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Quizzes > Quizzes for Business > Education

Take the English Usage Assessment Quiz

Sharpen Grammar Skills with Usage Questions

Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art depicting elements related to an English Usage Assessment Quiz

Ready to master English usage with a fun practice test? This English Usage Assessment Quiz challenges learners to refine grammar and word choice skills while enjoying an interactive format. Ideal for students and educators looking to boost writing precision or for anyone seeking grammar practice, it also complements the English Grammar Assessment Quiz. Each question is customizable and freely editable in our editor, so instructors can tailor difficulty levels effortlessly. Explore more English Articles Usage Quiz and other quizzes to continue enhancing your skills.

Which verb correctly completes the sentence: The dogs ___ loudly in the yard.
is barking
bark
barks
are barking
The subject "dogs" is plural, so the base form "bark" is required in present simple. Singular forms like "barks" or progressive constructions do not match the intended simple statement.
Everyone should do ___ best on the exam.
their
his or her
its
his
The pronoun "everyone" is singular, so it requires a singular pronoun "his or her." Using "their" is informal and does not strictly follow traditional noun-pronoun agreement rules.
Where should a comma be placed in this sentence? After dinner we went home.
After dinner we went, home.
After dinner we, went home.
After, dinner we went home.
After dinner, we went home.
An introductory phrase like "After dinner" should be followed by a comma. Placing the comma immediately after the phrase clarifies the sentence structure and improves readability.
The new policy will ___ employees' morale.
effect
change
alter
affect
The verb "affect" means to influence something, which fits the context of morale. "Effect" is a noun, and while "change" or "alter" could work, they are less precise in this context.
Neither the teacher nor the students brought ___ books.
his
their
its
her
In a "neither...nor" construction, the verb or pronoun agrees with the noun closest to it. Here, "students" is plural, so "their" is correct.
Which verb form is correct? The committee ___ on the proposal tomorrow.
decide
is deciding
decides
are deciding
In American English, collective nouns like "committee" are usually treated as singular, so the singular verb "decides" is correct. Plural verbs would suggest individual members acting separately.
Which list maintains parallel structure?
She enjoys swimming, to bike, and hiking.
She enjoys to swim, biking, and hiking.
She enjoys swimming, biking, and hiking.
She enjoys swimming, biking, and to hike.
All items in the list must use the same grammatical form. The gerund form ( - ing) is used consistently in "swimming, biking, and hiking," ensuring parallelism.
Where should the comma go in this compound sentence? I wanted to go but it was raining.
I wanted to go, but it was raining.
I wanted to go but, it was raining.
I wanted to go but it was raining,.
I wanted to, go but it was raining.
In a compound sentence joined by a coordinating conjunction ("but"), a comma is placed before the conjunction. This separates the two independent clauses correctly.
Which sentence correctly uses a nonrestrictive clause?
My car, which I bought in 2010, is reliable.
The book which you gave me is fascinating.
My sister who lives abroad is a doctor.
The children, who studied hard were rewarded.
Nonrestrictive clauses add extra information and are set off by commas. The clause "which I bought in 2010" is nonrestrictive and correctly enclosed in commas.
Choose the corrected sentence for subject-verb agreement: The number of participants are increasing.
A number of participants is increasing.
The number of participants is increasing.
The numbers of participants are increasing.
The number of participants were increasing.
The phrase "the number of" is treated as singular and takes a singular verb. Therefore, "is increasing" is the correct form.
Each of the players must bring ___ own equipment.
his or her
its
his
their
The pronoun "each" is singular, so it requires a singular pronoun. "His or her" correctly matches the singular antecedent.
Where is the comma needed in this sentence with coordinate adjectives? It was a long hot summer.
It was a long, hot summer.
It was, a long hot summer.
It was a long hot summer.
It was a long hot, summer.
Coordinate adjectives - adjectives that separately modify the same noun - are separated by a comma. "Long, hot summer" correctly shows that both adjectives independently describe "summer."
Which revision fixes the dangling modifier? After reviewing the results, conclusions were drawn.
Conclusions were drawn after the researchers reviewed the results.
When the conclusions were drawn, they reviewed the results.
After the researchers reviewed the results, they drew conclusions.
After reviewing the results, conclusions were drawn by the researchers.
The revision places "the researchers" immediately after the introductory phrase, making them the clear actor. This removes the dangling modifier by matching the subject with the action.
Which verb is correct? Neither the manager nor the employees ___ aware of the changes.
be
are
is
were
In "neither...nor" constructions, the verb agrees with the noun closest to it - in this case, "employees," which is plural. Thus, "are" is correct.
Which sentence correctly places 'only' to mean that John alone said he would attend?
Only John said that he would attend.
John said that he would only attend.
John only said that he would attend.
John said only that he would attend.
Placing "only" directly before "John" makes it clear that John - and no one else - said he would attend. Other placements change the focus or meaning of the sentence.
How would you revise this sentence to clarify the pronoun reference? "When Sarah spoke to Emma, she said she was leaving."
When Sarah spoke to Emma, Sarah said Emma was leaving.
Sarah told Emma, "I am leaving."
Emma said to Sarah that she was leaving.
Sarah spoke to Emma; she said she was leaving.
Quoting Sarah directly removes ambiguity by assigning the action and words clearly. The other choices either leave the pronoun reference unclear or shift the meaning.
Which is the correct verb form? There ___ many reasons for his success.
are
were
is
have been
The expletive "there" construction requires agreement with the real subject "reasons," which is plural. Therefore, the correct verb is "are."
Which sentence correctly uses commas for a nonrestrictive appositive?
My mentor, Dr. Smith, inspired me.
My mentor Dr. Smith inspired me.
My mentor, Dr. Smith inspired me.
My mentor Dr. Smith, inspired me.
A nonrestrictive appositive adds extra information about the noun and must be set off with commas. "Dr. Smith" is extra information about "my mentor."
Which sentence maintains correct parallelism with correlative conjunctions?
Not only did she win the award, but also received a scholarship.
She not only did win the award, but also received a scholarship.
Not only did she win the award, but she also received a scholarship.
She not only won the award, but she also receives a scholarship.
Correlative conjunctions like "not only... but also" require parallel structure in the elements that follow them. Both clauses must have the same verb form.
How should you rewrite this sentence to correct the misplaced modifier? "She almost drove her kids to school every day."
She drove her kids to school almost every day.
Almost she drove her kids to school every day.
She almost drove her kids to school everyday.
She drove almost her kids to school every day.
Moving "almost" to modify the phrase "every day" clarifies frequency. The original placement suggests she nearly performed the action but did not, which is unintended.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyze sentence structures to enhance clarity
  2. Evaluate correct word usage in context
  3. Identify common usage errors in writing
  4. Apply rules for subject-verb agreement effectively
  5. Master noun-pronoun agreement and modifiers
  6. Demonstrate proper comma placement in sentences

Cheat Sheet

  1. Master Subject-Verb Agreement - Think of your subject and verb as dance partners: they have to move in sync! Keep an eye on singulars and plurals so your sentences don't trip over themselves. Purdue OWL: Subject-Verb Agreement
  2. Understand Noun-Pronoun Agreement - Pronouns are like stand-ins for nouns, so they must match in number and gender to avoid confusion. Get comfy with "he or she," "they," and "it" so every pronoun feels right at home. Walden University: Noun-Pronoun Agreement Guide
  3. Identify and Correct Run-On Sentences - Run-ons rush on without proper breaks, making your reader gasp for breath! Spot them and use periods or conjunctions to give your ideas room to shine. CUNY SPS OpenLab: Run-On Sentences
  4. Recognize and Fix Sentence Fragments - Fragments feel like half-finished thoughts; they need a subject and a verb to stand tall. Double-check each sentence to ensure it's a complete idea, not a cheeky cliffhanger. CUNY SPS OpenLab: Sentence Fragments
  5. Apply Proper Comma Usage - Commas are your best friends when listing or adding extra details - they help your reader follow along without stumbling. Learn to place them after introductory phrases and around non-essential info for smooth sailing. Purdue OWL: Comma Usage
  6. Use Parallel Structure - Keep your lists and paired ideas aligned like railway tracks for clarity and style. Whether you're "reading, writing, and jogging" or "to read, to write, and to jog," consistency is key! Purdue OWL: Parallel Structure
  7. Differentiate Between Commonly Confused Words - "There," "their," and "they're" might sound alike, but their meanings couldn't be more different. Practice spotting these tricksters so you always pick the right one. Purdue OWL: Commonly Confused Words
  8. Ensure Modifier Placement - Modifiers should cozy up to the words they describe to avoid awkward misunderstandings. "She only eats vegetables" is totally different from "She eats only vegetables," so keep your modifiers close! Purdue OWL: Modifiers
  9. Recognize and Correct Dangling Modifiers - A dangling modifier swings without a clear subject, leaving readers puzzled. Tie it to the right noun - "After reading the book, I found the movie disappointing" - and watch your clarity soar. Purdue OWL: Dangling Modifiers
  10. Practice Consistent Verb Tense - Jumping between past, present, and future can jolt your reader out of the story. Stick to one tense per sentence or paragraph to keep your narrative smooth and coherent. Purdue OWL: Verb Tense Consistency
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