Sentence Correction Practice 1

Read the following sentences and select the choice that best replaces the underlined section.

  1. If the books have been cataloged last week, why haven’t they been placed on the shelf?
  1. would have been cataloged
  2. was cataloged
  3. were cataloged
  4. had been cataloged
  5. No change needed
Show Answer
The correct answer is C!

Last week dictates simple past tense were. Present perfect have been refers to the status now of something already accomplished in the past (e.g., “have been cataloged since last week”). Subjunctive present perfect would have been (A) is never used in a conditional “if” clause/phrase, only as its complement. Singular was (B) disagrees with plural books. Past perfect had been (D) would require “why hadn’t they been…/weren’t they…?” to agree.

 

  1. Jessica Mitford wrote The American Way of Death, a best-selling book that led eventually to an official investigation of the funeral industry.
  1. that had led eventually
  2. that eventually led
  3. which eventually led
  4. who eventually led
  5. No change needed
Show Answer
The correct answer is B!

With an indirect object, the transitive verb and preposition should be a unit (i.e., “led to” here, like “take from,” “give to,” etc.), uninterrupted by the modifying adverb eventually. Who (D) only applies to people, not inanimate objects like books.

 

  1. Sabotage came from the French saboter, which means “to clatter with wooden shoes (sabots).”
  1. which means, “to
  2. that means “to
  3. that means-“to
  4. that means, “to
  5. No change needed
Show Answer
The correct answer is E!

The comma before which already signals a non‑restrictive clause, so the underlined wording is fine as is.

 

  1. When studying an assignment, it is wise to read it over quickly at first, than see the major points, and finally outline the material.
  1. first: then
  2. first-then
  3. first, then
  4. first then
  5. No change needed
Show Answer
The correct answer is C!

Then (not than) shows sequence; the comma after first is correct.

 

  1. To judge the Tidy City contest, we picked an uninterested party.
  1. picked an interested party!
  2. picked a disinterested party.
  3. are in the process of picking an uninterested party.
  4. picked an disinterested party.
  5. No change needed
Show Answer
The correct answer is B!

Disinterested means impartial; uninterested means not curious.

 

  1. Linda decides they had better scram before the killers find them.
  1. had better leave
  2. should hurry and scram
  3. could hurry and leave
  4. had better get out
  5. No change needed
Show Answer
The correct answer is A!

Leave is the standard verb; scram is informal slang.

 

  1. I really dug the character of Brutus.
  1. thought about
  2. thought of
  3. admired
  4. gazed at
  5. No change needed
Show Answer
The correct answer is C!

Admired is the standard verb for positive regard; dug is colloquial.

 

  1. Once upon a point a time, a small person named Little Red Riding Hood initiated plans for the preparation, delivery, and transportation of foodstuffs to her Grandmother.
  1. and transportation of food stuffs to her Grandmother.
  2. and transportation of food supplies to her Grandmother.
  3. and transportation of foodstuffs to her grandmother.
  4. and, transportation of food supplies to her grand mother.
  5. No change needed
Show Answer
The correct answer is C!

Capitalize Grandmother only as a proper name; here it’s a common noun.

 

  1. The setting of a story effects the story’s plot.
  1. effects the stories plot.
  2. affect the story’s plot.
  3. affects the story’s plot.
  4. affects the story’s plots.
  5. No change needed
Show Answer
The correct answer is C!

Use the verb affects; effect is usually a noun.

 

  1. Arctic trees are scrubbiest than trees in milder climates.
  1. scrubbier then trees
  2. scrubbiest than are trees
  3. scrubbier than are trees
  4. scrubbier than trees
  5. No change needed
Show Answer
The correct answer is D!

For a two‑item comparison use the comparative scrubbier, not the superlative.

 

  1. Quebec rises in a magnificent way above the St. Lawrence River.
  1. rises in a magnificent way, way above
  2. rises magnificently above
  3. rises magnificently way above
  4. is raised in a magnificent way above
  5. No change needed
Show Answer
The correct answer is B!

The adverb magnificently is concise; the phrase “in a magnificent way” is wordy.

 

  1. Someone gives the school gerbils every year.
  1. Some one gives the school gerbils
  2. Some one gives the School gerbils
  3. There is a person that gives the school gerbils
  4. An individual gave gerbils
  5. No change needed
Show Answer
The correct answer is E!

Someone (one word) is correct; the sentence is acceptable as written.

 

  1. During colonial days, a school room looked rather empty.
  1. colonial days, a schoolroom looked
  2. colonial days; a schoolroom looked
  3. colonial days; a school room looked
  4. colonial days-a schoolroom looked
  5. No change needed
Show Answer
The correct answer is A!

Schoolroom is one word; no semicolon is needed.

 

  1. The helium‑filled balloon rose in the air.
  1. was rising in the air.
  2. was in the air.
  3. rose into the air.
  4. would rise in the air.
  5. No change needed
Show Answer
The correct answer is C!

Use the preposition into to show motion toward a destination.

 

  1. If I had the address, I would have delivered the package myself.
  1. had the address;
  2. had the address-
  3. had had the address;
  4. had had the address,
  5. No change needed
Show Answer
The correct answer is D!

Unreal past conditions take the past perfect: had had.

 

  1. Do you know that these gloves have lay on the bureau all week?
  1. have laid on
  2. would lie on
  3. had laid on
  4. have lain on
  5. No change needed
Show Answer
The correct answer is D!

The past participle of lie (recline) is lain; lay is past tense.

 

  1. If I would have known about the team tryouts, I would have signed up for them.
  1. had known
  2. could of known
  3. had been told
  4. could have been told
  5. No change needed
Show Answer
The correct answer is A!

Past unreal conditions use had + past participle, not would have.

 

  1. If he would have revised his first draft, he would have received a better grade.
  1. had revised
  2. could of revised
  3. had of revised
  4. would revise
  5. No change needed
Show Answer
The correct answer is A!

Again, unreal past = had revised, not would have revised.

 

  1. Valarie claims that cats made the best pets.
  1. could be the best pets.
  2. are the best pets.
  3. make of the best pets.
  4. make the best pets.
  5. No change needed
Show Answer
The correct answer is D!

Use present tense for a general truth: cats make the best pets.

 

  1. By next month, Ms. Jones will be Mayor of Tallahassee for two years.
  1. will have been Mayor of Tallahassee
  2. will be mayor of Tallahassee
  3. will have been mayor of Tallahassee
  4. could have been mayor of Tallahassee
  5. No change needed
Show Answer
The correct answer is C!

The future perfect (will have been) shows duration by a future time; mayor here is not a proper noun and stays lowercase.