MCQs > Writing & Translation > US English Sentence Structure MCQs > Basic US English Sentence Structure MCQs

Basic US English Sentence Structure MCQ

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

Answer

Correct Answer: a and d

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2. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Participial phrase modifying

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3. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Subordinating conjunction, adjective, noun, adverb, pronoun, article, preposition, noun, conjunction, verb

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4. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Pronoun-antecedent agreement

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5. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: True

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6. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: True

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7. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Parallel structure

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8. How would the following sentence be categorized? Sally can name all of the states in alphabetical order; consequently, her friends are impressed.

Answer

Correct Answer: A compound sentence

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

Answer

Correct Answer: 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.

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10.

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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Subordinating conjunction, conjunctive adverb

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

Answer

Correct Answer: b, c, and d

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12. Choose the phrase that best completes the sentence below. Good sentence structure dictates that single-word modifiers and modifying phrases and clauses be placed ________

Answer

Correct Answer: as close as possible to the word or words they modify

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13. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Infinitive phrase modifying

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

Answer

Correct Answer: a, b, and d

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15. Complete the following sentence by choosing the adjective clause from the options below. "But how ugly you are!" said my neighbor, _________________________ .

Answer

Correct Answer: whose daughter was madly in love with me

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16. Identify, in order as they appear, the underlined parts of the sentence below. The girl with the long brown hair tumbled down the steps.

Answer

Correct Answer: subject, simple predicate, object of a preposition

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17. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: This sentence has one independent clause.

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18. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Adjective clause

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19. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Prepositional phrase acting as an adverb

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20. Identify the type and function of the underlined clause in the following sentence. What she did last summer surprised just about everyone.

Answer

Correct Answer: Noun clause acting as subject

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21. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Subordinating conjunction, coordinating conjunction, conjunctive adverb

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22. Identify the type of phrase underlined in the following sentence. That man doing a jig in the town square is my uncle the philosopher.

Answer

Correct Answer: Participial phrase

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23. Identify, in order as they appear, the underlined parts of the sentence below. I bought the little boy with the lopsided grin a lollipop.

Answer

Correct Answer: Complex indirect object, direct object

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24. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Subordinating conjunction, coordinating conjunction

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25. When used to join two ________ , a _________ is usually preceded by a ______

Answer

Correct Answer: independent clauses, conjunctive adverb, semicolon

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26. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: True

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27. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Participial phrase modifying

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28. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Adjective, simple subject, simple predicate, adverb, direct object, preposition, object of a preposition

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29. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Absolute phrase, adjective, prepositional phrase, adverb

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30. 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.

Answer

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

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31. 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 _______________ .

Answer

Correct Answer: surprise and chagrin; boring, childish, and ignorant

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32. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: transitive verb, object complement, transitive verb, object complement

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33.

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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Adverb clause answering the question
Adverb clause answering the question

Note: This question has more than 1 correct answers

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34. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: This sentence has one independent clause and one dependent clause.

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35. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: A complex sentence

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36. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Infinitive phrase acting as a direct object

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37. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: a and b

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38.

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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Adverb clause

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39. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Subject-verb agreement

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40. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: my embarrassing dandruff problem

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41. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Absolute phrase modifying the sentence as a whole

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42. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: a huge bluebird with long, yellow tail feathers

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43. Identify the type of phrase underlined in the following sentence. The cat ran herself ragged chasing that cricket around the yard all day.

Answer

Correct Answer: Prepositional phrase

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44. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: This is not a phrase; it's an adverb clause.

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45. Identify the simple subject in the following sentence. Here, then, is the crux of the matter.

Answer

Correct Answer: crux

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46. Which of the following sentences illustrate(s) correct pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Answer

Correct Answer: All of the above use correct pronoun-antecedent agreement.

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47. Identify the indirect object in the following sentence. Will you make the children some play clothes out of those old drapes, please?

Answer

Correct Answer: the children

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

Answer

Correct Answer: None of these statements is false.

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49. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: 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

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50. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Adverb clause expressing condition

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51. Identify, in order as they appear, the underlined parts of the sentence below. I saw the cat creeping out of the bag.

Answer

Correct Answer: simple predicate, direct object, object complement

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52. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Adjective clause modifying

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53. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Adjective clause modifying

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54. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: linking verb, subject complement, transitive verb, direct object

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55. Complete the following sentence by choosing the adverb clause from the options below. I have deep respect and admiration for Texas rattlesnakes, ______

Answer

Correct Answer: as long as they stay in Texas

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56. Choose the phrase that best completes the sentence below. A complex sentence contains _______

Answer

Correct Answer: one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses

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57. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Prepositional phrase, noun phrase

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58. 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.

Answer

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

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59. Identify the function of the underlined noun phrase in the following sentence. The committee gave our marketing department an award for excellence.

Answer

Correct Answer: Indirect object

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60. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Subject

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61. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: subordinating conjunction, a dependent clause

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62. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: A simple sentence

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63. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Prepositional phrase modifying

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64. Choose the phrase that best completes the sentence below. Dependent, or subordinate, clauses ____

Answer

Correct Answer: cannot stand alone as complete sentences

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65. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Appositive phrase, prepositional phrase, adverb clause, adverb, adjective

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

Answer

Correct Answer: Indefinite pronoun, demonstrative pronoun, reflexive pronoun, possessive pronoun

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67. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Infinitive phrase, gerund phrase

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68. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Gerund phrase acting as the subject

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69. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Connecting and transitional words

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

Answer

Correct Answer: None of the above statements is false.

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71. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Absolute phrase

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72. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: A compound-complex sentence

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73. 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.

Answer

Correct Answer: As the groom was slipping the ring on her finger,

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74.

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.

Answer

Correct Answer: Adjective clause modifying

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75. 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

Answer

Correct Answer: This sentence contains a compound subject and a compound predicate.

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