1. Which sentence expresses common and proper nouns correctly?
a.
Many graduates from Marquette University are Wisconsin natives.
b.
My new Samsung Television allows me to stream video from my Computer.
c.
Courtney watched the graduation Ceremony on her Smartphone.
a
however, identify general terms and are not capitalized.
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.3-1 – 3-1
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Common and Proper Nouns
BLOOM’S: Application
2. The two ______ will be hiring many temporary workers during the summer months.
a.
b.
c.
b
Nouns ending in s, x, z, ch, or sh form the plural with the addition of es (businesses).
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.3-2 – 3-2
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Making Nouns Plural: The Basics
BLOOM’S: Application
3. The political campaign turned out to be a battle of the two ____.
a.
sexes
b.
sexs
c.
sex’s
a
Because this noun ends in x, form the plural with the addition of es (sexes).
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.3-2 – 3-2
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.6 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.6
4. Both ____ offer excellent customer service and technical support.
a.
companies
b.
companys
c.
company’s
a
1
Easy
5. The legal ____ were filed by the assistant district attorney on Friday.
a.
briefs
b.
brief’s
c.
briefs’
a
1
Easy
6. Liquidity ____ for the two companies must be examined carefully.
a.
ratios
b.
ratioes
c.
ratio’s
a
1
Easy
7. The ____ hope to meet their English and Scottish relatives during their vacation.
a.
Harris
b.
Harrises
c.
Harris’s
b
1
Easy
8. Ashley has two ____ who are chemical engineers at DuPont.
a.
sister-in-laws
b.
sisters-in-law
c.
sisters-in-laws
b
1
Easy
9. Three students were marked as ____ because they did not attend class on the first day.
a.
no-shows
b.
nos-show
c.
nos-shows
a
1
Easy
10. Many ____ attended the e-commerce seminar to learn strategies to maximize their online sales.
a.
CEOs’
b.
CEO’s
c.
CEOs
c
1
Easy
11. Only one ____ testimony impressed the judge and jury.
a.
witnesses
b.
witness’s
c.
witnesses’
b
1
Easy
12. Both ____ complaints were handled promptly and courteously.
a.
customers
b.
customer’s
c.
customers’
c
1
Easy
13. Chris worked in the ____ division for 15 years.
a.
sales
b.
sale’s
c.
sales’
a
1
Easy
14. My ____ blog receives hundreds of hits every day.
a.
mother-in-laws
b.
mother’s-in-law
c.
mother-in-law’s
c
1
Easy
15. The ____ children were National Merit scholars and attended Ivy League universities.
a.
Valdez’
b.
Valdezes’
c.
Valdez’s
b
1
Easy
16. Be sure to enclose all in-text citations within two ____.
a.
parenthesis
b.
parentheses
c.
parenthesi
b
1
Easy
17. In just one ____ time, our website traffic increased 120 percent.
a.
years
b.
year’s
c.
years’
b
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.3-8 – 3-8
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.6 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.6
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Challenging Possessive Constructions
BLOOM’S: Application
18. ____ cubicles are on the fourth floor in the Park Tower building.
a.
Geoffs and Amys
b.
Geoff and Amy’s
c.
Geoff’s and Amy’s
c
possessive (Geoff and Amy’s child).
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.3-8 – 3-8
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.6 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.6
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Challenging Possessive Constructions
BLOOM’S: Application
19. Which sentence is correct?
a.
Most husbands list their wifes and children as beneficiarys on their life insurance policys.
b.
All recently hired RNs and MDs were encouraged by the board of directors to improve patient education
efforts.
c.
The Kennedies planted organic tomatos and potatos in their vegetable garden.
b
1
Moderate
BENG.GUFF.17.3-2 – 3-2
BENG.GUFF.17.3-3 – 3-3
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.6 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.6
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Making Nouns Plural: The Basics and Making Nouns Plural: Beyond the Basics
BLOOM’S: Application
20. Which sentence is correctly and clearly expressed?
a.
My firm’s architect’s opinion was explained in the executive summary.
b.
Recent technological advances’ have increased job availability in the electronics‘ industry.
c.
After breaching the network firewall, the computer hackers downloaded all investors’ records.
1
BENG.GUFF.17.3-6 – 3-6
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Showing Possession With Apostrophes and Making Nouns Possessive: Beyond the Basics
BLOOM’S: Application
21. Which sentence is correct?
a.
We wanted an applicant with three year’s experience as a system’s analyst.
b.
We wanted an applicant with three years’ experience as a system’s analyst.
c.
We wanted an applicant with three years’ experience as a systems analyst.
apostrophe is necessary on the word systems because it is descriptive rather than possessive.
1
BENG.GUFF.17.3-7 – 3-7
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Making Nouns Possessive: Beyond the Basics and Challenging Possessive Constructions
BLOOM’S: Application
22. Which sentence is best expressed?
a.
Budgetwise, we are behind our expected sales projections.
b.
We are behind our schedule, productionwise, in meeting the customer’s order.
c.
Considering our production, we are behind schedule in meeting the customer’s order.
The practice of attaching -wise to nouns is frowned on by many language experts. Such
1
Easy
23. Every Thanksgiving morning we watch the ______ parade.
a.
Macy’s
b.
Macys’
c.
Macy’s’
a
of another apostrophe is unnecessary (Macy’s).
1
Easy
24. Many families enjoy watching college football bowl games on ______.
a.
New Years’ Day
b.
New Years Day
c.
New Year’s Day
c
1
Easy
25. When the local area code changed, the company had to order new ____.
a.
stationary
b.
stationery
c.
stationairy
b
1
Easy
26. ____, along with the project managers, will review the progress report.
a.
Them
b.
They
c.
Themselves
b
1
Easy
27. The firm asked ____ to provide three professional references.
a.
us
b.
we
c.
they
a
1
Easy
28. Between you and ____, I don’t think the merger will occur.
a.
I
b.
me
c.
we
b
1
Easy
29. The company and all of ____ assets were released to creditors.
a.
it’s
b.
its’
c.
its
c
1
Easy
30. Morgan and ____ were transferred to our satellite office.
a.
her
b.
she
c.
herself
b
1
Easy
31. No one has demonstrated more commitment to the project than ____.
a.
she
b.
her
c.
herself
a
1
Easy
32. Union officials consulted ____ employees before ratifying the contract.
a.
we
b.
us
b
1
Easy
33. The customer ____ realized that he did not have the correct receipt to process the claim.
a.
himself
b.
hisself
c.
himselve
a
1
Easy
34. I think it was ____ who credited the customer’s account.
a.
her
b.
she
c.
herself
b
case (she).
1
Easy
35. Many colleges prohibit ____ from using or possessing a cell phone during an exam.
a.
you
b.
students
b
1
Easy
36. Each voter was questioned about ____ election preferences.
a.
his
b.
their
c.
his or her
d.
her
c
agreement.
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.4-3 – 4-3
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Fundamentals of Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
BLOOM’S: Application
37. Either the manager or the employees will be happy to help you in any way ____ can.
a.
she
b.
they
c.
he
d.
he or she
b
plural, select they.
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.4-4 – 4-4
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Special Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Challenges
BLOOM’S: Application
38. Which of the following is preferred usage?
a.
Anyone who wants to attend the conference must submit his registration form by April 30.
b.
Anyone who wants to attend the conference must submit their registration form by April 30.
c.
All those who want to attend the conference must submit their registration forms by April 30.
c
indefinite pronoun (Anyone) that could be masculine or feminine or a plural pronoun (their)
1
Moderate
39. The committee submitted ____ final report to management.
a.
its
b.
their
c.
they’re
d.
it’s
a
1
Easy
40. The United Way uses ______ resources to help local communities identify and resolve issues.
a.
it’s
b.
they’re
c.
their
d.
its
d
1
Easy
41. Jon Seiffert is the attorney ____we want to help us start our new business.
a.
who
b.
whom
b
1
Easy
42. The grant will be given to ____ deserves it.
a.
whoever
b.
whomever
a
1
Easy
43. ____ car is parked in the CEO’s parking space?
a.
Whose
b.
Who’s
a
1
Easy
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Advanced Pronoun Use
BLOOM’S: Application
44. Which sentence is correct?
a.
As Americans listened to the congressional hearing on terrorism, they considered its impact on U.S. foreign
relations.
b.
The finance department requested travel receipts from you and I before processing our expense vouchers.
c.
I hope that your prepared to participate on the budget planning team and it’s many related subcommittees.
a
errors in pronoun case (I/me, it’s/its, and your/you‘re).
1
Moderate
BENG.GUFF.17.4-1 – 4-1
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Guidelines for Using Personal Pronouns
BLOOM’S: Application
45. Which sentence is correct?
a.
Us delegates are required to consult our constituents before we vote.
b.
Nathan Roberts was more qualified for the position than I.
c.
If the caller was her, I’m surprised that no message was left.
b
1
Moderate
BENG.GUFF.17.4-2 – 4-2
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Challenges in Using Personal Pronouns
BLOOM’S: Application
46. Which sentence is correct?
a.
Whom should be the new business and industry representative?
b.
Please let me know who’s responsible for handling customer complaints.
c.
The position of district manager will be given to whoever you identify as the top salesperson.
b
1
Moderate
BENG.GUFF.17.4-6 – 4-6
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Advanced Pronoun Use
BLOOM’S: Application
47. The company has many ____ policies in place.
a.
non-discriminatory
b.
non discriminatory
c.
nondiscriminatory
c
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.N/A – N/A
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
FAQs About Business English
BLOOM’S: Application
48. The e-mail message had ____ many errors.
a.
two
b.
too
c.
to
b
adverb too may be used to mean “also” or “to an excessive extent” (too many errors).
1
Easy
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.1.6 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.1.6
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
FAQs About Business English
BLOOM’S: Application
49. You should ____ your important files daily.
a.
backup
b.
back up
c.
back-up
b
which is how it is used in this sentence (back up). However, it is never hyphenated!
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.N/A – N/A
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
FAQs About Business English
BLOOM’S: Application
50. This ____ the most innovative product our company has ever released.
a.
maybe
b.
may be
c.
may–be
b
which means “perhaps.”
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.N/A – N/A
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
FAQs About Business English
BLOOM’S: Application