50 English & Language Practice Questions & Answers
Every English & Language practice question from the TEAS Practice Test, with the correct answer and a short explanation.
Start practice test →1. Which sentence uses commas correctly?
- A.We bought apples oranges, and pears at the market.
- B.We bought, apples, oranges and pears at the market.
- C.We bought apples, oranges and, pears at the market.
- D.We bought apples, oranges, and pears at the market.✓ Answer
In a series of three or more items, commas separate each item; the comma before 'and' (the Oxford comma) is standard on the TEAS.
2. Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.
- A.Each of the students were completing the assignment.
- B.Each of the students have completed the assignment.
- C.Each of the students are completing the assignment.
- D.Each of the students has completed the assignment.✓ Answer
The indefinite pronoun 'each' is singular, so it takes the singular verb 'has,' regardless of the plural noun in the prepositional phrase.
3. Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'The nurse asked the patient to describe ___ symptoms.'
- A.their✓ Answer
- B.thier
- C.they're
- D.there
'Their' is the possessive form showing ownership of the symptoms; 'they're' means 'they are' and 'there' indicates place.
4. In the sentence 'The regimen was so onerous that many patients quit,' what does 'onerous' most nearly mean?
- A.Burdensome✓ Answer
- B.Enjoyable
- C.Brief
- D.Inexpensive
Context clues—'so ___ that many patients quit'—signal a heavy or troublesome quality, so 'onerous' means burdensome.
5. The prefix 'hyper-' in 'hypertension' means:
- A.Over or excessive✓ Answer
- B.Against or opposite
- C.Under or below
- D.Around or surrounding
The prefix 'hyper-' means over or excessive, so 'hypertension' is excessively high blood pressure; 'hypo-' means under.
6. Which revision states the idea most clearly and concisely?
- A.The committee came together and ultimately arrived at the point of reaching a final decision.
- B.The committee, after much time, was able to reach a decision that was final.
- C.The committee reached a decision.✓ Answer
- D.A decision was what was reached by the committee in the end.
Concise writing removes wordiness and redundancy; 'The committee reached a decision' conveys the idea directly without filler.
7. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
- A.The lab closed early, therefore, we rescheduled the test.
- B.The lab closed early therefore we rescheduled the test.
- C.The lab closed early; therefore we, rescheduled the test.
- D.The lab closed early; therefore, we rescheduled the test.✓ Answer
A semicolon joins two independent clauses linked by a conjunctive adverb like 'therefore,' which is then followed by a comma.
8. Which sentence contains a correctly used apostrophe?
- A.The patients' rooms were all cleaned before noon.✓ Answer
- B.The patients rooms' were all cleaned before noon.
- C.The patient's rooms were all cleaned, referring to many patients.
- D.The patients's rooms were all cleaned before noon.
For a plural noun already ending in 's,' the possessive is formed by adding only an apostrophe after the 's': 'patients'.'
9. Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'The medication did not ___ her appetite.'
- A.affect✓ Answer
- B.effect
- C.affected
- D.effected
'Affect' is usually a verb meaning to influence; 'effect' is usually a noun meaning result. After the helping verb 'did,' the base verb 'affect' is required.
10. Which sentence is a complete sentence (not a fragment)?
- A.Because the nurse arrived late to the busy morning shift.
- B.Running quickly down the long hospital corridor.
- C.Which was the reason the appointment was rescheduled.
- D.The nurse arrived late.✓ Answer
A complete sentence needs a subject and a verb and must express a complete thought. 'The nurse arrived late' has the subject 'nurse' and verb 'arrived'; the others are dependent clauses or phrases.
11. Which sentence correctly uses 'its' or 'it's'?
- A.The clinic updated it's scheduling system last week.
- B.The clinic updated its scheduling system last week.✓ Answer
- C.Its going to rain before the clinic closes.
- D.The dog wagged it's tail happily.
'Its' is the possessive pronoun (belonging to it); 'it's' is a contraction of 'it is' or 'it has.' The clinic owns the system, so the possessive 'its' is correct.
12. Which sentence uses correct capitalization?
- A.We visited the pacific ocean during our trip to Oregon.
- B.We visited the Pacific Ocean during our trip to oregon.
- C.we visited the Pacific ocean during our Trip to Oregon.
- D.We visited the Pacific Ocean during our trip to Oregon.✓ Answer
Proper nouns are capitalized: 'Pacific Ocean' and 'Oregon' are specific names, and the first word of the sentence ('We') is capitalized. 'Trip' is a common noun and stays lowercase.
13. Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'This dose is ___ high for a child of her weight.'
- A.two
- B.to
- C.too✓ Answer
- D.tow
'Too' means excessively or also; 'to' is a preposition; 'two' is the number 2. Here the dose is excessively high, so 'too' is correct.
14. Which sentence uses the correct verb tense for a completed past action with present relevance? 'By the time the doctor arrived, the patient ___ already.'
- A.had recovered✓ Answer
- B.has recovered
- C.recovers
- D.will recover
The past perfect ('had recovered') shows an action completed before another past action ('arrived'). This sequence of two past events requires the past perfect.
15. Which sentence has correct pronoun-antecedent agreement?
- A.Every nurse must renew their license annually.
- B.Every nurse must renew his or her license annually.✓ Answer
- C.All nurses must renew his license annually.
- D.Each of the nurses must renew their own licenses annually.
'Every nurse' is singular, so it needs a singular pronoun; 'his or her' agrees in number. In formal standard English tested by the TEAS, the singular 'their' with 'every nurse' is treated as incorrect.
16. Which sentence correctly uses a colon?
- A.The nurse gathered: gauze, tape, and scissors.
- B.The nurse gathered the following supplies: gauze, tape, and scissors.✓ Answer
- C.The nurse: gathered gauze, tape, and scissors.
- D.The supplies were: gauze, tape, and scissors.
A colon must follow a complete independent clause before introducing a list. 'The nurse gathered the following supplies' is complete; the others place the colon after an incomplete clause.
17. In 'The prognosis was ambiguous, leaving the family uncertain about the outcome,' what does 'ambiguous' most nearly mean?
- A.Encouraging
- B.Unclear✓ Answer
- C.Detailed
- D.Final
The context clue 'leaving the family uncertain' signals a lack of clarity, so 'ambiguous' means unclear or open to more than one interpretation.
18. The root 'cardio' in 'cardiologist' refers to the:
- A.Lungs
- B.Brain
- C.Heart✓ Answer
- D.Kidneys
The Greek root 'cardio' means heart, so a 'cardiologist' is a doctor who specializes in the heart. 'Pulmo' relates to lungs and 'neuro' to the brain.
19. Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'The results were more accurate ___ we expected.'
- A.then
- B.than✓ Answer
- C.that
- D.thin
'Than' is used for comparisons ('more accurate than'); 'then' refers to time or sequence. The comparative 'more accurate' requires 'than.'
20. Which version is most appropriate for formal, professional writing?
- A.The patient's condition got way worse overnight, and it kinda freaked everybody out.
- B.The patient's condition deteriorated overnight, causing significant concern among the staff.✓ Answer
- C.The patient went downhill fast, so we all lost it a little.
- D.Things got real bad with the patient last night, no joke.
Formal register avoids slang and casual phrasing. 'Deteriorated' and 'significant concern' use precise, professional diction, while 'kinda,' 'freaked,' 'went downhill,' and 'no joke' are informal.
21. Which sentence is free of run-on errors?
- A.The shift ended the nurse went home.
- B.The shift ended, the nurse went home.
- C.The shift ended; the nurse went home.✓ Answer
- D.The shift ended the nurse, went home.
Two independent clauses can be joined by a semicolon. Option 1 is a fused run-on and option 2 is a comma splice; only the semicolon in option 3 correctly links them.
22. In 'Despite the setback, the resilient team continued their research,' what does 'resilient' most nearly mean?
- A.Easily discouraged
- B.Able to recover✓ Answer
- C.Poorly funded
- D.Newly formed
The context 'Despite the setback... continued' shows the team bounced back, so 'resilient' means able to recover quickly from difficulties.
23. Which word correctly completes the sentence? '___ going to need a signature before you leave.'
- A.Your
- B.You're✓ Answer
- C.Yore
- D.Youre
'You're' is the contraction of 'you are,' which fits 'You are going to need.' 'Your' is possessive and 'yore' means long ago.
24. Which sentence correctly uses quotation marks?
- A.The doctor said, "Take this medication twice daily."✓ Answer
- B.The doctor said "Take this medication twice daily".
- C.The doctor said, Take this medication "twice" daily.
- D.The doctor said; "Take this medication twice daily."
In American English, a comma introduces the direct quotation and the closing period goes inside the quotation marks. Option 1 follows both rules.
25. The suffix '-itis' in 'bronchitis' indicates:
- A.Inflammation✓ Answer
- B.Removal
- C.Study of
- D.Enlargement
The suffix '-itis' means inflammation, so 'bronchitis' is inflammation of the bronchi. '-ectomy' means removal and '-ology' means the study of.
26. Which sentence uses an adverb correctly to modify the verb?
- A.The nurse spoke calm to the anxious patient.
- B.The nurse spoke calmly to the anxious patient.✓ Answer
- C.The nurse spoke calmer to the anxious patient.
- D.The nurse spoke calmest to the anxious patient.
An adverb modifies a verb and usually ends in '-ly.' 'Calmly' correctly describes how the nurse 'spoke'; 'calm' is an adjective and cannot modify the verb here.
27. Which sentence correctly places the modifier so the meaning is clear?
- A.Walking into the room, the monitor was beeping loudly.
- B.The monitor was beeping loudly walking into the room.
- C.Walking into the room, the nurse heard the monitor beeping loudly.✓ Answer
- D.The nurse heard walking into the room the monitor beeping loudly.
The introductory phrase 'Walking into the room' must describe the subject that follows. Only in option 3 does a person (the nurse) do the walking, avoiding a dangling modifier.
28. Which word is spelled correctly?
- A.definately
- B.definitely✓ Answer
- C.definitly
- D.definetely
'Definitely' is the correct spelling; it contains the word 'finite.' The common misspellings insert an 'a' or drop the second 'i.'
29. Which sentence correctly uses the comparative or superlative form?
- A.This is the most easiest procedure of the three.
- B.This procedure is more easier than the last one.
- C.This is the easiest of the three procedures.✓ Answer
- D.This procedure is the more easy of the three.
Comparing three or more items uses the superlative 'easiest.' Combining 'most' with '-est' or 'more' with '-er' is a double comparison and is incorrect.
30. Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'Please place the charts over ___ on the counter.'
- A.their
- B.there✓ Answer
- C.they're
- D.theyre
'There' indicates a place or location, which fits 'over there on the counter.' 'Their' is possessive and 'they're' means 'they are.'
31. In 'The instructions were so verbose that staff struggled to find the key steps,' what does 'verbose' most nearly mean?
- A.Wordy✓ Answer
- B.Concise
- C.Illegible
- D.Outdated
The context—staff 'struggled to find the key steps'—shows the instructions used too many words, so 'verbose' means wordy. It is the opposite of concise.
32. Which sentence uses a comma correctly after an introductory element?
- A.After the surgery the patient rested comfortably.
- B.After the surgery, the patient rested comfortably.✓ Answer
- C.After, the surgery the patient rested comfortably.
- D.After the surgery the patient, rested comfortably.
A comma follows an introductory phrase or clause. 'After the surgery' is introductory, so the comma belongs right after it, before the main clause.
33. The prefix 'anti-' in 'antibacterial' means:
- A.Before
- B.Against✓ Answer
- C.Many
- D.Within
The prefix 'anti-' means against or opposing, so 'antibacterial' works against bacteria. 'Ante-' (not 'anti-') means before.
34. Which sentence maintains consistent verb tense?
- A.The nurse checked the chart and updates the record.
- B.The nurse checks the chart and updated the record.
- C.The nurse checked the chart and updated the record.✓ Answer
- D.The nurse checks the chart and will updated the record.
Verbs in a sentence should stay in the same tense unless the meaning requires a shift. 'Checked' and 'updated' are both simple past, keeping the tense consistent.
35. Which underlined word is used as a noun? 'The nurse gave a thorough report to the team.'
- A.gave
- B.thorough
- C.report✓ Answer
- D.to
A noun names a person, place, thing, or idea. 'Report' is the thing that was given, so it is a noun. 'Gave' is a verb, 'thorough' an adjective, and 'to' a preposition.
36. Which sentence is written in the active voice?
- A.The medication was administered by the nurse.
- B.The nurse administered the medication.✓ Answer
- C.The medication had been administered earlier.
- D.The medication was being administered carefully.
In the active voice, the subject performs the action. 'The nurse administered the medication' has the subject ('nurse') acting; the others are passive, with the medication receiving the action.
37. Choose the verb that correctly completes the sentence: "Neither the manager nor the employees ___ aware of the schedule change."
- A.has been
- B.was
- C.were✓ Answer
- D.is
With correlative conjunctions such as "neither...nor," the verb agrees with the subject closer to it (the proximity rule); since "employees" is plural and sits next to the verb, the plural form "were" is required.
Source: ATI TEAS 7, English & Language Usage — Conventions of Standard English: subject–verb agreement, proximity rule for correlative conjunctions (either/or, neither/nor)Report a problem with this question
38. Choose the verb that correctly completes the sentence: "Each of the volunteers ___ a badge before entering the clinic."
- A.receive
- B.have received
- C.receives✓ Answer
- D.are receiving
The subject is the singular indefinite pronoun "each," not "volunteers"; the prepositional phrase "of the volunteers" never changes the number of the subject, so the singular verb "receives" is correct.
Source: ATI TEAS 7, English & Language Usage — Conventions of Standard English: singular indefinite pronouns (each, everyone, either) take singular verbsReport a problem with this question
39. Choose the verb that correctly completes the sentence: "The stack of patient files ___ on the desk near the window."
- A.have been
- B.is✓ Answer
- C.are
- D.were
The true subject is the singular noun "stack"; the intervening prepositional phrase "of patient files" does not control agreement, so the singular verb "is" is required even though "files" is plural and closer to the verb.
Source: ATI TEAS 7, English & Language Usage — Conventions of Standard English: subject–verb agreement with intervening prepositional phrasesReport a problem with this question
40. Which revision best eliminates the ambiguity in this sentence? "When Dana called Rosa, she did not mention the test results."
- A.When Dana called Rosa, Dana did not mention the test results.✓ Answer
- B.She did not mention the test results when Dana called Rosa.
- C.When Dana called Rosa, she did not mention them.
- D.When she called Rosa, the test results were not mentioned by her.
The pronoun "she" is ambiguous because it could refer to either Dana or Rosa; replacing the pronoun with the specific noun "Dana" is the only revision that makes the antecedent unmistakable, while the other options keep or worsen the vague reference.
Source: ATI TEAS 7, English & Language Usage — Conventions of Standard English: pronoun clarity / clear pronoun–antecedent referenceReport a problem with this question
41. In formal written English, choose the pronoun that correctly completes the sentence: "Each employee must submit ___ timesheet by the end of the week."
- A.their
- B.they're
- C.his or her✓ Answer
- D.our
"Each employee" is a grammatically singular antecedent, and in formal standardized-test English a singular antecedent requires a singular pronoun; "his or her" preserves that agreement, whereas "their" is plural, "they're" is a contraction of "they are," and "our" shifts the person.
Source: ATI TEAS 7, English & Language Usage — Conventions of Standard English: pronoun–antecedent agreement with singular indefinite antecedents (each, every)Report a problem with this question
42. Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: "The staffing shortage did not ___ the quality of patient care."
- A.effected
- B.affects
- C.effect
- D.affect✓ Answer
The sentence needs a verb meaning "to influence," which is "affect"; "effect" is normally a noun meaning "a result," and after the auxiliary "did not" the verb must appear in its base form, ruling out "affects" and "effected."
Source: ATI TEAS 7, English & Language Usage — Vocabulary Acquisition: commonly confused words (affect = verb "to influence"; effect = noun "a result")Report a problem with this question
43. Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: "All of the applicants ___ one submitted their transcripts on time."
- A.accepted
- B.accept
- C.except✓ Answer
- D.expect
The sentence requires a preposition meaning "excluding," which is "except"; "accept" is a verb meaning "to receive or agree to," and "expect" means "to anticipate," so neither fits the excluding relationship between "all" and "one."
Source: ATI TEAS 7, English & Language Usage — Vocabulary Acquisition: commonly confused words (accept = verb "to receive"; except = preposition "excluding")Report a problem with this question
44. Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
- A.The lab opens at eight; closing at five every day.
- B.The lab opens at eight; and it closes at five.
- C.The lab opens; at eight and closes at five.
- D.The lab opens at eight; it closes at five.✓ Answer
A semicolon must join two complete independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction; only option C places a full clause on each side, while the other options put a conjunction or a fragment after the semicolon or split a single clause.
Source: ATI TEAS 7, English & Language Usage — Conventions of Standard English: semicolon rule (joins two related independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction)Report a problem with this question
45. Which sentence uses a colon correctly?
- A.The first-aid kit contained three items, such as: gauze, tape, and scissors.
- B.The first-aid kit contained three items: gauze, tape, and scissors.✓ Answer
- C.The first-aid kit: contained gauze, tape, and scissors.
- D.The first-aid kit contained: gauze, tape, and scissors.
A colon introducing a list must follow a complete independent clause; "The first-aid kit contained three items" can stand alone, whereas the other options place the colon between a verb and its object, after the subject, or after "such as," all of which break the clause.
Source: ATI TEAS 7, English & Language Usage — Conventions of Standard English: colon rule (a colon introducing a list must follow an independent clause)Report a problem with this question
46. A break room is shared by several nurses. Which phrase shows the correct possessive form?
- A.the nurses' break room✓ Answer
- B.the nurses's break room
- C.the nurse's break room
- D.the nurses break room
A plural noun that already ends in -s forms its possessive by adding only an apostrophe after the s; "nurse's" would mean one nurse, "nurses's" adds an unnecessary extra s, and "nurses break room" omits the required apostrophe entirely.
Source: ATI TEAS 7, English & Language Usage — Conventions of Standard English: apostrophe rule for plural possessives (plural nouns ending in s take only an apostrophe)Report a problem with this question
47. Choose the pair that correctly completes the sentence: "___ essential that the committee finish ___ report before the meeting."
- A.It's / its✓ Answer
- B.Its / its
- C.It's / it's
- D.Its / it's
"It's" is the contraction of "it is," which fits the opening ("It is essential"), while "its" is the possessive pronoun needed before "report"; possessive pronouns like its, whose, and theirs never take an apostrophe.
Source: ATI TEAS 7, English & Language Usage — Conventions of Standard English: apostrophes in contractions vs. possessive pronouns (it's = it is; its = possessive)Report a problem with this question
48. Which option most effectively combines these sentences? "The storm knocked out the power. The hospital's backup generators started immediately."
- A.When the storm knocked out the power, the hospital's backup generators started immediately.✓ Answer
- B.The storm, knocking out the power, the hospital's backup generators started immediately.
- C.The storm knocked out the power, the hospital's backup generators started immediately.
- D.The storm knocked out the power and the backup generators and started immediately.
Using the subordinating conjunction "when" creates a grammatically correct complex sentence that shows the time relationship between the two events; option A is a comma splice, option C garbles the meaning by making the storm knock out the generators, and option D leaves a dangling construction with no main verb for "the storm."
Source: ATI TEAS 7, English & Language Usage — Knowledge of Language: combining sentences with subordinating conjunctions; avoiding comma splicesReport a problem with this question
49. Which sentence uses the register most appropriate for a formal cover letter?
- A.I would welcome the opportunity to contribute to your organization.✓ Answer
- B.This job is right up my alley, so hit me up anytime.
- C.You guys won't regret bringing me on board.
- D.I'm super excited to snag this position.
Formal register avoids slang, contractions, and casual idioms while using precise, courteous phrasing; only option B meets that standard, whereas "snag," "hit me up," and "you guys" are informal expressions suited to conversation, not professional correspondence.
Source: ATI TEAS 7, English & Language Usage — Knowledge of Language: formal vs. informal language; adapting register to audience and purposeReport a problem with this question
50. A paragraph begins with this topic sentence: "Regular handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infection." Which sentence does NOT belong in the paragraph?
- A.Washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds removes most germs from the skin.
- B.Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is an effective alternative when soap is unavailable.
- C.Health facilities often post handwashing reminders near every sink.
- D.The hospital cafeteria recently added several new lunch options.✓ Answer
Paragraph unity requires every supporting sentence to develop the main idea stated in the topic sentence; the first three options all explain or reinforce handwashing and infection prevention, but a sentence about cafeteria menu options introduces an unrelated subject and breaks the paragraph's focus.
Source: ATI TEAS 7, English & Language Usage — Knowledge of Language: paragraph organization and unity (supporting sentences must develop the topic sentence)Report a problem with this question
Practice questions based on the ATI TEAS test outline. Not affiliated with ATI. The English & Language section is practiced in English. About the TEAS (ATI) →