GED Grammar and Usage Practice

Grammar is the most learnable part of the RLA test. The exam draws from a short list of rules, and each one can be recognized by a specific signal in the sentence.

Question 1 of 28

0 answered

Choose the correct sentence.

Grammar and usage study guide

Grammar questions present a sentence, often with a highlighted part, and ask for the correct version. A short list of rules accounts for most of them. Learn the rule, then learn the trap the test builds around it.

Subject-verb agreement

A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. The trap is a phrase between the subject and the verb. In “The box of old files is in the closet,” the subject is box, not files, so the verb is is.

Words like each, everyone, neither, and nobody are singular. With either/or and neither/nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject: “Neither the manager nor the employees were told.”

Worked example

Correct this sentence: “The list of approved vendors are posted online.”

  1. Find the subject by removing the phrase “of approved vendors.”
  2. The subject is “list,” which is singular.
  3. Correct version: “The list of approved vendors is posted online.”

Pronouns

A pronoun must agree with the noun it replaces and must clearly refer to one noun. “When Maria called her sister, she was upset” is unclear because she could mean either person. Rewrite to name the person.

Use subject pronouns (I, he, she, we, they) as subjects and object pronouns (me, him, her, us, them) as objects. To check a pair like “Sam and me went,” drop the other person: “me went” is wrong, so the sentence needs “Sam and I.”

Run-ons, fragments, and comma splices

A complete sentence has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. “Because the bus was late” is a fragment. Two complete sentences joined with only a comma form a comma splice: “The bus was late, I missed the meeting.”

Fix a comma splice in one of three ways: use a period, use a semicolon, or add a comma with a joining word (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). “The bus was late, so I missed the meeting” is correct.

Commas and apostrophes

Use a comma after an introductory phrase, between items in a list, and around extra information that could be removed without changing the meaning. Do not put a comma between a subject and its verb.

Apostrophes show possession or contraction, never a simple plural. It’s means “it is”; its is possessive. They’re means “they are,” their is possessive, and there is a place. For plural possessives ending in s, place the apostrophe after the s: “the employees’ lounge.”

Modifiers and parallel structure

A modifier should sit next to the word it describes. “Walking into the office, the printer jammed” says the printer was walking. Fix it by naming who was walking: “Walking into the office, I saw the printer jam.”

Items in a list or a comparison should share the same grammatical form. “She likes hiking, swimming, and to bike” breaks the pattern. “She likes hiking, swimming, and biking” keeps it.

Commonly confused words

These pairs appear often in GED editing questions.

  • affect (usually a verb) and effect (usually a noun)
  • then (time) and than (comparison)
  • accept (receive) and except (leave out)
  • your (possessive) and you’re (you are)
  • who’s (who is) and whose (possessive)
  • fewer (countable items) and less (amounts)

Verb tense and capitalization

Verb tense tells the reader when something happens. Within a sentence or paragraph, keep the same tense unless the time really changes. “Last week, the crew repaired the roof and replaces the gutters” starts in the past and slides into the present, so “replaces” should be “replaced.” Routines and general facts stay in the present: “Every morning, Rosa unlocks the shop and starts the coffee.”

When one past action happened before another, use “had” with the earlier action. “By the time the inspector arrived, the crew had fixed the leak” shows that the repair came first. Do not mix “has” with a past time marker such as “by the time the inspector arrived.”

Capitalization questions test a short list of rules. Capitalize the first word of a sentence, names of specific people and places, days, months, holidays, and the major words in titles. Capitalize a title like Dr., Mayor, or Aunt when it comes right before a name, but not when it stands alone: “Mayor Collins spoke” but “the mayor spoke.” Family words after “my” stay lowercase: “my mother,” “my aunt.”

Seasons, school subjects other than languages, and general directions are lowercase. Write “this fall,” “a math class,” and “drive north,” but “English class” and “the South” when it names a region. Short words in titles, such as a, of, and the, stay lowercase unless they come first.

Worked example

Correct this sentence: “Last Spring, my Aunt worked at Lincoln hospital, and she takes a Biology class at night.”

  1. Check the season. “Spring” is a season, so it becomes “spring.”
  2. Check the titles. “Aunt” follows “my” and has no name after it, so it becomes “aunt.”
  3. Check proper nouns. “Lincoln Hospital” is the name of a specific place, so both words are capitalized.
  4. Check the subject. “Biology” is not a language, so it becomes “biology.”
  5. Check the tense. The sentence begins in the past, so “takes” becomes “took.”
  6. Corrected version: “Last spring, my aunt worked at Lincoln Hospital, and she took a biology class at night.”

Adjectives, adverbs, and comparisons

Adjectives describe nouns: a quick reply, a careful driver. Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, and many end in -ly: she replied quickly, he drives carefully. A common GED trap uses an adjective where the sentence needs an adverb. “The technician answered each call as quick as possible” describes how he answered, which is an action, so it needs “quickly.”

Good and well cause the most trouble. Good is an adjective, so it describes a thing or a person: a good plan. Well is usually an adverb, so it describes how something is done: the plan worked well. After verbs of sensing or being, such as feel, look, seem, and is, use the adjective. “I feel bad about the mistake” is correct, because bad describes the speaker, not how the speaker touches things.

Comparisons follow a simple rule. Use -er or more when comparing two things, and -est or most when comparing three or more. “Of the two offers, the second is better” is correct; “best” would need at least three offers. Never stack both forms, as in “more faster” or “most easiest.”

Finally, watch for double negatives. Words like not, never, no, hardly, and barely already make a statement negative, so a second negative word cancels the meaning. “The inspector didn’t find no problems” should be “didn’t find any problems.” “We could hardly hear” is correct; “couldn’t hardly hear” is not.

Worked example

Correct this sentence: “Of the three applicants, Dana interviewed more confident, and she didn’t make no mistakes on the skills test.”

  1. Find the comparison. There are three applicants, so the sentence needs the form for three or more: “most.”
  2. Check what the word describes. “Confident” tells how Dana interviewed, which is an action, so it must be the adverb “confidently.”
  3. Check for double negatives. “Didn’t” and “no” are both negative, so change “no” to “any.”
  4. Corrected version: “Of the three applicants, Dana interviewed most confidently, and she didn’t make any mistakes on the skills test.”

Checklist before test day

Run this check on any sentence you are asked to edit.

  • Find the real subject and match the verb to it.
  • Make sure each pronoun points to one clear noun.
  • Fix comma splices with a period, semicolon, or comma plus conjunction.
  • Use apostrophes only for possession and contractions.
  • Place modifiers next to what they describe.
  • Keep list items in the same grammatical form.

Grammar and Usage practice set 1: 28 questions with answers

Work each question on paper first, then open the answer to check your reasoning.

  1. 1.Choose the correct sentence.

    1. A.There is three open positions on the night shift this month
    2. B.There was three open positions on the night shift this month
    3. C.There’s three open positions on the night shift this month
    4. D.There are three open positions on the night shift this month
    Show answer

    Answer: D. There are three open positions on the night shift this month

    In a sentence that starts with “there,” the subject comes after the verb. The subject “positions” is plural, so the verb must be “are,” and “there’s” is short for the singular “there is.”

  1. 2.Choose the correct sentence.

    1. A.The manager, along with her two assistants, review the payroll each Friday
    2. B.The manager, along with her two assistants, reviews the payroll each Friday
    3. C.The manager, along with her two assistants, are reviewing the payroll each Friday
    4. D.The manager, along with her two assistants, have reviewed the payroll each Friday
    Show answer

    Answer: B. The manager, along with her two assistants, reviews the payroll each Friday

    A phrase like “along with her two assistants” does not make the subject plural, so “manager” takes the singular “reviews.” It is tempting to count three people, but only “and” creates a plural subject.

  1. 3.Which sentence uses pronouns correctly?

    1. A.Please send any questions to Carla or myself before Friday
    2. B.Please send any questions to Carla or I before Friday
    3. C.Please send any questions to myself or Carla before Friday
    4. D.Please send any questions to Carla or me before Friday
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Please send any questions to Carla or me before Friday

    After the preposition “to,” the object form “me” is correct. “Myself” sounds formal, but it is used only when “I” is also the subject of the sentence.

  1. 4.Which revision correctly fixes this comma splice? “The bus was late, I missed the start of my shift.”

    1. A.Because the bus was late, I missed the start of my shift
    2. B.The bus was late, therefore I missed the start of my shift
    3. C.The bus was late, and so, I missed the start of my shift
    4. D.The bus was late I missed the start of my shift
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Because the bus was late, I missed the start of my shift

    Turning the first clause into a dependent clause with “Because” makes a correct complex sentence. “Therefore” is not a conjunction, so a comma before it still leaves a comma splice.

  1. 5.Which option correctly fixes the fragment? “The clinic will close early on Friday. For staff training on the new records system.”

    1. A.The clinic will close early on Friday, for staff training, on the new records system
    2. B.The clinic will close early this Friday for staff training on the new records system
    3. C.The clinic will close early on Friday, it is for staff training on the new records system
    4. D.The clinic will close early on Friday; for staff training on the new records system
    Show answer

    Answer: B. The clinic will close early this Friday for staff training on the new records system

    Joining the phrase to the sentence without extra punctuation creates one complete sentence. A semicolon must join two complete sentences, and “for staff training” is only a phrase.

  1. 6.Which sentence uses apostrophes correctly?

    1. A.Its time to renew the trucks registration before it’s due date
    2. B.It’s time to renew the truck’s registration before its due date
    3. C.It’s time to renew the trucks’ registration before it’s due date
    4. D.Its time to renew the truck’s registration before its’ due date
    Show answer

    Answer: B. It’s time to renew the truck’s registration before its due date

    “It’s” means “it is,” “truck’s” shows that one truck owns the registration, and the possessive “its” never takes an apostrophe. Writing “it’s due date” is the most common slip, since it would mean “it is due date.”

  1. 7.Which sentence uses a comma correctly?

    1. A.The meeting ran long but, everyone stayed until the end
    2. B.The meeting, ran long but everyone stayed until the end
    3. C.The meeting ran long but everyone, stayed until the end
    4. D.The meeting ran long, but everyone stayed until the end
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The meeting ran long, but everyone stayed until the end

    When “but” joins two complete sentences, the comma goes before the conjunction. Placing it after “but” separates the conjunction from the clause it introduces.

  1. 8.Which sentence makes clear that the dog, not Tom, was covered in mud?

    1. A.Covered in mud, Tom rinsed off the dog out in the backyard
    2. B.In the backyard, Tom rinsed off the dog that was covered in mud
    3. C.Tom rinsed off the dog out in the backyard, covered in mud
    4. D.Tom, covered in mud, rinsed off the dog out in the backyard
    Show answer

    Answer: B. In the backyard, Tom rinsed off the dog that was covered in mud

    The clause “that was covered in mud” sits right after “dog,” so it clearly describes the dog. When “Covered in mud” opens the sentence, it attaches to Tom.

  1. 9.Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly?

    1. A.The training covers how to greet guests, handling complaints, and closing out the cash register
    2. B.The training covers greeting guests, to handle complaints, and closing out the register
    3. C.The training covers greeting guests, handling complaints, and how the register is closed
    4. D.The training covers greeting guests, handling complaints, and closing out the cash register
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The training covers greeting guests, handling complaints, and closing out the cash register

    Each item in the list uses the same “-ing” form. The other options mix in an infinitive, a “how to” phrase, or a clause, which breaks the pattern.

  1. 10.Which sentence uses the correct words?

    1. A.Tighten the lose bolt so the shelf does not loose its balance
    2. B.Tighten the loose bolt so the shelf does not loose its balance
    3. C.Tighten the loose bolt so the shelf does not lose its balance
    4. D.Tighten the lose bolt so the shelf does not lose its balance
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Tighten the loose bolt so the shelf does not lose its balance

    “Loose” is an adjective meaning not tight, and “lose” is a verb meaning to fail to keep. The option with “loose” in both places is tempting, but the verb slot needs “lose.”

  1. 11.Which sentence uses the correct words?

    1. A.Your going to need two copies of the form, to
    2. B.You’re going to need too copies of the form, too
    3. C.You’re going to need two copies of the form, too
    4. D.Your going to need to copies of the form, too
    Show answer

    Answer: C. You’re going to need two copies of the form, too

    “You’re” means “you are,” “two” is the number, and “too” means “also.” The version with “too copies” gets the contraction right but uses the word for “also” where a number is needed.

  1. 12.Which sentence uses capitalization correctly?

    1. A.We drove north on Route 9 to visit Lake George in July.
    2. B.We drove North on Route 9 to visit Lake George in July.
    3. C.We drove north on route 9 to visit Lake George in July.
    4. D.We drove north on Route 9 to visit lake George in july.
    Show answer

    Answer: A. We drove north on Route 9 to visit Lake George in July.

    Directions used as directions stay lowercase, while names of roads, lakes, and months are capitalized. Capitalizing “North” is tempting, but it is capitalized only as the name of a region, as in “the North.”

  1. 13.Which sentence uses capitalization correctly?

    1. A.This fall, I am taking Spanish and a math class at Hudson Community College.
    2. B.This Fall, I am taking Spanish and a math class at Hudson Community College.
    3. C.This fall, I am taking spanish and a math class at Hudson Community College.
    4. D.This fall, I am taking Spanish and a Math class at Hudson community college.
    Show answer

    Answer: A. This fall, I am taking Spanish and a math class at Hudson Community College.

    Languages and full names of schools are capitalized, but seasons and general subjects like math are not. Lowercasing “spanish” is tempting because “math” is lowercase, but languages are always capitalized.

  1. 14.Choose the word that keeps the verb tense consistent: “Every morning, Rosa unlocks the shop, turns on the lights, and ______ the coffee maker.”

    1. A.started
    2. B.is starting
    3. C.starts
    4. D.had started
    Show answer

    Answer: C. starts

    “Unlocks” and “turns” are present tense and describe a routine, so the third verb must be “starts.” “Started” is tempting because it sounds natural in a story, but it shifts to the past.

  1. 15.Which sentence uses verb tense correctly?

    1. A.By the time the inspector arrived, the crew has already fixed the leak.
    2. B.By the time the inspector arrived, the crew had already fixed the leak.
    3. C.By the time the inspector arrives, the crew had already fixed the leak.
    4. D.By the time the inspector arrived, the crew will have fixed the leak.
    Show answer

    Answer: B. By the time the inspector arrived, the crew had already fixed the leak.

    The repair happened before a past event, so it takes the past perfect “had fixed.” The “has already fixed” version is tempting, but present perfect cannot sit next to the past tense “arrived” here.

  1. 16.Which sentence is written correctly?

    1. A.Having finished the report, the email was sent to his supervisor.
    2. B.Having finished the report, it was emailed to Malik’s supervisor.
    3. C.Having finished the report, Malik’s email went to his supervisor.
    4. D.Having finished the report, Malik emailed it to his supervisor.
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Having finished the report, Malik emailed it to his supervisor.

    The opening phrase describes the person who finished, so “Malik” must follow the comma. The “Malik’s email” version is tempting because his name appears, but the subject is the email, which did not finish the report.

  1. 17.Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly?

    1. A.The job posting asks for applicants who are reliable, friendly, and have organization.
    2. B.The job posting asks for applicants who are reliable, have friendliness, and organized.
    3. C.The job posting asks for applicants who are reliable, friendly, and organized.
    4. D.The job posting asks for applicants who are reliable, friendly, and who organize.
    Show answer

    Answer: C. The job posting asks for applicants who are reliable, friendly, and organized.

    All three items should be adjectives after “are.” The version ending “and who organize” is tempting because it sounds natural, but it switches to a clause.

  1. 18.Which sentence uses commas correctly?

    1. A.The office will reopen on Monday, June 3, in Dayton, Ohio.
    2. B.The office will reopen on Monday June 3, in Dayton Ohio.
    3. C.The office will reopen on Monday, June 3 in Dayton, Ohio.
    4. D.The office, will reopen on Monday, June 3, in Dayton, Ohio.
    Show answer

    Answer: A. The office will reopen on Monday, June 3, in Dayton, Ohio.

    Commas separate the day from the date, the date from the rest of the sentence, and the city from the state. The version missing the comma after “June 3” is tempting, but a date in the middle of a sentence needs a comma after it.

  1. 19.Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly?

    1. A.The womens’ locker room is closed for repairs until Friday.
    2. B.The womens locker room is closed for repairs until Friday.
    3. C.The woman’s locker room is closed for repairs until Friday.
    4. D.The women’s locker room is closed for repairs until Friday.
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The women’s locker room is closed for repairs until Friday.

    “Women” is already plural, so the possessive adds ’s. “Womens’” is tempting because plural possessives often end in s’, but that rule applies only to plurals that already end in s.

  1. 20.Which sentence uses subject-verb agreement correctly?

    1. A.Behind the counter is two fire extinguishers and a first aid kit.
    2. B.Behind the counter are two fire extinguishers and a first aid kit.
    3. C.Behind the counter there is two fire extinguishers and a first aid kit.
    4. D.Behind the counter, two fire extinguishers and a first aid kit is kept.
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Behind the counter are two fire extinguishers and a first aid kit.

    The subject comes after the verb here, and “two fire extinguishers and a first aid kit” is plural, so the verb is “are.” The “is kept” version puts the subject first but still pairs a plural subject with a singular verb.

  1. 21.Which sentence uses the correct words?

    1. A.We’re not sure where the keys were left last night.
    2. B.Were not sure where the keys were left last night.
    3. C.We’re not sure were the keys were left last night.
    4. D.We’re not sure where the keys we’re left last night.
    Show answer

    Answer: A. We’re not sure where the keys were left last night.

    “We’re” means “we are,” “where” names a place, and “were” is a past verb. The version with “we’re left” is tempting because it starts correctly, but “we are left” does not fit.

  1. 22.Which sentence uses capitalization correctly?

    1. A.My Mother and aunt Rosa visited the Grand Canyon in May.
    2. B.My mother and Aunt Rosa visited the grand canyon in May.
    3. C.My mother and aunt Rosa visited the Grand Canyon in may.
    4. D.My mother and Aunt Rosa visited the Grand Canyon in May.
    Show answer

    Answer: D. My mother and Aunt Rosa visited the Grand Canyon in May.

    A family title used with a name (Aunt Rosa), a named place, and a month are capitalized, but “mother” after “my” is not. “My Mother” is tempting, but a family word after “my” is a common noun.

  1. 23.Which sentence uses capitalization correctly?

    1. A.She read To Kill A Mockingbird for her english class this spring.
    2. B.She read To Kill a Mockingbird for her English class this spring.
    3. C.She read to kill a mockingbird for her English Class this spring.
    4. D.She read To Kill a Mockingbird for her English class this Spring.
    Show answer

    Answer: B. She read To Kill a Mockingbird for her English class this spring.

    Major words in a title are capitalized but short words like “a” are not, “English” is always capitalized, and seasons are lowercase. The version with “Spring” is tempting because the rest is right, but seasons are not capitalized.

  1. 24.Which sentence uses apostrophes correctly?

    1. A.The store’s hours change in July, but its prices stay the same.
    2. B.The store’s hours change in July, but it’s prices stay the same.
    3. C.The stores hours change in July, but its prices stay the same.
    4. D.The store’s hour’s change in July, but its prices stay the same.
    Show answer

    Answer: A. The store’s hours change in July, but its prices stay the same.

    “Store’s” shows possession, and “its” is the possessive pronoun with no apostrophe. “It’s prices” is tempting because possessives usually take an apostrophe, but “it’s” means “it is.”

  1. 25.Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly?

    1. A.The landlord promised to fix the heat, painting the hallway, and replace the locks.
    2. B.The landlord promised to fix the heat, paint the hallway, and the locks replaced.
    3. C.The landlord promised to fix the heat, paint the hallway, and replace the locks.
    4. D.The landlord promised fixing the heat, to paint the hallway, and replacing locks.
    Show answer

    Answer: C. The landlord promised to fix the heat, paint the hallway, and replace the locks.

    Each promise uses the same verb form: fix, paint, replace. The version ending “and the locks replaced” is tempting because the first two items match, but the last item changes form.

  1. 26.Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly?

    1. A.The job offers not only good pay but also flexible hours.
    2. B.The job not only offers good pay but also flexible hours.
    3. C.The job offers not only good pay but also hours that flex.
    4. D.The job offers not only good pay, also flexible hours too.
    Show answer

    Answer: A. The job offers not only good pay but also flexible hours.

    After “not only” and “but also,” both parts should match: “good pay” and “flexible hours.” Placing “not only” before “offers” is tempting, but then a verb is paired with a noun.

  1. 27.Which sentence uses pronouns correctly?

    1. A.The company updated their safety rules after they were inspected.
    2. B.The company updated its safety rules after they were inspected.
    3. C.The company updated its safety rules after it was inspected.
    4. D.The company updated their safety rules after it was inspected.
    Show answer

    Answer: C. The company updated its safety rules after it was inspected.

    “Company” is singular, so both pronouns should be singular. The “their” versions are tempting because people often use “their” for a company in speech, but in edited writing the pronoun should match the singular noun.

  1. 28.Which sentence uses commas correctly?

    1. A.The clerk scanned the items and, the manager printed a receipt.
    2. B.The clerk, scanned the items and the manager printed a receipt.
    3. C.The clerk scanned the items and the manager, printed a receipt.
    4. D.The clerk scanned the items, and the manager printed a receipt.
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The clerk scanned the items, and the manager printed a receipt.

    Two complete sentences joined by “and” need a comma before “and.” Putting the comma after “and” is tempting because it is close, but the comma belongs before the joining word.

More practice sets

Grammar and Usage has 2 practice sets. None of these questions appear in the full practice tests.

Subject-verb agreement on the GED

The verb agrees with the subject, not with the nearest noun. In the list of supplies was on the desk, the subject is list, so the verb is singular even though supplies sits right beside it. Cross out prepositional phrases before deciding.

Indefinite pronouns trip people up. Each, everyone, either, and neither are singular. Both, few, and several are plural. Some and all take their number from what follows.

Pronouns and punctuation in GED grammar questions

Use subject pronouns after a verb of being and object pronouns after a preposition. Between you and me is correct because between is a preposition. When in doubt, drop the other person: you would not write between I.

Comma splices join two complete sentences with only a comma. Fix them with a coordinating conjunction, a semicolon, or a period. Apostrophes show possession or contraction, never plurals: the company's policy, but three companies.

Verb tense and misplaced modifiers on the GED

Keep tense consistent within a sentence and a paragraph unless the meaning genuinely shifts in time. She opened the folder and found the invoice is correct; mixing opened with finds is not.

A modifier must sit next to what it modifies. Walking to work, the rain soaked my jacket says the rain was walking. Naming the actor fixes it: while I was walking to work, the rain soaked my jacket.

Frequently asked questions

How are grammar questions presented on the GED?
They are embedded in passages. You select the version of an underlined word or sentence that is correct in context.
Do I need to know grammar terminology?
No. You need to recognize correct usage, not name the rule.