1. true
2. false

This is only the most common way to change a noun from singular to plural. But "child" becomes "children," "erratum" becomes "errata," and so on.

1. between
2. among

Need clarification? Usually, "between" is for two parties, and "among" for three or more parties. However, in the above case, the context clearly implies that the cast is a collective noun, serving as one party, so "between" is correct. If there were many small disagreements, then you'd use "tension among the cast."

1. an excessively long sentence
   a sentence that uses too much hyphenation
2. a sentence with more than one verb
   two sentences that run together, they also can be independent clauses

See what we did there? A run-on isn't always as clear as the example above. When you've written a long, complex sentence with several commas separating clauses, read it over carefully to make sure you haven't inadvertently created a run-on.

1. Jeremys
   Jeremies
2. Jeremy's
   none of these are correct

In the rare situation when you'd have to put something like this in writing, the rule is to respect the spelling of the proper noun, "Jeremy." Of course, this is growing more complicated as names get less conventional. "Dennys" looks like an alternate spelling of the singular "Dennis," and so on.

1. base
   infinitive
2. root
   stem

One way to remember this is that when a verb is in this state, there are "infinite" things you can do with it. (Of course, that's not literally true. There are usually about a dozen ways it can change. But it's just a mnemonic).

1. adjoin each other
   agree
2. conflict
   rhyme

Agreement means they have the same person and number (first-person plural or third-person singular, etc). This is why it's jarring to hear "I has a car." Unless you're online, and it's spelled "haz."

1. a comma with a serif in certain fonts
   a comma that goes before a conjunction, such as "and"
2. the first comma in a series of adjectives
   a comma that sets off an adverb from an adjective

Fans of the serial comma say that it prevents misunderstandings, like in the sentence, "We welcomed the strippers, Washington and Lincoln," which makes it look like the two ex-presidents *are* the strippers. Opponents of the serial comma say that never in the history of the English language has anyone had to write "We welcomed the strippers, Washington and Lincoln." (We've got to admit, they've got a point.)

1. common
   specific
2. proper
   patronymic

Proper nouns are capitalized names, whether of a person, place or thing. The opposite is a "common noun," which is one of a general class of things (e.g., a pencil). Common nouns become proper nouns all the time: "We named our sailboat Destiny."

1. five
   six
2. eight
   thirteen

According the the Chicago Manual of Style, not all grammar experts agree on this classic bit of elementary-school lore. But for our purposes, the parts of speech are nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions and interjections.

1. "The" should be "A"
   "cake's" should be "cakes' "
2. "unique" takes no modifying adverb
   something like a cake design can never be judged unique

"Unique" is one of a class of adjectives called "uncomparable" adjectives. Some grammarians get very bent out of shape about phrases like "very unique" or "somewhat unique." However, an adverb that is a simple amplifier may be acceptable: "Wow, that cake's design is truly unique."

1. when no adequate verb exists
   when it's a common noun
2. when the noun is more than 500 years old
   there is no hard-and-fast rule on this

Language, including grammar, is a matter of cultural consensus. So "I phoned on Wednesday" is entirely common. But some people still prickle with irritation at "I office out of my home." Tread carefully here!

1. I have been sleeping less lately.
   He wrote "Sleeping" on a note on the door.
2. Sleeping is essential for mental health.
   none of these are gerunds

In the first two examples, "sleeping" is a simple present participle. (In the second, it's implied; the note indicates "(I am) sleeping"). But in the third, a present-participle form is used as a noun: the definition of a gerund.

1. adjectives
   verbs
   other adverbs
2. all of these
   only #1 and #2

You probably learned first that adverbs modify verbs, while adjectives modify nouns. But your teacher should have gone on to explain that adverbs can be added to adjectives or even other adverbs. Example: "He said this almost hastily." The adverb "hastily" influences "said," but "almost," another adverb, influences "hastily."

1. a nonspecific noun
   a mass noun
2. a noncount noun
   either #2 or #3

Both of these terms are acceptable. When "straw" refers to the stuff in barns, it's a mass noun. But an individual bale of straw is a count noun.

1. yes
   no
2. sometimes, but not as much as certain other languages

English uses gendered nouns for animals (steer versus cow) and certain professions, like "actor" and "actress." Some of these are on the way out -- women who act are increasingly calling themselves "actors."

1. gerund
   tense
2. mood
   voice

"Voice" tells you whether the subject of a clause was the actor or was acted upon. Put in other terms, passive voice is the one you slip into when you don't want to be blamed for something: "The window was broken with a baseball," not, "I broke the window with a baseball."

1. "I ate four cookie."
   "He lives in Jackson; Mississippi."
2. "We has ten minutes to spare."
   "She is laying on the couch."

Misuse of a semicolon is a punctuation error, not a grammar error. Though many people use "grammar" as a catchall term, there are several ways to be incorrect in speech or writing: spelling (that one's just for writing); punctuation (see above); grammar (most everything else in this quiz) and usage (confusing "aspire" with "inspire.") We've included a few punctuation questions in this quiz when the punctuation has a close relationship to the grammar, as it often does.

1. I love the poet Maya Angelou.
   Maya Angelou, the poet, is one of my favorites.
2. Maya Angelou was a big influence on me.
   all of these are OK

The rule of thumb here: Only use a comma where you'd hear a pause in speech. The only one that fits, above, is the second example. You'll see some writers thrown in commas anytime there's an appositive noun (a noun that redefines a proper noun; here, "the poet") and would insist the first example needs a comma, but it really isn't necessary.

1. a comparative
   an ulterior
2. a specific
   a superior

As the name suggests, a comparative makes a comparison. The slogan of the Olympics is made of three comparatives, "faster, higher, stronger," indicating that the important thing for athletes is to do better than they have before, not necessarily to be the best.

1. true
2. false

Of course it can! "At the end of the road was the mansion" is a perfectly understandable sentence. And that's our last word on the subject!

1. yes
2. no

Technically, this isn't a grammar question - it's a point of literary style. And though you may find it hard to believe, entire novels have been written with "you" as the main character, even though the writer is obviously referring to an imagined character that is not a stand-in for the reader. The point of this is... well, we're still trying to figure that one out.

1. adverb
   pronoun
2. preposition
   verb

Grammar teachers sometimes introduce this concept using "Preposition Mountain." Things can be "on" the mountain, "behind" the mountain, "over" the mountain, and so on. It's later on that students learn prepositions that are less "geographic," like "despite."

1. adverb
   interjection
2. preposition
   noun

"Hey!" and "Whoa!" can be sentences unto themselves. Sometimes adjectives work this way, too. "Cool!" stands in for "(That is) cool!"

1. an adjective
   a noun
2. a pronoun
   a conjunction

There are several different kinds of pronouns. "Which" is a relative pronoun, one that links a subordinate clause to the main one: "The book which I was reading is still on the plane."

1. Go
   away
2. You
   I

In the imperative mood, the subject is often implied. This sentence means "(You) get out!"

1. finest
   easier
2. rarely
   Well done!

A superlative is an adjective or adverb that implies a top tier. It's the highest degree.

1. a noun
   an adjective
2. an adverb
   a preposition

Not all adverbs have an "-ly" construction. "Tomorrow" influences "go," the verb, so it's an adverb.

1. If I was a boy
   If I were a European
2. If he was here ....
   Will you pass the ... ?

The subjunctive mood conveys uncertainty or possibility, and requires "were," not "was," to bring across that uncertainty. (Sorry, Beyonce fans, but the song title "If I Was a Boy" is not, technically speaking, grammatically correct).

1. an adverb
   a conjunction
2. a preposition
   a verb

"Can" and "will" and similar words are "auxiliary verbs." They are also called "modal verbs" by the old-fashioned.

1. indicative
   future
2. past perfect
   both #2 and #3

Sorry, but "both" is not always the right choice! "Future" and "past perfect" are tenses, not moods.

1. just -ed
   -er and -ed
2. -ar, -er, and -or
   -ing and -ed

"Walking" and "walked" are past and present participles. The first marks an action as in progress, the second as complete - and this holds true whether the action is in the past, in the future, or merely speculative. "If that were true, she would have been walking for three hours" indicates an action in progress, in the past, that might not have happened at all! When you think about it, it's amazing how easily we use and understand such constructions.

1. I
   me
2. we
   you

"You," whether singular or plural, is the second person. "I" or "me" is the first person, and "he/she/they" the third.

1. swim- or bathing-suits are required
   I was swimsuit-clad
2. I put on my not-quite-dry swimsuit and went back to the lake.
   "swim-suit" becoming "swimsuit" over time

Suspensive hyphenation means a hyphen hangs off the end of an adjective when there's more than one hyphenated word in a list. Another example: "Semi-, quasi- and halfway-prepared applicants will be turned away."

1. indicative
   subjunctive
2. imperative
   questions do not have mood

Though some of you might have guessed subjunctive, questions are indicative. It helps to think of it this way: The cat has either been fed or not; both of those are facts. The question seeks to ascertain that fact; therefore, indicative.

1. count
   itemize
2. numbered
   specific

What you see is what you get: they can be counted, therefore, "count nouns." A count noun can be singular or plural -- "straw" and "straws" are both count nouns, unless you're referring to the hay-like stuff in barns. Then, it's not.