LIBERTY UNIVERSITY CLST 101
ENGLISH ASSESSMENT Grammar
& Sentence Mechanics
Q1. Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?
A. The group of students are studying for their exams.
B. Neither the teacher nor the students was prepared for the fire drill.
C. Each of the essays has been graded and returned to the students.
D. The data suggests that more research are needed.
Rationale: “Each” is a singular indefinite pronoun, requiring a singular verb (“has
been graded”). A: “group” is singular → “is”; B: with “neither/nor,” the verb
agrees with the closer subject (“students” → “were”); D: “research” is singular →
“is.”
Q2. Identify the error in: “Running down the street, the dog chased the mailman
who was barking loudly.”
A. Incorrect verb tense
B. Misplaced modifier
C. Subject-verb disagreement
D. Pronoun-antecedent disagreement
Rationale: The participial phrase “Running down the street” illogically modifies
“the dog” (dogs don’t run down streets chasing mailmen? Actually the phrase
suggests the dog is running, but it's the mailman who should be running? Wait,
re-read: The dog chased the mailman who was barking loudly. The modifier
"running down the street" attaches to the dog, which is fine. Actually the error:
The mailman was barking? That's the misplaced modifier – “barking loudly”
should modify the dog, not the mailman. The sentence implies the mailman was
barking. So indeed misplaced modifier.)
,Q3. Which sentence contains a fragment?
A. Although the deadline was extended, many students still submitted late work.
B. The professor accepted the assignment because it was well-written.
C. Because the library closed early. Which forced us to find another study
location.
D. We studied at the coffee shop after the library closed early.
Rationale: “Because the library closed early” is a dependent clause; “Which
forced us…” is another dependent clause. No independent clause completes the
thought → fragment.
Q4. Select the sentence with correct parallel structure.
A. The student enjoyed reading, to write, and painting in her free time.
B. The student enjoyed reading, writing, and to paint in her free time.
C. The student enjoyed reading, writing, and painting in her free time.
D. The student enjoyed to read, writing, and painted in her free time.
Rationale: All three activities are gerunds (“reading,” “writing,” “painting”),
maintaining parallel form. Other options mix gerunds with infinitives or past
tense.
Q5. Which sentence correctly uses pronoun-antecedent agreement?
A. Every student must bring their own textbook to class.
B. Each of the nurses completed her shift on time.
C. Someone left their jacket in the auditorium.
D. Neither the manager nor the employees submitted his timesheet.
Rationale: “Each” is singular, so the pronoun should be singular (“her” if female
or “his or her” in formal writing). A and C use “their” with singular antecedents
(though accepted in informal English, traditional grammar requires singular
pronoun). D: with “neither/nor,” pronoun agrees with closer antecedent
“employees” → “their.”
, Q6. Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.
A. After the meeting which ended late we decided to order pizza.
B. After the meeting, which ended late, we decided to order pizza.
C. After the meeting, which ended late we decided to order pizza.
D. After the meeting which ended late, we decided to order pizza.
Rationale: “Which ended late” is a nonrestrictive clause, so it must be set off by
commas before and after.
Q7. Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
A. I have a big test tomorrow; so I cannot go to the party.
B. The weather was terrible; nevertheless, we went for a hike.
C. She bought apples, bananas; and oranges.
D. He is a skilled carpenter; and a talented painter.
Rationale: Semicolons join two independent clauses without a conjunction;
“nevertheless” is a conjunctive adverb and requires a semicolon before and a
comma after. A: use comma or omit “so”; C: use commas in a series; D: no
semicolon needed before “and.”
Q8. Identify the sentence with a comma splice.
A. I wanted to go for a walk, but it started raining.
B. I wanted to go for a walk, it started raining.
C. Because it started raining, I did not go for a walk.
D. I did not go for a walk; it started raining.
Rationale: A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined only
by a comma without a coordinating conjunction. B has two independent clauses
(“I wanted to go” and “it started raining”) separated by a comma alone.
Q9. Which sentence is grammatically correct?
A. The team are celebrating their victory.
B. The team is celebrating its victory.
ENGLISH ASSESSMENT Grammar
& Sentence Mechanics
Q1. Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?
A. The group of students are studying for their exams.
B. Neither the teacher nor the students was prepared for the fire drill.
C. Each of the essays has been graded and returned to the students.
D. The data suggests that more research are needed.
Rationale: “Each” is a singular indefinite pronoun, requiring a singular verb (“has
been graded”). A: “group” is singular → “is”; B: with “neither/nor,” the verb
agrees with the closer subject (“students” → “were”); D: “research” is singular →
“is.”
Q2. Identify the error in: “Running down the street, the dog chased the mailman
who was barking loudly.”
A. Incorrect verb tense
B. Misplaced modifier
C. Subject-verb disagreement
D. Pronoun-antecedent disagreement
Rationale: The participial phrase “Running down the street” illogically modifies
“the dog” (dogs don’t run down streets chasing mailmen? Actually the phrase
suggests the dog is running, but it's the mailman who should be running? Wait,
re-read: The dog chased the mailman who was barking loudly. The modifier
"running down the street" attaches to the dog, which is fine. Actually the error:
The mailman was barking? That's the misplaced modifier – “barking loudly”
should modify the dog, not the mailman. The sentence implies the mailman was
barking. So indeed misplaced modifier.)
,Q3. Which sentence contains a fragment?
A. Although the deadline was extended, many students still submitted late work.
B. The professor accepted the assignment because it was well-written.
C. Because the library closed early. Which forced us to find another study
location.
D. We studied at the coffee shop after the library closed early.
Rationale: “Because the library closed early” is a dependent clause; “Which
forced us…” is another dependent clause. No independent clause completes the
thought → fragment.
Q4. Select the sentence with correct parallel structure.
A. The student enjoyed reading, to write, and painting in her free time.
B. The student enjoyed reading, writing, and to paint in her free time.
C. The student enjoyed reading, writing, and painting in her free time.
D. The student enjoyed to read, writing, and painted in her free time.
Rationale: All three activities are gerunds (“reading,” “writing,” “painting”),
maintaining parallel form. Other options mix gerunds with infinitives or past
tense.
Q5. Which sentence correctly uses pronoun-antecedent agreement?
A. Every student must bring their own textbook to class.
B. Each of the nurses completed her shift on time.
C. Someone left their jacket in the auditorium.
D. Neither the manager nor the employees submitted his timesheet.
Rationale: “Each” is singular, so the pronoun should be singular (“her” if female
or “his or her” in formal writing). A and C use “their” with singular antecedents
(though accepted in informal English, traditional grammar requires singular
pronoun). D: with “neither/nor,” pronoun agrees with closer antecedent
“employees” → “their.”
, Q6. Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.
A. After the meeting which ended late we decided to order pizza.
B. After the meeting, which ended late, we decided to order pizza.
C. After the meeting, which ended late we decided to order pizza.
D. After the meeting which ended late, we decided to order pizza.
Rationale: “Which ended late” is a nonrestrictive clause, so it must be set off by
commas before and after.
Q7. Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
A. I have a big test tomorrow; so I cannot go to the party.
B. The weather was terrible; nevertheless, we went for a hike.
C. She bought apples, bananas; and oranges.
D. He is a skilled carpenter; and a talented painter.
Rationale: Semicolons join two independent clauses without a conjunction;
“nevertheless” is a conjunctive adverb and requires a semicolon before and a
comma after. A: use comma or omit “so”; C: use commas in a series; D: no
semicolon needed before “and.”
Q8. Identify the sentence with a comma splice.
A. I wanted to go for a walk, but it started raining.
B. I wanted to go for a walk, it started raining.
C. Because it started raining, I did not go for a walk.
D. I did not go for a walk; it started raining.
Rationale: A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined only
by a comma without a coordinating conjunction. B has two independent clauses
(“I wanted to go” and “it started raining”) separated by a comma alone.
Q9. Which sentence is grammatically correct?
A. The team are celebrating their victory.
B. The team is celebrating its victory.
