1
HESI A2 Sentence Structure &
Modifier Placement Exam Bank: 200
Questions for Nursing Grammar
Mastery
Table of Contents
SUBTOPIC 1: Sentence Fragments and Complete Sentences (20 Questions). .2
SUBTOPIC 2: Misplaced Modifiers (20 Questions)..........................................10
SUBTOPIC 3: Dangling Modifiers and Clarity Errors (20 Questions)...............18
SUBTOPIC 4: Parallel Structure in Medical Instructions (20 Questions)..........26
SUBTOPIC 5: Parallel Sentence Structure (20 Questions)..............................35
Subtopic 6: Sentence Fragments and Run-Ons in Nursing Communication...44
Subtopic 7: Verbals and Their Placement in Medical Instructions..................50
Subtopic 8: Faulty Parallelism in Nursing Communication.............................57
Subtopic 9: Sentence Variety and Syntactic Fluency in Healthcare Writing...64
Subtopic 10: Sentence Structure in Ethical and Legal Nursing Scenarios......72
, 2
SUBTOPIC 1: Sentence Fragments and
Complete Sentences (20 Questions)
Each question includes four choices. The correct answer is bolded, with a
rationale provided.
Question 1:
Which of the following is a complete sentence?
A. After the nurse administered the injection.
B. The patient smiled after receiving the injection.
C. Because the shift was over.
D. While documenting the medication.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Option B is a complete sentence with a subject ("The patient") and
a verb ("smiled"). All other options are dependent clauses or fragments.
Question 2:
Identify the sentence fragment.
A. The doctor examined the patient thoroughly.
B. Before the lab results arrived.
C. She discussed the care plan with the family.
D. The nurse explained the medication schedule.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Option B is a dependent clause and lacks an independent clause
to complete the thought.
, 3
Question 3:
Choose the complete sentence:
A. The nurse prepared the sterile field carefully.
B. While the patient waited in the room.
C. Because the results were inconclusive.
D. After completing the charting.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Only option A has both a subject and predicate, expressing a
complete thought.
Question 4:
Which of the following is a sentence fragment?
A. The patient was wheeled to the recovery area.
B. He requested extra pillows for comfort.
C. When the IV bag ran empty.
D. The night shift reported the change.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Option C is a subordinate clause and does not stand alone as a
complete sentence.
Question 5:
Which sentence is a complete sentence and not a fragment?
A. Because she was feeling better.
B. The nurse assessed the patient’s vital signs.
C. Although the room was quiet.
, 4
D. When she opened the medication cart.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Option B is the only choice that stands alone with a subject and
verb.
Question 6:
Identify the fragment:
A. The CNA changed the bed linens.
B. Since the call light kept flashing.
C. They scheduled a follow-up appointment.
D. The nurse documented the assessment.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: "Since the call light kept flashing" needs an independent clause to
form a complete sentence.
Question 7:
Choose the correct sentence:
A. While the nurse checked the dressing.
B. Because the equipment was malfunctioning.
C. The technician fixed the faulty monitor.
D. Although the blood pressure was low.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Options A, B, and D are dependent clauses. Only C is a complete
sentence.
HESI A2 Sentence Structure &
Modifier Placement Exam Bank: 200
Questions for Nursing Grammar
Mastery
Table of Contents
SUBTOPIC 1: Sentence Fragments and Complete Sentences (20 Questions). .2
SUBTOPIC 2: Misplaced Modifiers (20 Questions)..........................................10
SUBTOPIC 3: Dangling Modifiers and Clarity Errors (20 Questions)...............18
SUBTOPIC 4: Parallel Structure in Medical Instructions (20 Questions)..........26
SUBTOPIC 5: Parallel Sentence Structure (20 Questions)..............................35
Subtopic 6: Sentence Fragments and Run-Ons in Nursing Communication...44
Subtopic 7: Verbals and Their Placement in Medical Instructions..................50
Subtopic 8: Faulty Parallelism in Nursing Communication.............................57
Subtopic 9: Sentence Variety and Syntactic Fluency in Healthcare Writing...64
Subtopic 10: Sentence Structure in Ethical and Legal Nursing Scenarios......72
, 2
SUBTOPIC 1: Sentence Fragments and
Complete Sentences (20 Questions)
Each question includes four choices. The correct answer is bolded, with a
rationale provided.
Question 1:
Which of the following is a complete sentence?
A. After the nurse administered the injection.
B. The patient smiled after receiving the injection.
C. Because the shift was over.
D. While documenting the medication.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Option B is a complete sentence with a subject ("The patient") and
a verb ("smiled"). All other options are dependent clauses or fragments.
Question 2:
Identify the sentence fragment.
A. The doctor examined the patient thoroughly.
B. Before the lab results arrived.
C. She discussed the care plan with the family.
D. The nurse explained the medication schedule.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Option B is a dependent clause and lacks an independent clause
to complete the thought.
, 3
Question 3:
Choose the complete sentence:
A. The nurse prepared the sterile field carefully.
B. While the patient waited in the room.
C. Because the results were inconclusive.
D. After completing the charting.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Only option A has both a subject and predicate, expressing a
complete thought.
Question 4:
Which of the following is a sentence fragment?
A. The patient was wheeled to the recovery area.
B. He requested extra pillows for comfort.
C. When the IV bag ran empty.
D. The night shift reported the change.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Option C is a subordinate clause and does not stand alone as a
complete sentence.
Question 5:
Which sentence is a complete sentence and not a fragment?
A. Because she was feeling better.
B. The nurse assessed the patient’s vital signs.
C. Although the room was quiet.
, 4
D. When she opened the medication cart.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Option B is the only choice that stands alone with a subject and
verb.
Question 6:
Identify the fragment:
A. The CNA changed the bed linens.
B. Since the call light kept flashing.
C. They scheduled a follow-up appointment.
D. The nurse documented the assessment.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: "Since the call light kept flashing" needs an independent clause to
form a complete sentence.
Question 7:
Choose the correct sentence:
A. While the nurse checked the dressing.
B. Because the equipment was malfunctioning.
C. The technician fixed the faulty monitor.
D. Although the blood pressure was low.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Options A, B, and D are dependent clauses. Only C is a complete
sentence.
