HESI A2 grammar practice questions

Correct answer:

In this sentence, 'to throw' is the correct form to use after the verb 'started' to indicate the action that the children began doing. The infinitive form 'to throw' is needed after the verb 'started' to show the purpose or action that is about to happen. When an action follows another action that has already started, the infinitive form is typically used to express the purpose or intention behind the subsequent action, making 'to throw' the most appropriate choice. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because 'throw' is not the correct form to follow 'started' as it needs an infinitive form, 'threw' is the past tense which is not suitable in this context, and 'threwing' is an incorrect form of the verb that does not exist in standard English.

Correct answer:

The word 'Although' is the correct choice as it is used to introduce a contrast between two ideas. In this sentence, it highlights the unexpected nature of Octavia being taller than her classmates despite being the youngest member of her class. This conjunction effectively conveys the discrepancy between her age and height in the context of the sentence. Choice A ('Despite') indicates a contradiction or contrast but does not capture the nuance of unexpectedness present in the sentence. Choice B ('Since') implies a causal relationship, which is not the intended meaning. Choice D ('Provided') suggests a condition or stipulation, which is not suitable for the context of the sentence. Therefore, 'Although' is the most appropriate choice.

Correct answer:

The correct answer is C. The sentence requires an infinitive form of the verb 'to conduct' after the verb 'promised.' This structure is commonly used in English grammar, where the main verb 'promised' is followed by an infinitive verb form. Therefore, the sentence should read: 'The students promised to conduct themselves with quiet dignity.' Choice A ('conduct') is incorrect as it is not in the infinitive form required after 'promised.' Choice B ('conducting') is incorrect as a gerund does not fit the grammatical structure of the sentence. Choice D ('to be conducted') is incorrect as it changes the meaning of the sentence, suggesting that someone else will conduct the students, rather than the students conducting themselves.

Correct answer:

The correct answer is 'Play' because 'Children' is a plural subject and requires the base form of the verb. When referring to a plural subject like 'Children,' the verb should be in its base form without an added 's' or 'ed.' In this context, 'Play' is the appropriate form to use to match the subject 'Children.' Choice B, 'Plays,' is incorrect because it is the singular form of the verb and does not agree with the plural subject 'Children.' Choice C, 'Played,' is incorrect as it is the past tense form of the verb and does not fit the present tense context of the sentence. Choice D, 'Playing,' is incorrect as it is the present participle form of the verb and does not match the simple present tense needed in the sentence.

Correct answer:

In the sentence, "The staff sergeant and I reviewed the enlisted men's records," the pronoun "I" refers to the subject of the sentence, which is the speaker. When combining the staff sergeant and the speaker "I," the correct pronoun to use is "we," which is the plural form of "I." Therefore, the word "We" is best to substitute for the underlined words in the sentence. Choice A, "Us," is incorrect as it is an object pronoun and does not match the subject position in the sentence. Choice C, "They," is also incorrect as it refers to a third-party group, not including the speaker and the staff sergeant. Choice D, "He," is incorrect as it does not include both the staff sergeant and the speaker in the pronoun substitution.

Correct answer:

The correct word to use in this sentence is 'taking' to show the continuous aspect of the action. The sentence should read: 'Having taking one pill at bedtime, the patient was able to sleep for eight hours.' 'Taking' is the present participle form of the verb 'take,' which is appropriate in this context to indicate the ongoing action of taking a pill at bedtime. Choice A, 'took,' is incorrect as it is the simple past tense, not suitable for this sentence's structure. Choice B, 'take,' is the base form of the verb, which does not fit the sentence's requirement for a participle. Choice D, 'taken,' is the past participle form, which is also unsuitable for showing the ongoing action required in this context.

Correct answer:

In the sentence, 'The children and their parents handed water in tiny cups to the runners,' the phrase 'to the runners' is misplaced. Placing it at the end of the sentence can create a clearer and more direct connection between the action of handing water in tiny cups and the recipients, the runners. Rearranging the sentence in this way enhances its clarity and coherence. Choice A ('and their parents') is correctly positioned as it connects 'the children' with 'their parents.' Choice B ('handed water in tiny cups') is the main action being performed and is appropriately placed. Choice D ('in tiny cups') appropriately describes how the water was handed. Therefore, the correct answer is C.

Correct answer:

The phrase 'Having completed' is not used correctly in the sentence. The correct form should be 'Having completed' to show that the action of completing the coursework has already been done. The use of 'complete' is incorrect as it should be 'completed' to maintain the correct verb form in the past participle. Choice B, 'was required,' is used correctly as it is in the passive voice and fits the sentence structure. Choice C, 'now prepares,' is also correct as it shows the current action of Jorge preparing for exam week. Choice D, 'prepared for,' is not the phrase in question and is used correctly in the sentence to indicate the action Jorge took in the past to get ready for exam week.

Correct answer:

In the sentence, 'Could Kendra manage to carry both Kendra's books and yours?', the possessive pronoun 'hers' is the best substitution for the underlined words. The use of 'hers' correctly indicates possession by Kendra, making it the most appropriate word choice to replace 'Kendra's books'. Choice A, 'her', is incorrect as it refers to the possessive form of a singular female noun, not being possessive of 'Kendra'. Choice B, 'his', is incorrect as it is the possessive pronoun for a singular male noun, not suitable for replacing 'Kendra's books'. Choice C, 'she's', is incorrect as it is a contraction for 'she is', which does not fit the possessive context needed in the sentence.

Correct answer:

The correct word to use in this sentence is 'volunteered' as it indicates an action that Cathy did in the past. The sentence suggests that Cathy was engaging in volunteering at the hospital for the first time, so the past tense form 'volunteered' is the most appropriate choice. Choice B ('volunteering') is incorrect because it is the present participle form and does not fit the past tense context of the sentence. Choice C ('was volunteered') is passive voice and implies that someone else made Cathy volunteer, which is not the intended meaning. Choice D ('volunteer') is incorrect as it is the base form of the verb and does not match the past tense requirement of the sentence.