The HESI A2 exam is a crucial stepping stone for many aspiring healthcare professionals. A strong grasp of grammar is essential for success, and this guide will help you confidently navigate the grammar section of your HESI A2 practice exam. We'll cover key grammar concepts frequently tested, provide practice examples, and address common questions.
Understanding the HESI A2 Grammar Focus
The HESI A2 grammar section assesses your understanding of fundamental English grammar rules. Expect questions focusing on:
- Subject-Verb Agreement: Ensuring your verbs correctly match the number (singular or plural) of their subjects.
- Pronoun Usage: Correctly using pronouns (he, she, it, they, etc.) and ensuring agreement with their antecedents (the nouns they refer to).
- Verb Tense: Utilizing the correct tenses (past, present, future, etc.) to accurately convey time.
- Sentence Structure: Constructing clear, grammatically correct sentences, avoiding fragments and run-ons.
- Punctuation: Proper use of commas, periods, semicolons, colons, and apostrophes.
- Parts of Speech: Identifying and understanding the function of nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections.
- Sentence Combining and Fragment Correction: Combining short, choppy sentences into more complex and fluid structures, and correcting sentence fragments.
- Parallel Structure: Ensuring that items in a list or series are grammatically parallel.
Common Grammar Challenges and How to Overcome Them
Let's delve into some common areas where test-takers struggle and strategies to master them:
Subject-Verb Agreement:
Challenge: Identifying the true subject of a sentence, especially when dealing with intervening phrases or compound subjects.
Example: The box of chocolates, along with the flowers, was a thoughtful gift. (Incorrect - should be "were" because the subject is plural)
Strategy: Identify the main subject and ignore intervening phrases. Practice identifying singular and plural subjects and their corresponding verb forms.
Pronoun Agreement:
Challenge: Ensuring pronouns clearly and correctly refer to their antecedents.
Example: Each student must bring their own textbook. (Incorrect - "their" is plural, the antecedent "student" is singular. Should be "his or her")
Strategy: Carefully identify the antecedent of each pronoun and ensure agreement in number and gender. Consider using alternatives like "his or her" to avoid ambiguous pronoun usage.
Verb Tense Consistency:
Challenge: Maintaining consistent verb tense throughout a sentence or passage. Shifting tenses can make your writing confusing and grammatically incorrect.
Example: I went to the store, and buy milk. (Inconsistent tenses – should be "bought")
Strategy: Decide on the appropriate tense to start and stick to it unless there's a clear reason to shift tenses (e.g., to show a change in time).
Sentence Fragments and Run-on Sentences:
Challenge: Identifying and correcting incomplete sentences (fragments) and overly long, rambling sentences (run-ons).
Example: Because it was raining heavily. (Fragment) The dog barked at the mailman, the cat hissed, the birds chirped. (Run-on)
Strategy: Ensure each sentence has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. Use conjunctions (and, but, or) or semicolons to combine related independent clauses.
Punctuation:
Challenge: Correctly using commas, semicolons, colons, and apostrophes.
Strategy: Review the rules of punctuation and practice using them in different sentence structures.
Practice Questions:
Here are a few sample questions to test your understanding:
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The team _______ working hard to achieve their goal. a) is b) are
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Every student must complete ______ assignment. a) his or her b) their
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She ______ to the park yesterday, and ______ a book. a) went, read b) goes, reads
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Correct the following sentence: "The dog ran quickly he chased the ball."
Answers: 1. a) is, 2. a) his or her, 3. a) went, read, 4. The dog ran quickly; he chased the ball. (or) The dog ran quickly, and he chased the ball.
Mastering the HESI A2 Grammar Exam
Consistent practice is key to success. Utilize online resources, textbooks, and practice exams to sharpen your grammar skills. Focus on your weaker areas, and review the rules frequently. By dedicating time and effort to studying grammar, you'll significantly increase your chances of acing the HESI A2 grammar practice exam and achieving your healthcare goals.
