I85PREP
⌘ K
HESI A2 Grammar study materials
HESI A2 Grammar study resources

HESI A2 Grammar practice questions

One question at a time. Build your HESI A2 Grammar understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1Grammar

Choose the sentence that correctly uses a subject-verb agreement rule for an indefinite pronoun.

  1. Each of the nursing students are completing the dosage calculation check-off.
  2. Each of the nursing students has completed the dosage calculation check-off. Correct answer.
  3. Each of the nursing students have completed the dosage calculation check-off.
  4. Each of the nursing students were completing the dosage calculation check-off.

Explanation

Indefinite pronouns such as each, everyone, and nobody are singular and take a singular verb even when followed by a plural prepositional phrase. The subject here is each, not students, so the singular has is required. The phrase of the nursing students does not change the number of the subject.

Question 2Grammar

Which sentence uses the correct form of the pronoun after a preposition in a formal clinical report?

  1. The charge nurse assigned the admission to my partner and me. Correct answer.
  2. The charge nurse assigned the admission to my partner and mine.
  3. The charge nurse assigned the admission to my partner and myself.
  4. The charge nurse assigned the admission to my partner and I.

Explanation

A pronoun following a preposition must be in the objective case, so me is correct after to. Test by dropping the partner: to me sounds right, while to I does not. Myself is reflexive and requires an antecedent performing the same action, and mine is possessive.

Question 3Grammar

Select the sentence in which the comma is used correctly with a nonessential clause.

  1. The patient who has a latex allergy, was placed in a private room.
  2. The patient, who has a latex allergy was placed in a private room.
  3. The patient, who has a latex allergy, was placed in a private room. Correct answer.
  4. The patient who, has a latex allergy was placed in a private room.

Explanation

A nonessential (nonrestrictive) clause adds extra information and must be set off by commas at both ends. Because the clause who has a latex allergy is supplementary rather than identifying, it takes a comma before and after. A single comma or a comma inside the clause leaves the sentence unbalanced.

Question 4Grammar

Which option correctly completes the sentence with a past-tense verb: "Yesterday the phlebotomist ____ three difficult draws before noon."?

  1. completed Correct answer.
  2. will complete
  3. has completed
  4. completes

Explanation

The adverb yesterday fixes the action in finished past time, which calls for the simple past tense completed. Present perfect has completed cannot be used with a specific finished past time marker. The other choices are present or future and clash with yesterday.

Question 5Grammar

A nurse is the person walking into the emergency department. Which sentence attaches the introductory phrase to that person correctly?

  1. Walking into the emergency department, the crowd surprised the nurse.
  2. Walking into the emergency department, the nurse saw a crowded waiting room. Correct answer.
  3. Walking into the emergency department, the waiting room was crowded.
  4. Walking into the emergency department, it was a crowded waiting room.

Explanation

The stated meaning identifies the nurse as the person walking. Placing the nurse immediately after the introductory phrase makes the modifier attach to the intended actor; the other subjects do not express that supplied meaning.

Question 6Grammar

Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly for a plural possessive?

  1. The three patients' charts were reviewed at shift change. Correct answer.
  2. The three patients charts' were reviewed at shift change.
  3. The three patient's charts were reviewed at shift change.
  4. The three patient's' charts were reviewed at shift change.

Explanation

A plural noun ending in s forms the possessive by adding only an apostrophe after the s. Since three patients is plural, the correct form is patients'. The other options misplace the apostrophe or omit it.

Question 7Grammar

Choose the option that correctly completes the comparison: "This morning's blood pressure reading was ____ than yesterday's."

  1. highest
  2. more higher
  3. high
  4. higher Correct answer.

Explanation

Comparing two readings requires the comparative form higher. The word than signals a two-item comparison, which rules out the superlative highest. High is the positive form and more higher is a double comparative.

Question 8Grammar

Which sentence uses a coordinating conjunction correctly to join two independent clauses?

  1. The nurse assessed the patient and documented the findings.
  2. The nurse assessed the patient and, documented the findings.
  3. The nurse assessed the patient, and she documented the findings. Correct answer.
  4. The nurse assessed the patient, and documented the findings.

Explanation

A comma plus a coordinating conjunction joins two independent clauses, each with its own subject and verb. Only the third option has two complete clauses separated by comma and and. The others either join a compound verb or misplace the comma.

Question 9Grammar

Choose the sentence that correctly uses a semicolon.

  1. The patient refused the medication; because he felt nauseated.
  2. The patient refused the medication; and felt nauseated.
  3. The patient refused; the medication because he felt nauseated.
  4. The patient refused the medication; he felt nauseated. Correct answer.

Explanation

A semicolon joins two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction. Both the patient refused the medication and he felt nauseated are complete clauses, so the semicolon is correct. The other options place the semicolon before a fragment or split a clause incorrectly.

Question 10Grammar

Which sentence correctly maintains parallel structure in a list?

  1. The orientation covered how to chart, medicating, and patient assessment.
  2. The orientation covered charting, medication administration, and patient assessment. Correct answer.
  3. The orientation covered charting, medicating, and how to assess patients.
  4. The orientation covered charting, administering medications, and how patients are assessed.

Explanation

Items in a series should share the same grammatical form. The correct option uses three parallel noun phrases: charting, medication administration, and patient assessment. The other options mix gerunds, infinitives, and clauses within one list.

Question 11Grammar

Select the sentence that uses the correct verb form in a conditional statement about a hypothetical past situation.

  1. If the nurse checked the armband, she would have caught the error.
  2. If the nurse had checked the armband, she would catch the error.
  3. If the nurse had checked the armband, she would have caught the error. Correct answer.
  4. If the nurse would have checked the armband, she had caught the error.

Explanation

A past unreal conditional uses had plus past participle in the if-clause and would have plus past participle in the result clause. The correct sentence follows this pattern. Mixing would catch or checked with the past result clause breaks the sequence.

Question 12Grammar

Which sentence uses a colon correctly?

  1. The nurse ordered three supplies: gloves, gauze, and saline. Correct answer.
  2. The nurse ordered three supplies; gloves: gauze, and saline.
  3. The nurse ordered: gloves, gauze, and saline.
  4. The nurse ordered three supplies, gloves: gauze, and saline.

Explanation

A colon introduces a list only after a complete independent clause. In the correct sentence, the nurse ordered three supplies is a full clause, so the colon properly introduces the items. A colon cannot separate a verb from its object or interrupt a list.

Question 13Grammar

Choose the sentence in which the relative pronoun is used correctly.

  1. The physician who admitted the patient is on call. Correct answer.
  2. The physician which admitted the patient is on call.
  3. The physician whose admitted the patient is on call.
  4. The physician whom admitted the patient is on call.

Explanation

Who is the subject-case relative pronoun for a person performing the action, so who admitted the patient is correct. Whom is used for objects, which refers to things, and whose shows possession. Only who fits the subject role here.

Question 14Grammar

Which sentence correctly avoids a run-on?

  1. The monitor alarmed, the nurse rushed to the bedside.
  2. The monitor alarmed the nurse rushed to the bedside.
  3. The monitor alarmed the nurse, rushed to the bedside.
  4. The monitor alarmed, so the nurse rushed to the bedside. Correct answer.

Explanation

Two independent clauses need a comma plus a coordinating conjunction, a semicolon, or a period. Adding so with a comma correctly joins the clauses as cause and effect. The other options either fuse the clauses or use a comma splice.

Question 15Grammar

Select the sentence with the correct use of an adverb versus an adjective.

  1. The patient breathed quieter during the procedure.
  2. The patient breathed quiet during the procedure.
  3. The patient breathed quietness during the procedure.
  4. The patient breathed quietly during the procedure. Correct answer.

Explanation

An adverb modifies a verb, so quietly correctly describes how the patient breathed. Quiet and quietness are adjective and noun forms, and quieter is a comparative adjective that needs a comparison. Only the adverb form fits the verb breathed.

Question 16Grammar

Which sentence uses the correct pronoun to refer clearly to its antecedent?

  1. When the nurse spoke with the patient, the nurse reviewed her chart.
  2. When the nurse spoke with the patient, they reviewed the chart.
  3. When the nurse spoke with the patient, she reviewed the chart. Correct answer.
  4. When the nurse spoke with the patient, it reviewed the chart.

Explanation

A pronoun must agree with its antecedent and refer to it unambiguously. Here she clearly refers to the nurse, the only singular feminine antecedent established. The other options use a plural or neuter pronoun that does not match, or create confusion.

Question 17Grammar

Choose the sentence that correctly uses the passive voice for an appropriate purpose.

  1. The medication administered the nurse at 0800.
  2. The nurse administered the medication at 0800.
  3. The medication was administering by the nurse at 0800.
  4. The medication was administered by the nurse at 0800. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passive voice is formed with a form of be plus the past participle, as in was administered. It is appropriate when the action or receiver is the focus. The other options either use active voice, reverse the roles, or use the wrong participle form.

Question 18Grammar

Which sentence correctly uses a dash or parentheses for parenthetical information?

  1. The patient-a retired teacher and father of two-was discharged. Correct answer.
  2. The patient a retired teacher-and father of two, was discharged.
  3. The patient, a retired teacher, (and father of two) was discharged.
  4. The patient (a retired teacher and father of two, was discharged.

Explanation

A pair of dashes can enclose nonessential information that interrupts the sentence. The correct option uses matching dashes around the appositive and keeps the main clause intact. The other options mix punctuation marks or leave one mark unpaired.

Question 19Grammar

Select the sentence that correctly uses "fewer" and "less."

  1. The unit had fewer nurses and fewer equipment than required.
  2. The unit had less nurses and less equipment than required.
  3. The unit had fewer nurses and less equipment than required. Correct answer.
  4. The unit had less nurses and fewer equipment than required.

Explanation

Fewer is used with countable nouns such as nurses, and less is used with uncountable mass nouns such as equipment. The correct sentence applies each word to the appropriate noun. The other options swap the terms or use one form for both.

Question 20Grammar

Which sentence correctly punctuates a compound adjective before a noun?

  1. The patient received a well known antibiotic.
  2. The patient received a well known, antibiotic.
  3. The patient received a well, known antibiotic.
  4. The patient received a well-known antibiotic. Correct answer.

Explanation

A compound adjective made of an adverb plus a participle is hyphenated when it precedes the noun, as in well-known antibiotic. The hyphen links the two words into a single modifier. The other options omit the hyphen or add an unrelated comma.

Question 21Grammar

Choose the sentence that correctly uses the subjunctive mood.

  1. The physician insisted that the nurse document the vital signs hourly. Correct answer.
  2. The physician insisted that the nurse documents the vital signs hourly.
  3. The physician insisted that the nurse documented the vital signs hourly.
  4. The physician insisted that the nurse is documenting the vital signs hourly.

Explanation

After verbs of demand or insistence such as insist, the subjunctive uses the base form of the verb regardless of subject. The correct sentence uses document rather than documents. The other options use indicative forms, which do not convey the required mood.

Question 22Grammar

Which sentence correctly uses a restrictive clause without commas?

  1. The patients who refused the vaccine were counseled. Correct answer.
  2. The patients, who refused the vaccine, were counseled.
  3. The patients who, refused the vaccine, were counseled.
  4. The patients, who refused the vaccine were counseled.

Explanation

A restrictive clause identifies which patients are meant and must not be set off by commas. Because who refused the vaccine narrows the group, it stays unpunctuated. Adding commas would wrongly suggest all patients refused.

Question 23Grammar

Select the sentence that avoids a faulty comparison.

  1. The new protocol is more efficient than the old protocol. Correct answer.
  2. The new protocol is more efficient than any unit.
  3. The new protocol is more efficient than the old unit.
  4. The new protocol is more efficient than the old one's.

Explanation

A comparison must compare like with like. The correct sentence compares the new protocol with the old protocol, two comparable items. The other options compare a protocol to a unit or use a possessive that has no clear referent.

Question 24Grammar

Which sentence correctly uses a gerund phrase as the subject?

  1. Document every dose is essential for patient safety.
  2. Documenting every dose is essential for patient safety. Correct answer.
  3. To documenting every dose is essential for patient safety.
  4. Documented every dose is essential for patient safety.

Explanation

A gerund is a verb form ending in -ing that functions as a noun, so documenting every dose can serve as the subject. The correct sentence pairs this gerund phrase with the singular verb is. The other options use a bare verb, a malformed infinitive, or a past participle as the subject.

Question 25Grammar

Choose the sentence in which the modifier is placed to modify the intended word.

  1. The nurse almost gave all the medications to every patient.
  2. The nurse gave all the medications almost to every patient.
  3. The nurse gave almost all the medications to every patient. Correct answer.
  4. Almost the nurse gave all the medications to every patient.

Explanation

A limiting modifier such as almost should sit directly before the word it limits. In the correct sentence, almost modifies all, meaning nearly all the medications. The other placements suggest the nurse nearly performed the action or attach almost to the wrong element.

Question 26Grammar

A nursing note reads: "The patient's chart, along with the lab results, ____ been forwarded to the attending physician." Which verb form completes the sentence in standard written English?

  1. were
  2. are
  3. have
  4. has Correct answer.

Explanation

The grammatical subject is the singular noun "chart"; the phrase "along with the lab results" is a parenthetical addition set off by commas and does not change the number of the subject. A singular subject therefore takes the singular verb "has." Writers must locate the true subject before choosing the verb.

Question 27Grammar

In a patient-education handout, which sentence uses the article correctly?

  1. The nurse gave advice about hydration before the test. Correct answer.
  2. The nurse gave a advice about hydration before the test.
  3. The nurse gave an advice about hydration before the test.
  4. The nurse gave the advices about hydration before the test.

Explanation

"Advice" is an uncountable abstract noun, so it takes no indefinite article and has no plural form "advices." When the reference is general, the noun stands alone without "a," "an," or "the." Countable alternatives such as "a piece of advice" or "some tips" would require determiners.

Question 28Grammar

Which revision of the intake sentence "The patient reported pain he rated it a seven" produces a grammatically complete sentence?

  1. The patient reported pain that he rated a seven. Correct answer.
  2. The patient reported pain he rated it a seven.
  3. The patient reported pain; and he rated it a seven.
  4. The patient reported pain, he rated it a seven.

Explanation

The original strings two independent clauses together with no connector, creating a run-on. Turning the second clause into a relative clause with "that" subordinates it and removes the redundant pronoun "it." The result is one grammatical sentence with a clear relationship between the ideas.

Question 29Grammar

In a chart entry, which pronoun case is required to complete "The discharge instructions were written by the nurse and ____"?

  1. mine
  2. I
  3. me Correct answer.
  4. myself

Explanation

The pronoun follows the preposition "by," so it must appear in the objective case. "Me" is the objective form, and in formal writing it comes after the other person named. The compound object "the nurse and me" is therefore correct.

Question 30Grammar

Which sentence in a clinical report uses the comparative or superlative form correctly?

  1. Of the three shifts, the night shift recorded the highest number of falls. Correct answer.
  2. Of the three shifts, the night shift recorded the most high number of falls.
  3. Of the three shifts, the night shift recorded the higher number of falls.
  4. Of the three shifts, the night shift recorded the most highest number of falls.

Explanation

When three or more items are compared, the superlative form is required. "Highest" is the superlative of "high," and it is used without "most" because the suffix already marks the superlative. The comparison involves all three shifts, so the superlative is the only fitting degree.

Question 31Grammar

Which sentence uses a preposition correctly in a formal nursing report?

  1. The wound dressing was changed of the nurse on Tuesday.
  2. The wound dressing was changed by the nurse on Tuesday. Correct answer.
  3. The wound dressing was changed from the nurse on Tuesday.
  4. The wound dressing was changed to the nurse on Tuesday.

Explanation

"By" introduces the agent performing a passive action, so "changed by the nurse" correctly identifies who did the changing. Prepositions carry specific meanings, and only "by" marks agency in a passive construction. The other prepositions express source, possession, or direction instead.

Question 32Grammar

A student writes: "The physician, who reviewed the scan, ordered a follow-up." What is the grammatical function of the clause "who reviewed the scan"?

  1. It is a noun clause acting as the subject.
  2. It is an adverb clause explaining why the scan was ordered.
  3. It is a nonrestrictive relative clause describing the physician. Correct answer.
  4. It is an independent clause joined without a conjunction.

Explanation

The clause begins with the relative pronoun "who" and modifies the noun "physician." Because it is set off by commas and merely adds information, it is nonrestrictive rather than essential to identifying the physician. It cannot stand alone, so it is dependent.

Question 33Grammar

Which sentence uses a modal verb to express a strong obligation in a clinical policy?

  1. Nurses must document vital signs at the end of the shift. Correct answer.
  2. Nurses might document vital signs at the end of the shift.
  3. Nurses could document vital signs at the end of the shift.
  4. Nurses may document vital signs at the end of the shift.

Explanation

"Must" expresses strong obligation or requirement, which suits a policy statement that mandates an action. The other modals express permission or possibility and would weaken the requirement. Choosing the modal carefully matters when policy language carries legal weight.

Question 34Grammar

Which sentence places an adverb in a position that clearly modifies the intended verb?

  1. The nurse checked carefully the IV site before the shift change.
  2. The nurse carefully checked the IV site before the shift change. Correct answer.
  3. Carefully the nurse checked the IV site before the shift change.
  4. The nurse checked the IV site before the shift change carefully.

Explanation

An adverb of manner normally sits between the auxiliary and main verb or immediately before the verb it modifies. "Carefully checked" keeps the adverb adjacent to the action it describes. The other placements are either awkward or create ambiguity about what is being modified.

Question 35Grammar

Which sentence correctly uses "whose" in a clinical context?

  1. The patient whose was admitted last night needs a consult.
  2. The patient whose blood pressure spiked was moved to ICU. Correct answer.
  3. The patient who's blood pressure spiked was moved to ICU.
  4. The patient whose blood pressure spiked was moved to ICU, and whose chart needs review.

Explanation

"Whose" is the possessive form of the relative pronoun and correctly modifies "blood pressure" in a clause describing the patient. It introduces a dependent relative clause that identifies which patient is meant. The contraction "who's" means "who is" and cannot show possession.

Question 36Grammar

Which sentence maintains consistent verb tense in a case narrative?

  1. The patient arrived at 2 a.m. and reported chest pain. Correct answer.
  2. The patient arrived at 2 a.m. and reports chest pain.
  3. The patient had arrived at 2 a.m. and reports chest pain.
  4. The patient arrives at 2 a.m. and reported chest pain.

Explanation

Both verbs in a narrative describing the same past event should appear in the simple past unless a shift in time is clearly signposted. "Arrived" and "reported" are both past tense, so the sequence is consistent. Unmotivated shifts between past and present confuse the timeline.

Question 37Grammar

Which sentence uses a collective noun with correct subject-verb agreement in a hospital context?

  1. The committee have scheduled its review for Monday.
  2. The committee are scheduling its review for Monday.
  3. The committee have scheduled their review for Monday.
  4. The committee has scheduled its review for Monday. Correct answer.

Explanation

In American English, a collective noun such as "committee" acting as a single unit takes a singular verb and a singular pronoun. "Has scheduled" and "its" agree with the singular subject. Consistency between verb number and pronoun number is essential in formal reports.

Question 38Grammar

Which sentence uses an infinitive phrase correctly as a subject?

  1. To monitor vital signs hourly is standard practice in the ICU. Correct answer.
  2. Monitoring vital signs hourly are standard practice in the ICU.
  3. To monitor vital signs hourly are standard practice in the ICU.
  4. Monitor vital signs hourly is standard practice in the ICU.

Explanation

An infinitive phrase ("to monitor vital signs hourly") can serve as the subject of a sentence, and such a subject is singular, so it takes "is." The verb must agree with the whole phrase as one idea. The other options either misuse a gerund with a plural verb or drop the infinitive marker.

Question 39Grammar

Which sentence uses a correlative conjunction pair correctly?

  1. Not only the nurse checked the IV but also the dressing.
  2. The nurse not only checked the IV but also checked the dressing. Correct answer.
  3. The nurse not only checked the IV but also the dressing was checked.
  4. The nurse not only checked the IV but also the dressing.

Explanation

Correlative conjunctions such as "not only...but also" must connect parallel grammatical elements. Here both halves contain a verb plus object, so the structure is balanced. Parallelism keeps the paired ideas equally weighted and easy to parse.

Question 40Grammar

In a laboratory report, which sentence uses a gerund phrase correctly as the object of a preposition?

  1. The technician improved by practice pipetting daily.
  2. The technician improved by to practice pipetting daily.
  3. The technician improved by practiced pipetting daily.
  4. The technician improved by practicing pipetting daily. Correct answer.

Explanation

A preposition such as "by" must be followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund phrase. "Practicing pipetting daily" is a gerund phrase that fills that object slot. Only a gerund form can serve as the object of a preposition while retaining verbal force.

Question 41Grammar

Which sentence correctly uses a possessive form before a gerund?

  1. The supervisor objected to the nurse leaving early.
  2. The supervisor objected to the nurse leave early.
  3. The supervisor objected to the nurses leaving early's.
  4. The supervisor objected to the nurse's leaving early. Correct answer.

Explanation

When a noun or pronoun precedes a gerund, formal English uses the possessive form to show that the noun is the performer of the gerund action. "The nurse's leaving" makes clear that the nurse did the leaving. Without the possessive, the noun can read as a plain object, which is less precise in formal writing.

Question 42Grammar

Which sentence uses an adjective clause introduced by "where" correctly?

  1. The clinic where does she work is downtown.
  2. The clinic where she works there is downtown.
  3. The clinic where she works in is downtown.
  4. The clinic where she works is downtown. Correct answer.

Explanation

"Where" functions as a relative adverb meaning "in which," so the clause "where she works" already contains the prepositional idea. Adding "there" or "in" duplicates that meaning. The clause modifies "clinic" and needs no extra adverbial.

Question 43Grammar

Which sentence uses a negative adverb at the start of a clause with the correct word order?

  1. Never left the nurse the bedside unattended.
  2. Never the nurse left the bedside unattended.
  3. Never did the nurse leave the bedside unattended. Correct answer.
  4. Never the nurse did leave the bedside unattended.

Explanation

When a negative adverb such as "never" opens a clause, standard English requires subject-auxiliary inversion. The auxiliary "did" moves before the subject, and the main verb stays in its base form. This inverted order signals the emphatic negative construction.

Question 44Grammar

Which sentence uses a participial phrase that clearly modifies the intended noun?

  1. Walking into the room, it was the chart on the desk.
  2. Walking into the room, the chart was on the desk.
  3. Walking into the room, the chart was seen by the nurse.
  4. Walking into the room, the nurse saw the chart on the desk. Correct answer.

Explanation

An introductory participial phrase modifies the subject of the main clause, so the subject must be the one performing the action. "The nurse" is the person walking, which makes the sentence logical. A mismatched subject produces a dangling modifier.

Question 45Grammar

Which sentence correctly uses "its" rather than "it's"?

  1. The hospital updated its' visiting policy.
  2. The hospital updated it's own visiting policy.
  3. The hospital updated its visiting policy. Correct answer.
  4. The hospital updated it's visiting policy.

Explanation

"Its" is the possessive form of "it," while "it's" is the contraction of "it is" or "it has." The sentence needs a possessive determiner before "visiting policy," so "its" is correct. Apostrophes never form the possessive of personal pronouns.

Question 46Grammar

Which sentence uses a dash correctly to set off a parenthetical remark in a clinical note?

  1. The patient-who had refused consent-was reassessed by the team. Correct answer.
  2. The patient-who had refused consent, was reassessed by the team.
  3. The patient, who had refused consent-was reassessed by the team.
  4. The patient who had refused consent-was reassessed by the team.

Explanation

A pair of dashes can enclose a parenthetical element, and both dashes must be present to mark where the aside begins and ends. Here the dashes surround the relative clause cleanly, leaving a complete main clause. Mixing a dash with a comma or leaving one dash unpaired breaks the enclosure.

Question 47Grammar

Which sentence uses the past perfect tense to establish the correct sequence of events?

  1. By the time the surgeon arrived, the team had prepared the operating room. Correct answer.
  2. By the time the surgeon arrived, the team prepares the operating room.
  3. By the time the surgeon arrived, the team has prepared the operating room.
  4. By the time the surgeon arrived, the team prepared the operating room.

Explanation

The past perfect ("had prepared") marks an action completed before another past action ("arrived"). The "by the time" construction makes the earlier event explicit, so the past perfect is required to show sequence. Using simple past for both events would obscure which happened first.

Question 48Grammar

Which sentence uses a conditional construction that correctly expresses a past unreal situation?

  1. If the nurse charted the dose, the error would not have occurred.
  2. If the nurse would have charted the dose, the error would not have occurred.
  3. If the nurse had charted the dose, the error would not have occurred. Correct answer.
  4. If the nurse had charted the dose, the error would not occur.

Explanation

A past unreal conditional pairs "if" plus past perfect in the condition with "would have" plus past participle in the result. Both halves must refer to the counterfactual past. Mixing tenses across the two clauses breaks the unreal-past pattern.

Question 49Grammar

Which sentence uses an appositive punctuated correctly in a medical report?

  1. Dr. Alvarez the attending physician, signed the order.
  2. Dr. Alvarez, the attending physician signed the order.
  3. Dr. Alvarez, the attending physician, signed the order. Correct answer.
  4. Dr. Alvarez the attending physician signed the order.

Explanation

A nonessential appositive that renames the preceding noun must be enclosed by commas on both sides. "The attending physician" simply adds identifying information about Dr. Alvarez, so it is set off as a pair. Omitting either comma fuses the appositive with the main clause.

Question 50Grammar

Which sentence correctly uses "whom" in a subordinate clause?

  1. The specialist whom the resident consulted ordered more tests. Correct answer.
  2. The specialist whom ordered more tests after the consult.
  3. The specialist who the resident consulted ordered more tests.
  4. The specialist whom reviewed the chart ordered more tests.

Explanation

"Whom" is the objective case and serves as the object of the verb "consulted" inside the relative clause. The resident is the subject who consulted, and the specialist is the one consulted. Substituting "he" or "him" for the pronoun confirms which case is needed.