English 11 / Unit 10: Test Skills for Reading and Writing
10.6 Form, Structure and Sense
Notes
These questions test grammar in context.
- Subject-verb agreement: ignore words between the subject and verb ("The set of keys is missing").
- Verb tense: stay consistent unless the time actually changes.
- Pronouns: match in number and be clear; its (possessive) vs. it's (it is); their / there / they're.
- Logical comparison: compare like things ("The climate of Maine is colder than that of Florida").
- Modifiers: place them next to what they modify.
- Worked example: "The collection of paintings ___ (is/are) on display." The subject is "collection," so use is.
Practice
"The stack of essays on the teacher's desk ___ waiting to be graded." Which choice completes the text so it conforms to Standard English?
The subject "stack" is singular.
"The company announced that it ___ its headquarters next year." Which choice best maintains consistent tense and logic?
"Next year" requires future tense.
"The population of Canada is smaller than ___ of the United States." Which choice makes a logical comparison?
"That" refers back to the singular "population."
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