Grammar Practice Test

For each of the following, choose the correct sentence.

1. 9.
A) The desk and the chair sits in the corner. A) It was me who called.
B) The desk and the chair sit in the corner. B) It was I who called.

2. 10.
A) Each of us was scheduled to take the test. A) It is us clerks who work hard.
B) Each of us were scheduled to take the test. B) It is we clerks who work hard.

3. 11.
A) The coach, not the players, has been ill. A) He took the plate off the table.
B) The coach, not the players, have been ill. B) He took the plate off of the table.

4. 12.
A) There are only four days until Christmas. A) We saw a large amount of bottles on the
floor.
B) There’s only four days until Christmas.
B) We saw a large number of bottles on the
C) Both A and B are correct.
floor.

5.
13.
A) She is one of those women who works
A) They mailed the copies to him and me.
hard.
B) They mailed the copies to him and I.
B) She is one of those women who work hard.
C) They mailed the copies to he and I.

6.
14.
A) That was Yusuf and me whom you saw.
A) Neither of the candidates have spoken.
B) That was Yusuf and I whom you saw.
B) Neither of the candidates has spoken.

7.
15.
A) This phone call is for Bill and me.
A) How will you be effected financially if you
B) This phone call is for Bill and I.
lose your job?
B) How will you be affected financially if you
8. lose your job?

A) Terrell is the smartest of the two.

B) Terrell is the smarter of the two.
16.
A) Joan walks slower so her children can
keep up with her.
B) Joan walks more slowly so her children can
keep up with her.
17.
A) Jake is the older of the two brothers.
B) Jake is the oldest of the two brothers.
24.
A) I saw a bacteria under the microscope.
B) I saw some bacteria under the microscope.
25.
A) I hope you don’t feel badly about forgetting
my birthday.
B) I hope you don’t feel bad about forgetting
my birthday.

18. 26.
A) May did well on the test she took yesterday. A) We saw two puppies at the pound and took
home the cutest one.
B) May did good on the test she took
yesterday. B) We saw two puppies at the pound and took
home the cuter one.

19.
27.
A) Sam and DeWayne were real close friends.
A) Who besides Joe wants to leave?
B) Sam and DeWayne were really close
friends. B) Who beside Joe wants to leave?

20. 28.
A) Whomever drove in the carpool lane without A) I was so bored I fell asleep.
any passengers will be fined.
B) I was so board I fell asleep.
B) Whoever drove in the carpool lane without
any passengers will be fined.
29.
A) Pollen effects my sinuses and makes me
21.
sneeze.
A) Please allow Jenna or me to assist you.
B) Pollen affects my sinuses and makes me
B) Please allow Jenna or myself to assist you. sneeze.

22. 30.
A) We are anxious to help you. A) I want to lay down for a nap but the phone
keeps ringing.
B) We are eager to help you.
B) I want to lie down for a nap but the phone
keeps ringing.
23.
A) They felt angry about the way he had
treated them.
B) They felt angrily about the way he had
treated them.
31. 38.
A) That SUV, that landed on its hood after the A) The time for action has long since passed.
accident, was traveling at 80 miles per hour.
B) The time for action has long since past.
B) That SUV, which landed on its hood after
the accident, was traveling at 80 miles per
hour. 39.
A) Its a long way from here to Tierra del
Fuego.
32.
B) It’s a long way from here to Tierra del
A) Yesterday, Barry laid my jacket on the hood
Fuego.
of the car.
B) Yesterday, Barry lay my jacket on the hood
of the car. 40.
A) Mother, can I go to the movies with Ashton
this afternoon?
33.
B) Mother, may I go to the movies with Ashton
A) We need to discuss this further.
this afternoon?
B) We need to discuss this farther.

41.
34.
A) I could have danced all night.
A) It was an historic event.
B) I could of danced all night.
B) It was a historic event.

42.
35.
A) Srdjian emigrated from his native Bosnia
A) She slammed on the breaks because she about five years ago.
was going too fast.
B) Srdjian immigrated from his native Bosnia
B) She slammed on the brakes because she about five years ago.
was going too fast.

43.
36.
A) We saw the premier of the new play.
A) Your the only one for me.
B) We saw the premiere of the new play.
B) You’re the only one for me.

44.
37.
A) I cannot see in this darkness.
A) That redwood tree has become taller than
B) I can not see in this darkness.
the oak tree next door.
B) That redwood tree has become taller then
the oak tree next door. 45.
A) La Donna talks fondly about the four years
that she has went to the university.
B) La Donna talks fondly about the four years
that she has gone to the university.
46.
A) The answer is plain and simple.
B) The answer is plane and simple.

47.
A) Let me set this book down on the table
before I answer your question.
B) Let me sit this book down on the table
before I answer your question.

48.
A) The legislature finally authorized the funds
to polish the gold on the dome of the capital.
B) The legislature finally authorized the funds
to polish the gold on the dome of the capitol.

49.
A) How quickly he runs.
B) How quick he runs.

50.
A) This open space was the cite of a great
battle.
B) This open space was the site of a great
battle.
 ANSWER KEY

1. 8.

Correct Answer: B The desk and the chair sit in Correct Answer: B Terrell is the smarter of the
the corner. two.

Explanation: “The desk” and “the chair” are both Explanation: when comparing two people or things,
subjects, requiring the plural verb “sit.” use -er, not -est.

2. 9.

Correct Answer: A Each of us was scheduled Correct Answer: B It was I who called.
to take the test.
Explanation: “who” is the subject of “called.”
Explanation: “Each” is a singular pronoun requiring
the singular verb “was.”
10.
Correct Answer: B It is we clerks who work
3.
hard.
Correct Answer: A The coach, not the players,
Explanation: use “we” after “is” because the
has been ill.
pronoun restates the subject (“It”).
Explanation: “coach” is the subject, so the singular
.
verb “has been” is correct.
11.
Correct Answer: A He took the plate off the
4.
table.
Correct Answer: A There are only four days
Explanation: avoid off of.
until Christmas.
Explanation: “days” is the subject of “are.”
12.
Correct Answer: B We saw a large number of
5.
bottles on the floor.
Correct Answer: B She is one of those women
Explanation: use amount for things that cannot be
who work hard.
counted and number for things that can be
Explanation: the verb “work” agrees with “women,” counted.
not with “one.”

13.
6.
Correct Answer: A They mailed the copies to
Correct Answer: B That was Yusuf and I whom him and me.
you saw.
Explanation: “me” is the object of the preposition
Explanation: “I” restates the subject, “That.” “to.”

.
7. 14.

Correct Answer: A This phone call is for Bill Correct Answer: B Neither of the candidates
and me. has spoken.

Explanation: “me” is the object of the preposition Explanation: “Neither” is a singular pronoun here,
“for.” so use the singular verb “has spoken.”
15. 22.
Correct Answer: B How will you be affected Correct Answer: B We are eager to help you.
financially if you lose your job?
Explanation: eager means “excited” or
Explanation: affect as a verb means “to make an “enthusiastic”; anxious like anxiety, denotes
impact” or “to influence.” uneasiness.

16. 23.
Correct Answer: B Joan walks more slowly so Correct Answer: A They felt angry about the
her children can keep up with her. way he had treated them.
Explanation: slower is an adjective; however, we Explanation: in this sentence, “felt” is a linking
want an adverb here, so make it “more slowly.” verb, and “angry” is an adjective describing “they.”

17. 24.
Correct Answer: A Jake is the older of the two Correct Answer: B I saw some bacteria under
brothers. the microscope.
Explanation: see Explanation 8. Explanation: bacteria is a plural noun; the singular
is bacterium.

18.
25.
Correct Answer: A May did well on the test she
took yesterday. Correct Answer: B I hope you don’t feel bad
about forgetting my birthday.
Explanation: the adverb “well” modifies “did.”
Explanation: in this sentence, “feel” is a linking
verb, and “bad” is an adjective describing “you.”
19.
Correct Answer: B Sam and DeWayne were
26.
really close friends.
Correct Answer: B We saw two puppies at the
Explanation: the adverb “really” modifies the
pound and took home the cuter one.
adjective “close.”

27.
20.
Correct Answer: A Who besides Joe wants to
Correct Answer: B Whoever drove in the
leave?
carpool lane without any passengers will be fined.
Explanation: “besides” is a preposition meaning
Explanation: “Whoever” is the subject of “drove.”
“other than.”

21.
28.
Correct Answer: A Please allow Jenna or me to
Correct Answer: A I was so bored I fell asleep.
assist you.
Explanation: to be bored is to be weary due to
Explanation: “me,” along with “Jenna,” is the direct
dullness.
object of “allow.”

29.
Correct Answer: B Pollen affects my sinuses
and makes me sneeze.
Explanation: see Explanation 15.
30. 38.
Correct Answer: B I want to lie down for a nap Correct Answer: A The time for action has long
but the phone keeps ringing. since passed.
Explanation: lie means “to recline.” Explanation: passed is the past tense of pass.

31. 39.
Correct Answer: B That SUV, which landed on Correct Answer: B It’s a long way from here to
its hood after the accident, was traveling at 80 Tierra del Fuego.
miles per hour.
Explanation: It’s is a contraction for it is or it has.
Explanation: use which to introduce nonessential
clauses.
40.
Correct Answer: B Mother, may I go to the
32.
movies with Ashton this afternoon?
Correct Answer: A Yesterday, Barry laid my
Explanation: may is used for permission; can
jacket on the hood of the car.
means “able to.”
Explanation: laid is the past tense of lay.

41.
33.
Correct Answer: A I could have danced all
Correct Answer: A We need to discuss this night.
further.
Explanation: do not use of when you mean have.
Explanation: further refers to degree, not physical
distance.
42.
Correct Answer: A Srdjian emigrated from his
34.
native Bosnia about five years ago.
Correct Answer: B It was a historic event.
Explanation: one emigrates from a country and
Explanation: Use an before words or acronyms immigrates to a country.
that begin with a vowel sound. The audible h in
“historic” is not a vowel sound.
43.
Correct Answer: B We saw the premiere of the
35.
new play.
Correct Answer: B She slammed on the brakes
Explanation: B) a premiere is an opening night or
because she was going too fast.
first performance.
Explanation: do not confuse brake with break.

44.
36.
Correct Answer: A I cannot see in this
Correct Answer: B You’re the only one for me. darkness.
Explanation: you’re is a contraction for you are. Explanation: cannot is always one word.

37. 45.
Correct Answer: A That redwood tree has Correct Answer: B La Donna talks fondly about
become taller than the oak tree next door. the four years that she has gone to the university.
Explanation: than is used for comparisons. Explanation: never use has with went.
46.
Correct Answer: A The answer is plain and
simple.
Explanation: plain means “not fancy.”

47.
Correct Answer: A Let me set this book down
on the table before I answer your question.
Explanation: we set things down.

48.
Correct Answer: B The legislature finally
authorized the funds to polish the gold on the
dome of the capitol.
Explanation: A capitol is a government building. A
capital is a city that serves as the seat of
government.

49.
Correct Answer: A How quickly he runs.
Explanation: the adverb “quickly” describes how he
runs.

50.
Correct Answer: B This open space was the
site of a great battle.
Explanation: a site is a location.