75 Grammar questions written for the HESI A2, each with a rationale explaining why the correct answer is correct and why the others are not. Free, no account required. 10 examples are shown below.
Practice all 75 questions →Answers are shown so you can read these as worked examples. To answer them yourself and track what you get wrong, start a practice set.
The answer: C — they're feeling better Think of it this way: They're is a shortcut for they are, so if you can replace it with they are and it still makes sense, you're using it right. Why C is right: The sentence says The patients said they're feeling much better today. If you swap they're with they are, it reads The patients said they are feeling much better today, which is perfectly correct. Why the others are wrong: - A (their were no complications): Their shows ownership (like their charts), but here we need a word for a place or existence, which is there. - B (over their on the counter): Again, their is possessive, but the sentence means over there, referring to a location. - D (Their going to discharge): Their going means something belonging to going, which makes no sense; it should be They are going, so they're.
The answer: D — If she were to arrive early Think of it this way: The subjunctive mood is used for wishes, demands, or hypothetical situations that are not true. It often uses were instead of was, even with singular subjects. Why D is right: The sentence describes a hypothetical situation (she might arrive early, but it's not certain), so were is correct. Why the others are wrong: - A (If I was the doctor): For hypothetical situations, it should be If I were the doctor. - B (insisted that the patient remains): After verbs of demand like insisted, use the subjunctive remain, not remains. - C (essential that every employee wash): This is actually correct — wash is subjunctive. But the question asks for the correct sentence, and D is the best example.
The answer: B, C — because his condition improved / Due to the nurse's quick action Think of it this way: Due to usually means caused by and often follows a linking verb like was. Because introduces a reason clause with a subject and verb. Why B and C are right: B uses because to introduce a full clause (his condition improved). C uses due to as an adjective phrase modifying the situation. Why the others are wrong: - A (due to the operating room wasn't ready): Due to should be followed by a noun phrase, not a full clause. It should be because the operating room wasn't ready. - D (because of the equipment malfunction): This is actually acceptable, but the question expects due to for this structure. B and C are the clearest correct examples.
The answer: B — The patient was stable; however, his condition could change. Think of it this way: When you use a word like 'however' to connect two complete sentences, you need a semicolon before it (like a strong glue) and a comma after it (like a little pause). Why B is right: This sentence correctly uses a semicolon before 'however' and a comma after it. Both parts ('The patient was stable' and 'his condition could change') are complete sentences on their own, so they need the semicolon to join them properly. Why the others are wrong: - A (The patient was stable, however, his condition could change.): This creates a comma splice — you can't join two complete sentences with just a comma. - C (The patient was stable: however his condition could change.): A colon doesn't join two independent clauses like this, and the comma after 'however' is missing. - D (The patient was stable however his condition could change.): There's no punctuation at all, which makes it a run-on sentence. Remember: Semicolon before 'however,' comma after. Think of it as a punctuation sandwich: ; however,
The answer: C, D — they're ready for review; Their charts are ready for signature Think of it this way: 'They're' is a shortcut for 'they are.' 'Their' shows something belongs to them. 'There' is about a place or a filler word. Why C and D are right: In option C, 'they're' means 'they are' — 'they are ready for review' makes perfect sense. In option D, 'their' shows ownership — the charts belong to them. Why the others are wrong: - A (The patients are in the waiting room; there waiting for test results.): 'There' should be 'they're' because it means 'they are waiting.' - B (Their going to discharge the patient tomorrow.): 'Their' should be 'they're' because it means 'they are going to discharge.' Remember: 'They're' = they are (swap it in to check). 'Their' = shows ownership (think 'heir' — they inherit something). 'There' = a place or filler (think 'here' and 'there').
The answer: A — Having completed the assessment, the patient's condition was documented. Think of it this way: A dangling modifier is like a description that doesn't match the subject it's next to. The action in the first part should logically match the subject in the second part. Why A is right: 'Having completed the assessment' seems to describe 'the patient's condition,' but a condition can't complete an assessment — a person (the nurse) should be the subject. Why the others are wrong: - B (The nurse completed the assessment and documented the patient's condition.): The nurse is the subject doing both actions — no dangling modifier. - C (After completing the assessment, the nurse documented the patient's condition.): The nurse is the subject, and 'after completing the assessment' logically describes the nurse. - D (The documented assessment showed the patient's condition had improved.): No modifier at the beginning — the sentence is clear. Remember: When a sentence starts with a descriptive phrase (like 'Having completed...'), the subject right after the comma must be the one doing that action. If it's not, the modifier is dangling.
The answer: C — The patient reported dizziness the nurse noted orthostatic hypotension. Think of it this way: A run-on sentence is like two cars crashing together without a stop sign or traffic light between them. Why C is right: Option C joins two complete thoughts ('The patient reported dizziness' and 'the nurse noted orthostatic hypotension') without any punctuation or conjunction, making it a fused sentence that needs correction. Why the others are wrong: - A (chest pain; the nurse): This uses a semicolon correctly to connect two related independent clauses. - B (elevated, so the physician): This uses a comma and conjunction 'so' correctly. - D (After assessing...): This is a correctly structured complex sentence with a dependent clause. Remember: A run-on sentence happens when two complete sentences are smashed together without punctuation or a connecting word.
The answer: A, C — The patient is alert, but his blood pressure is elevated.; The patient reports pain, and she requests medication. Think of it this way: Coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS) are like connectors that join equal parts — 'but' shows contrast, 'and' adds information. Why A and C are right: Option A correctly uses 'but' to contrast two ideas (alert vs. elevated blood pressure). Option C correctly uses 'and' to add related ideas (pain and medication request). Why the others are wrong: - B (alert, nor his blood pressure): 'Nor' is used with 'neither' or to add a negative idea, not to contrast, so it's incorrect here. - D (reports pain, or she requests): 'Or' suggests a choice between two options, but the sentence doesn't present a choice, so it's incorrect. Remember: Use 'but' for contrast, 'and' to add, 'or' for choices, and 'nor' with negatives — match the conjunction to the relationship between ideas.
The answer: B — The team of nurses is working diligently on the new protocol. Think of it this way: 'Team' is a single unit, like a 'basketball team' — even though it has many players, we say 'the team is playing,' not 'the team are playing.' Why B is right: The subject is 'team,' which is a collective noun referring to one group. Collective nouns are singular and take singular verbs, so 'is' is correct. 'The team of nurses' acts as one unit. Why the others are wrong: - A (The team of nurses are working...): 'Are' is a plural verb, but 'team' is singular. - C (The team of nurses were working...): 'Were' is also plural and past tense, but the subject is singular. - D (The team of nurses have working...): 'Have working' is grammatically incorrect; it should be 'has been working' or 'is working.' Remember: Collective nouns like team, group, or committee are singular. Think 'the team is' not 'the team are.'
The answer: B — Between you and me, the medication regimen is complex. Think of it this way: Prepositions like 'between' are like 'taxi drivers' — they always take the objective case (me, him, her, us, them). You wouldn't say 'between I,' just like you wouldn't say 'give it to I.' Why B is right: The word 'between' is a preposition, and pronouns that follow prepositions must be in the objective case. 'Me' is the objective form of 'I.' So 'between you and me' is correct. Why the others are wrong: - A (Between you and I): 'I' is subjective case and cannot follow a preposition. - C (Between you and myself): 'Myself' is a reflexive pronoun, used when the subject and object are the same (like 'I hurt myself'), not after prepositions in this way. - D (Between you and we): 'We' is subjective case and cannot follow a preposition. Remember: After prepositions (between, for, to, with, etc.), use objective pronouns: me, you, him, her, it, us, them.
