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iTEP SLATE Core practice questions

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Question 1Grammar

Choose the sentence that uses the correct present-tense form of the verb in the iTEP SLATE Core grammar section.

  1. She go to school every morning.
  2. She goes to school every morning. Correct answer.
  3. She gone to school every morning.
  4. She going to school every morning.

Explanation

In the simple present tense, a third-person singular subject (she, he, it) takes a verb ending in -s or -es. Therefore 'She goes' is the only grammatically complete and correctly inflected form here. The other options either omit the ending, drop the auxiliary, or use a past participle without an auxiliary.

Question 2Grammar

Which sentence correctly forms the past tense of the irregular verb 'to buy'?

  1. Yesterday I was buy a new notebook.
  2. Yesterday I have bought a new notebook.
  3. Yesterday I buyed a new notebook.
  4. Yesterday I bought a new notebook. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Buy' is irregular, and its simple past form is 'bought'. A finished past action with a specific time marker like 'yesterday' calls for the simple past, not the present perfect. 'Buyed' is not a word, and 'was buy' is ungrammatical.

Question 3Grammar

Select the option that correctly completes the sentence with an article: 'He is ___ honest man who works in our office.'

  1. the
  2. a
  3. no article
  4. an Correct answer.

Explanation

The choice between 'a' and 'an' depends on the sound that follows, not the letter. 'Honest' begins with a vowel sound because the 'h' is silent, so 'an' is required. 'The' would wrongly suggest a specific man already identified, and omitting the article is incorrect before a singular countable noun.

Question 4Grammar

Which sentence places the adverb of frequency correctly for standard written English?

  1. He is always late for the morning meeting. Correct answer.
  2. He is late always for the morning meeting.
  3. He always is late for the morning meeting.
  4. Always he is late for the morning meeting.

Explanation

Adverbs of frequency such as 'always' normally go after the verb 'be' and before other main verbs. In 'He is always late', the adverb follows 'is', which is the standard position. Placing it before 'be' or after the adjective disrupts the normal word order.

Question 5Grammar

Choose the correct plural form to complete the sentence: 'The library owns more than two hundred ___.'

  1. dictionary
  2. dictionaries Correct answer.
  3. dictionarys
  4. dictionaryes

Explanation

Nouns ending in a consonant plus 'y' form the plural by changing 'y' to 'i' and adding '-es'. Thus 'dictionary' becomes 'dictionaries'. The other forms either keep the 'y' incorrectly or add the wrong ending.

Question 6Grammar

Which option correctly completes the comparison: 'This exam is ___ than the one I took last term.'

  1. more difficult Correct answer.
  2. the most difficult
  3. most difficult
  4. difficult

Explanation

When comparing two things with a multi-syllable adjective, English uses 'more' plus the adjective followed by 'than'. 'More difficult than' is the correct comparative structure. The base form and the superlative forms do not fit a two-item comparison with 'than'.

Question 7Grammar

Select the sentence with the correct subject-verb agreement in the iTEP SLATE Core grammar section.

  1. The list of new students is posted outside. Correct answer.
  2. The list of new students are posted outside.
  3. The list of new students were posted outside.
  4. The list of new students have been posted outside.

Explanation

The subject of the sentence is 'list', which is singular; the phrase 'of new students' is a prepositional modifier and does not change the number of the subject. A singular subject takes 'is' in the present tense. The plural verbs 'are', 'were', and 'have' incorrectly agree with 'students' instead of 'list'.

Question 8Grammar

Which sentence uses the correct preposition to complete the phrase?

  1. She is very good at solving math problems. Correct answer.
  2. She is very good for solving math problems.
  3. She is very good in solving math problems.
  4. She is very good on solving math problems.

Explanation

The adjective 'good' is followed by the preposition 'at' when describing a skill or ability. The pattern is 'good at + noun or -ing form'. The other prepositions do not collocate with 'good' in this meaning.

Question 9Grammar

Which option correctly completes the sentence with a modal verb: 'You ___ bring your passport; it is required at the border.'

  1. must Correct answer.
  2. could
  3. might
  4. would

Explanation

'Must' expresses strong obligation or necessity, which matches a requirement at a border. 'Might' and 'could' express possibility, and 'would' expresses conditionality or willingness, none of which convey obligation. The clause 'it is required' confirms necessity.

Question 10Grammar

Choose the sentence that correctly uses the present perfect tense.

  1. I have seen that film three times. Correct answer.
  2. I have saw that film three times.
  3. I have see that film three times.
  4. I have seeing that film three times.

Explanation

The present perfect is formed with 'have' or 'has' plus the past participle. The past participle of 'see' is 'seen', so 'have seen' is correct. 'Saw' is the simple past, 'see' is the base form, and 'seeing' is the present participle, none of which follow 'have' in this construction.

Question 11Grammar

Which sentence correctly uses a relative pronoun to combine the ideas?

  1. The teacher who helped me is very patient. Correct answer.
  2. The teacher whose helped me is very patient.
  3. The teacher which helped me is very patient.
  4. The teacher whom helped me is very patient.

Explanation

'Who' is the relative pronoun used for people when it functions as the subject of the relative clause. Here 'who' is the subject of 'helped', so 'who' is correct. 'Which' is for things, 'whom' is for objects, and 'whose' shows possession.

Question 12Grammar

Select the option that correctly completes the conditional sentence: 'If it ___ tomorrow, we will cancel the picnic.'

  1. will rain
  2. rains Correct answer.
  3. rained
  4. would rain

Explanation

In a first conditional describing a real future possibility, the 'if' clause uses the simple present tense and the main clause uses 'will'. Therefore 'if it rains' is correct. Using 'will' in the 'if' clause is a common error, and the past forms belong to unreal conditionals.

Question 13Grammar

Which sentence uses the correct form of the passive voice?

  1. The report was writing by the intern.
  2. The report was written by the intern. Correct answer.
  3. The report was wrote by the intern.
  4. The report was write by the intern.

Explanation

The passive voice is formed with a form of 'be' plus the past participle. The past participle of 'write' is 'written', so 'was written' is correct. 'Wrote' is simple past, 'write' is the base form, and 'writing' is the present participle, none of which form the passive.

Question 14Grammar

Choose the sentence that correctly uses a gerund as the subject.

  1. To swimming in the ocean is dangerous.
  2. Swum in the ocean is dangerous.
  3. Swimming in the ocean is dangerous. Correct answer.
  4. Swim in the ocean is dangerous.

Explanation

A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun, and it can serve as the subject of a sentence. 'Swimming in the ocean' functions as a singular subject taking 'is'. The base form, the infinitive with -ing, and the past participle cannot serve this role.

Question 15Grammar

Which option correctly completes the reported speech: Direct: 'I am tired,' she said. Reported: She said that she ___ tired.

  1. was Correct answer.
  2. has been
  3. will be
  4. is

Explanation

In reported speech, when the reporting verb is in the past ('said'), the verb in the reported clause usually shifts back one tense. The present 'am' becomes the past 'was'. The other options either keep the present tense or shift to tenses that do not match the backshift rule.

Question 16Grammar

Select the sentence that uses the correct quantifier with a countable noun.

  1. There are a great deal of students in the hall.
  2. There are many students in the hall. Correct answer.
  3. There are a little students in the hall.
  4. There are much students in the hall.

Explanation

'Many' is used with plural countable nouns such as 'students'. 'Much', 'a great deal of', and 'a little' are used with uncountable nouns. Because 'students' is plural and countable, only 'many' fits.

Question 17Grammar

Choose the sentence with the correct word order for a direct question.

  1. Where are you going after class? Correct answer.
  2. Where you are going after class?
  3. Where going you are after class?
  4. Where you going are after class?

Explanation

In a direct question, the auxiliary verb comes before the subject: 'Where are you going?' This inversion is required in standard English question formation. The other options keep statement order or scramble the auxiliary and subject.

Question 18Grammar

Which option correctly completes the sentence with an infinitive of purpose?

  1. She went to the library to study quietly. Correct answer.
  2. She went to the library for studying quiet.
  3. She went to the library study quietly.
  4. She went to the library for study quietly.

Explanation

An infinitive of purpose uses 'to' plus the base verb to express why an action is done: 'to study quietly'. 'For' plus a gerund can sometimes express purpose, but 'for study quietly' and 'for studying quiet' are not correctly formed. Omitting 'to' leaves the sentence without a purpose marker.

Question 19Grammar

Select the option that correctly uses a comparative structure with 'as ... as'.

  1. This test is as hard as the last one. Correct answer.
  2. This test is as hard than the last one.
  3. This test is as harder as the last one.
  4. This test is as more hard as the last one.

Explanation

The 'as ... as' structure for equality uses the base form of the adjective between the two 'as' words: 'as hard as'. Comparative forms like 'harder' or 'more hard' do not belong in this structure, and 'than' is used with comparatives, not with 'as ... as'.

Question 20Grammar

Which sentence correctly uses a possessive form?

  1. The students' books were left in the classroom. Correct answer.
  2. The students's books were left in the classroom.
  3. The students books were left in the classroom.
  4. The student's books were left in the classroom by all of them.

Explanation

For a regular plural noun ending in -s, the possessive is formed by adding only an apostrophe after the -s: 'students''. This shows the books belong to multiple students. Adding no apostrophe, adding '-s's', or using a singular possessive does not match the plural meaning.

Question 21Grammar

Choose the sentence that correctly uses a past perfect verb to show an earlier past action.

  1. When we arrived, the film has already started.
  2. When we arrived, the film was already start.
  3. When we arrived, the film already started.
  4. When we arrived, the film had already started. Correct answer.

Explanation

The past perfect ('had started') shows that one past action happened before another past action ('arrived'). This clarifies the sequence of events. The simple past, present perfect, and 'was start' either obscure the order or are ungrammatical.

Question 22Grammar

Which sentence uses a correct parallel structure in its list?

  1. The job requires writing reports, attending meetings, and analyzing data. Correct answer.
  2. The job requires to write reports, attending meetings, and analyze data.
  3. The job requires write reports, attend meetings, and analyzing data.
  4. The job requires writing reports, to attend meetings, and analyzing data.

Explanation

Items in a list joined by 'and' should share the same grammatical form. Here all three items are gerunds: 'writing', 'attending', and 'analyzing'. Mixing infinitives, gerunds, and base verbs breaks parallelism and makes the sentence awkward.

Question 23Grammar

Select the sentence that correctly uses a reduced relative clause.

  1. The man stand near the door is my uncle.
  2. The man stood near the door is my uncle.
  3. The man standing near the door is my uncle. Correct answer.
  4. The man who standing near the door is my uncle.

Explanation

A reduced relative clause drops the relative pronoun and the auxiliary 'be', leaving the present participle: 'the man standing near the door'. This is equivalent to 'the man who is standing near the door'. The other options either omit the participle, keep 'who' without an auxiliary, or use a past participle that changes the meaning.

Question 24Grammar

Which sentence correctly uses a subjunctive form after a verb of suggestion?

  1. The manager recommended that he submitting the report early.
  2. The manager recommended that he submits the report early.
  3. The manager recommended that he submitted the report early.
  4. The manager recommended that he submit the report early. Correct answer.

Explanation

After verbs of suggestion such as 'recommend', 'insist', and 'demand', formal English uses the base form of the verb in the 'that' clause, regardless of the subject. Thus 'that he submit' is correct. The -s form, the participle, and the past tense do not follow this subjunctive pattern.

Question 25Grammar

Choose the sentence that correctly uses a non-defining relative clause with proper punctuation.

  1. My brother, who lives in Osaka, is a doctor. Correct answer.
  2. My brother who lives in Osaka is a doctor.
  3. My brother, who lives in Osaka is a doctor.
  4. My brother who lives in Osaka, is a doctor.

Explanation

A non-defining relative clause adds extra information about a specific person and must be set off by commas on both sides. Since the speaker has only one brother in mind, the clause is non-essential and needs the paired commas. Omitting one or both commas, or using no commas, changes the clause to a defining one or produces faulty punctuation.

Question 26Grammar

In the iTEP SLATE Core grammar section, choose the sentence in which the article is used correctly before a noun phrase.

  1. She is a honest student who always finishes her work.
  2. She is honest student who always finishes her work.
  3. She is an honest student who always finishes her work. Correct answer.
  4. She is the honest student who always finishes her work.

Explanation

The choice between 'a' and 'an' depends on the sound that begins the next word, not on the spelling. 'Honest' begins with a vowel sound because the 'h' is silent, so 'an honest student' is correct. The definite article 'the' would wrongly suggest one specific, already identified student, and omitting the article entirely is ungrammatical with a singular countable noun.

Question 27Grammar

Which sentence places the adverb of frequency in the position that standard English grammar requires?

  1. He is late always for the grammar practice session.
  2. He is always late for the grammar practice session. Correct answer.
  3. He always is late for the grammar practice session.
  4. Always he is late for the grammar practice session.

Explanation

Adverbs of frequency such as 'always' normally go after the verb 'be' and before other main verbs. In a sentence with 'be' as the main verb, the adverb follows the form of 'be', giving 'He is always late'. Placing it at the start or between the subject and 'is' is not the standard pattern.

Question 28Grammar

Choose the sentence that correctly forms the plural of the compound and irregular nouns it contains.

  1. The two mother-in-laws bought three loafs of bread.
  2. The two mothers-in-laws bought three loaves of bread.
  3. The two mothers-in-law bought three loaves of bread. Correct answer.
  4. The two mother-in-law bought three loafs of bread.

Explanation

In compound nouns, the plural marker usually attaches to the head noun, so 'mother-in-law' becomes 'mothers-in-law'. Nouns ending in '-f' often change to '-ves', which makes the plural of 'loaf' into 'loaves'. Only one option applies both rules correctly.

Question 29Grammar

Which sentence uses a pronoun with the correct case in a compound subject or object?

  1. The teacher gave the extra practice sheets to my friend and I.
  2. Between you and I, the grammar review was useful.
  3. My brother and I finished the grammar review early. Correct answer.
  4. My brother and me finished the grammar review early.

Explanation

A subject pronoun is needed when the pronoun forms part of the subject, so 'My brother and I finished' is correct. 'I' is the subject form, while 'me' is the object form. In prepositional phrases such as 'between you and me' or 'to my friend and me', the object form is required instead.

Question 30Grammar

Select the sentence in which the apostrophe is used correctly to show possession.

  1. The studentss' essays were returned before the weekend.
  2. The students essays' were returned before the weekend.
  3. The students' essays were returned before the weekend. Correct answer.
  4. The student's essays were returned before the weekend for all of them.

Explanation

A plural noun ending in '-s' takes only an apostrophe after the final '-s' to form the possessive, giving 'the students' essays'. The apostrophe marks possession and comes after the plural ending. The other options misplace the apostrophe or misspell the plural.

Question 31Grammar

Which sentence uses a correct irregular past-tense verb form?

  1. She has went to the writing center to review her grammar notes.
  2. She goed to the writing center to review her grammar notes.
  3. She went to the writing center to review her grammar notes. Correct answer.
  4. She gone to the writing center to review her grammar notes.

Explanation

'Go' is an irregular verb whose simple past form is 'went'. The past participle 'gone' cannot stand alone as a simple past verb and needs an auxiliary such as 'has'. Adding '-ed' to an irregular verb produces a nonstandard form.

Question 32Grammar

Choose the sentence in which the count or non-count noun is used correctly with a matching quantifier.

  1. She gave me several advice about the grammar test.
  2. She gave me many advice about the grammar test.
  3. She gave me some advice about the grammar test. Correct answer.
  4. She gave me a few advices about the grammar test.

Explanation

'Advice' is a non-count noun, so it has no plural form and cannot follow quantifiers that count individual items, such as 'several', 'many' or 'a few'. Non-count nouns take quantifiers like 'some', 'much' or 'a piece of'. 'Some advice' is therefore the only correct combination.

Question 33Grammar

Which sentence uses a correctly formed tag question that matches the main clause?

  1. You have finished the grammar exercises, don't you?
  2. You have finished the grammar exercises, have you?
  3. You have finished the grammar exercises, didn't you?
  4. You have finished the grammar exercises, haven't you? Correct answer.

Explanation

A tag question repeats the auxiliary of the main clause and reverses its polarity. The main clause uses the positive auxiliary 'have', so the tag must be negative: 'haven't you?'. Using 'don't' or a past-tense auxiliary breaks that link, and a positive tag after a positive statement is nonstandard.

Question 34Grammar

Which sentence uses the correct preposition after the adjective to express a fixed collocation?

  1. The students were interested for the grammar workshop.
  2. The students were interested on the grammar workshop.
  3. The students were interested at the grammar workshop.
  4. The students were interested in the grammar workshop. Correct answer.

Explanation

Many adjectives take a fixed preposition, and 'interested' is followed by 'in'. The pattern 'be interested in something' is a standard collocation. The other prepositions do not combine with 'interested' to express this meaning.

Question 35Grammar

Choose the sentence in which the comparative form of the adverb is used correctly.

  1. She speaks more fluent than her classmates do.
  2. She speaks more fluently than her classmates do. Correct answer.
  3. She speaks fluentlyer than her classmates do.
  4. She speaks most fluently than her classmates do.

Explanation

Adverbs ending in '-ly' form the comparative with 'more', giving 'more fluently'. The comparative structure also needs 'than' to introduce the second item. Adding '-er' to 'fluently' or using the superlative 'most' does not create a valid comparison.

Question 36Grammar

Which sentence correctly uses a reflexive pronoun?

  1. The teacher asked herselfs why the grammar lesson felt rushed.
  2. The teacher asked herself why the grammar lesson felt rushed. Correct answer.
  3. The teacher asked her why the grammar lesson felt rushed herself.
  4. The teacher asked herself the students to leave early.

Explanation

A reflexive pronoun is used when the subject and the object refer to the same person, as in 'the teacher asked herself'. The form 'herself' is the correct reflexive for a singular feminine subject. The other options use a nonstandard form or place the pronoun so the reference is unclear.

Question 37Grammar

Choose the sentence that uses the correct preposition in a common time expression.

  1. The grammar test begins on Monday morning. Correct answer.
  2. The grammar test begins in Monday morning.
  3. The grammar test begins at Monday morning.
  4. The grammar test begins by Monday morning.

Explanation

English uses 'on' with days and dates, 'in' with months, years and longer periods, and 'at' with clock times. Because the expression names a day, 'on Monday morning' is correct. 'By' means 'no later than' and changes the intended meaning.

Question 38Grammar

Which sentence uses a correct modal perfect form to express a logical conclusion about the past?

  1. The grammar notes must been difficult, because everyone asked questions.
  2. The grammar notes must have been difficult, because everyone asked questions. Correct answer.
  3. The grammar notes must being difficult, because everyone asked questions.
  4. The grammar notes must to be difficult, because everyone asked questions.

Explanation

To make a deduction about the past, English uses 'must have' plus a past participle, giving 'must have been'. The modal 'must' is followed directly by the bare auxiliary 'have', never by 'to', '-ing' or a bare participle. The result clause shows the deduction concerns a past situation.

Question 39Grammar

Select the sentence in which the future time clause is formed correctly.

  1. When the grammar review ends, we will compare answers. Correct answer.
  2. When the grammar review ending, we will compare answers.
  3. When the grammar review will ends, we will compare answers.
  4. When the grammar review will end, we will compare answers.

Explanation

In a time clause introduced by 'when', 'before' or 'after', English uses the present simple to refer to future time, not 'will'. The main clause carries the future meaning with 'will compare'. Mixing 'will' into the time clause or using a participle creates an ungrammatical structure.

Question 40Grammar

Which sentence uses the correct order of adjectives before a noun?

  1. She bought a leather beautiful small bag for the grammar class.
  2. She bought a beautiful small leather bag for the grammar class. Correct answer.
  3. She bought a beautiful leather small bag for the grammar class.
  4. She bought a small beautiful leather bag for the grammar class.

Explanation

When several adjectives precede a noun, English follows a general order: opinion, then size, then age, shape, colour, origin and material. 'Beautiful' expresses opinion, 'small' expresses size, and 'leather' expresses material, so the order is 'beautiful small leather'. Other arrangements break this sequence.

Question 41Grammar

Choose the sentence that correctly uses a prepositional verb in the passive voice.

  1. The new grammar rule was explained to the students by the teacher. Correct answer.
  2. The new grammar rule was explaining to the students by the teacher.
  3. The new grammar rule explained to the students by the teacher.
  4. The new grammar rule was explained the students by the teacher.

Explanation

Verbs such as 'explain' take the pattern 'explain something to someone', and the preposition must be kept when the sentence becomes passive. The passive also requires 'be' plus a past participle: 'was explained'. Dropping 'to' or omitting the auxiliary produces an ungrammatical sentence.

Question 42Grammar

Which sentence uses a participle clause with the correct logical subject?

  1. Walking into the classroom, the students saw the grammar test on every desk. Correct answer.
  2. Walking into the classroom, it was the grammar test on every desk.
  3. Walking into the classroom, the test was seen by the students.
  4. Walking into the classroom, the grammar test was on every desk.

Explanation

A participle clause at the start of a sentence describes the subject of the main clause. Only in 'the students saw...' can the students be the ones walking into the classroom. In the other options the implied subject is a test or 'it', which cannot walk, so the clause is a dangling participle.

Question 43Grammar

Select the sentence that correctly uses 'used to' to describe a past habit.

  1. She used to check her grammar answers twice. Correct answer.
  2. She use to check her grammar answers twice.
  3. She used to checking her grammar answers twice.
  4. She is used to check her grammar answers twice.

Explanation

The pattern 'used to' plus a bare infinitive describes a habit or state that no longer exists, giving 'used to check'. 'Be used to' is followed by a gerund and means 'be accustomed to', which is a different meaning. The form 'use to' is nonstandard in affirmative statements.

Question 44Grammar

Which sentence uses an uncountable noun correctly with a suitable determiner in a formal grammar context?

  1. The teacher gave us many informations about the test format.
  2. The teacher gave us a great deal of information about the test format. Correct answer.
  3. The teacher gave us several information about the test format.
  4. The teacher gave us a great deal of informations about the test format.

Explanation

'Information' is a non-count noun, so it stays singular and takes quantifiers such as 'a great deal of', 'much' or 'some'. Count quantifiers like 'many' and 'several' require plural count nouns. Adding '-s' to a non-count noun is nonstandard.

Question 45Grammar

Choose the sentence that correctly uses a causative structure with a past participle.

  1. She had checked her grammar essay by a tutor.
  2. She had her grammar essay checked by a tutor. Correct answer.
  3. She had her grammar essay check by a tutor.
  4. She had her grammar essay checking by a tutor.

Explanation

The causative pattern 'have something done' uses a past participle to show that someone else performs the action. 'Had her essay checked' means a tutor checked it. Using the bare form 'check' or the '-ing' form 'checking' after the object breaks this structure.

Question 46Grammar

Which sentence correctly uses an inversion after a negative adverbial at the beginning?

  1. Rarely have the students seen such a detailed grammar chart. Correct answer.
  2. Rarely have seen the students such a detailed grammar chart.
  3. Rarely the students have seen such a detailed grammar chart.
  4. Rarely the students saw such a detailed grammar chart.

Explanation

When a negative or limiting adverbial such as 'rarely', 'never' or 'seldom' begins a sentence, the subject and auxiliary invert. The result is 'Rarely have the students seen...'. Without inversion, or with the subject placed after the participle, the sentence is ungrammatical.

Question 47Grammar

Select the sentence that correctly uses a mixed conditional to link a past cause with a present result.

  1. If she had studied the grammar rules, she will pass the test easily now.
  2. If she studies the grammar rules, she would pass the test easily now.
  3. If she had studied the grammar rules, she would pass the test easily now. Correct answer.
  4. If she studied the grammar rules, she would have passed the test easily now.

Explanation

A mixed conditional combines a past unreal condition with a present unreal result. The 'if' clause uses 'had studied' (third conditional form), and the main clause uses 'would pass... now' (second conditional form). Matching 'had studied' with 'would have passed' would describe a past result instead.

Question 48Grammar

Which sentence uses the correct form of the verb after a verb of urging that takes the subjunctive?

  1. The tutor recommended that the student will revise her grammar notes daily.
  2. The tutor recommended that the student revised her grammar notes daily.
  3. The tutor recommended that the student revise her grammar notes daily. Correct answer.
  4. The tutor recommended that the student revises her grammar notes daily.

Explanation

After verbs such as 'recommend', 'suggest' and 'insist', a 'that' clause in formal English uses the base form of the verb for all subjects. The correct form is therefore 'that the student revise'. Adding '-s', a past tense or 'will' breaks the subjunctive pattern.

Question 49Grammar

Choose the sentence that uses a correct perfect gerund or perfect participle to show an action completed before another.

  1. Having finished the grammar review, the students felt ready for the test. Correct answer.
  2. Having finished the grammar review, the test felt ready for the students.
  3. Having finish the grammar review, the students felt ready for the test.
  4. Have finished the grammar review, the students felt ready for the test.

Explanation

A perfect participle is formed with 'having' plus a past participle, as in 'Having finished', and it shows that the first action was completed before the second. The participle must also describe the subject of the main clause, which here is 'the students'. The bare form 'have' or the base form 'finish' is incorrect after 'having'.

Question 50Grammar

Which sentence correctly uses a nominal relative clause introduced by 'what' as the subject?

  1. What the students need are more practice with grammar rule.
  2. What the students needs is more practice with grammar rules.
  3. What the students need are more practice with grammar rules.
  4. What the students need is more practice with grammar rules. Correct answer.

Explanation

A nominal relative clause with 'what' acts as a singular subject, so the main verb should be 'is'. The clause 'What the students need' contains its own subject and verb, with 'need' agreeing with the plural 'students'. The main verb then takes the singular form because the whole clause is the subject.