Conventions of Standard English — TEAS Practice Questions & Study Guide

What this area covers

Subject-verb agreement
Pronoun agreement and clear reference
Comma, semicolon, colon and apostrophe use
Sentence fragments and run-ons
Capitalisation
Frequently misspelled words

Concepts that come up most in our question bank:

commonly confused wordssubject-verb agreementcommasapostrophespunctuationquotation markssemicolonsverb tensesaffect vs effectcapitalizationcolonsirregular plurals

Where students lose marks

Subject-verb agreement questions bury the subject behind a prepositional phrase. In "the group of nurses," the subject is "group," which is singular, not "nurses."

How to study it

Cross out prepositional phrases before choosing the verb — the subject is almost never inside one. For punctuation, test whether each half of the sentence could stand alone; that single check resolves most comma-versus-semicolon questions.

Practice questions

Answer these, then check them to see the full explanation for every option — including why each wrong answer is wrong.

Question 1
Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly for plural possession?
AThe nurses' station is at the end of the hall.BThe nurse's station is at the end of the hall.CThe nurses station is at the end of the hall.DThe nurses's station is at the end of the hall.
Correct answer: A. The station belongs to multiple nurses (plural possessive). For plural nouns ending in 's,' add only an apostrophe: nurses'.
- B. Nurse's is singular possessive — one nurse's station. The question specifies plural.
- C. No apostrophe means no possession is indicated.
- D. 'Nurses's' is not standard English. Plural nouns ending in 's' take only an apostrophe.
Question 2
Which sentence is a complete sentence (not a fragment or run-on)?
ABecause the patient was in severe pain.BThe nurse assessed the patient and documented the findings.CRunning late for the shift change.DThe doctor ordered the test the nurse drew the blood.
Correct answer: B. This has a subject ('the nurse'), a compound predicate ('assessed...and documented'), and expresses a complete thought.
- A. Fragment — 'because' makes it a dependent clause that cannot stand alone.
- C. Fragment — a participial phrase with no subject or main verb.
- D. Run-on — two independent clauses joined without punctuation or a conjunction.
Question 3
Which word correctly completes the sentence? '_____ going to the pharmacy to pick up the prescription.'
ATheirBThereCThey'reDTheyre
Correct answer: C. 'They're' is the contraction of 'they are.' 'Their' shows possession; 'there' indicates location.
- A. 'Their' is possessive (e.g., 'their prescription'). It doesn't work before 'going.'
- B. 'There' indicates place. It doesn't work before 'going.'
- D. 'Theyre' is misspelled — the contraction requires an apostrophe: they're.
Question 4
Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly?
AThe nurse enjoys reading, to swim, and hiking.BThe nurse enjoys reading, swimming, and hiking.CThe nurse enjoys to read, swimming, and to hike.DThe nurse enjoys reading, to be swimming, and hike.
Correct answer: B. Parallel structure requires items in a series to use the same grammatical form. All gerunds (-ing): reading, swimming, hiking.
- A. Mixes gerunds with an infinitive ('to swim').
- C. Mixes infinitives with a gerund.
- D. Mixes three different forms: gerund, infinitive phrase, and base verb.
Question 5
Which sentence demonstrates correct capitalization?
AThe Doctor prescribed Aspirin for the patient's headache.BThe doctor prescribed aspirin for the patient's headache.Cthe Doctor prescribed Aspirin for the Patient's headache.DThe doctor prescribed Aspirin for the Patient's Headache.
Correct answer: B. Common nouns like 'doctor,' 'aspirin,' 'patient,' and 'headache' are not capitalized unless they begin a sentence or are part of a proper noun.
- A. 'Doctor' and 'Aspirin' should not be capitalized as common nouns.
- C. The first word of a sentence must be capitalized, and common nouns should not be.
- D. 'Aspirin,' 'Patient,' and 'Headache' should not be capitalized as common nouns.
Question 6
Which sentence correctly uses a colon?
AThe patient reported the following symptoms: nausea, dizziness, and fatigue.BThe patient reported: that she felt nauseous.CThe symptoms included: nausea and dizziness.DThe patient had: many symptoms.
Correct answer: A. A colon follows a complete independent clause and introduces a list. 'The patient reported the following symptoms' is complete, and the colon introduces the list.
- B. A colon should not separate a verb from its object clause.
- C. 'The symptoms included' needs its object to be complete — a colon interrupts incorrectly.
- D. 'The patient had' is incomplete without its object — a colon cannot follow it.
Question 7
Which sentence uses the correct verb tense?
AThe patient has took his medication this morning.BThe patient has taken his medication this morning.CThe patient has take his medication this morning.DThe patient has taking his medication this morning.
Correct answer: B. Present perfect tense uses 'has/have' + past participle. The past participle of 'take' is 'taken.' 'Has taken' is correct.
- A. 'Took' is simple past, not the past participle. 'Has took' is incorrect.
- C. 'Take' is the base form, not past participle.
- D. 'Taking' is the present participle. 'Has taking' is incorrect.
Question 8
Which sentence correctly uses 'its' or 'it's'?
AThe hospital updated it's infection control policy.BIts important to wash your hands frequently.CThe committee released its annual report.DIt's policy was changed last week.
Correct answer: C. 'Its' (no apostrophe) is possessive. The report belongs to the committee: 'its annual report.' 'It's' = 'it is.'
- A. 'It's' means 'it is.' 'The hospital updated it is policy' doesn't work. Use 'its.'
- B. This needs 'It's' (It is important), not the possessive 'Its.'
- D. 'It's' means 'it is.' 'It is policy' doesn't work. Use 'its.'
Question 9
Which sentence contains a comma splice?
AThe patient was discharged, and the nurse completed the paperwork.BThe patient was discharged, the nurse completed the paperwork.CThe patient was discharged; the nurse completed the paperwork.DAfter the patient was discharged, the nurse completed the paperwork.
Correct answer: B. A comma splice joins two independent clauses with only a comma. Fix with: semicolon, comma + conjunction, or period.
- A. Correctly uses comma + coordinating conjunction 'and.'
- C. Correctly uses a semicolon between independent clauses.
- D. Correctly uses a dependent clause followed by a comma.
Question 10
Which sentence is written in the active voice?
AThe medication was administered by the nurse.BThe nurse administered the medication.CThe medication was given to the patient.DThe blood was drawn by the technician.
Correct answer: B. In active voice, the subject performs the action: 'The nurse (subject) administered (verb) the medication (object).'
- A. Passive voice — the subject 'medication' receives the action.
- C. Passive voice — the subject 'medication' receives the action.
- D. Passive voice — the subject 'blood' receives the action.

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