StartUps Grammar Quiz 3

Which of the following sentences best uses parallel structure?

• Elliot could see the marketplace stretching out before him: merchants hawked goods, families browsed stalls, and teenagers spread gossip.

• Elliot could see the marketplace stretching out before him: merchants hawked goods, families were browsing stalls, and teenagers to spread gossip.

Answer explanation

The salesman expected that he would present his product at the meeting, that he would have time to show his slide presentation, and that questions would be asked by prospective buyers. (pasive)

Which of the following sentences correctly uses parallel structure?

• Whenever he drives, Reza pays attention to what he’s doing and watches the drivers around him.

• Whenever he drives, Reza is paying attention to what he’s doing and watching the drivers around him.

Correct the misplaced modifier in this sentence:

John ate a walnut with his squirrel, tired after a long day of school.

• John was tired after a long day of school and he ate a walnut with his squirrel.

• Tired after a long day of school, John's squirrel ate a walnut.

• After a long day of school, his squirrel and John ate a walnut.

• John, tired after a long day of school, ate a walnut with his squirrel.

Check the punctuation in this sentence:

I bought the accounting staff a small computer, which gave everyone a great deal of trouble.

• correct

• incorrect

Is this sentence structured correctly?

Uncle Jim bought a new carriage for the baby that was on sale.

• Yes

• No

Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct? 

• Running recklessly through the forest, the tree stump tripped Jay.
• Running recklessly through the forest, Jay tripped over the tree stump.
• Running recklessly through the forest, the stump of the tree tripped Jay.
• Running recklessly through the forest, the tree tripped.

Is the sentence below written correctly?

Covered in wildflowers, the elephant pondered the hillside's beauty.

• Yes, the sentence is correct.

• No, the sentence has a misplaced modifier.

Does this sentence contain a punctuation mistake?

I went to a party last weekend, I was sad that the bouncy house was popped.

• Yes. It is a comma splice.

• No. It is correct as written.

How can you edit this sentence?

The clouds were dark, we thought it would rain.

• No edit needed

• The clouds were dark, for we thought it would rain.

• The clouds were dark. Thought it would rain.

• The clouds were dark; we thought it would rain.

How can you edit this sentence?

I bought a coat, however, it did not fit.

• No edit needed

• I bought a coat; however, it did not fit.

• I boat a coat. However. It did not fit.

• I bought a coat, so it did not fit.