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Almost dropping from exhaustion, Maria decided that her first night shift might well be her last.

Grammar 03

In this quiz, pay particular attention to the last three questions, which test a grammar mistake known as 'dangling' or 'misrelated' participles. Here is further grammar practice designed to cover some of the most common mistakes made by GCSE pupils.

This quiz shows the importance of word order in forming grammatical sentences.

Complete the following sentence.
Here ...... the key and the map ...... you lent to me.

is, that

is, whom

are, which

are, whose

Here are the key and the map which you lent to me. - It would also be correct to say 'that you lent to me' or even 'here are the key and the map you lent to me.' It is not correct to use 'is' because the sentence involve two things (i.e. 'here are the things which you lent to me)

Complete the following sentence.
George and ...... will try ...... visit later this week.

me, to

I, or

me, and

I, to

George and I will try to visit later this week. - It is fine to say 'try and visit', but when writing or speaking formally, you should use 'to' (the entire verb construction is 'try to visit')

Complete the following sentence.
...... the main course ...... the dessert was offered to .......or .......

Neither, nor, me, David

Neither, or, me, David

Either, nor, David, I

Neither, nor, David, I

Neither the main course nor the desert was offered to me or David. - 'Either' belongs with 'or' and 'neither' belongs with 'nor' (for 'David or me', see Grammar 02)

Complete the following sentence.
She was both ........................... her remarkable talent at archery.

hoped and known for

inspired and known for

known and admired for

admired and talked about

She was both known and admired for her remarkable talent at archery. - It is possible to omit the 'for' belonging to 'known'. The 'for' is implied (she was both known [for] and admired for...)

Complete the following sentence.
The silver, size four shoes ...... were in the charity shop's window had been .......

what, Sharons

what, Sharon's

which, Sharons

which, Sharon's

The silver, size four shoes which were in the charity shop window had been Sharon's

Complete the following sentence.
She prefers to buy coats which have ...... unusual instructions for washing and ...... require ...... special care.

any, don't, no

no, don't, no

no, don't, any

no, ------, any

She prefers to buy coats which have no unusual instructions for washing and don't require any special care

Complete the following sentence.
Each of the pupils ...... been given a pencil, a rubber and a ruler in preparation for the exam.

have

has

have had

Each of the pupils has been given a pencil, a rubber and a ruler in preparation for the exam

Complete the following sentence.
The most devastating natural disaster in a century, ....................................................................

the area was declared a state of emergency after the wildfires

the area was soon declared a state of emergency after the wildfires

the wildfires led to the area declared a state of emergency

the wildfires led to the area being declared a state of emergency

'The most devastating natural disaster in a century' modifies 'wildfires', not 'area', so 'the wildfires' should follow the comma

Complete the following sentence.
Forgotten and gathering dust in his attic for twenty years, ..........................................................

the minister reluctantly released the papers, with their shocking revelations

the papers, with their shocking revelations, were reluctantly released by the minister

the minister released, with their shocking revelations, the papers

the papers, with their shocking revelations, reluctantly released the minister

'Forgotten and gathering dust in his attic for twenty years' refers to the papers, not the minister!

10.

Complete the following sentence.
Almost dropping from exhaustion, .........................................................

thought Maria her first night shift was also her last

Maria decided that her first night shift might well be her last

Maria's first night shift made her think it would be her last

Maria's first night shift might have been her last

Maria is 'dropping from exhaustion' - her night shift is not