Standard 4.W.6: Demonstrate command of English grammar and usage

Choose the sentence with the correct use of a coordinating conjunction.

• I wanted to go to the movies, so I forgot to finish my homework.

• I wanted to go to the movies, nor I forgot to finish my homework.

• I wanted to go to the movies, yet I forgot to finish my homework.

• I wanted to go to the movies, or I forgot to finish my homework.

Answer explanation

The correct sentences use coordinating conjunctions properly. 'So' indicates a result, 'yet' shows contrast, and 'or' presents an alternative. 'Nor' is incorrectly used here, making the first, third, and fourth options correct.

Choose the sentence with an error in the use of a coordinating conjunction.

• I wanted to go to the park, and it started raining.

• I didn't want to stay inside, so I decided to play a game.

• My brother was tired, yet he continued to help me.

• We were going to watch a movie, or we could play video games instead.

Answer explanation

The sentence "We were going to watch a movie, or we could play video games instead" incorrectly uses 'or' to connect two independent clauses. It should use 'and' or be restructured for clarity.

Choose the sentence with the correct use of a subordinating conjunction.

• I stayed home because it was raining, because I didn’t want to get wet.

• Since she was tired, when she decided to take a nap.

• Because I didn’t study, since I failed the test.

• He left early, since he had an important meeting.

Answer explanation

The correct sentence is 'He left early, since he had an important meeting.' It properly uses 'since' as a subordinating conjunction to indicate the reason for leaving early.

Choose the sentence with an error in the use of a subordinating conjunction.

• Since it was raining, we decided to go to the park although we didn’t have an umbrella.

• She passed the test because she studied hard.

• We stayed inside, since it was too cold to go outside.

• He was late because his car broke down.

Answer explanation

The sentence "Since it was raining, we decided to go to the park although we didn’t have an umbrella" incorrectly uses 'although' as a subordinating conjunction. It should be 'even though' to properly convey the contrast.

What is the preposition in the sentence?

• the

• book

• on

• lying

Answer explanation

In the sentence, 'on' is the preposition that indicates the relationship between the subject and the object. It shows the position of the book, making 'on' the correct choice.

What is the function of the preposition identified in Part A?

• to show time

• to show place

• to show direction

• to show manner

Answer explanation

The preposition in question indicates a location or position, which is why the correct function is 'to show place'. It helps specify where something is situated.

Choose the sentence with the grammar error:

I went to the park yesterday and decided to bring a picnic for myself. While I was eating, I notice a group of kids playing soccer, and they were having a great time. One of the kids kicked the ball too hard, and it rolled right toward me. I quickly dodged it and laughed at myself for not noticing sooner.

• I went to the park yesterday and decided to bring a picnic for myself.

• While I was eating, I notice a group of kids playing soccer, and they were having a great time.

• One of the kids kicked the ball too hard, and it rolled right toward me.

• I quickly dodged it and laughed at myself for not noticing sooner.

Answer explanation

The error is in the sentence 'While I was eating, I notice a group of kids playing soccer.' The verb 'notice' should be in the past tense 'noticed' to match the past context of the sentence.

Choose the paragraph that corrects the grammar error in Part A.

• A. I went to the park yesterday and decided to bring a picnic for me. While I was eating, I noticed a group of kids played soccer, and they were having a great time. One of the kids kicked the ball too hard, and it rolled right toward me. I quickly dodged it and laughed at myself for not noticing sooner.

• B. I went to the park yesterday and decided to bring a picnic for myself. While I was eating, I noticed a group of kids playing soccer, and they were having a great time. One of the kids kicked the ball too hard, and it rolled right toward me. I quickly dodged it and laughed at myself for not noticing sooner.

• C. I went to the park yesterday and decided to bring a picnic for myself. While I was eating, I noticed a group of kids playing soccer, and they was having a great time. One of the kids kicked the ball too hard, and it rolled right toward me. I quickly dodged it and laughed at myself for not noticing sooner.

• D. I went to the park yesterday and decided to bring a picnic for myself. While I was eating, I noticed a group of kids playing soccer, and they were having a great time. One of the kids kicked the ball too hard, and it rolled right toward me. I quickly dodged it, and laughed at me for not noticing sooner.

Answer explanation

Choice B corrects the grammar by using 'myself' instead of 'me' and changes 'played' to 'playing' for proper tense. It maintains correct subject-verb agreement with 'they were' instead of 'they was'.

The following text contains four sentences: 1. I went to the park yesterday and decided to bring a picnic for me. 2. While I was eating, I noticed a group of kids playing soccer, and they was having a great time. 3. One of the kids kicked the ball too hard, and it rolled right toward me. 4. I quickly dodged it and laughed at myself for not noticing sooner. Which two sentences contain grammar errors?

• Sentence 1 and Sentence 2

• Sentence 2 and Sentence 3

• Sentence 3 and Sentence 4

• Sentence 1 and Sentence 4

Answer explanation

Sentence 1 has an error with 'for me' instead of 'for myself'. Sentence 2 incorrectly uses 'they was' instead of 'they were'. Thus, the correct choice is Sentence 1 and Sentence 2.

Choose the paragraph that corrects both grammar errors in Part A.

• A. I went to the park yesterday and decided to bring a picnic for me. While I was eating, I noticed a group of kids playing soccer, and they were having a great time. One of the kids kicked the ball too hard, and it rolled right toward me. I quickly dodged it and laughed at me for not noticing sooner.

• B. I went to the park yesterday and decided to bring a picnic for myself. While I was eating, I noticed a group of kids playing soccer, and they were having a great time. One of the kids kicked the ball too hard, and it rolled right toward me. I quickly dodged it and laughed at myself for not noticing sooner.

• C. I went to the park yesterday and decided to bring a picnic for me. While I was eating, I noticed a group of kids playing soccer, and they were having a great time. One of the kids kicked the ball too hard, and it rolled right toward me. I quickly dodged it and laughed at myself for not noticing sooner.

• D. I went to the park yesterday and decided to bring a picnic for myself. While I was eating, I noticed a group of kids playing soccer, and they was having a great time. One of the kids kicked the ball too hard, and it rolled right toward myself. I quickly dodged it and laughed at myself for not noticing sooner.

Answer explanation

Choice B corrects both errors: 'myself' is the proper reflexive pronoun, and 'were' agrees with the plural subject 'kids'. This makes it the only grammatically correct option.