,ATI TEAS English & Language Usage Exam Questions And Answers
2026/2027
SECTION 1: CONVENTIONS OF STANDARD ENGLISH — PUNCTUATION (12
Questions)
Key Punctuation Rules to Know:
- **Semicolons** join two independent clauses (both sides must be complete
sentences).
- *"The medication was administered; the patient's pain decreased."*
- **Commas before coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS)** joining two
independent clauses.
- *"The nurse recorded the vitals, and the physician reviewed them."*
- **Apostrophes:** possessive vs. plural.
- *One patient's chart* (possessive, singular)
- *Two patients' charts* (possessive, plural)
- *Patients* (just plural, no apostrophe)
- *"Its"* is possessive; *"it's"* means *"it is."*
- **Colons** introduce a list or explanation after a complete independent
clause.
- *Correct: "She needed three supplies: gloves, gauze, and tape."*
- *Incorrect: "She needed: gloves, gauze, and tape."*
- **Commas with introductory elements** after an introductory phrase or
subordinate clause.
- *"After assessing the patient, the nurse documented her findings."*
**1.** Choose the correctly punctuated sentence:
,A) The patient's temperature was elevated however, her blood pressure
remained normal.
B) The patient's temperature was elevated; however, her blood pressure
remained normal.
C) The patient's temperature was elevated; however her blood pressure
remained normal.
D) The patient's temperature was elevated, however her blood pressure
remained normal.
**Correct Answer:** B) The patient's temperature was elevated; however,
her blood pressure remained normal.
**Rationale:** "However" used as a conjunctive adverb between two
independent clauses requires a semicolon before it and a comma after it.
Option A uses only a comma before "however" (comma splice). Option C
omits the comma after "however." Option D also creates a comma splice.
---
**2.** Which sentence uses apostrophes correctly?
A) The nurses station was crowded with patients charts.
B) The nurse's station was crowded with patients' charts.
C) The nurses' station was crowded with patient's charts.
D) The nurses station was crowded with patient's charts.
**Correct Answer:** B) The nurse's station was crowded with patients' charts.
, **Rationale:** One nurse owns the station (nurse's). Multiple patients own
charts (patients'). Option C implies multiple nurses own the station and one
patient owns all charts. Options A and D are missing required apostrophes.
---
**3.** Select the sentence that correctly uses a colon:
A) She packed: her stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, and penlight.
B) Her kit included: a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, and penlight.
C) She packed three essential tools: a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, and
penlight.
D) She needed to pack: stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, and penlights.
**Correct Answer:** C) She packed three essential tools: a stethoscope,
blood pressure cuff, and penlight.
**Rationale:** A colon must follow a complete independent clause. "She
packed three essential tools" is a complete clause, and the colon introduces
the list. Options A, B, and D use a colon after an incomplete clause.
---
**4.** Which of the following is a correctly punctuated compound sentence?
A) The moonlight glowed white on the roof next door, and the sky was a
gentle summer blue.
B) The raspberries we just picked from the garden are ripe, and sweet.
2026/2027
SECTION 1: CONVENTIONS OF STANDARD ENGLISH — PUNCTUATION (12
Questions)
Key Punctuation Rules to Know:
- **Semicolons** join two independent clauses (both sides must be complete
sentences).
- *"The medication was administered; the patient's pain decreased."*
- **Commas before coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS)** joining two
independent clauses.
- *"The nurse recorded the vitals, and the physician reviewed them."*
- **Apostrophes:** possessive vs. plural.
- *One patient's chart* (possessive, singular)
- *Two patients' charts* (possessive, plural)
- *Patients* (just plural, no apostrophe)
- *"Its"* is possessive; *"it's"* means *"it is."*
- **Colons** introduce a list or explanation after a complete independent
clause.
- *Correct: "She needed three supplies: gloves, gauze, and tape."*
- *Incorrect: "She needed: gloves, gauze, and tape."*
- **Commas with introductory elements** after an introductory phrase or
subordinate clause.
- *"After assessing the patient, the nurse documented her findings."*
**1.** Choose the correctly punctuated sentence:
,A) The patient's temperature was elevated however, her blood pressure
remained normal.
B) The patient's temperature was elevated; however, her blood pressure
remained normal.
C) The patient's temperature was elevated; however her blood pressure
remained normal.
D) The patient's temperature was elevated, however her blood pressure
remained normal.
**Correct Answer:** B) The patient's temperature was elevated; however,
her blood pressure remained normal.
**Rationale:** "However" used as a conjunctive adverb between two
independent clauses requires a semicolon before it and a comma after it.
Option A uses only a comma before "however" (comma splice). Option C
omits the comma after "however." Option D also creates a comma splice.
---
**2.** Which sentence uses apostrophes correctly?
A) The nurses station was crowded with patients charts.
B) The nurse's station was crowded with patients' charts.
C) The nurses' station was crowded with patient's charts.
D) The nurses station was crowded with patient's charts.
**Correct Answer:** B) The nurse's station was crowded with patients' charts.
, **Rationale:** One nurse owns the station (nurse's). Multiple patients own
charts (patients'). Option C implies multiple nurses own the station and one
patient owns all charts. Options A and D are missing required apostrophes.
---
**3.** Select the sentence that correctly uses a colon:
A) She packed: her stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, and penlight.
B) Her kit included: a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, and penlight.
C) She packed three essential tools: a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, and
penlight.
D) She needed to pack: stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, and penlights.
**Correct Answer:** C) She packed three essential tools: a stethoscope,
blood pressure cuff, and penlight.
**Rationale:** A colon must follow a complete independent clause. "She
packed three essential tools" is a complete clause, and the colon introduces
the list. Options A, B, and D use a colon after an incomplete clause.
---
**4.** Which of the following is a correctly punctuated compound sentence?
A) The moonlight glowed white on the roof next door, and the sky was a
gentle summer blue.
B) The raspberries we just picked from the garden are ripe, and sweet.
