CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.
A. If you need help call me.
B. If you need help, call me.
C. If, you need help call me.
D. If you need, help call me.
Correct Answer: B
An introductory dependent clause is normally followed by a comma.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. Because it was late, we left.
B. Because it was late. We left.
C. Because, it was late we left.
D. Because it was late; and we left.
Correct Answer: A
The dependent 'because' clause must be joined to an independent clause.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the best correction: 'I called him he did not answer.'
A. I called him; he did not answer.
B. I called him, he did not answer.
C. I called him he, did not answer.
D. I called; him he did not answer.
Correct Answer: A
A semicolon can correctly join two related independent clauses.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Which option is a complete sentence?
A. Because the office closed early.
B. When the rain stopped.
C. The office closed early because of the storm.
D. After the final announcement.
Correct Answer: C
A complete sentence contains an independent clause.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. The work needs to be completed today.
B. The work needs be completed today.
C. The work needs to completed today.
D. The work need being complete today.
Correct Answer: A
'Need + to be + past participle' is a standard passive necessity structure.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. He was seen enter the building.
B. He was seen to enter the building.
C. He was seen entered the building.
D. He seen to enter the building.
Correct Answer: B
In the passive, verbs of perception often take 'to + infinitive': 'was seen to enter'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. We were allowed leave early.
B. We were allowed to leave early.
C. We were allowed leaving early.
D. We allowed to leave early.
Correct Answer: B
'Allow' in the passive is followed by a to-infinitive.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. The teacher let us leave early.
B. The teacher let us to leave early.
C. The teacher let we leave early.
D. The teacher let us left early.
Correct Answer: A
'Let + object' is followed by a bare infinitive.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. She got the electrician fix the fan.
B. She got the electrician to fix the fan.
C. She got the electrician fixed the fan.
D. She got to the electrician fixing the fan.
Correct Answer: B
'Get + person + to-infinitive' is the correct causative pattern.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. I had my laptop repaired yesterday.
B. I had repaired my laptop by a technician yesterday if I arranged the service.
C. I had my laptop repair yesterday.
D. I had my laptop to repaired yesterday.
Correct Answer: A
'Have + object + past participle' expresses arranging for a service.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the passive form of: 'People believe that he is honest.'
A. He is believed to be honest.
B. He believes to be honest.
C. He is believed that honest.
D. It believes him honest.
Correct Answer: A
Reporting verbs can form the structure 'subject + be + past participle + to-infinitive'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the passive form of: 'Someone will send you the details.'
A. You will be sent the details.
B. You will sent the details.
C. The details will sending you.
D. You are sent the details tomorrow by someone will.
Correct Answer: A
A ditransitive verb can form a passive with the indirect object as subject.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the passive form of: 'They had completed the bridge before winter.'
A. The bridge had been completed before winter.
B. The bridge has completed before winter.
C. The bridge was been completed before winter.
D. The bridge had completed by them before winter.
Correct Answer: A
Past perfect passive is 'had been + past participle'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the passive form of: 'They are interviewing the candidates.'
A. The candidates are being interviewed.
B. The candidates are interviewed being.
C. The candidates were being interviewed.
D. The candidates have interviewing.
Correct Answer: A
Present continuous passive is 'are being + past participle'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Direct: He said, 'Alas! I have failed.' Reported speech:
A. He exclaimed with sorrow that he had failed.
B. He said with joy that he has failed.
C. He asked that he failed.
D. He ordered that he had failed.
Correct Answer: A
An exclamation of sorrow is reported with an appropriate reporting expression and backshifted tense.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Direct: She said, 'What a beautiful view!' Reported speech:
A. She exclaimed that it was a very beautiful view.
B. She asked whether the view was beautiful.
C. She ordered that the view be beautiful.
D. She said what was a beautiful view?
Correct Answer: A
An exclamation can be reported with 'exclaimed that...' while preserving the meaning.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Direct: He said, 'Do not touch this switch.' Reported speech:
A. He warned me not to touch that switch.
B. He warned me do not touch this switch.
C. He said me to not touching that switch.
D. He warned that me not touch switch.
Correct Answer: A
A negative warning can be reported with 'warned + object + not to + verb'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Direct: She said, 'I have been waiting for an hour.' Reported speech:
A. She said that she had been waiting for an hour.
B. She said that she has been waiting yesterday.
C. She told that she had waiting for an hour.
D. She said she was been waiting.
Correct Answer: A
Present perfect continuous normally backshifts to past perfect continuous.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Direct: He said, 'I must finish this today.' Reported speech:
A. He said that he had to finish it that day.
B. He said that he must finished this today.
C. He told that he had finish it that day.
D. He said that he has to finished it.
Correct Answer: A
Obligatory 'must' often becomes 'had to'; 'today' may become 'that day'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Direct: She said, 'I may attend the meeting.' Reported speech:
A. She said that she might attend the meeting.
B. She said that she may attended the meeting.
C. She told that she might attends the meeting.
D. She said she might attended meeting.
Correct Answer: A
'May' often backshifts to 'might' in reported speech.