CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Which sentence correctly uses 'brush up on'?
A. I need to brush my grammar up on the desk.
B. I need brush up my grammar on.
C. I need to brush up on my grammar before the test.
D. I brush on up grammar.
Correct Answer: C
'Brush up on' means improve or refresh one's knowledge of something.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Which sentence correctly uses 'call for'?
A. The situation calls immediate action for.
B. The situation calls for immediate action.
C. The situation calls at immediate action.
D. The situation calls from action.
Correct Answer: B
'Call for' means require or demand.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Which sentence contains a passive participial phrase?
A. Designed for harsh conditions, the equipment performed well.
B. Designing for harsh conditions, the equipment performed well by itself.
C. To design for harsh conditions, equipment performed.
D. The equipment has design for conditions.
Correct Answer: A
'Designed for harsh conditions' is a past-participial phrase with passive meaning.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Which sentence contains a perfect participial phrase?
A. Completing the inspection, the report was submitted.
B. To have completed the inspection, the team submitted.
C. The team has completing the inspection.
D. Having completed the inspection, the team submitted its report.
Correct Answer: D
'Having completed' is a perfect participle indicating an earlier completed action.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the sentence with a passive infinitive phrase.
A. The documents expect to sign today.
B. The documents are expected to signing today.
C. The documents are expected to be signed today.
D. The documents expected being sign today.
Correct Answer: C
'To be signed' is a passive infinitive construction.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the sentence with a perfect infinitive phrase.
A. He seems forgetting the appointment.
B. He seems to have forgotten the appointment.
C. He has forgotten to the appointment.
D. He seems to forgetting the appointment.
Correct Answer: B
'To have forgotten' is a perfect infinitive: to + have + past participle.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Which sentence contains a prepositional phrase modifying a verb?
A. The children waited outside the classroom.
B. The children outside the classroom were noisy.
C. The classroom near the stairs is locked.
D. The notice beside the door is new.
Correct Answer: A
'Outside the classroom' modifies 'waited' by indicating place.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Which sentence contains a prepositional phrase modifying a noun?
A. They placed the notice on the wall.
B. We arrived after noon.
C. She spoke with confidence.
D. The notice on the wall contains the schedule.
Correct Answer: D
'On the wall' describes which notice and therefore functions adjectivally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Which sentence uses a gerund phrase as the object of a verb?
A. Holding the meeting is important.
B. They talked about holding the meeting.
C. They postponed holding the meeting until Friday.
D. Their plan is holding the meeting.
Correct Answer: C
'Holding the meeting' is the object/complement of the verb 'postponed'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Which sentence uses a gerund phrase as subject complement?
A. Solving crossword puzzles improves concentration.
B. Her favorite pastime is solving crossword puzzles.
C. She enjoys solving crossword puzzles.
D. She is interested in solving crossword puzzles.
Correct Answer: B
The gerund phrase follows the linking verb 'is' and identifies the subject 'pastime'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Which sentence uses an infinitive phrase as an adverb of purpose?
A. He called the office to confirm the appointment.
B. To confirm the appointment was necessary.
C. His aim was to confirm the appointment.
D. The appointment to confirm was important.
Correct Answer: A
The infinitive phrase tells why he called the office.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Which sentence uses an infinitive phrase as an adjective?
A. To complete the forms requires time.
B. She went early to complete the forms.
C. Her goal is to complete the forms.
D. She has several forms to complete before noon.
Correct Answer: D
'To complete before noon' modifies the noun 'forms'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the sentence containing an essential appositive that normally takes no commas.
A. My friend, Ahmed, lives in Peshawar.
B. My, friend Ahmed lives in Peshawar.
C. My friend Ahmed lives in Peshawar.
D. My friend Ahmed, lives in Peshawar.
Correct Answer: C
When the name 'Ahmed' is essential to identify which friend is meant, commas are normally omitted.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Which sentence correctly uses an appositive phrase?
A. The manager a highly experienced administrator handled, the crisis calmly.
B. The manager, a highly experienced administrator, handled the crisis calmly.
C. The manager, a highly experienced administrator handled the crisis calmly.
D. The manager a highly, experienced administrator, handled the crisis.
Correct Answer: B
A nonessential appositive should be set off by commas on both sides.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the best correction: 'After reading the report, the conclusion seemed obvious.'
A. After reading the report, we found the conclusion obvious.
B. After reading the report, the conclusion read us.
C. The conclusion, after reading the report, found obvious.
D. After the report reading, obvious the conclusion.
Correct Answer: A
The revised sentence supplies a logical subject ('we') for the introductory phrase.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?
A. After reviewing the file, the officer noticed several errors.
B. Having read the letter, Sara replied promptly.
C. Walking home, Ali saw the accident.
D. After reviewing the file, several errors became obvious.
Correct Answer: D
The sentence does not state who reviewed the file; grammatically, 'several errors' appears to do the reviewing.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the sentence with a correctly attached participial phrase.
A. Having checked the figures, the statement was signed by the accountant.
B. Having checked, the figures signed the accountant.
C. Having checked the figures, the accountant signed the statement.
D. The statement, having checked the figures, signed the accountant.
Correct Answer: C
The person who checked the figures must be the subject immediately following the participial phrase.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct sentence.
A. The proposal is under the consideration.
B. The proposal is under consideration.
C. The proposal is in consideration under.
D. The proposal under considered is.
Correct Answer: B
'Under consideration' is a fixed phrase meaning being examined or thought about.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Which sentence correctly uses 'for want of'?
A. The project was delayed for want of sufficient funds.
B. The project was delayed for want sufficient funds.
C. The project delayed want of for funds.
D. The project was want for of funds.
Correct Answer: A
'For want of' means because of a lack of.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct use of 'at variance with'.
A. His statement was variance with the official record.
B. His statement was at variance the official record.
C. His statement variance at with record.
D. His statement was at variance with the official record.
Correct Answer: D
'At variance with' means in disagreement or conflict with.