USAT Verbal Reasoning MCQs

'Under' shows the spatial relationship between the keys and the cushion.
Words that express such relationships are prepositions.

'But' joins two independent clauses of equal grammatical importance.
It is one of the standard coordinating conjunctions.

'Honesty' names a quality rather than a physical object.
Names of qualities, ideas, or states are abstract nouns.

'Alas!' expresses sudden emotion, especially sorrow or regret.
Such standalone emotional expressions are interjections.

'Who' introduces a clause describing 'student.'
Relative pronouns connect dependent clauses to nouns.

'Before' introduces the dependent clause 'you leave.'
A word joining a subordinate clause to a main clause functions as a conjunction.

'Useful' describes the noun 'suggestion.'
Words that modify nouns are adjectives.

'Repaired' takes the direct object 'the engine.'
A verb that transfers its action to an object is transitive.

'Laughed' does not require a direct object.
A verb that expresses a complete action without an object is intransitive.

'Those' points out which books are meant and appears before the noun.
Demonstratives functioning before nouns are determiners.

'Running' is an -ing form functioning as the subject of the sentence.
A verb form used as a noun is called a gerund.

'Crying' directly modifies the noun 'baby.'
An -ing verb form used adjectivally is a present participle.