TEAS Grammar and Punctuation practice questions

Agreement, punctuation, spelling, capitalization and verb tense. Conventions of Standard English is 12 of the 33 scored questions in TEAS English and Language Usage.

scored questions

12

of English's score

36%

for all of English

37 min

1. 01English · Conventions of Standard EnglishWhich sentence contains an unnecessary comma?+−

   • A. Although the clinic was busy, the staff stayed calm.
   • B. The nurse checked the chart, and then she called the physician.
   • C. The nurse checked the chart, and called the physician. (correct)
   • D. The patient, who had been fasting since midnight, was taken to surgery first.

   In choice C, "checked the chart and called the physician" is a compound predicate with one subject, so no comma is needed before "and." In choice B the comma is correct because "she called the physician" is a full independent clause.

2. 02English · Conventions of Standard EnglishWhich sentence contains a commonly confused word used incorrectly?+−

   • A. The new overtime rule will have a significant effect on staffing.
   • B. Please advice the family that visiting hours end at eight. (correct)
   • C. The supervisor's praise did not affect her decision to resign.
   • D. Whether the lab can process the sample today is still unclear.

   The verb meaning to give counsel is "advise"; "advice" is the noun. In A, "effect" is correctly a noun and in C, "affect" is correctly a verb.

3. 03English · Conventions of Standard EnglishWhich choice correctly completes the sentence? By the time the new wing opens next spring, the hospital ____ renovations for nearly two years.+−

   • A. conducts
   • B. will have been conducting (correct)
   • C. has conducted
   • D. had been conducting

   An ongoing action that will have lasted a stated length of time before a future point calls for the future perfect progressive. "Had been conducting" is tempting but places the whole situation in the past, and "has conducted" ignores the future reference.

4. 04English · Conventions of Standard EnglishWhich of the following sentences have a verb that agrees with its subject? Select all that apply.+−

   • A. Neither the doctor nor the nurses were available for comment. (correct)
   • B. The results of the blood test is expected tomorrow.
   • C. Either the pharmacist or the technician prepares the order each morning. (correct)
   • D. Each of the patients have a separate chart.
   • E. There are three forms to complete before discharge. (correct)
   • F. Mathematics are my strongest subject.

   In A the verb agrees with the nearer subject, "nurses"; in C it agrees with the nearer subject, "technician"; in E the subject "forms" is plural. B ("results" needs "are"), D ("Each" needs "has"), and F ("Mathematics" is singular and needs "is") all have errors.

5. 05English · Conventions of Standard EnglishWhich sentence correctly capitalizes a job title used as a common noun, a language, a government program, and an institution's name?+−

   • A. Ms. Ford, a nurse at Lakeview Hospital, volunteers as a spanish interpreter for medicare patients.
   • B. Ms. Ford, a nurse at Lakeview Hospital, volunteers as a Spanish interpreter for Medicare patients. (correct)
   • C. Ms. Ford, a Nurse at Lakeview hospital, volunteers as a Spanish interpreter for Medicare patients.
   • D. Ms. Ford, a nurse at Lakeview Hospital, volunteers as a Spanish interpreter for medicare Patients.

   Languages (Spanish), government programs (Medicare), and the full name of an institution (Lakeview Hospital) are capitalized, while "nurse" and "patients" are common nouns and stay lowercase. Choice C is tempting because it capitalizes "Nurse," but a title not attached to a name is lowercase.

6. 06English · Conventions of Standard EnglishWhich sentence uses commas correctly?+−

   • A. The nurse, who works the night shift trained the new hires.
   • B. Patients who skip their medications, often return with complications.
   • C. My supervisor, Dr. Alvarez, approved the schedule change that affects all night staff. (correct)
   • D. The schedule change, that affects all night staff was approved.

   The name "Dr. Alvarez" is a nonessential appositive set off by a pair of commas, while the clause "that affects all night staff" is essential and takes no commas. A lacks the closing comma, B separates the subject from its verb, and D wrongly sets off an essential "that" clause.

7. 07English · Conventions of Standard EnglishType the correct word (elicit or illicit) to complete the sentence: A skilled interviewer knows how to ____ honest answers by asking open-ended questions.+−

   Answer: elicit

   "Elicit" is a verb meaning to draw out. "Illicit" is an adjective meaning unlawful and cannot take the object "answers" here.

8. 08English · Conventions of Standard EnglishWhich choice correctly completes the sentence? Yesterday, the volunteer ____ a stack of clean linens to the third floor.+−

   • A. brung
   • B. brought (correct)
   • C. bringed
   • D. brang

   "Brought" is the past tense of the irregular verb "bring." The other forms are nonstandard.

9. 09English · Conventions of Standard EnglishWhich choice correctly completes the sentence? The director, along with three assistant managers, ____ reviewing the staffing schedule this afternoon.+−

   • A. are
   • B. were
   • C. is (correct)
   • D. have been

   The subject is the singular noun "director." The phrase "along with three assistant managers" is parenthetical and does not make the subject plural, so "is" is correct. "Are" is tempting only because "managers" sits close to the verb.

10. 10English · Conventions of Standard EnglishWhich sentence is capitalized correctly?+−

    • A. The Nurse asked Dr. Patel to review the chart.
    • B. The nurse asked dr. Patel to review the chart.
    • C. The nurse asked Dr. Patel to review the chart. (correct)
    • D. the nurse asked Dr. Patel to review the chart.

    The first word of the sentence and the title "Dr." used with a name are capitalized, but the common noun "nurse" is not. Choice A wrongly capitalizes "Nurse."

Keep practicing

Sources

1. ATI: ATI TEAS exam details (sections, questions, sub-areas)

Updated November 6, 2026