TEAS grammar rules: the 12 rules to know, with practice

Grammar on the TEAS 7 lives in the English and language usage section: 37 questions in 37 minutes, 33 of them scored. Two of its three content areas test grammar directly: conventions of standard English (12 scored questions, including sentence structure) and knowledge of language (11 scored, including grammar that makes writing clear). The questions don't ask you to name a rule. They show a sentence and ask which version is correct or clearest, so what you need is a short set of rules you can spot fast.

This page gives you the 12 grammar rules behind most of those questions, each in a table of wrong and right sentences, then 16 practice questions with answers and reasons, the mistakes that cost points, and a 10-day plan. The test facts come from ATI, which writes the TEAS; the rules are standard English grammar and the examples and questions are ours.

Where grammar is on the TEAS 7

ATI splits the 33 scored English questions into three content areas. Here is where grammar shows up in each, so you know what a "grammar question" can look like on test day.

Content area	Scored questions	Grammar in it
Conventions of standard English	12	Spelling, punctuation and sentence structure: fragments, run-ons, simple and complex sentences, agreement inside a sentence
Knowledge of language	11	Grammar for clarity (pronouns, modifiers, parallel structure, tense), formal and informal language, transitions
Using language and vocabulary to express ideas in writing	10	Little grammar: word meaning, word parts, the writing process and sources (see our TEAS vocabulary list)

Four more questions in the section are unscored pretest items, and you can't tell which ones they are, so treat every question as if it counts. With 33 scored questions, each one is worth about 3 percentage points of your English score before ATI's adjustment for the form you took. For the whole section, every content area and its skills, see the TEAS English and language usage study guide.

The parts of speech you need

You won't be asked "which word is the adverb?" very often, but every rule below is easier when you can name the parts of a sentence. These eight are enough.

Part	What it does	Example
Noun	Names a person, place, thing or idea	The nurse checked the chart.
Pronoun	Stands in for a noun	She gave it to him.
Verb	Shows action or a state of being	The patient rested. He is tired.
Adjective	Describes a noun	A quiet room
Adverb	Describes a verb, adjective or other adverb (often ends in -ly)	She spoke quietly. Very quiet.
Preposition	Links a noun to the rest of the sentence (in, on, of, between)	The tray on the table
Conjunction	Joins words or clauses (and, but, so, because, although)	Tired but awake
Interjection	Shows feeling, stands apart	Oh, I forgot.

Two more terms come up in the rules. A clause has a subject and a verb. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence ("The lab closed"); a dependent clause can't ("because the lab closed").

Rule 1: subject-verb agreement

A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb. The trap on the TEAS is distance: words between the subject and verb make the wrong verb sound right. Cross out the phrase in the middle, find the real subject, then match the verb.

Wrong	Right	Why
The list of supplies are on the desk.	The list of supplies is on the desk.	The subject is "list," not "supplies."
The results from the second test was better.	The results from the second test were better.	"Results" is plural.
There is three forms to sign.	There are three forms to sign.	After "there," the subject comes after the verb: "forms."
Neither the doctor nor the nurses was available.	Neither the doctor nor the nurses were available.	With or/nor, the verb matches the closer subject.

Rule 2: tricky subjects (each, everyone, the team)

Some subjects look plural and are singular. These are the ones that show up most in test questions.

Subject	Takes	Example
each, every, everyone, everybody, someone, anyone, no one, nobody, either, neither	Singular	Everyone has a locker. Each of the students was late.
both, few, many, several	Plural	Both are correct.
some, all, most, none, any	Depends on the noun after "of"	Some of the water is cold. Some of the cups are clean.
Collective nouns (team, staff, class, committee) acting as one group	Singular in US English	The committee meets on Fridays.
Two subjects joined by "and"	Plural	The nurse and the aide are here.
Subjects joined by "as well as," "along with," "together with"	Match the first subject	The manager, along with her staff, is coming.

Rule 3: pronoun-antecedent agreement

A pronoun must match the noun it replaces (its antecedent) in number. "Each student must bring their ID" is common in speech and accepted by many style guides as singular "they." When a TEAS answer choice avoids the question entirely, that's usually the safest pick: "Students must bring their IDs" or "Each student must bring an ID." What's never right is a plural pronoun for a clearly singular, named thing.

Wrong	Right	Why
The hospital updated their visiting hours.	The hospital updated its visiting hours.	One hospital, so "its."
When a patient arrives, you should sign them in.	When patients arrive, sign them in.	Make the noun plural to match.
Neither of the girls brought their book.	Neither of the girls brought her book.	"Neither" is singular.

Rule 4: pronoun case (I or me, who or whom)

Pronouns change form by job. Use the subject form when the pronoun does the action, the object form when it receives the action or follows a preposition. The fast test: drop the other person and say the sentence with the pronoun alone.

Subject form	Object form	Possessive
I, we, he, she, they, who	me, us, him, her, them, whom	my/mine, our/ours, his, her/hers, their/theirs, whose

Wrong	Right	Test
Maria and me studied together.	Maria and I studied together.	"Me studied" fails; "I studied" works.
The tutor helped Sam and I.	The tutor helped Sam and me.	"Helped I" fails.
Between you and I, the test was hard.	Between you and me, the test was hard.	After a preposition, object form.
Whom called the office?	Who called the office?	Answer with "he called": he = who.
Who did you ask?	Whom did you ask?	"You asked him": him = whom.
She is taller than me. (accepted in speech)	She is taller than I (am).	Finish the sentence in your head.

Rule 5: clear pronoun reference

This is a knowledge of language rule: a sentence can be grammatical and still unclear. If a pronoun could point to two nouns, or to no noun at all, the clear answer names the noun.

Unclear	Clear
When Ana met Lena, she was nervous.	Ana was nervous when she met Lena.
The nurse told the patient that his test was ready. (whose test?)	The nurse said, "Your test is ready."
They say the exam got harder. (who is "they"?)	Several applicants say the exam got harder.
She missed two classes, which hurt her grade. (vague "which")	Missing two classes hurt her grade.

Rule 6: keep verb tense consistent

Stay in one time frame unless the meaning changes. In a TEAS passage or paragraph question, check the tense of the sentences around the blank: if they're in the past, the answer is almost always past too.

Wrong	Right	Why
She opened the file and reads the notes.	She opened the file and read the notes.	Both actions are past.
Yesterday the lab is closed.	Yesterday the lab was closed.	"Yesterday" sets the past.
By the time we arrived, the class started.	By the time we arrived, the class had started.	The earlier past action takes "had."

Rule 7: irregular verbs and perfect tenses

The perfect tenses use has, have or had plus the past participle. Many errors come from using the simple past where the participle belongs.

Verb	Past	Past participle (with has/have/had)
go	went	gone
see	saw	seen
write	wrote	written
take	took	taken
begin	began	begun
drink	drank	drunk
lie (rest)	lay	lain
lay (put down)	laid	laid

Wrong: "She has went to every review session." Right: "She has gone." Wrong: "I should of studied." Right: "I should have studied." Wrong: "Lay down for ten minutes." Right: "Lie down" (you rest; you lay something down).

Rule 8: adjectives, adverbs and comparisons

Adjectives describe nouns; adverbs describe verbs. After a linking verb (is, seems, feels, looks), use the adjective. Compare two with -er or "more"; compare three or more with -est or "most." Never use both at once.

Wrong	Right	Why
He did good on the quiz.	He did well on the quiz.	"Did" is an action; "well" is the adverb.
I feel badly about the delay.	I feel bad about the delay.	"Feel" links to a state: adjective.
Of the two plans, this one is best.	Of the two plans, this one is better.	Two items: comparative.
This is the most easiest section.	This is the easiest section.	One comparison word only.
She drives real careful.	She drives really carefully.	Adverbs describe "drives" and "carefully."

Rule 9: misplaced and dangling modifiers

A describing phrase must sit next to the thing it describes. A dangling modifier describes something that isn't in the sentence at all. On the TEAS, ask: "who is doing the -ing?" The answer must come right after the comma.

Wrong	Right	Problem
Walking into the clinic, the smell of coffee was strong.	Walking into the clinic, I noticed the strong smell of coffee.	The smell wasn't walking.
After reviewing the chart, the medicine was changed.	After reviewing the chart, the doctor changed the medicine.	No one is doing the reviewing.
She served cake to the guests on paper plates.	She served the guests cake on paper plates.	The guests weren't on the plates.
He almost studied for six hours. (he didn't study)	He studied for almost six hours.	"Almost," "only," "just" go next to what they limit.

Rule 10: parallel structure

Items in a list, or on both sides of "and," "or," "not only... but also," "either... or," must have the same form. If the first item is an -ing word, they all are; if the first is "to" plus a verb, they all are.

Wrong	Right
She likes reading, to swim and hiking.	She likes reading, swimming and hiking.
The job requires lifting, patience and to work nights.	The job requires lifting, patience and night work.
He is not only smart but also works hard.	He is not only smart but also hardworking.
Studying with a plan is better than to study at random.	Studying with a plan is better than studying at random.

Rule 11: fragments, run-ons and comma splices

Every sentence needs at least one independent clause, and two independent clauses need a proper join. This is the grammar side of sentence structure; the punctuation choices that fix them are the same few every time.

Error	Example	Fixes
Fragment (no subject, no verb, or only a dependent clause)	Because the test was moved.	Because the test was moved, we rescheduled.
Run-on (two clauses, no join)	The lab closed early we went home.	The lab closed early, so we went home. / ...early; we went home. / ...early. We went home.
Comma splice (two clauses joined by only a comma)	I studied all week, I still felt unsure.	I studied all week, but I still felt unsure. / Although I studied all week, I still felt unsure.
Comma splice with a transition word	The room was full, however, we found seats.	The room was full; however, we found seats.

The joining words worth memorizing are the seven coordinating conjunctions, often taught as FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. A comma plus one of them joins two independent clauses. "However," "therefore" and "also" are not on that list, which is why they need a semicolon or a new sentence.

You may also see a question that asks you to name a sentence type: simple (one independent clause), compound (two independent clauses), complex (one independent and at least one dependent clause) or compound-complex (two or more independent and at least one dependent).

Rule 12: commonly confused words

These are grammar as much as spelling: each word in a pair does a different job in the sentence.

Pair	Use	Example
its / it's	its = belonging to it; it's = it is	It's time to check its battery.
their / there / they're	owned by them / a place / they are	They're leaving their bags over there.
your / you're	owned by you / you are	You're late for your shift.
affect / effect	affect is usually the verb; effect is usually the noun	Sleep affects memory. The effect was clear.
than / then	comparison / time	Faster than before; then we left.
fewer / less	things you count / amounts you don't	Fewer errors, less stress.
who / that	who for people, that for things	The nurse who trained me; the form that I lost.
accept / except	to receive / leaving out	We accept all forms except copies.
lose / loose	to misplace / not tight	Don't lose the loose button.

For more word pairs and word parts, the TEAS vocabulary list has a longer confused-words table.

How to answer a TEAS grammar question in under a minute

You have about one minute per English question. A grammar question rarely needs that much if you work in this order:

Find the subject and the main verb. Cross out prepositional phrases ("of the students," "in the room") in your head. Many questions end here.
Check every pronoun. Does it match its noun in number? Is it in the right case? Is it clear who it means?
Check the joins. Two independent clauses with only a comma, or with "however" after a comma, is wrong.
Check lists and comparisons for parallel form and for -er versus -est.
Check the -ing phrase at the start. The word right after the comma must be the one doing it.
Between two correct choices, pick the shorter and clearer one. Knowledge of language questions reward the version a reader understands on the first try.

If a question asks which sentence has an error, read each option aloud in your head with the pronoun-alone and cross-out tests. Unanswered questions count as wrong, so never leave one blank; mark your best guess and move on.

16 TEAS grammar practice questions

Give yourself 16 minutes. Write your answers down, then check them against the key below. These are our own questions in the style of the TEAS English section, not ATI's.

Choose the correct verb: "The box of gloves ___ in the supply room." (A) are (B) were (C) is (D) have been
Choose the correct verb: "Each of the applicants ___ a transcript." (A) need (B) needs (C) are needing (D) have needed
Which sentence is correct? (A) Me and Jordan took the TEAS. (B) Jordan and I took the TEAS. (C) Jordan and myself took the TEAS. (D) Jordan and me took the TEAS.
Choose the correct pronoun: "The clinic changed ___ hours in May." (A) their (B) it's (C) its (D) there
Choose the correct pronoun: "To ___ should I send the form?" (A) who (B) whom (C) whose (D) who's
Which sentence keeps tense consistent? (A) She checks the chart and called the doctor. (B) She checked the chart and calls the doctor. (C) She checked the chart and called the doctor. (D) She has checked the chart and calls the doctor.
Choose the correct form: "By noon, the nurse ___ three patients." (A) has saw (B) had seen (C) seen (D) had saw
Which sentence is correct? (A) He did good on the math section. (B) He did well on the math section. (C) He did goodly on the math section. (D) He done well on the math section.
Which sentence is correct? (A) Of the two exams, the TEAS is the longest. (B) Of the two exams, the TEAS is longer. (C) Of the two exams, the TEAS is more longer. (D) Of the two exams, the TEAS is most long.
Which sentence has a dangling modifier? (A) Running late, Kim skipped breakfast. (B) Running late, breakfast was skipped. (C) Kim, running late, skipped breakfast. (D) Because she was running late, Kim skipped breakfast.
Which sentence is parallel? (A) The plan covers reading, math and how to study science. (B) The plan covers reading, math and science. (C) The plan covers reading, doing math and science. (D) The plan covers to read, math and science.
Which is a complete sentence? (A) Although the program accepts the TEAS. (B) Accepting scores from the last two years. (C) The program accepts scores from the last two years. (D) Which accepts scores from the last two years.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly? (A) I passed reading, however, I failed math. (B) I passed reading; however, I failed math. (C) I passed reading however I failed math. (D) I passed reading, however I failed math.
Which sentence is clearest? (A) When Rosa called her sister, she was upset. (B) Rosa was upset when she called her sister. (C) When she called her sister, Rosa she was upset. (D) Her sister, when Rosa called, she was upset.
Choose the correct word: "The new schedule will ___ every student." (A) effect (B) affect (C) affects (D) effects
Choose the correct words: "There were ___ applicants this year, so the wait was ___ ." (A) less, fewer (B) fewer, less (C) less, less (D) fewer, fewer

Answers and reasons

#	Answer	Rule and reason
1	C	Rule 1: the subject is "box," singular. "Of gloves" is in the way.
2	B	Rule 2: "each" is singular, so "needs."
3	B	Rule 4: "I took" works; "me took" doesn't. "Myself" only reflects a subject already named.
4	C	Rules 3 and 12: one clinic, possessive "its" with no apostrophe.
5	B	Rule 4: after the preposition "to," object form "whom."
6	C	Rule 6: both actions in the past.
7	B	Rule 7: "by noon" is an earlier past point, so past perfect "had" plus the participle "seen."
8	B	Rule 8: "did" is an action; the adverb is "well."
9	B	Rule 8: two things, comparative "longer," one comparison word.
10	B	Rule 9: breakfast wasn't running late; no person is named after the comma.
11	B	Rule 10: three nouns in the same form.
12	C	Rule 11: the others are a dependent clause, a phrase with no subject and a relative clause.
13	B	Rule 11: "however" between two independent clauses needs a semicolon before it.
14	B	Rule 5: in A, "she" could be Rosa or her sister. C and D add a stray pronoun.
15	B	Rule 12: after "will," the base verb "affect."
16	B	Rule 12: applicants can be counted (fewer); a wait is an amount (less).

Score yourself: 16 questions, so each is 6.25%. Then go back to the rule behind each miss, not just the answer. If two or more misses share a rule, that rule is your next study session. Want the same check across all four sections, scored against the minimum your program asks for? Take our free TEAS practice test: 15 questions with the reason for every answer.

Mistakes that cost grammar points

Trusting your ear on long sentences. "The list of names are" sounds fine after a long phrase. Cross out the middle every time.
Picking "I" because it sounds formal. "Between you and I" and "the tutor helped Sam and I" are wrong. Use the pronoun-alone test.
Treating "however" like "but." A comma before "however" between two full sentences is a comma splice.
Choosing the longest answer. On knowledge of language questions, the clear, short version usually wins over the wordy one.
Missing the -ing opener. When a sentence starts with "Walking," "After reviewing" or "Tired from," check who comes right after the comma.
Reading only the underlined part. Tense and pronoun answers often depend on the sentence before it.
Studying rule names instead of examples. The TEAS never asks you to define "antecedent." It asks you to fix one.

A 10-day TEAS grammar study plan

About 30 minutes a day. Each day: read the rule tables, write three sentences of your own that break the rule and fix them, then do timed questions on that rule.

Day	Focus	Do
1	Baseline	Take the 16 questions above cold, timed. Note which rules you missed.
2	Parts of speech, Rule 1	Find subject and verb in 20 sentences from any textbook.
3	Rule 2	Write a sentence for every word in the tricky-subjects table.
4	Rules 3 to 5	Pronoun-alone test on 15 sentences; rewrite three unclear ones.
5	Rules 6 and 7	Say the irregular verb table aloud twice; fix 10 mixed-tense sentences.
6	Rule 8	Good/well, bad/badly and -er/-est drills.
7	Rules 9 and 10	Fix 10 modifier sentences and 10 lists.
8	Rule 11	Join 10 pairs of sentences three ways each (comma plus conjunction, semicolon, period).
9	Rule 12, mixed review	Confused-words table, then the 33-question TEAS English practice test, timed at 37 minutes.
10	Retest	Redo the 16 questions above and your misses from day 9. Any rule still missed goes back on your list.

If English is one of several weak sections, fold this plan into a full schedule like the study plans on our guides page rather than doing it alone.

TEAS grammar FAQ

How many grammar questions are on the TEAS?

ATI doesn't publish a separate grammar count. Grammar sits mostly in two content areas: conventions of standard English (12 scored questions, shared with spelling and punctuation) and knowledge of language (11 scored, shared with formal language and transitions).

Is TEAS grammar hard?

The rules are the ones taught in high school English; what makes them hard is the clock, about a minute a question, and sentences built so the wrong choice sounds natural. Practising with the cross-out and pronoun-alone tests is what makes it quick.

Does the TEAS accept singular "they"?

ATI doesn't say. Many style guides now accept it for a person of unknown gender, so a question is unlikely to hinge on it. When one answer choice avoids the issue ("Students must bring their IDs"), that choice is the safe pick.

Do I need to know the names of the rules?

No. You need to spot and fix the error. Knowing terms like "independent clause" helps you think fast, but questions show sentences, not definitions.

Is there a TEAS grammar practice test?

ATI sells official practice assessments. Free options: the 16 grammar questions on this page, our TEAS English practice test with 33 questions in ATI's three content areas, and our free four-section practice test.

Spelling is tested in the same content area as these rules. The rules for i before e, suffixes, plurals and sound-alike words are in TEAS spelling rules, with 60 commonly misspelled words.

Sources

ATI, ATI TEAS exam details (English and language usage: 37 questions, 37 minutes, content areas and their scored counts for Version 7).
ATI, ATI TEAS sections and going back to a question (unanswered questions scored as wrong).
Purdue Online Writing Lab, Grammar (subject-verb agreement, pronouns, modifiers, parallel structure).

More on the English section: the TEAS English study guide, the TEAS English practice test, the TEAS vocabulary list, or all TEAS guides. To see whether English or another section is the one standing between you and your program's minimum, start with the free TEAS practice test.