Basic UK English Sentence Structure MCQ

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

What she did last summer surprised just about everyone. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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

The use of noisemakers, an intolerable practice, has been banned until further notice.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Identify the type of phrase underlined in the following sentence.

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

How would the following sentence be categorized?

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

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

I saw the cat creeping out of the bag.

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.

Choose the phrase that best completes the sentence below.

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

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.

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.

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.

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. 

Choose the phrase that best completes the sentence below.

A complex sentence contains ________ 

How would the following sentence be categorized?

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

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.

Identify the underlined part of the sentence below.

Even though the stinging cold isn

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.

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

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

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

The old crook finally revealed what he had done with the loot.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Choose the phrase that best completes the sentence below.

Dependent, or subordinate, clauses _____________________. 

Identify the indirect object in the following sentence.

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

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.

Analyse 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

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

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

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.

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.