Advanced Grammar and Punctuation Flashcards
7 cards from real CPW practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Advanced Grammar and Punctuation flashcards as text
Which sentence correctly uses 'that' vs. 'which'?
Answer: The style guide that we follow prohibits passive voice.
Restrictive clauses (essential to meaning) use 'that' without commas; nonrestrictive clauses use 'which' with commas.
What is the grammatical term for 'however' in: 'The draft was long; however, it was engaging'?
Answer: Conjunctive adverb
Words like 'however,' 'therefore,' and 'moreover' are conjunctive adverbs that connect independent clauses.
Which sentence correctly avoids the passive voice?
Answer: The senior editor wrote the report.
Active voice places the doer (senior editor) as the grammatical subject, making the sentence direct and clear.
Which sentence uses 'lie' and 'lay' correctly?
Answer: The documents have been lying in the drawer since Monday.
'Lying' (present participle of 'lie') is correct for resting in place; 'lay' requires a direct object.
Which correctly punctuates a direct quotation within a sentence?
Answer: The editor said, "Revisions are necessary before publication."
In US style, direct quotations use double quotation marks, and the comma precedes the opening quote.
Which sentence contains a correctly used absolute phrase?
Answer: The deadline approaching, the writers worked through the night.
An absolute phrase ('The deadline approaching') consists of a noun plus a participle and modifies the whole sentence.
Which sentence correctly uses 'comprise' vs. 'compose'?
Answer: Twelve short stories comprise the anthology.
The whole 'comprises' its parts; the parts 'compose' the whole — 'comprised of' is widely considered an error in formal writing.