Sentence Correction u0026 Error Spotting Practice Quiz Quiz

Test your grammar, clarity, and concision skills with this sentence correction and error spotting quiz. Challenge yourself to identify grammatical mistakes, awkward constructions, and word usage errors for more effective written communication.

1. Subject-Verb Agreement

   Identify the correct version: Each of the participants _____ given a certificate at the end.

   1. are
   2. were
   3. is
   4. being

   Explanation: The correct answer is 'is' because 'each' is a singular subject, requiring a singular verb. 'Are' and 'were' are plural verbs, which are incorrect with 'each.' 'Being' does not fit grammatically in this context. Only 'is' results in a correct and concise sentence.

2. Pronoun Consistency

   Which option correctly completes the sentence: Neither of the children brought _____ lunch.

   1. their
   2. there
   3. they're
   4. his or her

   Explanation: 'His or her' is correct because 'neither' is singular, so the pronoun must also be singular. 'Their' is plural and does not agree with 'neither.' 'They're' is a contraction of 'they are,' which makes no sense here. 'There' is unrelated to pronoun usage in this context.

3. Parallelism

   Find the best option: The manager valued efficiency, dedication, and _____.

   1. punctuality
   2. shows punctuality
   3. those who arrive on time
   4. being punctual

   Explanation: 'Punctuality' is correct because it maintains parallel structure with the other nouns ('efficiency' and 'dedication'). 'Those who arrive on time' and 'being punctual' disrupt the parallel structure, and 'shows punctuality' is grammatically incorrect here. The noun form keeps the list clear and concise.

4. Modifiers

   Spot the correct sentence: While walking to the park, the birds chirped loudly.

   1. Chirping loudly, the park was filled with birds.
   2. While walking, chirping birds were heard at the park.
   3. While walking to the park, I heard birds chirping loudly.
   4. The birds chirped loudly while walking to the park.

   Explanation: The correct sentence is 'While walking to the park, I heard birds chirping loudly,' as it places the modifier next to the correct subject. 'The birds chirped loudly while walking to the park' incorrectly suggests the birds were walking. The other options do not correctly clarify who is walking. The chosen answer is both clear and grammatically correct.

5. Word Usage

   Which sentence uses the correct word: The teacher complimented her student's _____.

   1. principal
   2. principle
   3. principles
   4. performance

   Explanation: 'Performance' is correct because it refers to how well the student did, which fits the context of a compliment. 'Principal' refers to a school leader, 'principle' means a fundamental truth, and 'principles' are plural moral beliefs; none of these fit the sentence. Only 'performance' makes logical and grammatical sense.

6. Redundancy

   Choose the most concise and correct sentence: He returned back to his hometown last summer.

   1. He has returned back to his hometown last summer.
   2. He returned to his hometown last summer.
   3. He went back to return to his hometown last summer.
   4. He returned back to his hometown last summer.

   Explanation: 'He returned to his hometown last summer' is correct and concise; 'returned' already implies coming back, so 'back' is redundant. 'He returned back' and 'He has returned back' both use 'back' unnecessarily. 'He went back to return' is awkward and repetitive.

7. Pronoun Reference

   Fix the unclear pronoun: When the vase broke, Anna told Maria that she would replace it.

   1. When the vase broke, Anna said that she would replace it.
   2. Anna told Maria to replace the vase when it broke.
   3. When the vase was broken, Maria replaced it for Anna.
   4. Anna told Maria that the vase would be replaced.

   Explanation: The correct answer is 'When the vase broke, Anna said that she would replace it,' making it clear who will do the replacing. 'Anna told Maria to replace' incorrectly shifts responsibility to Maria, and 'Anna told Maria that the vase would be replaced' is vague. 'When the vase was broken, Maria replaced it for Anna' changes the meaning.

8. Verb Tense Consistency

   Spot the correct verb tense: By the time he arrived, everyone _____ already left.

   1. have
   2. has
   3. had
   4. having

   Explanation: 'Had' is correct because the past perfect tense shows that the leaving happened before he arrived. 'Have' and 'has' are present tense forms and do not match the time sequence. 'Having' does not fit grammatically after 'everyone.' Using 'had' establishes the proper relationship between the two actions.

9. Misplaced Modifier

   Which sentence is clear and correct: At the age of ten, my father gave me a telescope.

   1. At ten years, my father gave me the telescope.
   2. At ten, a telescope was given to me by my father.
   3. My father gave me a telescope at the age of ten.
   4. At the age of ten, my father gave me a telescope.

   Explanation: 'My father gave me a telescope at the age of ten' is correct, as it clarifies that I was ten years old, not my father. 'At the age of ten, my father gave me' incorrectly suggests it was the father who was ten. The other options are less clear or awkwardly worded. The chosen answer removes ambiguity.

10. Idiomatic Usage

    Choose the correct idiom: She is good _____ mathematics and enjoys solving problems.

    1. with
    2. in
    3. at
    4. on

    Explanation: 'At' is the correct preposition in the idiom 'good at' when referring to skills or abilities. 'In,' 'on,' and 'with' are incorrect in this context and would produce awkward phrases. Only 'good at' mathematics is proper usage in standard English.