SC

Question 1

any pronoun

Answer 1

replace with antecedent - does it make sense? Does antecedent exist AS A NOUN in the sentence (aka NOT an adjective)

Question 2

comparison maker:

unlike, like, as, than

Answer 2

Are we comparing apples to apples?

Question 3

should:

Eg. the train should arrive now

Answer 3

WRONG

moral obligation NOT likelihood

Question 4

farther vs. further

Answer 4

farther = distance
further = degree of something other than distance

Question 5

where vs. in which

Answer 5

where = a real place
in which = metaphorical place
DO NOT USE WHERE FOR METAPHORICAL PLACE

Question 6

comma which vs. comma -ing

Answer 6

which modifies a NOUN

comma-in modifies a CLAUSE

Question 7

whose modifies…

Answer 7

people or place

NOUN modifier

Question 8

who modifies…

Answer 8

people only

NOUN modifier

Question 9

which modifies…

Answer 9

NOT people

NOUN modifier

Question 10

less vs. fewer

Answer 10

less used for uncountable items (eg. patience)

fewer used for countable items (eg. hats)

Question 11

The vs. A number of…

Answer 11

The number = singular

A number = plural (means some, many)

Question 12

between vs. among

Answer 12

between = TWO things
among = THREE or more things

Question 13

try and vs. try to

Answer 13

“try and” discusses two parallel but SEPARATE verbs
If related: try to
Eg. try to establish NOT try and establish
Colloquial error

Question 14

like vs. as

Answer 14

COMPARISON MARKERS
Like: used to compare nouns (only nouns can follow like)
As: used to compare clauses (i.e. when there’s a verb)

Question 15

like vs. such as

Answer 15

DO NOT use like to introduce examples

Use “such as”

Question 16

comma which vs. comma with

Answer 16

comma-which: modifies the noun right before the comma (noun modifier)
comma-with: modifies the entire clause before the comma (adverbial modifier)

Question 17

if vs. whether

Answer 17

if: requires a consequence - if…then..
whether: does not
Eg. I do not know whether I will go

Question 18

fives times older than vs. fives times as old as

Answer 18

Use times..as..as for multiplication

Question 19

to be of the conviction THAT

or to be of the conviction OF?

Answer 19

to be of the conviction THAT

Question 20

whether

OR whether or not?

Answer 20

Just whether

Whether or not is redundant

Question 21

plan TO

or plan ON?

Answer 21

plan TO

Question 22

compared TO

or compared WITH?

Answer 22

BOTH WORK!

Question 23

rather than vs. instead of

Answer 23

rather than: better to use when comparing two VERBS

instead of: better to use when comparing two NOUNS

Question 24

remembered for

OR remembered because of?

Answer 24

remembered for

Question 25

that following a noun

Answer 25

noun modifier

Question 26

that following a working verb

Answer 26

“reset”: signals a new subject-verb-object structure will follow (complex sentence)

Question 27

;

Answer 27

each statement must be able to stand alone as an independent sentece
Often followed by: however, therefore, in addition

Question 28

For And Nor But Or Yet So

Answer 28

Conjunctions
Links two independent clauses
comma + conjunction

Question 29

comma -ing vs. NO comma -ing

comma -ed vs. NO comma -ed

Answer 29

with comma = ADVERBIAL modifier

withOUT comma = noun modifier

Question 30

relating two things vs. three things

Answer 30

two things: comparative - better, worse, more (which need a than!)
three things: superlative - best, worst, most

Question 31

The price fell by more than a 35% decrease

Answer 31

REDUNDANT

Question 32

increase vs. greater

Answer 32

greater used for COMPARISONS

needs “than”

Question 33

opening modifier

Answer 33

does noun following comma make sense as subject of modifier?

Question 34

both…

Answer 34

and
both X an Y
must be PARALLEL

Question 35

either…

Answer 35

or
Either X or Y
must be PARALLEL

Question 36

not…

Answer 36

but
Not X but Y
must be PARALLEL

Question 37

X and Y

X, Y, and Y

Answer 37

list of two: no comma

list of three or more: comma + and comes before last item

Question 38

Between X…

Answer 38

and Y

Question 39

Distinguish X…

Answer 39

from Y

Question 40

more

Answer 40

requires THAN for comparison

THAN is the marker!

Question 41

unlike

Answer 41

comparison marker

Question 42

than

Answer 42

comparison marker

Question 43

X of Y’s

Answer 43

WRONG
X of Y
or Y’s X

Question 44

Thy are meeting for lunch tomorrow

vs. they will meet for lunch tomorrow

Answer 44

They WILL MEET…
use future not present progressive!!
present progressive means it’s happening RIGHT NOW

Question 45

Consider you as a friend

Answer 45

WRONG
Consider X Y
NOT Consider X as Y