ATI TEAS 7 English and Language Usage Test questions
and answers
SECTION 1: CONVENTIONS OF STANDARD ENGLISH
1. Which of the following is the correct plural of "diagnosis"?
A. Diagnosises
B. Diagnosi
C. Diagnoses
D. Diagnosae
Answer: C
Rationale: "Diagnosis" is a Greek-derived word; its plural is formed by changing "-is" to
"-es" (diagnoses).
2. Which sentence uses correct subject-verb agreement?
A. The group of students are going to the library.
B. Neither the teacher nor the students is here.
C. Each of the participants were given a badge.
D. The committee meets every Tuesday morning.
Answer: D
Rationale: Collective nouns (committee, team, group) take singular verbs when acting as
a unit. "Meets" is singular.
3. Which word is spelled correctly?
A. Accomodate
B. Acommodate
C. Accommodate
D. Accomodatte
Answer: C
Rationale: "Accommodate" has two 'c's and two 'm's. Correct spelling: accommodate.
, 2
4. Choose the correct punctuation: "She bought apples oranges and bananas at the
store."
A. apples, oranges, and bananas
B. apples oranges, and bananas
C. apples, oranges and, bananas
D. apples oranges and bananas,
Answer: A
Rationale: Use commas to separate items in a series. The comma before "and" (Oxford
comma) is optional but preferred on TEAS.
5. Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly?
A. The dog wagged its' tail.
B. Its a beautiful day outside.
C. The company lost it's biggest client.
D. The children's toys were scattered everywhere.
Answer: D
Rationale: "Children's" shows plural possessive. "Its" is possessive without an
apostrophe; "it's" means "it is."
6. Which is a run-on sentence?
A. I went to the store I bought milk.
B. I went to the store, and I bought milk.
C. Because I went to the store, I bought milk.
D. I went to the store; I bought milk.
Answer: A
Rationale: Two independent clauses are joined without punctuation or a conjunction.
This is a comma splice/fused sentence.
7. Select the correct verb: "Either the doctor or the nurses _____ on call tonight."
A. is
B. are
C. be
, 3
D. was
Answer: B
Rationale: With "either/or," the verb agrees with the subject closest to it ("nurses" is
plural, so "are").
8. Which sentence is correctly capitalized?
A. My aunt lives in the South near the Mississippi River.
B. My Aunt lives in the south near the mississippi river.
C. My aunt lives in the south near the Mississippi river.
D. My Aunt lives in the South near the mississippi River.
Answer: A
Rationale: Capitalize proper nouns (Mississippi River) and regions (the South) but not
kinship titles (aunt) when used generically.
9. Identify the misspelled word: "The principle reason for the delay was whether
the bridge was safe."
A. principle
B. whether
C. delay
D. safe
Answer: A
Rationale: Should be "principal" (main). "Principle" means a fundamental truth.
10. Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
A. I have one goal; to win.
B. I went home; because I was tired.
C. She loves reading; her brother prefers movies.
D. The meeting is at 3; P.M.
Answer: C
Rationale: Semicolons join two independent clauses that are closely related. Both sides
of the semicolon in C are complete sentences.