb, subordinating conjunction

24. Identify the type of phrase underlined in the following sentence.

That man doing a jig in the town square is my uncle the philosopher.

Answers:

• Gerund phrase

• Prepositional phrase

• Appositive phrase

• Participial phrase

25. Identify, in order as they appear, the types of connecting and transitional words underlined in the following sentence.

Because I forgot to exercise, I became weak and lethargic; however, I soon regained my energy.

Answers:

• Subordinating conjunction, coordinating conjunction, conjunctive adverb

• Conjunctive adverb, coordinating conjunction, subordinating conjunction

• Subordinating conjunction, conjunctive adverb, conjunctive adverb

26. Identify the type and function of the underlined phrase in the following sentence.

After the onslaught of bad publicity, the starlet decided to travel incognito.

Answers:

• Prepositional phrase acting as an adverb

• Prepositional phrase acting as an adjective

• Prepositional phrase acting as the subject

27. Identify the underlined part of the sentence below. 

People whose wisdom is indisputable are usually the most feared by those who knowingly wallow in ignorance.

Answers:

• Adjective clause

• Noun clause

• Adverb clause

28. Complete the following sentence by choosing the adjective clause from the options below.

"But how ugly you are!" said my neighbor, _________________________ .

Answers:

• one of my sworn enemies

• as she averted her eyes

• whose daughter was madly in love with me

29. Identify, in order as they appear, the types of connecting and transitional words underlined in the following sentence.

I couldn't understand, since she'd always seemed to love me, why Samantha refused when I proposed to her last night; granted, I was wearing a gorilla mask at the time.

Answers:

• Subordinating conjunction, coordinating conjunction

• Conjunctive adverb, subordinating conjunction

• Subordinating conjunction, conjunctive adverb

• Neither of these words is used as a conjunction in this sentence.

30. Which of the following sentences illustrates the correct use of parallel construction?

Answers:

• We all assumed that we would canoe down the river, that there would be time for us to toast marshmallows in the fire, and that campfire songs would be sung by everyone.

• We all assumed that we would canoe down the river, there would be time for us to toast marshmallows in the fire, and that everyone would sing campfire songs.

• We all assumed that we would canoe down the river, that there would be time for us to toast marshmallows in the fire, and that everyone would sing campfire songs.

31. Choose the phrase that best completes the following sentence.

The principle of ___________________ states that, in proper sentence structure, a pronoun usually refers to something earlier in the text and must agree in number (singular or plural) with the thing to which it refers.

Answers:

• Compound sentences

• Parallel structure

• Subject-verb agreement

• Pronoun-antecedent agreement

32. Identify the type and function of the underlined clause in the following sentence.

I didn't lie to my mother; I merely participated in a campaign of misinformation that was started by my brother.

Answers:

• Adjective clause modifying "campaign"

• Noun clause acting as object

• Adverb clause modifying "participated"

33. Choose the phrase that best completes the following sentence.

Coordinating conjunctions, conjunctive adverbs, and subordinating conjunctions are all types of ______________________ that are used to connect ideas and aid coherence within and between sentences.

Answers:

• Subjects

• Connecting and transitional words

• Adjectives

• Dependent clauses

34. Identify, in order as they appear, the types of phrases underlined in the following sentence.

To hear Martha tell it, living with her in-laws is a complete nightmare.

Answers:

• Infinitive phrase, gerund phrase

• Participial phrase, noun phrase

• Infinitive phrase, participial phrase

• Appositive phrase, noun phrase

35. Identify, in order as they appear, the underlined parts of speech in the sentence below.

Everybody on that soccer team should ask himself a few important questions and set his own goals before the season begins.

Answers:

• Indefinite pronoun, possessive pronoun, personal pronoun, interrogative pronoun

• Indefinite pronoun, demonstrative pronoun, reflexive pronoun, possessive pronoun

• Relative pronoun, demonstrative pronoun, possessive pronoun, reflexive pronoun

36. Identify the type and function of the underlined modifier in the following sentence.

After a whole day of careening around on that bumpy road beside the railroad tracks, I can barely keep my hands and knees from shaking.

Answers:

• Prepositional phrase modifying "careening"

• Appositive phrase modifying "road"

• Participial phrase modifying "I"

• Prepositional phrase modifying "road"

37. Identify the function of the underlined noun phrase in the following sentence.

At long last, the silent and snowy road led us to our snug home in the mountains.

Answers:

• Subject

• Indirect object

• Subject complement

• Object complement

38. Identify the function of the underlined noun phrase in the following sentence.

The committee gave our marketing department an award for excellence.

Answers:

• Direct object

• Subject complement

• Indirect object

• Object complement

39. The underlined phrase in the following sentence is a misplaced modifier. Analyze the sentence, and then identify the type of modifier error it contains.

The girl who bought the pearl earrings recently went to Paris for the fashion shows.

Answers:

• Misplaced modifier: the word, phrase, or clause does not clearly relate to the word it is intended to modify

• Dangling modifier: the word or phrase (commonly a participle) modifies a word that either does not appear in the sentence or is placed too far away from the modifier

• Squinting modifier: the ambiguous modifier (usually an adverb) appears to qualify the words both before and after it

40. Identify, in order as they appear, the types of phrases underlined in the following sentence.

Before Ms. Allman became head of plastics for the toy company, she was a cosmetic surgeon.

Answers:

• Absolute phrase, participial phrase

• Infinitive phrase, gerund phrase

• Prepositional phrase, noun phrase

• Appositive phrase, noun phrase

41. Identify, in order as they appear, the underlined parts of the sentence below.

The cupcakes you baked for Harry smell delicious; unfortunately, he can't smell anything himself with that stuffy nose of his.

Answers:

• intransitive verb, subject complement, linking verb, object complement

• linking verb, subject complement, transitive verb, direct object

• transitive verb, object complement, transitive verb, indirect object

42. Identify the type and function of the underlined clause in the following sentence.

Charles, who is insufferably immature for his age, is only interested in trivial subjects and stupid jokes.

Answers:

• Noun clause acting as predicate nominative

• Noun clause acting as subject

• Adjective clause modifying "Charles"

43. Identify the type and function of the underlined clause in the following sentence.

That is the town where George Sand and Frederic Chopin spent their winter in Mallorca.

Answers:

• Adverb clause answering the question "when?"

• Noun clause acting as object

• Adverb clause answering the question "where?"

• Adjective clause modifying "town"

44. Identify, in order as they appear, the underlined parts of the sentence below.

I saw the cat  creeping out of the bag.

Answers:

• predicate, indirect object, object complement

• simple predicate, direct object, subject complement

• indirect object, simple subject, predicate

• simple predicate, direct object, object complement

45. Identify the type and function of the underlined clause in the following sentence.

Unless you plan on leaving with a black eye, I suggest you stop taunting Judith.

Answers:

• Adjective clause modifying "I"

• Noun clause acting as subject

• Adverb clause expressing condition

46. The underlined phrase in the following sentence is a misplaced modifier. Analyze the sentence, and then identify the type of modifier error it contains.

After being tossed on the barbecue, Malcolm thought the shrimp tasted much better.

Answers:

• Misplaced modifier: the word, phrase, or clause does not clearly relate to the word it is intended to modify

• Dangling modifier: the word or phrase (commonly a participle) modifies a word that either does not appear in the sentence or is placed too far away from its modifier

• Squinting modifier: the ambiguous modifier (usually an adverb) appears to qualify the words both before and after it

47. Identify the indirect object in the following sentence.

Will you make the children some play clothes out of those old drapes, please?

Answers:

• the children

• you

• some play clothes

• Will you make

48. Which of the following sentences illustrates correct pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Answers:

• Everybody here must try their best to win the foot race.

• When a person shows up late for work, he or she should be reprimanded.

• The representatives of the press, who were annoyed by the president's remarks, have packed up their cameras and gone home.

• Wilma never answers the phone after midnight, as it makes her nervous to do so.

• b, c, and d

• All of the above use correct pronoun-antecedent agreement.

49. Identify the simple subject in the following sentence.

Here, then, is the crux of the matter.

Answers:

• Here

• matter

• crux

• crux of the matter

50. Identify the type and function of the underlined phrase in the following sentence.

After gathering nectar and cleaning up the hive, the bees took a well-deserved break.

Answers:

• Prepositional phrase acting as an adverb

• Noun phrase acting as the subject

• Participial phrase modifying "bees"

• This is not a phrase; it's an adverb clause.

51. Identify the subject in the following sentence.

Sitting in a tree at the top of the garden was a huge bluebird with long, yellow tail feathers.

Answers:

• Sitting in a tree at the top of the garden was a huge bluebird with long, yellow tail feathers

• Sitting in a tree at the top of the garden

• a huge bluebird with long, yellow tail feathers

• was

52. Identify the type and function of the underlined modifier in the following sentence.

Dazed and disheveled, her brow furrowed with anxiety, Helen emerged from the mountain cave.

Answers:

• Participial phrase modifying "Helen"

• Absolute phrase modifying the sentence as a whole

• Appositive phrase modifying "Helen"

• Infinitive phrase modifying "emerged"

53. Identify the subject in the following sentence.

Because of the abundant use of insecticides and pesticides in the world today, my embarrassing dandruff problem has improved considerably.

Answers:

• my embarrassing dandruff problem

• the abundant use of insecticides and pesticides

• has improved considerably

• the world today

54. The following sentence contains an appositive phrase. Analyze the sentence, and then choose the correct statement from the options below.

Their bird, an affectionate but mischievous white cockatoo, routinely toured the neighborhood on a skateboard.

Answers:

• In this sentence, the appositive phrase is also a noun phrase.

• An appositive phrase, which is always set off by commas, renames and amplifies the noun that immediately precedes it.

• An appositive phrase does not directly connect to or modify any specific word in a sentence; instead, it modifies and adds information to the entire sentence.

• In this sentence, the appositive phrase is also an infinitive phrase.

• a and b

• a and c

55. How would the following sentence be categorized?

Mr. Dillon met with his new employees and tried to instill in them the drive to succeed that had characterized his sales teams in the past.

Answers:

• A run-on sentence

• A complex sentence

• A compound-complex sentence

• A compound sentence

56. Analyze the following sentence, and then choose the correct statement from the options below. 

My husband was worried that the kids were staying up too late every night.

Answers:

• This sentence has one independent clause and one dependent clause.

• This sentence has two dependent clauses.

• This sentence has two independent clauses.

57. Identify the type and function of the underlined clause in the following sentence.

Alexandra turned and sprinted down the driveway because she could not tolerate Jude's presence even one second longer.

Answers:

• Noun clause acting as object

• Adverb clause answering the question "when?"

• Adjective clause modifying "Alexandra"

• Adverb clause answering the question "why?"

58. Identify, in order as they appear, the underlined parts of the sentence below.

She was a lawyer before she became a full-time belly-dancing instructor.

Answers:

• linking verb, subject complement, linking verb, subject complement

• intransitive verb, subject complement, linking verb, object complement

• transitive verb, object complement, transitive verb, object complement

59. Choose from the parallel phrases that best complete the following sentence.

Imagine my _______________ when the man I admire most in the world told me that my ideas were _______________ .

Answers:

• surprise and how chagrined I was; boring, childish, and ignorant

• surprise and how chagrined I was; boring, childish, and showed how ignorant I was

• surprise and chagrin; boring, childish, and ignorant

60. Identify the predicate in the following sentence.

The image of my wife working quietly in her studio overwhelms me with a contented sense of peace and coziness that is difficult to fully express.

Answers:

• The image of my wife working quietly in her studio

• overwhelms me

• overwhelms me with a contented sense of peace and coziness that is difficult to fully express.

• The image of my wife

• that is difficult to fully express.

61. Identify, in order as they appear, the underlined parts of the sentence below.

That small box contains only the tiniest parts of the remote-controlled airplane.

Answers:

• Article, subject, main verb, preposition, direct object, conjunction, object of a preposition

• Adverb, simple subject, predicate, adjective, noun, article, noun

• Adjective, simple subject, simple predicate, adverb, direct object, preposition, object of a preposition

• Adjective, direct object, main verb, adverb, subject, preposition, indirect object

62. Read the following statement and choose the correct answer from the options below.

A clause is a group of grammatically related words that contains a subject and predicate; a phrase is a group of grammatically related words that does not contain a subject and predicate.

Answers:

• True

• False

63. Identify, in order as they appear, the underlined parts of the sentence below.

I bought the little boy with the lopsided grin a lollipop.

Answers:

• Indirect object, complex direct object

• Complex direct object, indirect object

• Direct object, complex indirect object

• Complex indirect object, direct object

64. Identify the type and function of the underlined clause in the following sentence.

What she did last summer surprised just about everyone.

Answers:

• Adverb clause modifying "surprised"

• Noun clause acting as subject

• Noun clause acting as object

65. The underlined phrase in the following sentence is a misplaced modifier. Analyze the sentence, and then identify the type of modifier error it contains.

"One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know." (Groucho Marx)

Answers:

• Misplaced modifier: the word, phrase, or clause does not clearly relate to the word it is intended to modify

• Dangling modifier: the word or phrase (commonly a participle) modifies a word that either does not appear in the sentence or is placed too far away from the modifier

• Squinting modifier: the ambiguous modifier (usually an adverb) appears to qualify the words both before and after it

66. Analyze the following sentence, and then choose the correct statement from the options below. 

The boss told me to stay late and clear my desk before I leave for vacation.

Answers:

• This sentence has two independent clauses.

• This sentence has one independent clause.

• This sentence has no independent clause.

67. Identify, in order as they appear, the underlined parts of the sentence below.

The girl with the long brown hair tumbled down the steps.

Answers:

• noun, verb, noun

• subject, simple predicate, object of a preposition

• prepositional phrase, predicate, noun

• simple subject, simple predicate, preposition

68. Which of the following sentences illustrates correct subject-verb agreement?

Answers:

• The squirrel monkeys and the lemur always ransack my pockets for grapes.

• The senator, who has been convicted along with his cohorts on ten counts of embezzlement and other crimes—and who seems to have used up his favors—is finally going to prison.

• All of the boxes, which contain nothing but foam peanuts, has been damaged in transit.

• Either the clowns or the lion tamer is currently passed out under the stage.

• All of the above use correct subject-verb agreement.

• a, b, and d

69. Identify the type and function of the underlined modifier in the following sentence.

To quell the rise in the theft of paperclips, management placed a deadbolt on the door of the supply room.

Answers:

• Prepositional phrase modifying "management"

• Appositive phrase modifying "management"

• Infinitive phrase modifying "placed"

• This is not a modifying phrase.

70. Which of the following groups of words is a phrase?

Answers:

• That I had not mentioned

• In the starry sky

• Listening to opera music

• To soak the stains

• b, c, and d

• None of the above

71. How would the following sentence be categorized?

Sally can name all of the states in alphabetical order; consequently, her friends are impressed.

Answers:

• A compound sentence

• A complex sentence

• A simple sentence

• A run-on sentence

72. Choose the phrase that best completes the following sentence.

The principle of ___________________ requires that the word or phrase patterns in a sentence be similar in order to create symmetry and emphasize the likeness between two or more ideas.

Answers:

• Subject-verb agreement

• Parallel structure

• Pronoun-antecedent agreement

73. Read the following statement and choose the correct answer from the options below.

A phrase may function in a sentence as a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb.

Answers:

• True

• False

74. Read the following statement and choose the correct answer from the options below.

A modifier, which can be an adjective or adverb, or a phrase or clause acting as an adjective or adverb, should be placed as close as possible to the word it modifies.

Answers:

• True

• False

75. Identify, in order as they appear, the underlined parts of speech in the sentence below.

After the blond model wobbled precariously, she hit the runway with a thud and died.

Answers:

• Subordinating conjunction, adjective, noun, adverb, pronoun, article, preposition, noun, conjunction, verb

• Adjective, adverb, noun, adjective, noun, article, conjunction, verb, conjunction, adjective

• Adverb, adjective, noun, adjective, pronoun, article, preposition, noun, conjunction, verb

76. Identify the type and function of the underlined modifier in the following sentence.

The cat burglar, cunningly disguised as a mouse, was able to squeak through the fence undetected.

Answers:

• Participial phrase modifying "burglar"

• Absolute phrase modifying the sentence as a whole

• Infinitive phrase modifying "was able"

• Gerund phrase modifying "burglar"