You edit sentences the way the grammar module scores them: agreement, tense, and clean structure. Five of the 15 questions include the correct answer and rationale. The other ten keep answers in the study hub. Continue with the HESI A2 exam guide or more HESI A2 practice questions.
Five grammar questions with answers
Cover the key. Write the first action. Then open the rationale and name why the other choices fail.
Question 1
What word is best to substitute for the underlined words in the following sentence? Several nursing students stayed behind after class, but the instructor advised the students to ask questions during office hours.
A. them
B. him
C. they
D. those
Show answer and rationale
Correct answer: C — they
The word 'they' is the best substitute for the underlined words in the sentence because it refers to the plural noun 'nursing students' and is used to indicate the subject of the sentence. Using 'they' maintains subject-verb agreement and clarity in the sentence.
Choice A 'them' is incorrect as it is used for objects, not subjects. Choice B 'him' is singular and does not agree with the plural noun 'nursing students.' Choice D 'those' is also incorrect as it refers to objects, not the subject of the sentence.
Question 2
What punctuation is needed in the following sentence to make it correct? Have you finished reading the lab results so we can schedule an appointment with the patient?
A. Period
B. Comma
C. Question mark
D. Exclamation mark
Show answer and rationale
Correct answer: C — Question mark
The correct punctuation needed in the sentence is a question mark. The sentence is a question, asking whether the lab results have been read in order to schedule an appointment. Therefore, a question mark is needed at the end of the sentence to indicate that it is an inquiry. The period is used for statements, not questions. A comma would not be appropriate here as the sentence is not a list or a compound sentence. An exclamation mark would imply excitement or surprise, which is not the tone of the sentence.
Question 3
Select the word that makes the following sentence grammatically correct. The committee finished _______ report in time for the annual review.
A. its
B. their
C. it's
D. they're
Show answer and rationale
Correct answer: A — its
In this sentence, "committee" is a singular noun, so the correct pronoun to use is "its." The possessive pronoun "its" indicates that the committee is taking ownership of the report it finished. Choice B, "their," is incorrect as it is a plural pronoun and does not agree with the singular noun "committee." Choices C and D are also incorrect as they represent contractions ("it's" for "it is" and "they're" for "they are"), which do not fit in the context of showing possession of the report by the committee.
Question 4
Select the best word for the blank in the following sentence: 'The student sang well, but she danced ____.'
A. badly
B. badly
C. poorly
D. poorer
Show answer and rationale
Correct answer: B — badly
'Badly' is the correct adverb to modify 'danced'. In this context, 'badly' is used to describe the manner in which the student danced, indicating that her dancing performance was not good, contrasting with her singing ability. 'Poorly' (choice C) is also an adverb, but 'badly' is more commonly used in this context to describe performance in an artistic or skill-based activity. Choice D, 'poorer,' is incorrect as it is the comparative form of 'poor,' not the appropriate adverb to describe how she danced.
Question 5
Select the best words for the blanks in the following sentence: 'The patient wanted to ____ down on the bed, but first she had to ____ her tray of food on the table.'
A. lie, lay
B. lay, lie
C. lie, laid
D. lain, lying
Show answer and rationale
Correct answer: A — lie, lay
In this sentence, 'lie' is the correct word for the patient wanting to recline on the bed, and 'lay' is the correct word for placing the tray of food on the table. Therefore, 'lie, lay' is the proper sequence of words for the actions described in the sentence.
Choice B is incorrect because 'lie' should be used for reclining, not 'lay'. Choice C is incorrect as 'laid' is the past tense of 'lay,' not the present tense. Choice D is incorrect; 'lain' is the past participle of 'lie,' not the present tense.
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Question 6
Select the word that makes the following sentence grammatically correct. The intern had to select _________ three specialties.
A. among
B. between
C. with
D. along
Correct answer:
The correct answer is A, 'among'. When choosing from more than two items, the preposition 'among' is used. In this case, 'among' is the appropriate choice as the intern had to select from three specialties, indicating a selection from a group rather than a choice between two specific options. Choice B, 'between', is incorrect because it is used when choosing between two items. Choice C, 'with', and choice D, 'along', are also incorrect as they do not convey the idea of choosing from a group of items.
Select the phrase or clause that is misplaced in the following sentence: I did not see the open carton of orange juice on the shelf standing with the refrigerator door open.
A. I did not see
B. of orange juice
C. on the shelf
D. standing with the refrigerator door open
Correct answer:
The phrase 'standing with the refrigerator door open' is misplaced in the sentence as it disrupts the flow. It seems to modify 'shelf,' but it actually relates to the subject's action. Placing it after 'orange juice' would enhance clarity and conciseness. Choice A, 'I did not see,' is the introductory part of the sentence and is correctly placed. Choices B and C, 'of orange juice' and 'on the shelf,' provide necessary information and are correctly positioned in relation to the main subject and verb.
Select the phrase that makes the following sentence grammatically correct. There is a fountain ______ the driveway and the main entrance.
A. among
B. between
C. by way of
D. in conjunction with
Correct answer:
The correct preposition to use in this sentence to indicate the position of the fountain in relation to the driveway and the main entrance is 'between.' 'Between' conveys that the fountain is positioned centrally or in the middle of the driveway and the main entrance, making it the most suitable phrase to complete the sentence correctly. The other options do not accurately describe the fountain's position between two distinct locations, making them grammatically incorrect choices for this sentence.
Which word is not spelled correctly in the context of the following sentence? The counselor expected me to accept her advice without question.
A. counselor
B. expected
C. accept
D. advise
Correct answer:
The word 'counselor' is spelled correctly in the sentence. The word 'advise' in the sentence should be spelled 'advice.' 'Advise' is a verb meaning to offer suggestions, while 'advice' is a noun referring to recommendations or guidance given by someone. In this context, the correct word to use is 'advice,' as the sentence implies the counselor's guidance rather than her action of advising. Choice A is the correct answer as it is the only word that is not spelled correctly in the given sentence.
What word is best to substitute for the underlined words in the following sentence? The children loved having their photographs taken.
A. its
B. their
C. they
D. his
Correct answer:
The correct word to substitute for the underlined words 'the children' in the sentence would be 'their' to ensure clarity and proper possessive form. Using 'their' makes it clear that the photographs belong to the children. Choice A 'its' is incorrect as it refers to singular possession. Choice C 'they' is a pronoun and does not indicate possession. Choice D 'his' is incorrect as it is singular and refers to a male possessive form, which does not match the plural 'children' in the sentence.
Select the phrase in the sentence that is not used correctly. Until his trip to Puerto Rico, Javier had never seen his ancestral home.
A. Until his trip
B. had never
C. never seen
D. his ancestral home
Correct answer:
The phrase 'never seen' in the sentence is not used correctly. The correct phrase should be 'never seen,' which is the past participle form of the verb 'see.' In this context, 'seen' is the correct past participle to use with 'had never.' Choice A, 'Until his trip,' is correct as it sets the time frame. Choice B, 'had never,' is also correct as it indicates the past perfect tense. Choice D, 'his ancestral home,' is also used correctly as it refers to the place Javier had never seen before.
Which word is not spelled correctly in the context of the following sentence? The itinerant teacher moved continually from one school to another within the district.
A. iterate
B. continually
C. within
D. district
Correct answer:
The word 'iterate' is not spelled correctly in the sentence. The correct word that should be used here is 'itinerant,' which means constantly traveling from place to place, especially for work. In this context, 'iterate' does not fit as it means to repeat a process or utterance. 'Continually' is spelled correctly and means happening without interruption. 'Within' and 'district' are also spelled correctly and are used appropriately in the sentence. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer.
During the storm, the glass in three of the windows ___________.
A. Was broken
B. Breaks
C. Broken
D. Were broken
Correct answer:
The correct answer is 'Were broken.' In this sentence, the subject 'glass in three of the windows' is plural, so the correct verb form should also be plural, which is 'were broken.' The verb 'broken' in the original sentence is in the past participle form, which is used correctly in the corrected answer choice 'D.' Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not match the subject in number ('glass in three of the windows') and do not use the correct past participle form of the verb.
The correct answer is 'Was studying,' which is the past continuous form describing an action that was happening at a specific time in the past. Choice B, 'Didn't study,' is incorrect because it's in simple past tense, not the continuous form required by the context. Choice C, 'Studied hard,' is incorrect as it lacks the continuous aspect required by the context. Choice D, 'Would have studied,' is in the wrong tense; it is a hypothetical past action, not an action in progress in the past.
What punctuation is needed in the following sentence to make it correct? Because of a major accident on the freeway, the emergency room was overcrowded.
A. Period
B. Comma
C. Exclamation point
D. Semicolon
Correct answer:
The correct sentence should be: 'Because of a major accident on the freeway, the emergency room was overcrowded.' A comma is needed after 'freeway' to separate the introductory dependent clause from the independent clause that follows. Choice A (Period) is incorrect as it would create two separate sentences. Choice C (Exclamation point) is incorrect as there is no exclamation in the sentence. Choice D (Semicolon) is incorrect as it is used to separate closely related independent clauses.
HESI A2 grammar practice questions, set 6 for nursing students in the United States. Fifteen items. Five include answers and rationales in American English.
No. Nursier is independent practice. Register through the official path named on the HESI A2 exam guide.
The first five questions already include the rationale. Start full practice to unlock the remaining keys, missed-question review, and the rest of the bank.
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