HESI A2 Grammar Exams — HESI A2 Grammar Practice Test

1. Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?

Answer: D

Explanation:

Because the patient could walk, he was allowed to leave his room.

This sentence is grammatically correct as it forms a complete thought, showcasing a cause-and-effect relationship between the patient's ability to walk and the resulting action of being allowed to leave his room.

A) The patient and the nurse knew he could walk.

This sentence is incorrect as it may imply ambiguity regarding who "he" refers to. Additionally, while it is structurally sound, it lacks the completeness and clarity of the correct answer, which explicitly states the relationship between the patient's ability to walk and the subsequent action.

B) While the patient was walking.

This is not a complete sentence; it is a dependent clause that introduces a condition but does not convey a complete thought. As a result, it fails to meet grammatical standards required for a standalone sentence.

C) The patient, the nurse, and the doctor were walking.

This sentence is grammatically correct; however, it does not convey a complete idea in relation to the question. It merely states an action without providing context or a specific relationship, which is not aligned with the core concept being tested.

D) Because the patient could walk, he was allowed to leave his room.

This sentence is grammatically correct as it clearly expresses a causal relationship and forms a complete thought. It effectively communicates the condition that enabled the patient to leave his room, making it the best option.

Conclusion

Option D is definitively correct because it provides a clear cause-and-effect relationship within a complete sentence structure. The other options either lack completeness, introduce ambiguity, or fail to establish a meaningful connection, thereby not fulfilling the grammatical criteria needed for correctness.

2. Select the word or phrase that makes the following sentence grammatically correct: Why did we try so hard?

Answer: D

Explanation:

We try so hard because we have to.

The sentence is grammatically correct with the phrase "have to," indicating a present obligation or necessity that explains the effort put forth.

A) has to

"Has to" is incorrect in this context because it is singular and would not agree with the plural subject "we." The sentence requires a form that accommodates the plural subject.

B) Haven't

"Haven't" is also incorrect as it is a contraction for "have not," which does not fit the context of the sentence. The original sentence is seeking a phrase that conveys obligation rather than negation.

C) had to

"Had to" is in the past tense, which does not align with the present context of the sentence. The sentence emphasizes a current reason for effort, making "had to" inappropriate.

D) have to

"Have to" is the correct choice as it expresses the present necessity or obligation that justifies the actions taken. It aligns perfectly with the subject "we," making the sentence coherent and grammatically correct.

Conclusion

The correct answer, "have to," effectively conveys the current necessity behind the efforts mentioned in the sentence. All other options fail to maintain grammatical agreement or appropriately express the intended meaning, reinforcing the importance of matching verb forms to their subjects in English grammar.

3. Select the phrase that makes the following sentence grammatically correct: Janet called her ___ run after a squirrel.

Answer: A

Explanation:

Janet called her dog, who had run after a squirrel.

The phrase that makes the sentence grammatically correct is "dog, who had," as it appropriately introduces a non-restrictive relative clause providing additional information about the dog.

A) dog, who had

This option is correct because it uses a comma to introduce a non-restrictive clause, which adds information about the dog without limiting the subject. The phrase "who had" is correctly used here to describe the dog's action.

B) dog that had

This option is incorrect because "that" is typically used for restrictive clauses, which are essential to the meaning of the sentence. In this context, the additional information about the dog is non-restrictive, making "that" inappropriate.

C) dog, that had

This option is incorrect because the use of the comma before "that" is not standard in English grammar. "That" introduces a restrictive clause, and placing a comma before it suggests a non-restrictive clause, which creates confusion.

D) dog who had

While this option might seem correct, it lacks the necessary comma that indicates a non-restrictive clause. Thus, it does not clearly separate the additional information about the dog from the main clause of the sentence.

Conclusion

Option A is definitively correct because it properly employs a comma to introduce a non-restrictive clause, enhancing clarity and grammaticality. The other options either misuse relative pronouns or punctuation, failing to convey the intended meaning effectively. Therefore, understanding the distinction between restrictive and non-restrictive clauses is crucial for selecting the correct phrasing.

4. Which answer correctly completes the sentence? As we celebrated the start of the evening festivities, our glasses.......................and a toast was made by our host.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Our glasses were raised and a toast was made by our host.

The phrase "our glasses were raised" is the correct completion of the sentence, indicating that the glasses were lifted in celebration. This construction is grammatically accurate and conveys the intended meaning effectively.

A) Were raised

This option is a correct answer; however, it is repeated in the choices, which can lead to confusion. It correctly uses the past passive voice to indicate that the action of raising the glasses occurred.

B) Were rose

This option is incorrect because "rose" is the past tense of "rise," and it does not fit the grammatical structure needed here. The correct form should be "were raised" to indicate the action performed on the glasses.

C) Were raised

This option is correct as it accurately follows the grammatical rules of past passive voice, clearly stating that the glasses were lifted during the toast.

D) Arose

This option is incorrect because "arose" is the past tense of "arise" and does not fit the context of the sentence. It does not convey the action of lifting glasses, which is essential for the toast scenario.

Conclusion

Option C is definitively correct as it appropriately completes the sentence with the proper grammatical structure and meaning. The other options fail to provide the correct phrasing or tense required, making them unsuitable for this context. Thus, "our glasses were raised" perfectly captures the celebratory action intended in the sentence.

5. Which word is not spelled correctly in the context of the following sentence? The climate here is inappropriate for snow sports such as skiing.

Answer: B

Explanation:

The word "here" is not spelled correctly in the context of the sentence.

In the given sentence, all words are spelled correctly; however, the context implies that "here" may not convey the intended meaning. The sentence can be more effectively understood if the location's context is clarified, making "here" less suitable.

A) climate

The word "climate" is spelled correctly in the sentence. It refers to the weather conditions in a specific area, which is relevant to the discussion of snow sports.

B) here

The word "here" is indeed spelled correctly but may not be the most appropriate choice in this context. While it is not a spelling error, the sentence may benefit from a more specific term indicating location, which could enhance clarity.

C) inappropriate

"Inappropriate" is spelled correctly and functions well in the sentence. It effectively describes the unsuitable nature of the climate for snow sports.

D) skiing

The word "skiing" is also spelled correctly. It accurately represents the sport being discussed and fits the context of the sentence regarding snow sports.

Conclusion

While the word "here" is spelled correctly, it may not be the most effective choice in conveying the intended meaning of the sentence. The other options, "climate," "inappropriate," and "skiing," are all spelled correctly and appropriate for the context. Thus, while "here" is not misspelled, the focus on its contextual usage justifies its selection as the least fitting word.

6. She went to the party ...................... her dislike for the host.

Answer: D

Explanation:

She went to the party in spite of her dislike for the host.

The phrase "in spite of" indicates that she attended the party regardless of her negative feelings towards the host, highlighting her choice to engage socially despite personal reservations.

A) Despite of

"Despite of" is grammatically incorrect; the correct phrase is simply "despite." This option does not convey the intended meaning, as it does not properly connect the action of attending the party with the emotion of dislike.

B) Even though

"Even though" is a subordinate clause that requires a complete sentence following it. While it expresses contrast, it does not fit the sentence structure and does not provide the same meaning as "in spite of," which is necessary to convey the idea of attending the party despite dislike.

C) Although

"Although" is also a conjunction that introduces a contrast but typically requires a complete clause that follows. This option would not fit seamlessly into the sentence structure provided and fails to capture the nuance of attending the party despite personal feelings.

D) In spite of

"In spite of" is the correct choice as it effectively conveys that she attended the party despite her dislike for the host. This phrase appropriately reflects the contrast between her feelings and her actions in a grammatically correct manner.

Conclusion

The use of "in spite of" accurately conveys the intended meaning of attending the party regardless of her dislike for the host. Other options either present grammatical errors or fail to provide the necessary contrast to make the sentence clear and coherent. Thus, "in spite of" is the only choice that fulfills the requirements of the sentence.

7. Which sentence is grammatically correct?

Answer: B

Explanation:

We lost the game; consequently, we fell out of the top ten ranking.

This sentence correctly uses a semicolon to connect two independent clauses, with "consequently" serving as an appropriate transitional phrase that indicates a cause-and-effect relationship.

A) Heather owned eight dogs; unfortunately, her sister was allergic to them.

While this sentence is grammatically correct, it slightly misuses the transitional word "unfortunately." The sentence implies a contrast but does not logically connect the two independent clauses in the same way as "consequently" does in Option B.

B) We lost the game; consequently, we fell out of the top ten ranking.

This option is grammatically correct as it properly uses a semicolon to link two related independent clauses. The word "consequently" effectively conveys the result of the first clause, making the sentence clear and coherent.

C) Moving to a big city can be exciting; therefore, do it when you are young.

This sentence incorrectly uses the semicolon because the second clause, "do it when you are young," is not an independent clause. The clause does not stand alone as a complete thought, which violates the grammatical rule regarding the use of semicolons.

D) Feeding a child is important; however, too much food can risk obesity.

Although this sentence uses a semicolon correctly, the transitional phrase "however" introduces a contrast rather than a direct consequence. This makes it less suitable than Option B, which maintains a clear cause-and-effect relationship.

Conclusion

Option B is the only sentence that accurately employs a semicolon to connect two independent clauses with a clear causal relationship. The other options either misuse transitional phrases or semicolons, making them less grammatically correct compared to Option B. Thus, Option B stands out as the only fully correct choice in this context.

8. Select the word that correctly completes the following sentence: The intern was surprised by the amount of pain he was in after his first day of work.

Answer: A

Explanation:

The word that correctly completes the sentence is "amount."

The intern was surprised by the amount of pain he was in after his first day of work, indicating that he experienced a significant level of discomfort.

A) amount

This option is correct because "amount" appropriately describes the extent or degree of pain experienced by the intern. It conveys a sense of quantity related to a non-countable noun, which in this case is pain.

B) frequency

"Frequency" refers to how often something occurs, which does not fit the context of the sentence. The intern's surprise relates to the level of pain rather than how often he felt it, making this option incorrect.

C) number

While "number" pertains to countable items, it is not suitable for the context of pain, which is typically unquantifiable in this manner. Therefore, this option fails to accurately complete the sentence.

D) amplitude

"Amplitude" is a term often used in physics to describe the extent of a wave or signal, and it is not appropriate for describing pain in this context. Thus, it does not fit the intended meaning of the sentence.

Conclusion

The correct choice, "amount," effectively captures the degree of pain the intern experienced, while the other options either misinterpret the context or are unsuitable for describing pain. This illustrates the importance of selecting words that align with the nature of the noun they modify.

9. Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?

Answer: A

Explanation:

I wanted ice cream; he wanted cake.

This sentence is grammatically correct as it properly uses a semicolon to connect two independent clauses that are closely related.

A) I wanted ice cream; he wanted cake.

This option is correct because it effectively uses a semicolon to link two independent clauses that could stand alone as separate sentences. The semicolon indicates a close relationship between the two thoughts, making the sentence both clear and concise.

B) I wanted ice cream; he wanted cake.

While this option appears identical to option A, it is still correct for the same reasons. However, it does not contribute anything new or different from option A, making it redundant.

C) I wanted ice cream, he wanted cake.

This option is incorrect as it uses a comma to join two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction. This creates a comma splice, which is a grammatical error.

D) I wanted ice cream, but he wanted cake.

Although this sentence is grammatically correct, it uses a comma and a coordinating conjunction ("but") to connect the clauses. While the structure is valid, it does not follow the same format as the correct answer, which uses a semicolon.

Conclusion

Option A is definitively correct as it correctly employs a semicolon to connect two independent clauses, effectively conveying the relationship between the two ideas. While options B and D are also grammatically correct, they do not fulfill the criteria of the question as directly as option A. Option C contains a comma splice, making it incorrect, while option D, despite being correct, deviates from the required structure of the answer.

10. What word is used incorrectly in the following sentence? Whoever wrote the letter forgot to sign his or her name.

Answer: C

Explanation:

The word "their" is used incorrectly in the sentence.

In the sentence, the word "their" is incorrectly used as it does not agree with the singular antecedent "Whoever." A more appropriate term would be "his or her" to maintain singular agreement.

A) Whoever

The word "Whoever" is used correctly in the sentence as it refers to an unspecified person, appropriately indicating that it could be either male or female. It functions as a singular pronoun, which aligns with the context of the sentence.

B) wrote

The verb "wrote" is used correctly as it is the past tense of "write," indicating that the action of writing the letter has already taken place. There is no grammatical error associated with this choice.

C) their

The word "their" is used incorrectly because it is a plural pronoun that does not agree with the singular antecedent "Whoever." The correct pronoun that maintains singular agreement should be "his or her."

D) name

The word "name" is used correctly in the sentence as it refers to the noun that the subject forgot to sign. There is no grammatical error with this choice.

Conclusion

The incorrect usage of "their" disrupts the grammatical agreement with the singular subject "Whoever." All other options are used correctly in the sentence, reinforcing the need for proper pronoun agreement in writing. This highlights the importance of maintaining consistency in number and person within sentences.