Ohio Civil Service Exam Grammar and Written Expression 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses the subjunctive mood correctly?
- If I was the supervisor, I would approve it.
- If I were the supervisor, I would approve it. (Correct answer)
- If I am the supervisor, I would approve it.
- If I be the supervisor, I would approve it.
Correct answer: If I were the supervisor, I would approve it.
The subjunctive mood uses 'were' (not 'was') for hypothetical or contrary-to-fact conditions.
Question 2: Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.
- The report, which was late, caused a delay. (Correct answer)
- The report which was late caused a delay.
- The report which, was late caused a delay.
- The report, which was late caused a delay.
Correct answer: The report, which was late, caused a delay.
A nonrestrictive clause ('which was late') must be set off by commas on both sides.
Question 3: Select the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.
- Each of the officers were present.
- Each of the officers was present. (Correct answer)
- Each of the officers are present.
- Each of the officers have been present.
Correct answer: Each of the officers was present.
The pronoun 'each' is singular and requires the singular verb 'was.'
Question 4: Which word is spelled correctly?
- Occurance
- Occurence
- Occurrence (Correct answer)
- Occurrance
Correct answer: Occurrence
'Occurrence' is spelled with double 'c' and double 'r.'
Question 5: Choose the sentence that avoids a dangling modifier.
- Running to the meeting, the door was locked.
- Running to the meeting, she found the door locked. (Correct answer)
- The door was locked, running to the meeting.
- Running to the meeting, the lock was on the door.
Correct answer: Running to the meeting, she found the door locked.
The participial phrase 'Running to the meeting' must immediately precede the noun it modifies—'she.'
Question 6: Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
- She submitted the form; and waited for a response.
- She submitted the form; however, no response came. (Correct answer)
- She submitted; the form and waited.
- She submitted the form; to await a response.
Correct answer: She submitted the form; however, no response came.
A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses, especially when a conjunctive adverb like 'however' follows.
Question 7: Select the sentence with the correct use of 'fewer' vs. 'less.'
- There are less errors in this draft.
- There are fewer errors in this draft. (Correct answer)
- There is fewer errors in this draft.
- There is less errors in this draft.
Correct answer: There are fewer errors in this draft.
'Fewer' is used with countable nouns like 'errors'; 'less' is used with uncountable quantities.
