Conjunction Error Correction Quiz

1. What correction should be made to the following sentence? 'The librarian will either fine you, nor let you check out more books.'

Change 'nor' to 'or'.

Change 'either' to 'neither'.

Remove the comma.

Change 'fine' to 'fined'.

The two clauses express contrasting ideas: one thing happened (flickering), but the opposite of what you might expect (power going out) did not. The coordinating conjunction 'but' is used to show contrast.

Explanation

The two clauses express contrasting ideas: one thing happened (flickering), but the opposite of what you might expect (power going out) did not. The coordinating conjunction 'but' is used to show contrast.

2. Rewrite the following sentence to correct the faulty parallelism: 'She not only sings, but also a talented dancer.'

The context of the sentence states you must choose between two options ('pizza' or 'soup') and implies you cannot have the other, making 'either/or' the correct correlative pair for choice.

Explanation

The context of the sentence states you must choose between two options ('pizza' or 'soup') and implies you cannot have the other, making 'either/or' the correct correlative pair for choice.

Submit

3. It is correct to join two independent clauses (full sentences) with a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) without using a comma.

True

False

This statement is true. Coordinating conjunctions like 'and', 'but', and 'or' connect elements that have the same grammatical function or importance in the sentence structure.

Explanation

This statement is true. Coordinating conjunctions like 'and', 'but', and 'or' connect elements that have the same grammatical function or importance in the sentence structure.

4. Select the correct way to fix this comma splice: 'The sun was setting, the sky turned orange.'

The sun was setting, so the sky turned orange.

The sun was setting and the sky turned orange.

The sun was setting; the sky turned orange.

Both A and C.

The second sentence provides the reason or cause for the first sentence. The subordinating conjunction 'because' is the most effective word to show this cause-and-effect relationship, creating a complex sentence.

Explanation

The second sentence provides the reason or cause for the first sentence. The subordinating conjunction 'because' is the most effective word to show this cause-and-effect relationship, creating a complex sentence.

5. Which conjunction corrects the faulty logic in this sentence: ‘He studied for the test, but he earned a good grade.’

Or

So

For

Yet

A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses (full sentences) are joined only by a comma, which is grammatically incorrect. Options A and C both connect two complete, simple sentences with only a comma. Option B is correct because it uses a comma and a coordinating conjunction ('but').

Explanation

A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses (full sentences) are joined only by a comma, which is grammatically incorrect. Options A and C both connect two complete, simple sentences with only a comma. Option B is correct because it uses a comma and a coordinating conjunction ('but').

6. Which of the following sentences contain a conjunction error that must be corrected? (Select all that apply)

My dog loves to chase squirrels I can never catch him.

I brought a sandwich, and I also packed an apple.

The phone rang, I didn't answer it.

Neither the cat nor the dog wants to go outside.

The two actions are similar and are being presented as additions to each other. The coordinating conjunction 'and' is used to simply join two equal, related ideas.

Explanation

The two actions are similar and are being presented as additions to each other. The coordinating conjunction 'and' is used to simply join two equal, related ideas.

Submit

7. The sentence, 'Neither I like carrots, or I like broccoli,' correctly uses a correlative conjunction pair.

True

False

This statement is false. You only place a comma before a coordinating conjunction when it joins two complete, independent clauses (full sentences). If it joins two words or two phrases, no comma is needed (e.g., bread and butter).

Explanation

This statement is false. You only place a comma before a coordinating conjunction when it joins two complete, independent clauses (full sentences). If it joins two words or two phrases, no comma is needed (e.g., bread and butter).

8. Choose the sentence that is correctly punctuated.

Although it rained all day, the parade continued.

Although it rained all day the parade continued.

The parade continued although it rained all day,

The parade continued, although it rained all day.

Correlative conjunctions must join grammatically parallel elements. In option A, 'call' and 'text' are both verbs/actions, maintaining parallel structure. The other options place the correlative pair incorrectly, disrupting the parallelism.

Explanation

Correlative conjunctions must join grammatically parallel elements. In option A, 'call' and 'text' are both verbs/actions, maintaining parallel structure. The other options place the correlative pair incorrectly, disrupting the parallelism.

9. Identify the necessary correction to fix the correlative parallelism error in this sentence: 'The team was excited not only to play but also they wanted to win.'

The sentence expresses a time relationship; the action of lining up will happen at the specific time the bell rings. 'When' is the best subordinating conjunction to introduce this time-based dependent clause.

Explanation

The sentence expresses a time relationship; the action of lining up will happen at the specific time the bell rings. 'When' is the best subordinating conjunction to introduce this time-based dependent clause.

Submit

10. Which conjunction should replace 'although' to clearly show that the second idea is the reason for the first? 'I decided to wear my coat, although it was a cold day.'

But

Or

Because

So

The heavy rain is the cause, and the cancellation is the effect/result. The coordinating conjunction 'so' is used to connect an independent clause with the result of that clause.

Explanation

The heavy rain is the cause, and the cancellation is the effect/result. The coordinating conjunction 'so' is used to connect an independent clause with the result of that clause.

11. Which sentence contains a conjunction error?

I will travel to New York, and then I will visit Boston.

She bought new shoes and a matching handbag.

The movie was long, but it was very exciting.

He likes apples or he prefers oranges.

Subordinating conjunctions serve two main purposes: they make a clause dependent (B) and they clearly define the relationship (C) between the main idea and the new, subordinate idea. Option A describes coordinating conjunctions.

Explanation

Subordinating conjunctions serve two main purposes: they make a clause dependent (B) and they clearly define the relationship (C) between the main idea and the new, subordinate idea. Option A describes coordinating conjunctions.

12. What are acceptable ways to correct the following sentence: 'I went to the store I bought milk.' (Select all that apply)

I went to the store, and I bought milk.

I went to the store; I bought milk.

Because I went to the store, I bought milk.

I went to the store and bought milk.

This statement is true. The rule of 'parallel structure' requires that the words, phrases, or clauses following each part of a correlative pair are grammatically equal.

Explanation

This statement is true. The rule of 'parallel structure' requires that the words, phrases, or clauses following each part of a correlative pair are grammatically equal.

Submit

13. When a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) joins only two words or two phrases, you should still use a comma before the conjunction.

True

False

The coordinating conjunction 'for' can mean 'because' and is used to show the reason (it was cold) for the action (I wore a sweater).

Explanation

The coordinating conjunction 'for' can mean 'because' and is used to show the reason (it was cold) for the action (I wore a sweater).

14. Correct the correlative conjunction pair in this sentence: 'Both the students, as well as the teacher, enjoyed the field trip.'

The sentence indicates that the play had two positive characteristics, 'captivating' and 'intellectually stimulating.' The correlative conjunction 'both/and' is used to show the inclusion of two elements.

Explanation

The sentence indicates that the play had two positive characteristics, 'captivating' and 'intellectually stimulating.' The correlative conjunction 'both/and' is used to show the inclusion of two elements.

Submit

15. Which conjunction is the best replacement for 'or' to show a strong contrast between the two ideas? 'We could not find the keys, or we still went to the concert.'

So

For

But

Yet

The word 'or' is the coordinating conjunction used to present alternatives or choices between the two independent clauses.

Explanation

The word 'or' is the coordinating conjunction used to present alternatives or choices between the two independent clauses.

16. Which sentence is correctly punctuated?

The ice cream melted, because the sun was hot.

The ice cream melted because the sun was hot.

Because the sun was hot the ice cream melted.

The ice cream melted; because the sun was hot.

The original is a run-on sentence. Option C correctly separates the two independent clauses with a comma and the coordinating conjunction 'and,' which shows the second idea is an additional, related detail.

Explanation

The original is a run-on sentence. Option C correctly separates the two independent clauses with a comma and the coordinating conjunction 'and,' which shows the second idea is an additional, related detail.

17. Which of the following sentences correctly use correlative conjunctions with proper parallelism? (Select all that apply)

She is not only talented but also she is dedicated.

Neither in the mountains nor by the sea is a good place for our trip.

We should either buy a new computer or fix the old one.

Both running and swimming are great forms of exercise.

This statement is false. A dependent (or subordinate) clause has a subject and a verb but starts with a word like because or when, which makes it unable to stand alone; it must be attached to an independent clause.

Explanation

This statement is false. A dependent (or subordinate) clause has a subject and a verb but starts with a word like because or when, which makes it unable to stand alone; it must be attached to an independent clause.

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18. The conjunction 'nor' can be used on its own to join two positive, equal ideas in a sentence.

True

False

The word 'if' is the best choice because it establishes a condition: the boiling happens only if the water reaches a specific temperature.

Explanation

The word 'if' is the best choice because it establishes a condition: the boiling happens only if the water reaches a specific temperature.

19. How is the following sentence best corrected for clarity: 'The alarm was loud everyone in the building woke up.'

The alarm was loud so everyone in the building woke up.

The alarm was loud, so everyone in the building woke up.

The alarm was loud and everyone in the building woke up.

The alarm was loud; everyone in the building woke up.

Correlative conjunctions work in pairs to join elements in a sentence. 'both...and', 'neither...nor', and 'not only...but also' are all common correlative pairs. 'and...but' uses two separate coordinating conjunctions, not a correlative pair.

Explanation

Correlative conjunctions work in pairs to join elements in a sentence. 'both...and', 'neither...nor', and 'not only...but also' are all common correlative pairs. 'and...but' uses two separate coordinating conjunctions, not a correlative pair.

20. Correct the punctuation in this sentence: 'Because it was sunny we went to the beach.'

When the subordinating conjunction ('because') introduces the dependent clause after the independent clause, no comma is needed. A comma is needed if the dependent clause starts the sentence (e.g., Because I was tired, I went to bed early).

Explanation

When the subordinating conjunction ('because') introduces the dependent clause after the independent clause, no comma is needed. A comma is needed if the dependent clause starts the sentence (e.g., Because I was tired, I went to bed early).

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Sharpen Your Editing: Conjunction Error Correction Quiz