Below are the answers and the explanations to the Grammar and Correct Usage Practice Test 2. The incorrect word or phrase in the sentence is highlighted red, while the correct word or phrase is highlighted green.

1. Paul Erdos was a mathematician who writes a lot of research papers in collaboration with other mathematicians.

Correct Sentence: Paul Erdos was a mathematician who wrote a lot of research papers in collaboration with other mathematicians

Explanation: The tense of the verbs in a sentence must be consistent unless there is a reason to change. The verb was is past tense, so the verb writes must be changed to wrote. 

2. Anna lay her books on the table before opening her laptop.

Correct Sentence: Anna laid her books on the table before opening her laptop.

Explanation: Laid is the past tense of lay (to put). Note that lay is also be the past tense of lie (to rest).

3. Please seat here, Mr. Reyes. I’ll just call the doctor.

Correct: Please sit here, Mr. Reyes. I’ll just call the doctor.

Explanation: Seat is a noun (a place on or which one sits), while sit is a verb (to rest the body supported by the buttocks). Another correct sentence would be “Please be seated here… ”

4. Which constellation do you see most often, Leo Minor or Pegasus?

Correct Sentence: Which constellation do you see more often, Leo Minor or Pegasus?

Explanation: Only two constellations are compared, so the more should be used. Most is used to compare more than two things.

5. He is the one which called earlier.

Correct Sentence: He is the one who called earlier.

Explanation: The pronoun which refers only to things, while who refers to persons.

6. I am taking japanese class next semester.

Correct Sentence: I am taking Japanese class next semester.

Explanation: Japanese is a proper noun, so the first letter must be capitalized.

7. Marie and Pierre Curie invented radium.

Correct Sentence: Marie and Pierre Curie discovered radium.

Explanation: The word invent means “to be the first to make or do something,” while the word discover means “to find or see something that already exists.”

8. Her powerful speech regarding the abolition of pork barrel really affected the audience. (No Error)

9. We were lucky we didn’t have no earthquake this year.

Correct Sentence: We were lucky we didn’t have earthquake this year.

Explanation: Double negative. The word didn’t is negative, so there is no need to add no.

10. Running in the last marathon was a fun, challenging, exhausting, experience.

Correct: Running in the last marathon was a fun, challenging, exhausting experience. (The comma before experience was omitted).

Explanation: Commas must be used to separate two or more adjectives preceding a noun (experience) but not after the last adjective before the noun.

11. Anna the quiz blower of the class bagged another medal in a declamation contest.

Correct Sentence: Anna, the quiz blower of the class, bagged another medal in a declamation contest. (commas separate the quiz blower of the class)

12. I think that bolder must be removed from the street to avoid accident.

Correct Sentence: I think that boulder must be removed from the street to avoid accident.

Explanation: Boulder means “rock,”  while the noun “bold” means “courageous and daring.”

13. The movie was censured because of its many violent scenes.

Correct Sentence: The movie was censored because of its many violent scenes.

Explanation: Censure means “to criticize strongly” while censor means “disallow.”

14. In betting a lottery you can win from one million to Php200 000 000.

Correct Sentence: In betting a lottery you can win from one million to two hundred million pesos.

Explanation: As a general rule, rounded numbers are usually spelled out. In addition, be consistent within a sentence.  In writing large numbers, if you used symbols, use symbols all throughout. For example, another correct sentence would be “In betting a lottery you can win from Php 1 000 000 to two Php 200 000 000.”

15. I wish you would; oh never mind.

Correct Sentence: I wish you would — oh never mind.

Explanation: In a sentence with an abrupt change in thought, emdash (long dash) should be used.

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