Sample Questions

Now test your comprehension with the following practice questions.

1. The three friends, Max included, was supposed to meet for dinner later that night.

A) was supposed to meet
B) was supposed to have met
C) were suppose to be meeting
D) were supposed to meet
E) they were supposed to be meeting

Explanation

The three friends, Max included, was supposed to meet for dinner later that night.

Grammar issue presented: Subject/Verb Agreement

The subject of this sentence is friends which is plural. The phrase Max included is set off by commas and, like any “sandwich” phrase, can be crossed out to help isolate the subject and the main verb:

The three friends was…

The plural subject friends does not agree with the singular verb was. We need the plural verb were.

A) was supposed to meet
Subject / verb agreement? NO – three friends (plural) : was (singular)

B) was supposed to have met
Subject / verb agreement? NO – three friends (plural) : was (singular)

C) were suppose to be meeting
Subject / verb agreement? YES – three friends (plural) : were (plural)
Additional errors? Diction: “suppose to be” should read “supposed to be”

D) were supposed to meet
Subject / verb agreement? YES – three friends (plural) : were (plural)
Additional errors? No

E) they were supposed to be meeting
Subject / verb agreement? YES – three friends (plural) : were (plural)
Additional errors? Pronouns: “they” is superfluous

(D) is correct.

2. The number of students chosen for the prestigious medical internship have more than doubled in the past fifteen years.

A) have more than doubled
B) have been more than doubling
C) has more than doubled
D) has been more than doubling
E) has doubled even more

Explanation

The number of students chosen for the prestigious medical internship have more than doubled in the past fifteen years.

Grammar issue presented: Subject/Verb Agreement

The phrase The number of is a singular subject that does not agree with the plural verb have…doubled. We need the singular verb has…doubled.

A) have more than doubled
Subject / verb agreement? NO – The number of students (singular) : have…doubled (plural)

B) have been more than doubling
Subject / verb agreement? NO – The number of students (singular) : have…doubling (plural)

C) has more than doubled
Subject / verb agreement? YES – The number of students (singular) : has…doubled (singular)
Additional errors? NO

D) has been more than doubling
Subject / verb agreement? YES – The number of students (singular) : has been…doubling (singular)
Additional errors? Verb tense: The verb form “has been…doubling” is inappropriate for an action that has already been completed.

E) has doubled even more
Subject / verb agreement? YES – The number of students (singular) : has doubled (singular)
Additional errors? Idioms: “has doubled even more” is the wrong idiom to express the notion of something “more than doubling.”

(C) is correct.

3. Following intense debate, the faculty has approved the measure to increase class size by 15% over the next four years.

A) the faculty has approved the measure to increase
B) the faculty has approved the measure and increased
C) the faculty have approved the measure to increase
D) the faculty have given their approval to the measure to increase
E) the faculty, having approved the measure to increase

Explanation

Following intense debate, the faculty has approved the measure to increase class size by 15% over the next four years.

Grammar issue presented: Subject/Verb Agreement

The collective noun faculty refers to the members of the faculty as a collective body; the members of the faculty acted as one in making the decision to approve the measure. We therefore need the singular verb has approved.

A) the faculty has approved the measure to increase
Subject/verb agreement: YES – faculty (singular) : has approved (singular)
Additional errors? NO

B) the faculty has approved the measure and increased
Subject/verb agreement: YES – faculty (singular) : has approved (singular)
Additional errors? Verb tense: the faculty has made the decision “to increase“class size

C) the faculty have approved the measure to increase
Subject/verb agreement: NO – faculty (singular) : have approved (plural)

D) the faculty have given their approval to the measure to increase
Subject/verb agreement: NO – faculty (singular) : have approved (plural)

E) the faculty, having approved the measure to increase
Subject/verb agreement: NO – faculty (singular) : have approved (plural)

(A) is correct.

4. Without proper funding and a better campaign strategy, there is no chances that our candidate will be elected to office.

A) there is no chances that
B) there can be no chance for
C) there is no chance that
D) there are no chances for
E) there will be no chances for

Explanation

Without proper funding and a better campaign strategy, there is no chances that our candidate will be elected to office.

Grammar issue presented: Subject/Verb Agreement, Idioms

The introductory phrase Without proper funding…strategy does not affect subject-verb agreement in the main clause. The singular verb is does not agree with the plural subject chances. The correct idiom is there is no chance that, so we need the singular verb is and the singular noun chance.

A) there is no chances that
Subject / verb agreement? NO – is (singular) : chances (plural)

B) there can be no chance for
Subject / verb agreement? YES – can be (singular or plural) : chance (singular)
Additional errors? Diction: The preposition “for” is incorrect unless it is accompanied by the infinitive “to win” after “our candidate,” which it is not.

C) there is no chance that
Subject / verb agreement? YES – is (singular) : chance (singular)
Additional errors? NO

D) there are no chances for
Subject / verb agreement? YES – are (plural) : chances (plural)
Additional errors? Diction: The preposition “for” is incorrect unless it is accompanied by the infinitive “to win” after “our candidate,” which it is not.

E) there will be no chances for
Subject / verb agreement? YES – will be (singular or plural) : chances (plural)
Additional errors? Diction: the preposition “for” is incorrect unless it is accompanied by the infinitive “to win” after “our candidate,” which it is not.

(C) is correct.

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