Grammar - PSAT Reading & Writing
Card 1 of 30
Find and correct the misplaced modifier: "Running down the street, the backpack bounced."
Find and correct the misplaced modifier: "Running down the street, the backpack bounced."
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Correct: "Running down the street, I felt my backpack bounce.". The modifier must refer to the subject "I," not the backpack.
Correct: "Running down the street, I felt my backpack bounce.". The modifier must refer to the subject "I," not the backpack.
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What is the rule for placing modifiers to avoid ambiguity?
What is the rule for placing modifiers to avoid ambiguity?
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Place modifiers next to the word or phrase they modify. Prevents confusion about what modifies what.
Place modifiers next to the word or phrase they modify. Prevents confusion about what modifies what.
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Find and correct the punctuation: "She packed three things; a map, water, and snacks."
Find and correct the punctuation: "She packed three things; a map, water, and snacks."
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Correct: "She packed three things: a map, water, and snacks.". Semicolon replaced with colon to properly introduce the list.
Correct: "She packed three things: a map, water, and snacks.". Semicolon replaced with colon to properly introduce the list.
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Find and correct the error: "I finished my work, and went home."
Find and correct the error: "I finished my work, and went home."
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Correct: "I finished my work and went home.". No comma needed; "went home" isn't an independent clause.
Correct: "I finished my work and went home.". No comma needed; "went home" isn't an independent clause.
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Find and correct the error: "I finished the essay, I submitted it."
Find and correct the error: "I finished the essay, I submitted it."
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Use a semicolon: "I finished the essay; I submitted it.". Comma splice error: two complete sentences joined by only a comma.
Use a semicolon: "I finished the essay; I submitted it.". Comma splice error: two complete sentences joined by only a comma.
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Which sentence correctly punctuates the nonessential clause?
Which sentence correctly punctuates the nonessential clause?
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Correct: "My brother, who lives in Miami, is visiting.". The clause adds extra info about the only brother.
Correct: "My brother, who lives in Miami, is visiting.". The clause adds extra info about the only brother.
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Which verb agrees in this sentence: "Neither the players nor the coach ____ late"?
Which verb agrees in this sentence: "Neither the players nor the coach ____ late"?
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was. With "or/nor," the verb agrees with the closer subject (coach).
was. With "or/nor," the verb agrees with the closer subject (coach).
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Which punctuation best fixes the comma splice: "She studied hard, she passed"?
Which punctuation best fixes the comma splice: "She studied hard, she passed"?
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Replace the comma with a semicolon. Semicolons fix comma splices between independent clauses.
Replace the comma with a semicolon. Semicolons fix comma splices between independent clauses.
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Choose the correct form: "The (teachers'/teacher's) lounge is on the second floor" (one teacher).
Choose the correct form: "The (teachers'/teacher's) lounge is on the second floor" (one teacher).
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teacher's. Singular possessive for one teacher's ownership.
teacher's. Singular possessive for one teacher's ownership.
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What is the rule for apostrophes in singular possessive nouns?
What is the rule for apostrophes in singular possessive nouns?
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Add apostrophe + s (’s): "the student’s book.". Shows ownership for one person or thing.
Add apostrophe + s (’s): "the student’s book.". Shows ownership for one person or thing.
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Choose the correct punctuation: "She brought three items (—/:) a notebook, a pen, and a ruler."
Choose the correct punctuation: "She brought three items (—/:) a notebook, a pen, and a ruler."
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:. Complete clauses before lists require colons.
:. Complete clauses before lists require colons.
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Where should commas go in this sentence: "After the meeting we reviewed the budget"?
Where should commas go in this sentence: "After the meeting we reviewed the budget"?
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After the introductory phrase: "After the meeting, we reviewed the budget.". Introductory phrases need commas before main clauses.
After the introductory phrase: "After the meeting, we reviewed the budget.". Introductory phrases need commas before main clauses.
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When should a semicolon be used between two clauses?
When should a semicolon be used between two clauses?
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To join two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction. Semicolons link related complete thoughts.
To join two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction. Semicolons link related complete thoughts.
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Find and correct the error: "The experiment ended, the results were unclear."
Find and correct the error: "The experiment ended, the results were unclear."
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Replace comma with semicolon: "ended; the results were unclear.". Semicolons properly separate independent clauses.
Replace comma with semicolon: "ended; the results were unclear.". Semicolons properly separate independent clauses.
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What is a comma splice?
What is a comma splice?
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Two independent clauses joined only by a comma. Creates a run-on sentence error.
Two independent clauses joined only by a comma. Creates a run-on sentence error.
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Choose the correct word: "To (who/whom) did you speak after the lecture?"
Choose the correct word: "To (who/whom) did you speak after the lecture?"
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whom. "Whom" is the object of the preposition "to."
whom. "Whom" is the object of the preposition "to."
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Insert punctuation: "My brother who lives in Denver is visiting" (nonessential clause).
Insert punctuation: "My brother who lives in Denver is visiting" (nonessential clause).
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My brother, who lives in Denver, is visiting. Nonessential clause requires commas before and after.
My brother, who lives in Denver, is visiting. Nonessential clause requires commas before and after.
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What is the rule for comma use with a nonessential (nonrestrictive) clause?
What is the rule for comma use with a nonessential (nonrestrictive) clause?
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Set it off with commas; it can be removed without changing core meaning. Nonessential information needs commas for separation.
Set it off with commas; it can be removed without changing core meaning. Nonessential information needs commas for separation.
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What is the correct use of an apostrophe in a plural possessive noun ending in -s?
What is the correct use of an apostrophe in a plural possessive noun ending in -s?
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Add only an apostrophe after the -s (for example, the dogs' leash). Plural possessives already ending in -s just add apostrophe.
Add only an apostrophe after the -s (for example, the dogs' leash). Plural possessives already ending in -s just add apostrophe.
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What is the correct use of an apostrophe in a singular possessive noun?
What is the correct use of an apostrophe in a singular possessive noun?
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Add 's to the singular noun (for example, the dog's leash). Apostrophe + s shows one owner possesses something.
Add 's to the singular noun (for example, the dog's leash). Apostrophe + s shows one owner possesses something.
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Choose the correct word: "The company increased (its/it's) profits."
Choose the correct word: "The company increased (its/it's) profits."
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its. Shows possession without apostrophe (like his/her).
its. Shows possession without apostrophe (like his/her).
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Choose the best correction: "Each student must bring their notebook."
Choose the best correction: "Each student must bring their notebook."
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Each student must bring his or her notebook. "Each" is singular, requiring singular pronouns.
Each student must bring his or her notebook. "Each" is singular, requiring singular pronouns.
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What is the rule for subject–verb agreement when the subject is singular?
What is the rule for subject–verb agreement when the subject is singular?
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Use a singular verb form (often ends in -s in present tense). Singular subjects require singular verbs for grammatical agreement.
Use a singular verb form (often ends in -s in present tense). Singular subjects require singular verbs for grammatical agreement.
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What is the rule for subject–verb agreement with compound subjects joined by "and"?
What is the rule for subject–verb agreement with compound subjects joined by "and"?
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Use a plural verb (treat the subject as plural). Two subjects connected by "and" form a plural subject.
Use a plural verb (treat the subject as plural). Two subjects connected by "and" form a plural subject.
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What is the rule for subject–verb agreement with subjects joined by "or" or "nor"?
What is the rule for subject–verb agreement with subjects joined by "or" or "nor"?
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Match the verb to the noun closest to the verb. The verb agrees with whichever subject is nearest to it.
Match the verb to the noun closest to the verb. The verb agrees with whichever subject is nearest to it.
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Which verb is correct: "Neither the students nor the teacher (is/are) ready"?
Which verb is correct: "Neither the students nor the teacher (is/are) ready"?
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is. "Teacher" is closest to the verb, so use singular "is."
is. "Teacher" is closest to the verb, so use singular "is."
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Which verb is correct: "The list of items (is/are) on the desk"?
Which verb is correct: "The list of items (is/are) on the desk"?
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is. "List" is the subject, not "items," so use singular "is."
is. "List" is the subject, not "items," so use singular "is."
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What is the correct pronoun case for a subject (doer of the action)?
What is the correct pronoun case for a subject (doer of the action)?
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Subjective case: I, he, she, we, they, who. These pronouns function as subjects of verbs.
Subjective case: I, he, she, we, they, who. These pronouns function as subjects of verbs.
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What is the correct pronoun case for a direct object or object of a preposition?
What is the correct pronoun case for a direct object or object of a preposition?
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Objective case: me, him, her, us, them, whom. These pronouns receive the action or follow prepositions.
Objective case: me, him, her, us, them, whom. These pronouns receive the action or follow prepositions.
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Choose the correct pronoun: "Between you and (I/me), the plan is risky".
Choose the correct pronoun: "Between you and (I/me), the plan is risky".
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me. "Between" is a preposition requiring objective case.
me. "Between" is a preposition requiring objective case.
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