Common Grammar Mistakes Practice Test (Advanced): 45 Questions

Q1Identify the dangling modifier in the following sentence: 'Walking through the park, the flowers were in full bloom.'

Answer: D. Walking through the park

The introductory adverbial participial phrase 'Walking through the park' sets the scene for the action. In standard English syntax, the implied subject of an introductory participle must match the subject of the main (matrix) clause. Here, the subject is 'the flowers,' which creates a semantic mismatch because flowers cannot walk. To fix this, the subject of the main clause should be the person doing the walking (e.g., 'Walking through the park, I saw the flowers'). 'No error' is incorrect because the modifier is logically disconnected from the subject.

Q2Which sentence correctly fixes the dangling modifier: 'To qualify for the grant, the application must be submitted by Friday.'

Answer: B. To qualify for the grant, you must submit the application by Friday.

The introductory infinitive phrase 'To qualify for the grant' expresses purpose and requires a logical agent (a person or entity) as the grammatical subject. 'The application' is an inanimate object and cannot perform the action of qualifying. 'To qualify for the grant, you mu...' provides a semantic agent ('you') that correctly aligns with the infinitive. 'Applicants must submit the grant...' uses awkward word order, and 'The application must be submitte...' uses 'for qualifying,' which is unidiomatic in this context.

Q3Choose the correctly punctuated sentence:

Answer: A. The experiment was a failure; we had to start over.

This sentence contains two independent clauses. A semicolon is the standard way to join these independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction. 'The experiment was a failure, we had to start over' ('failure, we') is a comma splice, a major error in formal writing where two complete sentences are joined only by a comma. 'The experiment was a failure we had to start over' is a run-on sentence lacking any punctuation. 'The experiment was a failure, because we had to start over' is grammatically possible but unnecessary, as the relationship between failure and starting over is more effectively balanced by a semicolon.

Q4Select the correct option to avoid a run-on sentence: 'The team worked hard ___ they achieved their goal.'

Answer: C. , and

Joining two independent clauses into a compound sentence requires a coordinating conjunction preceded by a comma. The conjunction ', and' establishes a clear additive relationship. Options like 'therefore' and 'however' are conjunctive adverbs; in formal writing, they cannot join two sentences with only a comma—they would require a semicolon before them to avoid a comma splice.

Q5Which sentence correctly uses a conjunctive adverb to link independent clauses?

Answer: A. The committee met to discuss the budget; however, the members disagreed on the allocation.

Conjunctive adverbs like 'however' require a semicolon when they connect two independent clauses. This punctuation signals the end of the first complete thought while the adverb establishes a contrast. 'The committee met to discuss the budget, the members disagreed on the allocation' is a comma splice because it lacks the semicolon. 'The committee met to discuss the budget, the members disagreed on the allocation' is a correct compound sentence using 'and,' but it does not use a transition word, which is what the question specifically requested.

Q6Which of the following sentences contains the error?

Answer: B. The team is comprised of five experts.

In formal grammar, 'comprise' means 'to include' or 'to contain.' The whole comprises its parts ('The team comprises five experts'). The passive construction 'is comprised of' is traditionally considered a mistake—it is a hybrid error combining 'is composed of' and 'comprised.' For high precision, one should use 'is composed of' or the active 'comprises.' 'The team is comprised of five ex...' is thus marked as the error.

Q7Which of the following sentences contains the error?

Answer: C. Having finished the report, it was submitted to the manager.

The introductory adverbial participial phrase 'Having finished the report' requires the grammatical subject of the main clause to be the logical agent who finished the report. In 'Having finished the report, it was submitted to the manager', the subject is 'it' (the report itself), which nonsensically implies the report finished itself — a misplaced introductory phrase. 'Having finished the report, I submitted it to the manager' and 'Having finished the report, the team submitted it to the manager' both correctly use a human subject ('I', 'the team') as the logical agent of the participial phrase.

Q8Which sentence contains a split infinitive?

Answer: C. She wanted to quickly finish the task.

A split infinitive occurs when an adjunct (the adverb 'quickly') is inserted between the infinitive marker 'to' and the base form of the verb ('finish'). While common in modern speech, traditional formal register avoids this by placing the adverb after the object ('She wanted to finish the task quickly') or before the entire infinitive phrase ('She wanted quickly to finish the task'). 'She wanted to quickly finish the task' is the clear example of a 'split' structure.

Q9Choose the correct word: 'The judge remained ___ despite the emotional testimony.'

Answer: C. disinterested

In formal English, 'disinterested' is distinguished from 'uninterested.' 'Disinterested' means impartial, unbiased, or having no personal stake in the outcome—the ideal quality for a judge. 'Uninterested' simply means bored or indifferent. The judge should care about the case but remain neutral, making 'disinterested' the precise choice. 'Uninteresting' and 'disinteresting' describe something that fails to attract interest, which does not fit the judge's state of mind.

Q10Which sentence correctly combines these clauses using a semicolon and a transition word?

Answer: B. The rain continued for hours; consequently, the streets flooded.

Joining two independent clauses with a semicolon and a transition word ('consequently') is a hallmark of sophisticated formal writing. The semicolon prevents a comma splice ('The rain continued for hours, the streets flooded') or run-on ('The rain continued for hours the streets flooded'), while the transition word explicitly defines the cause-and-effect relationship. 'The rain continued for hours, and the streets flooded' is grammatically correct but uses a coordinating conjunction rather than a transition word.

Q11Which of the following sentences contains the error?

Answer: B. Each of the students have completed their assignment.

The pronoun 'Each' is grammatically singular and requires the singular verb 'has.' The plural noun 'students' in the prepositional phrase often leads to an error of proximity where the writer mistakenly uses the plural 'have.' While using 'their' as a singular gender-neutral pronoun ('Each of the students has completed his or her assignment') is widely accepted, the mismatch between the singular 'Each' and the plural 'have' in 'Each of the students have completed their assignment' remains a grammatical error.

Q12Which sentence uses 'imply' and 'infer' correctly?

Answer: A. The author implied that the situation was dire.

Semantic precision dictates that the speaker or writer 'implies' (suggests meaning indirectly), while the listener or reader 'infers' (deduces meaning from evidence). Therefore, an author implies a dire situation through words, while a reader would infer that conclusion. 'I implied from her tone that she was angry' is incorrect because the speaker is deducing (inferring), not suggesting. 'The reader implied the meaning of the text' is incorrect because the author suggests (implies) the state of the story.

Q13Which of the following sentences contains the error?

Answer: A. The man whom spoke to me yesterday is my neighbor.

'Whom' is an object pronoun and cannot be used as the subject of a relative clause. In 'The man whom spoke to me yesterday is my neighbor', 'whom' is the subject of 'spoke,' which is a grammatical error; 'who' (the subject form) is required instead. 'The man that I spoke to yesterday is my neighbor', 'The man to whom I spoke yesterday is my neighbor', and 'The man who spoke to me yesterday is my neighbor' are all grammatically correct.

Q14Which sentence is grammatically correct?

Answer: B. The principal reason for the delay was weather.

'Principal' is an adjective meaning 'chief' or 'primary' (as in 'principal reason') or a noun referring to a person in authority (school principal). 'Principle' is a noun referring to a fundamental law, doctrine, or moral rule. Therefore, one follows a 'principle' of honesty (moral rule), but identifies the 'principal' reason (primary reason) for a delay.

Q15Which sentence contains a split infinitive?

Answer: C. He failed to completely understand the instructions.

A split infinitive occurs in 'He failed to completely understand the instructions' ('to completely understand'), where the adverb interrupts the sequence of the marker 'to' and the base verb. In 'He completely failed to understand the instructions', 'completely' modifies the finite verb 'failed,' not the infinitive. 'He failed to understand completely the instructions' and 'He failed to understand the instructions completely' place the adverb after the verb or after the object, which keeps the infinitive 'to understand' intact.

Q16Identify the dangling modifier:

Answer: A. Designed to be portable, the engineers built the device.

The introductory adverbial participial phrase 'Designed to be portable' must modify the subject of the main clause. In 'Designed to be portable, the engineers built the device', the subject is 'the engineers,' which nonsensically suggests the people themselves were designed to be portable. To fix this, the subject should be 'the device' ('Designed to be portable, the device was built by engineers'), which is the logical referent of the modifier.

Q17Choose the correct sentence:

Answer: C. The noise was continuous, lasting for three days.

'Continuous' refers to an action that is unbroken in time or sequence (an uninterrupted duration). 'Continual' refers to something that happens repeatedly or frequently but with intervals of stopping and starting. If a noise lasts for three days without any break, 'continuous' is the semantically accurate choice. 'The noise was continual, lasting for three days' and 'The noise was continual, without a break' confuse these definitions.

Q18Correct this comma splice: 'The meeting was long, it was unproductive.'

Answer: D. The meeting was long; it was unproductive.

a comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined only by a comma ('long, it was'). 'The meeting was long; it was unproductive' correctly fixes this by using a semicolon to separate the two independent clauses. 'The meeting was long it was unproductive' is a run-on (no punctuation). 'The meeting was long, it was unproductive' still uses a comma as the primary link, which is incorrect for two independent clauses.

Q19Which sentence uses 'further' correctly?

Answer: C. We need to conduct further research.

In traditional prescriptive usage, 'farther' is reserved for physical, measurable distance (e.g., 'ran farther'), while 'further' is used for figurative or metaphorical distance, such as time, degree, or depth. 'Further research' implies additional scope or quantity of work, making it the correct choice. 'The city is further away than the park' and 'He ran further than the rest' and 'He walked further than his brother' involve physical distance and should ideally use 'farther'.

Q20Which of the following sentences contains the error?

Answer: B. If I was you, I would accept the offer.

This sentence requires the past subjunctive 'were' because it describes a counterfactual or hypothetical condition (a hypothetical state—something not currently true). In formal English, 'If I was you' is an error of mood; 'were' must be used for conditions that are contrary to fact. 'If I had been you, I would have accepted the offer' is a correct third conditional (past counterfactual).

Q21Which sentence correctly repairs the dangling modifier: 'Walking home in the rain, my umbrella broke.'

Answer: B. While I was walking home in the rain, my umbrella broke.

The original sentence implies the umbrella was doing the walking — a misplaced introductory phrase. 'While I was walking home in the rain, my umbrella broke' correctly repairs this by using a subordinate clause ('While I was walking...') that provides an explicit grammatical subject ('I'). 'Walking home in the rain, my umbrella broke' and 'While walking home in the rain, my umbrella broke' both retain a participial or gerundive phrase without an explicit subject, so the modifier still dangles. 'My umbrella broke while walking home in the rain' also omits the explicit subject in its adverbial phrase.

Q22Which of the following sentences contains the error?

Answer: C. She likes swimming, to hike, and running.

Parallel structure (parallelism) requires that items in a list share the same grammatical form. In 'She likes swimming, to hike, and running', the list mixes gerunds ('swimming', 'running') with an infinitive ('to hike'). To be correct, the series must use either all gerunds ('She likes swimming, hiking, and running') or all infinitives ('She likes to swim, to hike, and to run' and 'She likes to swim, hike, and run').

Q23Which sentence uses 'complement' correctly?

Answer: B. The wine complements the meal perfectly.

'Complement' (with an 'e') is a verb meaning to complete, enhance, or bring to perfection. 'Compliment' (with an 'i') refers to an expression of praise. Since the wine enhances the meal, 'complements' is correct. 'The wine compliments the meal perfectly' suggests the wine is speaking kindly about the food, which is nonsensical.

Q24Which sentence correctly fixes a comma splice using a coordinating conjunction?

Answer: A. She is an expert, and she knows the topic well.

a comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined only by a comma. Using a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) after the comma creates a correct compound sentence. 'She is an expert, and she knows the topic well' uses 'and' correctly. 'She is an expert; she knows the topic well, though' uses a semicolon, which is correct punctuation but does not use a coordinating conjunction.

Q25Passage: 'The candidate was qualified. The committee chose someone else.' Which is best?

Answer: C. The candidate was qualified; however, the committee chose someone else.

To show contrast between two independent clauses in a formal register, a semicolon followed by a transition word ('however') is the most appropriate structure. This avoids a comma splice ('The candidate was qualified, the committee chose someone else') and provides a clear logical transition. 'The candidate was qualified, the committee chose someone else' is a run-on sentence.

Q26Which sentence is free of dangling modifiers?

Answer: D. To finish the work, we must meet the deadline.

The introductory infinitive phrase 'To finish the work' describes an action that requires a logical agent (a person). In 'To finish the work, we must meet the deadline', the subject is 'we,' who can perform the action. In the other options, the subjects are 'the deadline' or 'meeting,' neither of which can 'finish work,' resulting in dangling modifiers.

Q27Which of the following sentences contains the error?

Answer: A. The book was comprised of ten chapters.

Standard usage dictates that 'comprise' should be used in the active voice ('The book comprises ten chapters'), meaning 'to consist of.' The passive construction 'was comprised of' is traditionally considered an error—a contamination from the phrase 'was composed of.' 'The book comprises ten chapters', 'The book comprised ten chapters', and 'The book is composed of ten chapters' represent correct standard usage.

Q28Which sentence correctly uses 'farther'?

Answer: C. He travelled farther than anyone else.

'Farther' is used for physical, geographical distance that can be measured (like traveling miles). 'Further' is used for figurative or metaphorical extensions of time, degree, or depth. Since traveling involves physical distance, 'He travelled farther than anyone else' is correct. 'Analysis,' 'arguments,' and 'discussions' ('We need to discuss this farther', 'The issue needs farther analysis', and 'His argument went farther than necessary') require 'further'.

Q29Which sentence correctly repairs a run-on using subordination?

Answer: B. He left early because he wanted to beat the traffic.

Subordination involves using a subordinating conjunction ('because') to turn an independent clause into a dependent one. This creates a clear causal relationship and resolves the run-on. 'He left early; he wanted to beat the traffic' uses a semicolon, which is 'coordination,' not 'subordination.' 'He left early, he wanted to beat the traffic' is a comma splice.

Q30Which of the following sentences contains the error?

Answer: C. The team, as well as the coach, were late.

Phrases like 'as well as,' 'along with,' or 'in addition to' are parenthetical adjuncts (extra information) and do not function like the connecting word (like 'and', 'but', or 'so') 'and.' They do not change the number of the subject. Since 'team' is a singular collective noun, the verb must be singular ('is' or 'was'). 'The team, as well as the coach, were late' incorrectly uses the plural 'were'.

Q31Identify the dangling modifier:

Answer: C. Looking out the window, the mountains were visible.

In the sentence 'Looking out the window, the mountains were visible,' the introductory adverbial participial phrase implies that 'the mountains' were doing the looking. This is a misplaced introductory phrase because the logical agent (the person looking) is missing from the subject position. 'Looking out the window, I saw the mountains' correctly places 'I' as the subject.

Q32Which sentence uses 'uninterested' correctly?

Answer: B. He was uninterested in the lecture, so he left.

'Uninterested' means bored or lacking interest. 'Disinterested' means impartial or having no personal stake. Someone leaving a lecture because they are bored is correctly described as 'uninterested.' A juror ('The juror was disinterested in the case') should be 'disinterested' (impartial), not 'uninterested' (bored).

Q33Which sentence correctly fixes a comma splice using a semicolon?

Answer: A. The data is missing; we cannot proceed.

a comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined only by a comma ('missing, we'). A semicolon correctly separates these two complete thoughts while acknowledging their logical connection. 'The data is missing but we cannot proceed' is missing a comma before 'but,' and 'The data is missing, and we cannot proceed' uses 'and,' which is correct coordination but not the semicolon fix requested.

Q34Which is the correct way to fix: 'To understand the results, the methodology needs checking.'

Answer: C. To understand the results, one must check the methodology.

The original sentence has a dangling infinitive because 'the methodology' cannot perform the action of 'understanding.' 'To understand the results, one must check the methodology' introduces 'one' as the subject, providing a logical human agent for the infinitive phrase. 'To understand the results, checking is needed' and 'To understand the results, the methodology needs checking' still leave the infinitive without a clear, logical subject capable of the action.

Q35Passage: 'The movie was long. We left early.' Which sentence best establishes a logical consequence between the clauses?

Answer: D. The movie was long; consequently, we left early.

A semicolon followed by the transition word 'consequently' is the most precise way to show cause-and-effect in formal writing. It avoids the relative informality of 'and' ('The movie was long, and we left early') and the grammatical error of a comma splice ('The movie was long, we left early').

Q36Which sentence contains a split infinitive?

Answer: C. She wanted to carefully explain the rules.

A split infinitive occurs when an adverb ('carefully') is placed between the particle 'to' and the verb 'explain.' While used for emphasis in speech, it is traditionally avoided in formal prose. 'She wanted to explain the rules carefully' and 'She wanted carefully to explain the rules' place the adverb outside the 'to + verb' unit, keeping the infinitive intact.

Q37Which sentence uses continual incorrectly?

Answer: A. The continual rain lasted for three days.

'Continual' describes events that recur frequently but have stops and starts. 'Continuous' refers to an unbroken, constant duration. If rain lasts for three days without stopping, 'continuous' is the correct term. 'The continual rain lasted for three days' is incorrect because it uses 'continual' for what is presumably an uninterrupted event. Interruptions ('There were continual interruptions during the speech') are by nature 'continual' because they start and stop.

Q38Correct the run-on: 'I finished the task I sent the email.'

Answer: A. I finished the task; I sent the email.

A semicolon is the appropriate punctuation to separate two independent clauses that are closely related but lack a coordinating conjunction. It prevents a run-on ('I finished the task I sent the email') and avoids a comma splice ('I finished the task, I sent the email'). 'I finished the task, I sent the email' is a comma splice even with the addition of 'though' at the end.

Q39Which sentence correctly fixes the error in: 'The report was wrote by the committee.'?

Answer: A. The report was written by the committee.

The passive voice is formed using a form of the verb 'to be' plus the past participle of the main verb. The past participle of 'write' is 'written.' 'Wrote' is the simple past tense form and cannot be used in a passive construction. 'The report were written by the committee' also contains a subject-verb agreement error ('report were').

Q40Which sentence correctly repairs the dangling modifier: 'Exhausted by the day, the bed felt comfortable.'

Answer: A. Exhausted by the day, I found the bed comfortable.

In the original sentence, the adverbial participial phrase 'Exhausted by the day' modifies 'the bed,' which is nonsensical. To correct this, the subject of the main clause must be the person who is exhausted. 'Exhausted by the day, I found the bed comfortable' changes the subject to 'I,' ensuring the modifier correctly describes the intended agent.

Q41Which sentence uses 'infer' correctly?

Answer: B. I inferred from his frown that he was displeased.

'Infer' is the process of deduction performed by a listener or observer. If you look at a frown and conclude someone is unhappy, you have 'inferred' it. 'Imply' would be used for the person or object doing the suggesting (e.g., 'The data inferred a decline' in 'The data inferred a decline.' is a common error; data cannot 'infer' because data doesn't have a mind to deduce things — the correct word would be 'implied').

Q42Which sentence uses 'compliment' correctly?

Answer: A. She complimented his outfit.

'Compliment' is a verb or noun relating to praise or admiration. Telling someone their outfit looks good is a 'compliment.' 'Complement' (with an 'e') means that one thing completes or enhances another (e.g., shoes that complement a dress). 'She complemented his outfit' uses 'complement' incorrectly if it means praise.

Q43Passage: 'The report was submitted. The board reviewed it.' Which sentence correctly combines the sentences using a semicolon?

Answer: B. The report was submitted; the board reviewed it.

A semicolon links two independent clauses that are closely related. This provides a stronger connection than a period but a cleaner break than a comma splice ('The report was submitted, the board reviewed it'). 'The report was submitted, and the board reviewed it' is a correct compound sentence but uses a coordinating conjunction ('and') rather than the requested semicolon.

Q44Which of the following sentences contains the error?

Answer: C. He enjoys to read, to write, and painting.

This sentence violates parallel structure. The first two items in the list are infinitives ('to read,' 'to write'), while the third is a gerund ('painting'). For grammatical consistency, all items in a series must share the same form, as seen in 'He enjoys reading, writing, and painting' and 'He loves reading, writing, and painting' and 'He likes to read, to write, and to paint'.

Q45Passage: 'The engine failed. The car stopped.' Combine these using a semicolon.

Answer: D. The engine failed; the car stopped.

A semicolon is the proper punctuation to join two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction. This structure emphasizes the direct causal link between the failure and the stopping while avoiding the error of a comma splice ('The engine failed, the car stopped') or a run-on. 'The engine failed; and the car stopped' is incorrect because a semicolon should not be followed by 'and' when joining two simple clauses.

Common Grammar Mistakes Practice Test — Advanced

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