DIAGNOSTIC GRAMMAR
TEST
Your performance on this test will not be factored in your
Course Grade. Its purpose is strictly diagnostic. Each
question is followed by a list of choices. Circle the letter of
the correct choice.
Parts of Speech
1.
In the following sentence, which words are nouns?
Greg needed more computer memory to handle his many
programs.
a.
b.
c.
Greg, computer, memory, his, programs
Greg, memory, programs
computer, memory, programs
Parts of Speech
2.
In the following sentence, which words are verbs?
Melissa was worried about her job interview.
a.
b.
c.
was, worried
worried
was, worried, about
Parts of Speech
3.
In the following sentence, which words are adjectives?
For important interviews you should wear conservative
clothes.
a.
b.
c.
important
important, conservative
important, wear, conservative
Parts of Speech
4.
In the following sentence, which words are adverbs?
Because she arrived early, she easily found a parking place.
a.
b.
c.
Because, early, easily, parking
arrived, early, easily
early, easily
Parts of Speech
5.
In the following sentence, which words are prepositions?
Just between you and me, only one of the managers is going to
the meeting.
a.
b.
c.
between, of, to
between, and, of, to
of, to
Sentence Structure
6.
Identify the following:
While sitting in the outer office waiting to be called for the
interview and looking through magazines.
a.
b.
c.
d.
correct and complete sentence
fragment
run-on sentence
comma splice sentence
Sentence Structure
7.
Identify the following:
You should take deep breaths then you can control your
nervousness.
a.
b.
c.
d.
correct and complete sentence
fragment
run-on sentence
comma splice sentence
Sentence Structure
8.
Identify the following:
Don't focus on yourself and your nervousness, concern
yourself with the employer's needs and questions.
a.
b.
c.
d.
correct and complete sentence
fragment
run-on sentence
comma splice sentence
Note:
Along with fused
sentences, commaspliced sentences
are a type of run-on.
Sentence Structure
9.
Identify the underscored expression:
As you wait for your interview, select appropriate reading material.
a.
b.
c.
d.
complete sentence
dependent clause
independent clause
phrase
Sentence Structure
10.
Identify the underscored expression:
When you meet the interviewer, you should smile and offer a
handshake.
a.
b.
c.
d.
complete sentence
dependent clause
independent clause
phrase
Plurals Nouns
11.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
Many _______ are hiring new employees.
a.
b.
c.
companys
companies
company's
Plurals Nouns
12.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
We had two _______ working on the case.
a.
b.
c.
attorneys
attornies
attorney's
Plurals Nouns
13.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
Only the Johnsons and the ________ are unable to attend.
a.
b.
c.
Bushs
Bushes
Bush's
Plurals Nouns
14.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
This job requires you to work two _______ every month.
a.
b.
c.
Sundaies
Sundays
Sunday's
Plurals Nouns
15.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
Jeffrey knew all the _______ of the accounting software.
a.
b.
c.
ins and outs
in's and out's
in and outs
Possessive Nouns
16.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
The manager sent _______ résumé to the Accounting
Department.
a.
b.
c.
Lisas
Lisa's
Lisas'
Possessive Nouns
17.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
In three _______ time, the car loan will be paid.
a.
b.
c.
years
year's
years'
Possessive Nouns
18.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
The prices of all other _______ are lower than our prices.
a.
b.
c.
vendors
vendor's
vendors'
Possessive Nouns
19.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
All _______ e-mail messages must be answered immediately.
a.
b.
c.
customers
customer's
customers'
Possessive Nouns
20.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
Each _______ vote will be counted in the election.
a.
b.
c.
stockholder
stockholder's
stockholders'
Pronouns
21.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
Do you know who will replace Erica and _______ next week?
a.
b.
c.
I
me
myself
Pronouns
22.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
His friend and _______ will both apply for the job.
a.
b.
c.
he
him
himself
Pronouns
23.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
Although _______ motor was damaged, the car started.
a.
b.
c.
it's
its
its'
Pronouns
24.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
No one has keys except you and _______.
a.
b.
c.
I
me
myself
Pronouns
25.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
Are you sure that _______ report is finished?
a.
b.
c.
their
there
they're
Verb Agreement
26.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
A list of the names and addresses of our customers _______
now being prepared.
a.
b.
is
are
Verb Agreement
27.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
Education and employee training _______ often omitted from
the budget.
a.
b.
is
are
Verb Agreement
28.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
Some e-mail writers think that grammar and punctuation
_______ count.
a.
b.
don't
doesn't
Verb Agreement
29.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
A description of the property, along with other legal
documents, _______ sent to you.
a.
b.
was
were
Verb Agreement
30.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
Neither the management nor the staff _______ how to solve
the problem.
a.
b.
know
knows
Verb Mood and Tense
31.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
If I _______ able to hire you, I certainly would do so.
a.
b.
was
were
Verb Mood and Tense
32.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
Lisa said she last _______ the key about a week ago.
a.
b.
saw
seen
Verb Mood and Tense
33.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
If you had _______ a different color, we could have filled
your order.
a.
b.
c.
chose
choosen
chosen
Verb Mood and Tense
34.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
Timothy wished that he had _______ about the job opening
earlier.
a.
b.
c.
knowed
knew
known
Verb Mood and Tense
35. Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
Many of the reports were _______ over a year ago.
a.
b.
wrote
written
Adjectives and Adverbs
36.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
For the past two weeks, the printer has worked _______.
a.
b.
beautiful
beautifully
Adjectives and Adverbs
37.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
When we have a _______ picture of the incident, we will
respond.
a.
b.
clearer
more clearer
Adjectives and Adverbs
38.
Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
Tracy thought she had done _______ on the employment test.
a.
b.
good
well
Note:
“Good” can be correct when used to mean “good
deeds,” or something of benefit to others (e.g.,
“Tracy thought she had done good by refusing
to work for a socially irresponsible employer”;
“Working at the local soup kitchen at
Thanksgiving makes me feel as though I’ve
done good for my community.”
Adjectives and Adverbs
39. Correctly fill in the blank from the list that follows:
Don't take the manager's criticism _______.
a.
b.
b.
personally
personal
personal-like
Commas
40.
Which of the following is punctuated correctly?
a.
For example, you should bring to an interview your social
security number, a list of references and extra copies of your
résumé.
For example you should bring to an interview, your social
security number, a list of references, and extra copies of your
résumé.
For example, you should bring to an interview your social
security number, a list of references, and extra copies of your
résumé.
b.
c.
Commas
41.
Which of the following is punctuated correctly?
a.
When I sent the package I expected you to receive it in two days,
Ms. Avila.
When I sent the package, I expected you to receive it in two days
Ms. Avila.
When I sent the package, I expected you to receive it in two days,
Ms. Avila.
b.
c.
Commas
42.
Which of the following is punctuated correctly?
a.
Stacy Love, who is a manager for MegaData, asked us to meet
Thursday, February 5.
Stacy Love who is a manager for MegaData, asked us to meet
Thursday, February 5.
Stacy Love, who is a manager for MegaData, asked us to meet
Thursday February 5.
b.
c.
Commas
43.
Which of the following is punctuated correctly?
a.
Job candidates should learn about a company and its business and
they should prepare answers to possible interview questions.
Job candidates should learn about a company and its business,
and they should prepare answers to possible interview questions.
Job candidates should learn about a company, and its business,
and they should prepare answers to possible interview questions.
If you are applying to a large company, your first interview may
be by telephone which is an effort to save time and money.
b.
c.
d.
Commas
44.
Which of the following is punctuated correctly?
a.
All job candidates at this time, can expect tests that measure
honesty, intelligence, mental health, and blood toxicity.
All job candidates, at this time, can expect tests that measure
honesty, intelligence, mental health, and blood toxicity.
All job candidates at this time can expect tests that measure
honesty, intelligence, mental health, and blood toxicity.
b.
c.
Commas
45.
Which of the following is punctuated correctly?
a.
What constantly astounds personnel people about college
students going for their first jobs, is how unprepared they are.
Many first-time job applicants try to "wing it" and end up tonguetied over the simplest and most common interview questions.
To prepare for the interview process you should practice
answering commonly asked questions, such as "How would you
describe yourself?"
b.
c.
Capitalization
46.
What words should be capitalized in the following sentence?
we expected vice president luna to ask all candidates whether
they were fluent in english.
a.
b.
c.
We Vice President Luna English
We Vice Luna
We Luna English
Capitalization
47.
What words should be capitalized in the following sentence?
when interviewing on the west coast, our managers like to
stay at marriott hotels.
a.
b.
c.
When Marriott
When West Coast Managers Marriott Hotels
When West Coast Marriott
Capitalization
48.
What words should be capitalized in the following sentence?
lisa told interviewers that she had taken classes in economics,
spanish, and psychology.
a.
b.
c.
Lisa Spanish
Lisa Economics Spanish Psychology
Lisa Economics Spanish
Capitalization
49.
What words should be capitalized in the following sentence?
the operations manager and the president each received a
new dell computer.
a.
b.
c.
The Operations Manager President Dell Computer
The Dell
The Dell Computer
Capitalization
50.
What words should be capitalized in the following sentence?
a.
b.
c.
last spring i read an article called "everything you need to
know about interviewing."
Last Spring I Everything You Need Know About Interviewing
Last I Everything You Need Know About Interviewing
Last I Everything Interviewing
Note:
Conjunctions (“and,” “nor,” “so,” etc.) and articles (“a”/”an” and
“the”) shouldn’t be capitalized unless they’re the first word in the
title. Prepositions should be capitalized, but exceptions are
given to very short prepositions (e.g., “in,” “on,” “of,” “to,” etc.).