Language & Literature

Syntax Quiz with Answers: Test Your Sentence Structure Skills

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This syntax quiz helps you check sentence structure, clauses, and word order, so you can spot mistakes fast. Get instant results and see which rules to review. For extra practice, try the parts of speech quiz, the advanced english grammar quiz, or the verbals quiz.

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1Choose the correctly punctuated complex sentence with a nonrestrictive relative clause.
2Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.
3Select the sentence that properly uses a restrictive clause.
4Choose the correctly formed compound sentence.
5Pick the sentence with a correctly placed modifier.
6In a restrictive relative clause, the relative pronoun that is preferred over which in formal American English.
7Choose the sentence that correctly uses who and whom.
8Select the sentence with correct pronoun case in a compound object.
9Pick the correctly formed question using subject-auxiliary inversion.
10Identify the sentence that correctly uses a dangling modifier-free opening phrase.
11Choose the sentence that correctly uses a nonfinite reduced relative clause.
12Select the sentence that correctly avoids preposition stranding in very formal style.
13Identify the sentence with correct inversion after negative adverbials.
14Choose the sentence that correctly uses a cleft construction for focus.
15A subordinate clause can stand alone as a complete sentence.
16Choose the sentence that correctly uses a reduced adverbial clause.
17Select the sentence that correctly maintains parallel infinitive complements.
18Identify the sentence with correct auxiliary stacking in a question.
19Pick the sentence that correctly uses the mandative subjunctive after insist.
20No finite verb appears in a nonfinite clause.
Learning Goals

Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Common Syntactic Errors -

    Learn to recognize and correct typical mistakes in sentence structure, enhancing your accuracy in the grammatical syntax quiz.

  2. Analyze Sentence Structure -

    Break down complex English sentences into their components to understand how grammatical elements interact.

  3. Apply Syntax Rules -

    Use standard English syntax guidelines to construct clear, well-formed sentences in both the syntax quiz and everyday writing.

  4. Differentiate Phrase and Clause Types -

    Distinguish between various phrases and clauses to sharpen your skills in the sentence structure quiz and English syntax test.

  5. Evaluate Quiz Performance -

    Interpret your quiz results to identify strengths and areas for improvement in your grammar and syntax knowledge.

  6. Refine Grammar Through Practice -

    Build on feedback from the syntax practice test to continuously improve your sentence construction and stylistic clarity.

Study Guide

Cheat Sheet

  1. Basic Sentence Patterns (SVO, SV, SVC) -

    Understanding the core formulas like Subject + Verb + Object (SVO) or Subject + Linking Verb + Complement (SVC) lays a strong foundation for any grammatical syntax quiz. For example, "The cat (S) chased (V) the mouse (O)" clearly demonstrates SVO. Practice identifying these patterns to ace your English syntax test.

  2. Clause Types and Subordination -

    Distinguish independent clauses (complete thoughts) from dependent clauses (introduced by conjunctions like because, although, if) to excel on a syntax quiz. According to Purdue OWL, recognizing that "Although she studied (dependent), she was tired (independent)" helps you parse complex sentences. Practice linking clauses without punctuation traps on a sentence structure quiz.

  3. Phrase Structure and Function -

    Break sentences into noun phrases (NP) and verb phrases (VP) to see how words group together - NP often follows the pattern Determiner + Adjective* + Noun, as in "The quick brown fox." Using simple tree diagrams from Cambridge University Press can clarify these hierarchies. Mastering this helps boost your score on a grammatical syntax quiz.

  4. Roles of Parts of Speech -

    Know how nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, and conjunctions (remember FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So) function in sentences to answer tricky grammar questions quiz items. Each word class serves a unique syntactic role, so labeling them accurately sharpens your syntax test performance. Try sorting a paragraph by part of speech to reinforce this skill.

  5. Avoiding Common Syntax Errors -

    Watch for misplaced modifiers ("Almost John ran to the store" vs. "John almost ran to the store") and dangling participles ("Walking home, the rain started") to maintain clarity in your writing. The British Council highlights these pitfalls as frequent traps on an English syntax test. Reviewing examples of correct vs. incorrect sentences will prepare you for any syntax practice test.

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Michael HodgeEdTech Product Lead & Assessment Design SpecialistQuiz Maker
Updated Feb 24, 2026