Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. Each answer is different from the others.
B. Each answer is different than the others in formal exam grammar.
C. Each answer are different from other.
D. Each answer is different with the others.
Correct Answer: A
'Different from' is the standard formal collocation, and singular 'each answer' takes 'is'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. There used to be a library here, didn't there?
B. There used to be a library here, wasn't there?
C. There used to be a library here, usedn't it?
D. There used to be a library here, doesn't there?
Correct Answer: A
A common tag after 'used to' is formed with 'did': 'didn't there?'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. Someone has taken my book, haven't they?
B. Someone has taken my book, hasn't he?
C. Someone has taken my book, have they?
D. Someone has taken my book, doesn't they?
Correct Answer: A
With indefinite pronouns such as 'someone', modern English commonly uses singular 'they' in the tag; the positive statement takes a negative tag.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. Few students understood the lecture, did they?
B. Few students understood the lecture, didn't they?
C. Few students understood the lecture, did he?
D. Few students understood the lecture, weren't they?
Correct Answer: A
'Few' has a negative meaning, so it takes a positive question tag: 'did they?'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. The documents submitted yesterday are under review.
B. The documents submitting yesterday are under review.
C. The documents submit yesterday is under review.
D. The documents were submitted yesterday are under review.
Correct Answer: A
'Submitted yesterday' is a reduced passive relative clause modifying 'documents'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. The man standing near the gate is my uncle.
B. The man stand near the gate is my uncle.
C. The man stood near the gate is my uncle now.
D. The man standing near the gate are my uncle.
Correct Answer: A
A present participial phrase can reduce a relative clause: 'the man who is standing...'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. Given enough time, we can complete the task.
B. Giving enough time, we can completed the task.
C. Given enough time, the task we can completing.
D. Given enough time, can complete us the task.
Correct Answer: A
'Given enough time' is a reduced passive conditional meaning 'If we are given enough time'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. Having finished the assignment, she submitted it online.
B. Having finish the assignment, she submitted it online.
C. Having finished the assignment, it was submitted online by her.
D. Having finishing the assignment, she submit it online.
Correct Answer: A
A perfect participle ('having finished') correctly shows that one action was completed before another by the same subject.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. It is worth to read this book.
B. It is worth reading this book.
C. It is worth read this book.
D. It is worthy reading this book.
Correct Answer: B
'Worth' is followed by a gerund.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. There is no use to argue with him.
B. There is no use arguing with him.
C. There is no use argue with him.
D. There is no use for argue with him.
Correct Answer: B
'There is no use' is commonly followed by a gerund.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. I am not sure what to do.
B. I am not sure what do.
C. I am not sure what doing.
D. I am not sure what I to do.
Correct Answer: A
'Wh-word + to-infinitive' is a correct reduced question structure.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. He knows how to operate the machine.
B. He knows how operate the machine.
C. He knows how operating the machine.
D. He know how to operated the machine.
Correct Answer: A
'How + to-infinitive' can follow verbs such as 'know'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. It was so difficult problem that nobody solved it.
B. It was such a difficult problem that nobody solved it.
C. It was such difficult problem that nobody solved it.
D. It was a so difficult problem that nobody solved it.
Correct Answer: B
'Such + a/an + adjective + singular countable noun + that...' is correct.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. So many people attended that the hall was full.
B. Such many people attended that the hall was full.
C. So much people attended that the hall was full.
D. Such people many attended that the hall was full.
Correct Answer: A
'So many + plural countable noun + that...' is correct.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. He ran enough quickly to catch the bus.
B. He ran quickly enough to catch the bus.
C. He enough quickly ran to catch the bus.
D. He ran too quickly enough to catch the bus.
Correct Answer: B
'Enough' follows an adverb: 'quickly enough'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. The box is enough light to carry.
B. The box is light enough to carry.
C. The box enough light for carry.
D. The box is too enough light to carry.
Correct Answer: B
'Enough' follows an adjective: 'light enough'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. He is so weak to walk.
B. He is so weak that he cannot walk.
C. He is too weak that cannot walk.
D. He so weak that cannot walk.
Correct Answer: B
'So + adjective + that-clause' is the correct result structure.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. He is too weak that he cannot walk.
B. He is too weak to walk.
C. He is so weak to walk.
D. He too weak for walking.
Correct Answer: B
'Too + adjective + to-infinitive' is the standard structure.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence if two different people are meant.
A. The poet and philosopher is present.
B. The poet and the philosopher are present.
C. The poet and philosopher are present person.
D. The poet with philosopher are present.
Correct Answer: B
Repeating the article before each noun indicates two separate people, so a plural verb is used.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. The poet and philosopher are dead.
B. The poet and philosopher is dead.
C. The poet and the philosopher is dead.
D. The poet and philosopher have dead.
Correct Answer: B
When two nouns with one article refer to the same person, the verb is singular.