Grammar Practice | 5 Key Grammar Concepts & Mini Quizzes
Whether you’re advancing your English skills, improving your writing, or studying for standardized tests, grammar practice gets you closer to your goals. Grammar exercises help you recognize common grammar mistakes and apply grammar rules more consistently.
This guide offers explanations, examples, and mini quizzes in five fundamental grammar concepts:
- Subject-verb agreement
- Verb tense
- Parallelism
- Apostrophes
- Commas
Key takeaways
- Practice five essential grammar concepts: Subject-verb agreement, verb tense, parallelism, apostrophes, and commas.
- Learn to spot common grammar errors by understanding the rules behind tricky sentence structures and punctuation choices.
- Apply each concept with examples and mini quizzes modeled on the kinds of grammar skills used in academic writing and standardized tests.
Subject-verb agreement
Subject-verb agreement rules determine when a verb needs an “-s” ending and when it doesn’t. These rules apply to most verbs in the simple present tense (like “believes”), as well as “is/are,” “was/were,” and “has/have.”
- Third-person, singular subjects need verbs that end in “-s.”
- Third-person, plural subjects need verbs that don’t end in “-s.”
Subject-verb agreement gets trickier when a phrase or clause separates the subject and the verb. In these cases, make sure the verb agrees with the subject, not a nearby noun.
- The architectural style of the homes in Hyde Park vary significantly.
- The architectural style of the homes in Hyde Park varies significantly.
- The articles on contemporary urban planning covers several approaches to affordable housing.
- The articles on contemporary urban planning cover several approaches to affordable housing.
Subject-verb agreement practice
Choose the verb or pair of verbs that correctly completes each sentence.
Verb tense
Verb tense indicates when an action or event occurs. To choose the correct tense, consider the timing of the action and how it relates to other events in the sentence.
- Keep verb tenses consistent when describing actions that occur in the same time frame, unless the meaning requires a shift.
- Use time clues such as “yesterday” and “since 2020” to choose the appropriate tense.
- Use the past perfect tense (“had” + past participle) to clarify that an action occurred before another past event when the sequence matters.
Also bear in mind that a sentence can have verbs with different tenses if it describes more than one point in time.
- The researcher collected the samples and analyzes their chemical composition.
- The researcher collected the samples and analyzed their chemical composition. [Both actions occurred in the past, so both verbs should be past tense.]
- By the time the expedition reached the valley, the storm destroyed several campsites.
- By the time the expedition reached the valley, the storm had destroyed several campsites. [The storm destroyed the campsites before the expedition arrived, so the past perfect clarifies the sequence of events.]
Verb tense practice
Choose the verb that correctly completes each sentence.
Parallelism
Parallelism means using the same grammatical form for items that serve the same function in a sentence. This is especially important in lists, comparisons, and constructions that use paired conjunctions.
- Use matching parts of speech in a list. If a list begins with a verb, noun, adjective, etc., keep the remaining items in the same part of speech.
- Keep paired constructions parallel. Words and phrases connected by the correlative conjunctions “both … and”, “either … or,” and “not only … but also” should follow the same grammatical structure.
- Match longer phrases and clauses. When a sentence lists several actions, ideas, or explanations, make sure each item follows a consistent pattern.
- The internship taught Anitra to analyze data, writing reports, and how to present her findings.
- The internship taught Anitra to analyze data, write reports, and present her findings. [All three items in the list include a verb and an object.]
- The research initiative aims not only to expand access to scientific resources but also encouraging collaboration among researchers.
- The research initiative aims not only to expand access to scientific resources but also to encourage collaboration among researchers. [“Not only” and “but also” are both followed by an infinitive verb form.]
Parallelism practice
Choose the answer that completes each sentence so that it’s parallel.
Apostrophes
Apostrophes indicate possession or form contractions. To use apostrophes correctly, pay attention to what a word means and how it functions in the sentence.
- Use apostrophes in possessive nouns. Singular possessive nouns generally take an apostrophe + “s” (e.g., “the hospital’s reputation”). Plural nouns ending in “-s” usually take an apostrophe after the “s” (e.g., “the nurses’ station”).
- Don’t use apostrophes to form ordinary plurals. Write “three experiments,” not “three experiment’s.”
- Watch out for “its/it’s” and “whose/who’s.” Even though they’re possessive adjectives, “its” and “whose” don’t have apostrophes. “It’s” is a contraction for “it is,” and “who’s” is a contraction for “who is.”
- The sales team exceeded it’s goals in spite of the recession.
- The sales team exceeded its goals in spite of the recession. [The sentence needs the possessive adjective “its,” not the contraction for “it is.”]
- Although the two species look similar, the Monarch butterfly’s wingspan is about an inch wider than the Viceroy wingspan.
- Although the two species look similar, the Monarch butterfly’s wingspan is about an inch wider than the Viceroy’s wingspan. [The sentence compares two possessive nouns. “Viceroy” should be possessive, just like “butterfly.”]
Commas
Commas help readers understand how parts of a sentence fit together. Use the following rules to recognize comma errors in academic writing and on standardized tests.
| Use a comma … | Example |
|---|---|
| Before a coordinating conjunction (“and,” “but,” “so”) that joins the two independent clauses in a compound sentence | The novel received widespread critical acclaim, but its unconventional structure divided readers. |
| To separate nonessential information from the rest of the sentence (like a nonrestrictive clause that begins with “which”) | The Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement that flourished during the 1920s, transformed American literature and music. |
| To separate coordinate adjectives that independently describe the same noun | The historian offered a compelling, well-supported interpretation of the events. |
| To separate three or more items in a list (including a comma before the conjunction that joins the last item to the list) | The historian consulted personal letters, government records, and newspaper archives to reconstruct the events. |
Avoid commas in these situations:
- Before a dependent clause that begins with “because,” “when,” “if,” or another subordinating conjunction
- Example: The university postponed the lecture because the guest speaker’s flight was delayed.
- Between two nouns, verbs, or phrases joined by a coordinating conjunction
- Example: The poet is celebrated for her vivid imagery and her innovative use of rhythm.
- Between a subject and predicate (even when the subject includes a prepositional phrase)
- Example: The economic consequences of the new policy remain a subject of debate.
Comma rules practice
Comma or no comma? For each of these sentences, choose the answer that matches the standard comma rules.
Frequently asked questions about grammar practice
- What are some daily grammar practice tips?
-
Daily grammar practice tips include:
- Spend 5–10 minutes reviewing concepts like verb tense, subject-verb agreement, and comma rules.
- Keep an error log of recurring grammar mistakes in your writing and track your progress.
- Take practice quizzes to test your understanding of specific grammar concepts and reinforce what you’ve learned.
Use Quillbot’s Grammar Checker to identify errors in your writing and practice correcting them.
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Routh, N. (2026, October 30). Grammar Practice | 5 Key Grammar Concepts & Mini Quizzes. Quillbot. Retrieved November 9, 2026, from https://quillbot.com/blog/education/grammar-practice/
