22 Language & Grammar Practice Questions & Answers

1. 1. A workplace memo contains this sentence: "The box of old letters and photographs ___ stored in the archive room until the renovation is finished." Which choice correctly completes the sentence?

   • A.are
   • B.is✓ Answer
   • C.were
   • D.have been

   The subject is the singular noun "box"; the words "of old letters and photographs" form a prepositional phrase, and a subject can never sit inside a prepositional phrase. The official GED editing strategy is to mentally delete the interceding phrase, which leaves "The box ... is stored," so the singular verb "is" is required. Plural nouns placed between a subject and its verb are the single most common trap in this indicator.

   Source: GED Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA — Language indicator L.1.7 (subject–verb agreement with interceding phrase)Report a problem with this question

2. 2. A delivery notice reads: "Neither the store manager nor the sales associates ___ available to sign for the shipment on Friday afternoon." Which choice correctly completes the sentence?

   • A.is
   • B.was
   • C.are✓ Answer
   • D.has been

   When two subjects are joined by "or," "either ... or," or "neither ... nor," the verb agrees with the subject NEAREST to it, not with both. Here the nearer subject is the plural "sales associates," so the plural verb "are" is correct. (Had the order been reversed — "Neither the sales associates nor the store manager" — the singular "is" would be correct.)

   Source: GED Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA — Language indicator L.1.7 (compound subjects joined by or/nor agree with the nearest subject)Report a problem with this question

3. 3. An office email reads: "The instructions for the new coffee maker are printed on the back of the box, so please read ___ carefully before you brew a pot." Which choice correctly completes the sentence?

   • A.them✓ Answer
   • B.it
   • C.they
   • D.its

   A pronoun must agree in number with its antecedent — the noun it replaces. The antecedent here is the plural "instructions," not the nearby singular nouns "coffee maker" or "box," so the plural pronoun "them" is required. "Them" is also the correct object form after the verb "read"; "they" is a subject pronoun and cannot serve as the object.

   Source: GED Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA — Language indicator L.1.7 (pronoun–antecedent agreement across an interceding phrase)Report a problem with this question

4. 4. A memo must state that the break room is used by all of the workers. Which version of the underlined phrase is written correctly? "Please do not leave dishes in ___ overnight."

   • A.the workers break room
   • B.the worker's break room
   • C.the workers's break room
   • D.the workers' break room✓ Answer

   To form the possessive of a regular plural noun that already ends in -s, add only an apostrophe after the s: workers'. "The worker's break room" would mean the room belongs to one worker, which changes the meaning; "workers break room" has no apostrophe at all (the error signage and advertising train people to make); and "workers's" adds a second s that standard usage does not allow.

   Source: GED Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA — Language indicator L.2.3 (apostrophes with regular plural possessive nouns)Report a problem with this question

5. 5. A store sign must announce that the shoes for children have been moved. Which version is written correctly? "The ___ have been moved to the second floor."

   • A.childrens' shoes
   • B.child's shoes
   • C.childrens shoes
   • D.children's shoes✓ Answer

   "Children" is already an irregular plural — it does not end in -s — so its possessive is formed the same way as a singular noun's: add an apostrophe plus s (children's), exactly like women's, men's, and people's. "Childrens" and "childrens'" treat a plural word as if it needed another plural ending, and "child's" would refer to only one child.

   Source: GED Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA — Language indicator L.2.3 (apostrophes with irregular plural possessive nouns)Report a problem with this question

6. 6. A community announcement reads: "The committee will publish ___ decision on Monday, and ___ likely to disappoint several applicants." Which choice correctly completes the sentence?

   • A.its ... its
   • B.it's ... its
   • C.its ... it's✓ Answer
   • D.it's ... it's

   Possessive pronouns never take an apostrophe, so the pronoun showing that the decision belongs to the committee is "its." The apostrophe in "it's" marks a contraction of "it is," which is what the second blank needs: "it is likely to disappoint." The same rule applies to hers, ours, yours, theirs, and whose — a useful check for your own essay writing as well.

   Source: GED Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA — Language indicators L.2.3 and L.1.1 (possessive pronouns take no apostrophe; it's = it is)Report a problem with this question

7. 7. A status report contains this sentence: "The shipment arrived on Tuesday, the invoice did not arrive until Friday." Which revision corrects the error?

   • A.The shipment arrived on Tuesday the invoice did not arrive until Friday.
   • B.The shipment arrived on Tuesday, however, the invoice did not arrive until Friday.
   • C.The shipment arrived on Tuesday, but the invoice did not arrive until Friday.✓ Answer
   • D.The shipment arrived on Tuesday. Although the invoice did not arrive until Friday.

   The original is a comma splice: two independent clauses joined by a comma alone. Two independent clauses may be joined only by a period, a semicolon, a comma plus a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so), or subordination — so "Tuesday, but the invoice" is correct. Option 1 removes the comma and creates a fused run-on; option 2 keeps the splice because "however" is a conjunctive adverb, not a coordinating conjunction; option 4 leaves a dependent clause standing alone as a fragment.

   Source: GED Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA — Language indicator L.2.2 (run-on sentences, fused sentences, comma splices)Report a problem with this question

8. 8. An email to staff contains these two sentences: "Please review the attached budget. Because the deadline for department requests is next Friday." Which revision corrects the error?

   • A.Please review the attached budget. Because of the deadline, for department requests next Friday.
   • B.Please review the attached budget; because the deadline for department requests is next Friday.
   • C.Please review the attached budget, the deadline for department requests is next Friday.
   • D.Please review the attached budget because the deadline for department requests is next Friday.✓ Answer

   "Because the deadline ... is next Friday" is a dependent clause: the subordinating conjunction "because" keeps it from standing alone, so as a separate sentence it is a fragment. Attaching it to the independent clause fixes it, and no comma is normally used when a "because" clause follows the main clause. A semicolon cannot introduce a dependent clause, option 3 creates a comma splice, and option 4 is still a fragment.

   Source: GED Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA — Language indicator L.2.2 (sentence fragments; dependent clauses cannot stand alone)Report a problem with this question

9. 9. A vendor complaint reads: "Our supplier promised a two-day turnaround ___ the parts did not reach the warehouse until the following week." Which choice correctly completes the sentence?

   • A., however,
   • B.; however,✓ Answer
   • C.however,
   • D., however;

   "However" is a conjunctive adverb, not a coordinating conjunction, so it cannot join two independent clauses with a comma in front of it. The standard pattern is a semicolon before the conjunctive adverb and a comma after it: "...turnaround; however, the parts did not reach..." The same pattern applies to therefore, moreover, consequently, and nevertheless.

   Source: GED Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA — Language indicators L.2.2 and L.1.9 (conjunctive adverbs punctuated with a semicolon before and a comma after)Report a problem with this question

10. 10. A front-desk log reads: "The tenants left ___ keys at the front desk, and ___ planning to return on Monday." Which choice correctly completes the sentence?

    • A.there ... they're
    • B.their ... they're✓ Answer
    • C.their ... there
    • D.they're ... their

    The first blank modifies the noun "keys" and must show ownership, so the possessive "their" is required. The second blank needs a subject plus a verb ("they are planning"), which is the contraction "they're." "There" indicates place or begins a sentence like "There are three keys," and it fits neither blank; substituting "they are" mentally is the fastest way to test the contraction.

    Source: GED Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA — Language indicator L.1.1 (frequently confused words: there / their / they're)Report a problem with this question

11. 11. A message to an employee reads: "___ recent feedback will ___ how we schedule shifts next quarter." Which choice correctly completes the sentence?

    • A.You're ... effect
    • B.Your ... effect
    • C.You're ... affect
    • D.Your ... affect✓ Answer

    The first blank modifies the noun phrase "recent feedback" and shows possession, so the possessive adjective "Your" is needed; "You're" means "you are" and would produce "You are recent feedback will..." The second blank follows the helping verb "will" and must be a verb: "affect" means to influence, while "effect" is normally the noun meaning result.

    Source: GED Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA — Language indicator L.1.1 (frequently confused words: your / you're; affect / effect)Report a problem with this question

12. 12. A message to a client reads: "We should of sent the revised contract yesterday, but I guess your kinda okay with waiting." Which revision is appropriate for a formal business email?

    • A.We should of sent the revised contract yesterday, but you're kinda okay with waiting.
    • B.We should have sent the revised contract yesterday, but I guess your fine with waiting.
    • C.We shoulda sent the revised contract yesterday, but anyways you can wait.
    • D.We should have sent the revised contract yesterday, but we understand that you are willing to wait.✓ Answer

    Standard Written English requires "should have," not "should of" or "shoulda": the contraction "should've" only sounds like "of." Formal register also rules out the colloquial "kinda" and "anyways" and the misused possessive "your" in place of "you are." Only the third option uses the correct auxiliary and a tone suited to a business message.

    Source: GED Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA — Language indicator L.1.4 (standard formal usage vs. informal/colloquial usage)Report a problem with this question

13. 13. A museum newsletter reads: "Last spring the museum hired two new guides, trained them for six weeks, and then ___ them to lead the summer tours." Which choice correctly completes the sentence?

    • A.allows
    • B.will allow
    • C.allowed✓ Answer
    • D.has allowed

    Verb tense must stay consistent within a sentence unless the meaning requires a shift. "Last spring" and the earlier verbs "hired" and "trained" establish the simple past, and the third verb reports an action in that same completed time frame, so "allowed" is required. Shifting to the present, the future, or the present perfect would contradict the time marker "Last spring."

    Source: GED Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA — Language indicator L.1.2 (consistent and appropriate verb tense within a passage)Report a problem with this question

14. 14. A recommendation letter contains this sentence: "In addition to also volunteering at the food bank on weekends, Marcus works full time at the hardware store where he gets paid." Which revision is best?

    • A.In addition to volunteering at the food bank on weekends, Marcus works full time at the hardware store.✓ Answer
    • B.Besides also volunteering at the food bank on weekends, Marcus additionally works full time at the hardware store where he is paid for his work.
    • C.In addition, Marcus also volunteers at the food bank on weekends, and he works full time at the hardware store where he gets paid.
    • D.In addition to also volunteering at the food bank on weekends, Marcus works a full-time job at the hardware store where he earns pay.

    The original contains two genuine redundancies, not stylistic quirks: "In addition to" already conveys addition, so "also" repeats it, and "works full time at the hardware store" already implies payment, so "where he gets paid" adds no new information. The correct revision deletes both without losing any meaning; every other option keeps or restates at least one of them. Test each word by asking whether it adds meaning the sentence does not already have.

    Source: GED Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA — Language indicator L.1.8 (elimination of wordiness and redundant expressions)Report a problem with this question

15. 15. A cover letter opens with this sentence: "The reason that I am writing to you at this time is because I would like to apply for the assistant manager position." Which revision is best?

    • A.The reason I am writing at this time is that I would like to apply for the assistant manager position.
    • B.I am writing to apply for the assistant manager position.✓ Answer
    • C.The reason for my writing is because of my wish to apply for the assistant manager position.
    • D.I am writing this letter at this point in time in order to apply for the assistant manager position.

    "The reason ... is because," "at this time," and "I would like to" are empty lead-ins and filler that carry no information the sentence does not already deliver. The shortest version states the same fact — the writer is applying for the assistant manager position — with nothing lost, while the other options preserve the padding. This is the same tightening that strengthens the conventions trait of the GED Extended Response.

    Source: GED Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA — Language indicator L.1.8 (wordiness: empty lead-ins and filler phrases)Report a problem with this question

16. 16. An event guide contains this sentence: "Darnell a veteran party planner advises clients to book a venue at least six months in advance." Which version is punctuated correctly?

    • A.Darnell a veteran party planner, advises clients to book a venue at least six months in advance.
    • B.Darnell, a veteran party planner advises clients to book a venue at least six months in advance.
    • C.Darnell, a veteran party planner, advises clients to book a venue at least six months in advance.✓ Answer
    • D.Darnell, a veteran party planner, advises, clients to book a venue at least six months in advance.

    "A veteran party planner" is a nonessential appositive: the sentence still identifies Darnell without it, so it must be set off by a PAIR of commas — one before and one after. A single comma on either side leaves the interrupter half-enclosed, and the fourth option inserts a comma between the verb "advises" and its object, which is never allowed.

    Source: GED Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA — Language indicator L.2.4 (paired commas around nonessential appositives; no comma between verb and object)Report a problem with this question

17. 17. An office note reads: "Please send the signed forms to Ms. Alvarez and ___ before the end of the day." Which choice correctly completes the sentence?

    • A.I
    • B.me✓ Answer
    • C.myself
    • D.we

    The pronoun is part of a compound object of the preposition "to," so it must be in the object case: "me." The quickest test is to drop the other person — "send the forms to me," not "to I" or "to we." "Myself" is a reflexive pronoun and is correct only when the subject and object are the same person, as in "I sent the forms to myself."

    Source: GED Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA — Language indicator L.1.3 (pronoun case in compound objects)Report a problem with this question

18. 18. A report contains this sentence: "When Rosa met with the department director, she said the budget would be cut." Which revision removes the unclear pronoun reference?

    • A.When Rosa met with the department director, the director said the budget would be cut.✓ Answer
    • B.When Rosa met with the department director, she said that they would cut the budget.
    • C.When Rosa met with her, the department director was told the budget would be cut.
    • D.When Rosa met with the department director, she told her that it would be cut.

    In the original, "she" could refer to Rosa or to the department director, so the reader cannot tell who spoke — an ambiguous reference. Replacing the pronoun with the specific noun "the director" fixes the problem, because a pronoun is only acceptable when exactly one antecedent is possible. The other options add further vague pronouns ("they," "her," "it") instead of removing the ambiguity.

    Source: GED Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA — Language indicator L.1.3 (correction of unclear or ambiguous pronoun reference)Report a problem with this question

19. 19. A council bulletin reads: "Fewer than half of the residents responded to the first survey. ___, the council extended the deadline by two weeks." Which transition correctly completes the sentence?

    • A.Nevertheless
    • B.Therefore✓ Answer
    • C.For example
    • D.In contrast

    The correct strategy is to identify the relationship between the two ideas first, then choose the connector. The low response rate is the CAUSE and the extended deadline is the RESULT, so a result connector such as "Therefore" (or "As a result" or "Consequently") is needed. "Nevertheless" and "In contrast" signal opposition, and "For example" signals illustration — none of which matches the logic of these two sentences.

    Source: GED Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA — Language indicator L.1.9 (transitional words that signal the logical relationship between ideas)Report a problem with this question

20. 20. A job description contains this sentence: "Her duties include answering phones, scheduling appointments, and ___." Which choice correctly completes the sentence?

    • A.ordering supplies✓ Answer
    • B.she orders supplies
    • C.to order supplies
    • D.order supplies

    Items in a series must share the same grammatical form. The first two items are -ing phrases ("answering phones," "scheduling appointments"), so the third must be the -ing phrase "ordering supplies." Switching to an infinitive, a base verb, or a full clause breaks the parallel structure even though each of those forms is grammatical on its own.

    Source: GED Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA — Language indicator L.1.6 (parallel structure in a series)Report a problem with this question

21. 21. A purchasing memo reads: "The office ordered its third ___ last month." Which choice is capitalized correctly?

    • A.Skyview laptop computer✓ Answer
    • B.skyview laptop computer
    • C.Skyview Laptop Computer
    • D.Skyview Laptop computer

    Only proper nouns are capitalized. "Skyview" is a brand name and must begin with a capital letter, but "laptop computer" is a common noun naming a type of product, so it stays lowercase. Capitalizing the common noun as well is the classic brand-plus-product trap, and lowercasing the brand loses the proper noun entirely.

    Source: GED Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA — Language indicator L.2.1 (capitalization of proper nouns, including brand names, vs. common nouns)Report a problem with this question

22. 22. A personal account contains this sentence: "Parking in a tow zone, the police officer gave us a ticket." Which revision corrects the modifier error?

    • A.Because we parked in a tow zone, the police officer gave us a ticket.✓ Answer
    • B.The police officer, parking in a tow zone, gave us a ticket.
    • C.Giving us a ticket, the police officer was parking in a tow zone.
    • D.Parking in a tow zone, a ticket was given to us by the police officer.

    An introductory participial phrase modifies whatever noun follows it, so "Parking in a tow zone" wrongly attaches to "the police officer" — a dangling modifier, because the people who parked are never named as the subject. Rewriting the phrase as a full clause with its own subject, "Because we parked in a tow zone," supplies the missing actor. The other options either leave the phrase attached to a ticket or state the illogical idea that the officer was the one parking.

    Source: GED Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA — Language indicator L.1.5 (correction of dangling and misplaced modifiers)Report a problem with this question

Practice questions based on the GED Testing Service Assessment Guide for Educators and standard high-school-equivalency curriculum. GED is a registered trademark of the American Council on Education; this site is not affiliated with or endorsed by ACE or GED Testing Service. Passing scores, fees, retake limits, and age and residency eligibility are set by GED Testing Service and by individual states and change over time — confirm current requirements for your state before testing. Note that the Reasoning Through Language Arts test also includes an extended-response essay, which multiple-choice practice cannot cover. About the GED test →