English Grammar, Punctuation, and Vocabulary
Core concepts
Questions target the grammar a transcript must survive: subject-verb agreement across interrupting phrases, pronoun case (who/whom, I/me), restrictive versus nonrestrictive clauses, misplaced and dangling modifiers, parallel structure, and tense consistency in reported speech. Punctuation carries equal weight: commas that set off nonessential elements, semicolons joining independent clauses, colons introducing lists, em dashes for interruption, hyphens in compound modifiers, and quotation marks placed around exact testimony.
Traps to watch
- "None," "each," "everyone," and collective nouns. These usually take singular verbs; "none" may be singular or plural depending on sense, but exam items usually expect singular.
- Who versus whom. Substitute he/him: "whom" for object position.
- Comma splices. Two independent clauses need a semicolon, a period, or a conjunction.
- Dashes versus hyphens. A dash marks interruption; a hyphen joins compound modifiers ("a well-known witness").
- Question marks and quotation marks. In American style, commas and periods go inside; question marks follow logic.
- Soundalike vocabulary: "ensure/insure," "principle/principal," "elicit/illicit," "council/counsel."
Rule of thumb
Read the sentence aloud at the pause points. If you would breathe, a comma probably belongs; if you would stop and start a new sentence, use a period or semicolon instead.
Worked example
"The witness, who had reviewed the file, testified." The clause is nonessential, so commas set it off. Remove the commas and you imply there are other witnesses, which changes the record - a favorite exam distinction.