Syntax and Mechanics

Sentence Completion: sentences that lack a word, a group of words, or

punctuation. In accordance with the rules of syntax and mechanics,
choose the letter of the answer which best completes the idea of the
sentence. Error Detection: sentences which may or may not have an
error. Bearing in mind the rules of syntax and mechanics, choose the
letter corresponding to the word or group of words that make the
sentence incorrect. Correct and Effective Expression: Each item consists
of a set of sentences. Considering rules of syntax and mechanics, as well
as general rules of grammar, choose the correct and effective sentence
from the set of sentences.
1.I ordered a rare steak
____________a well done one.
A.; not,
B., not
C., not,
D.not
 B
Use a comma before
not ;to be clear on
which this adverb of
negation is modifying.
2.[C] Correct and Effective Expression: Considering rules of
syntax and mechanics, as well as general rules of grammar,
choose the correct and effective sentence from the set of
sentences.
A.I couldn’t believe the sight that met my eyes; chaos reigned
and debris all over the place.
B.I couldn’t believe the sight that met my eyes. Chaos reigned
and there were debris all over the place.
C.I can’t believe the sight meeting my eyes for chaos reigned and
debris all over the place.
D.I couldn’t believe the sight that met my eyes. Chaos reigned.
Debris all over the place.
 B
All the other sentences
are fragments .There is
no verb after the word
debris.
3.Time is gold__________ it
waits for no man.
A.:
B.;
C.None of the above
D.,
 B
To separate two independent
clauses that are not joined by a
coordinating conjunction like and,
but, yet, and so on, us the semi-
colon instead of the comma to
avoid a run-together sentence or
a comma splice.
4.[R] Correct and Effective Expression: Considering rules of syntax
and mechanics, as well as general rules of grammar, choose the
correct and effective sentence from the set of sentences.

A.On the edge if the cliff on a small cabin which has been
uninhabited for years we camped.
B.We camped on the edge of the cliff, in a small cabin which had
been uninhabited for years.
C.We camped in a small cabin, which had been uninhabited for
years on the edge of the cliff.
D.We camped in a small cabin on the edge of a cliff which had
been uninhabited for years.
 B
This is the sentence which correctly places the
modifying clause which had been uninhabited for
years after the word it modifies cabin, and which has
an elegant sentence construction by following the
natural order of sentences: Subject-Verb-
Complement. one option has an awkward sentence
construction, as it uses an ineffective transposed
order. It also uses the preposition on instead of the
correct preposition in. another option misplaces the
modifying clause as this clause comes after cliff. the
last wrong option is missing a comma after years.
5.[U] Correct and Effective Expression: Considering rules of
syntax and mechanics, as well as general rules of grammar,
choose the correct and effective sentence from the set of
sentences.
A.A child who is still in his cradle can apprehend the answer to
your question, being obvious.
B.It is so obvious, the answer to your question, that a child who
is still in his cradle can apprehend it.
C.The answer to your question is so obvious that a child, who’s
still in his cradle, can apprehend it.
D.The answer to your question is so obvious that it can be
apprehended by a child who’s still in his cradle.
 D
One option shifts from one subject to
another, from answer to child. another is an
awkward construction by unnecessarily using
It as the subject when the appositive the
answer to your question would do as well. the
last incorrect option has a misplaced modifier
when it places being obvious after question.
It seems here that the question, not the
answer, is obvious.
6.[J] Correct and Effective Expression: Considering rules of
syntax and mechanics, as well as general rules of grammar,
choose the correct and effective sentence from the set of
sentences.
A.When a young girl, her grandfather was lost in the war and her
grandmother died of heartbreak. She is inconsolable.
B.When she was a young girl, her grandfather was lost in the war
and her grandmother died of heartbreak. She was inconsolable.
C.When a young girl, her Grandfather was lost in the war and her
Grandmother died of heartbreak. She was inconsolable.
D.When a young girl, she lost her Grandfather to the war. Her
grandmother died of heartbreak and she was inconsolable.
 B
Two options have misplaced
elliptical clauses When a young
girl which seems to modify
Grandfather. the 3rd uses she
which has an ambiguous
reference as it may refer to either
the girl or her grandmother.
7._____________ he has been
fond of playing tennis.
A.Ever since—
B.Ever since
C.Ever since,
D.ever since,
 C
Use a comma after Ever
since so as to avoid
making the sentence into
a fragment.
8.[D] Correct and Effective Expression: Considering
rules of syntax and mechanics, as well as general rules
of grammar, choose the correct and effective
sentence from the set of sentences.
A.To forgive and to forget. That’s the happiest way to
live.
B.The happiest way to live: to forgive and to forget.
C.To forgive and forget. That’s the happiest way to
live.
D.To forgive and forget, that’s the happiest way to live.
 D
Two of the choices are
fragment infinitive phrases.
the 3rd one has an
inappropriate punctuation,
the colon.
9.[DD] Correct and Effective Expression: Considering rules of syntax and
mechanics, as well as general rules of grammar, choose the correct and
effective sentence from the set of sentences.
A.The reason the population is increasing very rapidly is because
people are no longer dying like flies, not because they are reproducing
like rabbits.
B.The population is increasing very rapidly, not because people are
reproducing like rabbits, but because they are no longer dying like flies.
C.Very rapidly, the population is increasing because people are no
longer dying like flies, not because people are reproducing like rabbits.
D.Because people are no longer dying like flies, not because they
reproduce like rabbits; that’s why the population is increasing very
rapidly.
 B

two of the options are mixed constructions. one uses The reason… because construction which is
an unacceptable construction. The presence of The reason necessitated that a substantive (a
noun or a noun form) fulfill it, not because. this option may have been modified to be The reason
the population is increasing very rapidly is the fact that people are no longer dying like flies, not
the supposition that they are reproducing like rabbits. another option uses another unacceptable
construction Because… that’s why. Because makes the clause it belongs to a subordinate one. But
in this construction, this subordinate or dependent clause Because people are no longer dying
like flies, not because they reproduce like rabbits actually has no principal or independent clause
to depend upon. It is a redundant construction since That’s why the population is increasing very
rapidly does not need the aforementioned clause. This sentence may be restated to say The
population is increasing very rapidly because people are no longer dying like flies, not because
they reproduce like rabbits. the last incorrect option is actually grammatically okay. Compared to
the correct one, however, the latter comes out the better construction.
10.[T] Correct and Effective Expression: Considering rules of
syntax and mechanics, as well as general rules of grammar, choose
the correct and effective sentence from the set of sentences.
A.Nurses do a necessary job: doing what the doctors tell them to
cure the patients and making them feel better.
B.Nurses do a necessary job, and doing what the doctors tell them
to cure the patients and making them feel better is their business.
C.It is the nurses’ job to do what the doctor tells them to cure the
patients and make them feel better, and their job is necessary.
D.Nurses do a necessary job. They do what the doctors tell them,
to cure the patients and to make them feel better.
 D
The correct option is clearly and effectively
constructed, as well as being a parallel
construction when and joined similar
constructions (infinitive phrases). one option is an
unclear construction, carelessly using the pronoun
them which in the same clause refers first to
nurses and then to patients. another lacks a
comma after patients. and the last incorrect
option suffers from weakness due to an awkward
construction.
11.Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael
___________ Donatello are the four
members of the Teen-age Mutant Ninja
Turtles.
A.and
B.or
C., or
D., and
 D
Use a comma in a series. Even if the
conjunction and separates the last
element from the rest, parallelism
requires that a comma still precede
it. Note though that it is acceptable
for the comma to be omitted.
However, the best answer is still the
one with a comma.
12.[I] Correct and Effective Expression: Considering rules of
syntax and mechanics, as well as general rules of grammar,
choose the correct and effective sentence from the set of
sentences.
A.To get what you dream of, explore all avenues and fight all
fights.
B.To get what is dreamed of, you must explore all avenues, you
must fight all fights.
C.One must explore all avenues, fight all fights, if you are to get
what you dream of.
D.To get what is dreamed of, all avenues must be explored and
all fights fought.
 A
One option contains a dangling infinitive
phrase To get what is dreamed of because it
doesn’t modify anything in the sentence. It
cannot logically modify avenues. the second
incorrectly uses the comma to separate the
independent clause you must fight all fights
from the rest of the sentence. the third
option unnecessarily shifts from the third
person one to the second person you.
13.[Error detection] O Lord. What will
happen to me now? No error.
A.What
B.will happen
C.Lord.
D.O
E.no error
 C
Lord should be followed by
an exclamation mark, seeing
as it is followed by an
interjection.
14.[AA] Correct and Effective Expression: Considering rules of
syntax and mechanics, as well as general rules of grammar,
choose the correct and effective sentence from the set of
sentences.
A.With large numbers in a class also makes it impossible for the
teacher and student to discuss problems.
B.It also makes it impossible for the teacher and student to
discuss problems with large numbers in class.
C.With large numbers in a class, it is impossible for the teacher
and student to discuss problems.
D.It also makes it impossible for the teacher and student to
discuss problems, with large numbers in a class.
 C
One is a mixed construction because it uses a
modifying phrase With large numbers in a class as
a subject. another places the modifying clause in a
very weak position, at the end of the sentence.
the last one makes large numbers in class a party
to the discussion that the teachers and students
are supposed to be having. the correct answer
correctly makes the phrase With large numbers in
a class function as the modifying phrase it is,
placing it at the beginning of the sentence, to be
immediately followed by it which it modifies.
15.[S] Correct and Effective Expression: Considering
rules of syntax and mechanics, as well as general rules of
grammar, choose the correct and effective sentence
from the set of sentences.
A.Don’t ride the clutch; keep your left foot off the pedal.
B.Don’t ride the clutch; you should keep your left foot
off the pedal.
C.Don’t ride the clutch. Keep your left foot off.
D.You should not ride the clutch; keep your left foot off
the pedal.
 A
This sentence is consistent in the use of the
imperative mood all over the sentence. one
option unnecessarily shifts from the
imperative to the advising tone. another
shifts from the advising to the imperative
tone. and the last wrong option is an example
of primer sentences. It divides a perfectably
acceptable single construction into two very
“elementary” sentences.
16.[CC] Correct and Effective Expression: Considering
rules of syntax and mechanics, as well as general rules of
grammar, choose the correct and effective sentence from
the set of sentences.
A.One hundred fifty years is a twinkle to a star but to a
man it is three lifetimes.
B.150 years is a twinkle to a star, but to a man it is three
lifetimes.
C.A twinkle to a star and three lifetimes is 150 years.
D.One hundred fifty years is a twinkle to a star, but to a
man it is three lifetimes.
 D
This sentence is composed of two independent
clauses joined by the coordinating conjunction
but, which is correctly preceded by a comma. The
number of years One hundred fifty is also properly
spelled out since it comes at the beginning of the
sentence. one option contains a mechanical error
because it begins the sentence with a numerical
expression. another uses a singular verb is when
the subject is plural A twinkle to a star and three
lifetimes. the last one lacks a comma before but.
17.[Y] Correct and Effective Expression: Considering rules of
syntax and mechanics, as well as general rules of grammar,
choose the correct and effective sentence from the set of
sentences.
A.Janella is as stubborn as if not more stubborn than Rusella,
whom I thought is the most stubborn girl in this class.
B.Janella is as stubborn, if not more stubborn than, Rusella
whom I thought was the most stubborn girl in this class.
C.Janella is as stubborn as, if not more stubborn than, Rusella
whom I thought is the most stubborn girl in this class.
D.Janella is as stubborn as, if not more stubborn than, Rusella
whom I thought was the more stubborn in this class.
 C
one is an incomplete comparison because it
omitted as in the comparative construction as…as.
Another as should have been placed after
stubborn to make this sentence correct. the other
option uses the comparative more stubborn,
instead of the correct superlative most stubborn.
the last one is missing a comma after the second
as. Letter b, as you can see, is a complete
comparison with both as present. It also has a
comma after the second as. Furthermore, it uses
the superlative most stubborn.
18.[H] Correct and Effective Expression: Considering rules of syntax and
mechanics, as well as general rules of grammar, choose the correct and
effective sentence from the set of sentences.
A.For getting the first prize in the 46th International Investigatory Project
Competition, Gregory was given the Most Outstanding Student Award by
the school.
B.As Gregory got the first prize in the 46th International Investigatory
Project Competition, the Most Outstanding Student Award went to him
from the school.
C.For getting the first prize in the 46th International Investigatory Project
Competition, the School gave Gregory the Most Outstanding Student
Award.
D.For getting the first prize in the 46th International Investigatory Project
Competition, the school gave Gregory the Most Outstanding Student
 A
two options have inappropriately placed
modifiers For getting the first prize…
which seems to modify the school. the
3rd has an unnecessary shift in subject
from Gregory to Most Outstanding
Student Award. the correct option clearly
indicates that Gregory got the first prize
and thus was given an award by the
school for this accomplishment.
19.[B] Correct and Effective Expression: Considering rules of syntax and mechanics,
as well as general rules of grammar, choose the correct and effective sentence
from the set of sentences.
A.Pre-Platonic Greek philosophers believed that knowledge can be gained only
through experience, while Plato believed that there is an absolute truth and it
cannot be learned through experience.
B.Knowledge can be gained only through experience, the Pre-platonic Greek
philosophers believed, while there is an absolute truth and it cannot be learned
through experience, Plato believed.
C.If Pre-Platonic Greek philosophers believed that knowledge can only be gained
through experience, Plato believed that there is an absolute truth and it cannot be
learned through experience.
D.Pre-Platonic Greek philosophers believed that knowledge can only be gained
through experience, while there is an absolute truth and it cannot be gained
through experience, according to Plato.
 A
This is the sentence that has the most parallel
structure—Subject-Verb-Noun Clause. The first clause
has philosophers for a subject, and the second clause
has Plato, another philosopher, as its subject. The use of
the verb believed in both clauses makes the sentence
consistent in content. The right punctuation (the
comma) was also used before the subordinating
conjunction while. This is in accordance with rules of
mechanics. The modifier only is properly located
immediately before the preposition through, which only
modifies.
20.[Q] Correct and Effective Expression: Considering rules of
syntax and mechanics, as well as general rules of grammar,
choose the correct and effective sentence from the set of
sentences.
A.I hurriedly placed the precious book on the mantel which I
had brought home from the library.
B.I brought back from the library a precious book I hurriedly
placed on the mantel.
C.I hurriedly placed the precious book, which I had brought
back from the library, on the mantel.
D.Hurriedly, I placed the Precious Book on the mantel which I
had brought home from the library.
 C
the correct answer does not misplace the
modifying clause which I had brought from the
library and thus, this clause clearly modifies the
book. This cannot be said for the other options. one
option uses an awkward word order by placing the
adverbial phrase from the library between the
phrasal verb brought back and its object a precious
book. the option also lacks the relative pronoun
that between book and I.
21.[Error detection] P250 is the price of
one ticket to The Tempest and I am sad to
say we can’t afford it. No error.
A.The Tempest
B.P250
C.no error
D.am sad to say
E.price
 B
At the beginning of sentences,
numerical expressions should be
spelled out. Change P250 to Two
hundred fifty pesos.
22.[Error detection] These are the
government agencies that I can recall at this
moment; DOLE, DTI, DOH, DILG, DFA, DENR.
No error.
A.These are
B.at
C.that
D.moment;
E.no error
 D
Use the colon instead of
the semi-colon because
an enumeration follows.
23.[BB] Correct and Effective Expression: Considering rules of syntax and
mechanics, as well as general rules of grammar, choose the correct and
effective sentence from the set of sentences.
A.The meadow seemed an ideal place to hold a concert because it had
an atmosphere lent to it by the sweet fragrance given off by the trees
surrounding it.
B.The meadow was surrounded by tall blossoming trees which gave off a
sweet fragrance which lent an atmosphere to the grove which seemed
to make it an ideal place to hold a concert.
C.Surrounded by trees which gave off a sweet fragrance, the meadow
had an atmosphere that made it seem an ideal place for a concert.
D.The meadow was surrounded by tall blossoming trees which gave off a
sweet scent, lending an atmosphere to the grove that makes it an ideal
place to hold a concert.
 C
this is the only sentence that does
not weaken itself with an excess of
trailing subordinate constructions,
thereby retaining its clarity and
effectiveness.
24.[Error Detection] Will you please
count how many ands there are in
sentence number thirteen? No error.
A.Will
B.in
C.number
D.ands
E.no error
 D
The word and is used in itself (that is,
and is used as a word and not a
connective). To make it plural, it is
appropriate to add an apostrophe
before s.
25.[Error detection] I have long prepared for
tonight’s performance and I hope for just one
thing; that I can give you all my best. No error.
A.tonight's
B.long prepared
C.for just one thing;
D.all my best
E.no error
 C
Use a comma to separate the
appositive clause that I can give
you all my best to the word it
modifies thing.
26.[F] Correct and Effective Expression: Considering rules of syntax
and mechanics, as well as general rules of grammar, choose the
correct and effective sentence from the set of sentences.
A.A truly academic spirit persists in searching for and finding the
truth, even at the cost of one’s personal convictions.
B.A truly academic spirit persists on searching and finding the
truth, even at the cost of your personal convictions.
C.Even at the cost of your personal convictions, a true academic
spirit persists on finding and searching for the truth.
D.A truly Academic spirit persists in finding the truth and
searching for the truth even at the cost of one’s personal
convictions.
 A
one option unnecessarily shifts from the
third person to the second person when it
replaced the third person academic spirit
with the second person your. the second
one incorrectly capitalizes Academic. the
3rd unnecessarily shifts from the second
person your to the third person academic
spirit.
27.[A] Correct and Effective Expression: Considering
rules of syntax and mechanics, as well as general rules
of grammar, choose the correct and effective sentence
from the set of sentences.
A.Running very rapidly, his legs throbbed with pain
after.
B.After running very rapidly, his legs throbbed with
pain.
C.Very rapidly his legs throbbed with pain after running.
D.After running very rapidly his legs throbbed with pain.
 B
A comma should come after rapidly
because it prevents this adverb from
becoming a squinting modifier; that is a
modifier that may either modify running or
throbbed (running rapidly, or rapidly
throbbed).
28. “With great power comes great
responsibility__________ Uncle Ben
said to Spiderman.
A. No punctuation necessary
B. ,”
C. .”
D. ”
 B
The comma belongs inside
quotation marks, even the
comma that is separating a
direct quotation from a
narration.
29.[W] Correct and Effective Expression: Considering rules of
syntax and mechanics, as well as general rules of grammar,
choose the correct and effective sentence from the set of
sentences.
A.Some Education has and always will be important to anyone
with any ambition.
B.To anyone with ambition, some Education is and always will be
important.
C.Some education is and always will be important to anyone
with any ambition.
D.Anyone with ambition, some education has been and always
will be important.
 C
one of the options is an incomplete construction.
After has should have been the past participle form
of the verb to be been because the present or base
form be in the compound verb has and always will be
will not do. another of the options lacks the
preposition to which must have come before Anyone.
the last incorrect option has no sentence
construction problems but has wrong capitalization.
It capitalizes the first letter of a common noun
education.
30.[E] Correct and Effective Expression: Considering rules of
syntax and mechanics, as well as general rules of grammar,
choose the correct and effective sentence from the set of
sentences.
A.Give with your Right hand without the knowledge of your Left
hand, and you are then being truly generous.
B.Being truly generous means giving with your right hand,
without the knowledge of your left hand.
C.Give with your right hand, without your left hand knowing
what the right hand is doing, then you’re being truly generous.
D.Being truly generous means giving with your right hand
without your left hand knowing what your right hand’s doing.
 B
two options unnecessarily
repeats right hand. The 3rd one
incorrectly capitalizes Right.
31.I have only one comment when you
say, “All men are equal___________I
wish it were true.
A.”:
B.:”
C.”
D.,”,
 A
A colon is appropriate because
following the direct quotation is a
comment on the quotation. The
colon comes after the close
quotation mark, because the rules of
mechanics say that a colon belongs
outside quotation marks.
32.[Error detection] The prince is a wonderful
book written by Niccolo Machiavelli when he
was in exile. No error.
A.no error
B.by Niccolo Machiavelli
C.a wonderful book
D.The prince
E.when he was in exile
 D
This is the title of a book.
Thus, the significant words
must all begin in capital
letters. The small caps prince
should be changed to Prince.
33.[L] Correct and Effective Expression: Considering rules of syntax and
mechanics, as well as general rules of grammar, choose the correct and
effective sentence from the set of sentences.
A.The Department of Education shut down the ABCD School last year because
it has been found out that the school was not registered and that its teachers
were not licensed to teach.
B.Last year, the Department of Education shut down the ABCD School
because it found out that the school had no business license and the school’s
teachers had no teaching licenses.
C.Because the ABCD School and its teachers had no business registration and
license to teach, the Department of Education closed it down last year.
D.Last year, the Department of Education moved for the closure of ABCD
school because it found out that it had no business registration and none of
its teachers has a license to teach.
 B
one option uses pronoun it which is
ambiguous in reference as it may refer to
either DepEd or ABCD school. another is
an illogical sentence because it lacks the
word respectively and thus does not
properly allocate who had no business
registration and who had no license to
teach. and the last is unnecessarily wordy
and therefore weak.
34.[Error detection] Your father talked to
Jim when he was on his way to the country
club. No error.
A.to the country club
B.to Jim
C.he was
D.Your father
E.no error
 C
The pronoun he has an
ambiguous reference, as it
may refer to either father or
Jim.
35.Cory is always looking forward to
her ____________ and her
______________ visits.
A.Sister’s / Mother-in-laws’
B.sister’s / mother-in-law’s
C.Sisters / mother-in-laws
D.Sisters' / mother-in-law’s
 B
To show possession, add ’s to
the end of a noun, may it be
simple or compound.
Language Proficiency Qui
1.Each of the alumnae looked for the
complimentary ribbon to tie ______ hair.
Later, they found out that the scissors to
cut the ribbon _______ missing as well.
A.her – were
B.her – was
C.his – was
D.their – were
 A
In the first blank, we are looking for a pronoun that
would replace each of the alumnae. The rule for proper
pronoun use says that a pronoun must agree with its
antecedent in person, number and gender. Each of the
alumnae is singular, feminine, and is in the third person.
So among the choices, only her fits the first blank. In the
second blank, we are looking for a verb that would
agree with the subject scissors. Scissors is a special noun
that is always plural. Therefore, the verb following must
be plural as well. Among choices a and b, both of which
have her for the first word, only b has the plural verb
were.
2.[Error detection] The children were
dismayed and depressed by the closing of
the zoo. No error.
A.were dismayed
B.no error
C.closing
D.depressed by
E.The children
 B
sentence is correct
3.Sakuragi did a slam dunk and the
crowd roared ___________
approval.
A.his
B.our
C.its
 C
The proper pronoun to use is its, which
is singular, because crowd is a
collective noun and is singular in this
case. Its is also in the third person,
which is the person of the noun crowd,
which 'its' replaces.
4.He is going directly home,
___________?
A.doesn’t he
B.isn’t him?
C.aren’t he?
D.isn’t he
 D
Tag questions require the verb
used in the main statement, plus
the pronoun that refers to the
subject of the same main
statement.
5.________ beauty cannot be
measured.
A.It’s
B.Its
C.It has
D.It was
 B
Grammatically speaking, only the
choice "its" fits the blank. It’s is an
abbreviation for It is, which is
inappropriate for the blank. It has
and It was are also incorrect.
6.[Error detection] The apparent heir to
the throne of England is Prince Charles.
No error.
A.throne of England
B.no error
C.is
D.apparent heir
E.The
 D
This is one expression where
the adjective always comes
after the noun it modifies.
Replace apparent heir to heir
apparent.
7.Each year, the House members
always _____________ the UP
budget.
A.have cut
B.cuts
C.cut
D.has cut
 C
The subject is the plural members. Therefore,
use a plural verb. Between cut, which is in the
present tense, and have cut which is in the
present perfect tense, choose cut because the
word always in the sentence indicates that the
action keeps on occurring. The sentence is
therefore a general statement of fact.
8.[Error detection] Right now I am so angry
at you, so please don’t come near me for I
might hit you. No error.
A.for
B.don't come
C.no error
D.might hit you
E.angry at you
 E
Wrong use of idiomatic preposition.
Since the speaker is angry with a
person, the preposition with must be
used instead of at. The latter is used
only if the object of anger is a thing,
and not a person.