What the question looks like
Usage items share the three-sentence format with capitalization and punctuation. You read sentences A, B, and C. One may contain an error in usage, which is the test's word for grammar. Choice D is "No mistakes."
The directions on the real test cover punctuation, capitalization, and usage together, so a usage error can appear in any item in that part of the section. Usage errors are the sneakiest of the three because the sentence often sounds close to normal speech. You have to read it as a careful writer, not as a listener.
The rules that get tested
- A singular subject takes a singular verb, even when other words come between them. "The box of crayons is on the shelf."
- Each, every, either, neither, and anyone are singular. "Each of the runners has a number."
- Pronoun case. Use I, he, she, we, they as subjects and me, him, her, us, them as objects. "Dad drove Lily and me to practice."
- Pronouns agree with what they replace. "The team won its final game."
- Verb tense stays consistent within a sentence. "She opened the door and found a package." Not "opened and finds."
- Irregular past tense forms. "We swam, she ran, he brought, they went, I saw."
- Past participles with have or had. "I have seen that movie." Not "I have saw."
- Adjectives describe nouns, adverbs describe verbs. "He is a careful driver. He drives carefully."
- Good is an adjective, well is an adverb. "She plays well." "That is a good song."
- No double negatives. "I don't have any money." Not "I don't have no money."
- Their, there, they're. "Their coats are over there, and they're getting cold."
- Fewer for things you can count, less for things you cannot. "Fewer pencils, less paper."
- Who does the action, whom receives it. "Who called? Whom did you call?"
- Then is about time, than compares. "Taller than me, then we left."
How to solve it
- Read all three sentences at normal speed to get the meaning.
- Find the subject and verb in each sentence and ask whether they match in number. This catches the single most common usage error.
- Check every pronoun. Is it the right form for its job, and does it match the noun it stands for?
- Check the verbs for tense shifts and for irregular forms that sound casual but are wrong in writing.
- If nothing fails, choose D.
Worked examples
Example 1
A. Each of the players have a locker.
B. The list of supplies is on the counter.
C. She opened the door and found a package.
D. No mistakes.
- A.Sentence A
- B.Sentence B
- C.Sentence C
- D.No mistakes
Show answer
Answer: A: Sentence A
Each is singular, so the verb should be has, not have. The phrase of the players sits between the subject and the verb to distract you. Sentence B uses the same trick in reverse, but list is singular and is agrees with it, so B is correct. Sentence C keeps both verbs in the past tense.
Example 2
A. My brother and me built a fort in the backyard.
B. She sings beautifully when no one is listening.
C. Whom should I ask about the schedule?
D. No mistakes.
- A.Sentence A
- B.Sentence B
- C.Sentence C
- D.No mistakes
Show answer
Answer: A: Sentence A
The pronoun is part of the subject, so it should be My brother and I. To check, drop the other person and read it alone. Me built a fort sounds wrong because it is wrong. Sentence C tempts students, but whom is correct here because it is the person being asked, not the person asking.
Example 3
A. Yesterday we swam across the lake and back.
B. The puppy chased its tail until it fell over.
C. I don't want no more homework tonight.
D. No mistakes.
- A.Sentence A
- B.Sentence B
- C.Sentence C
- D.No mistakes
Show answer
Answer: C: Sentence C
Sentence C has a double negative. Don't and no cancel each other, so it should be I don't want any more homework. Sentence A is correct because swam is the past tense of swim. Sentence B correctly uses its without an apostrophe to show ownership.
Example 4
A. There are fewer seats in this classroom than in the old one.
B. The teacher handed the papers to Lucas and me.
C. If you had told me sooner, I would have helped.
D. No mistakes.
- A.Sentence A
- B.Sentence B
- C.Sentence C
- D.No mistakes
Show answer
Answer: D: No mistakes
All three sentences are correct. Sentence A uses fewer for seats, which can be counted. Sentence B is the tempting one because many students have been told to say Lucas and I, but here the pronoun receives the papers, so me is right. Sentence C uses had told and would have helped, which is the correct pairing.
Traps to watch for
- Words between subject and verb. "The basket of apples is heavy" is correct even though apples is plural. Find the true subject.
- Overcorrected pronouns. "Between you and I" and "gave it to Sam and I" are wrong. After a preposition or a verb, use me.
- Sounds fine out loud. "I seen it," "he don't," and "she could of" are common in speech and always wrong on the test.
- Good versus well. "He did good on the test" is wrong. He did well.
Pacing
You have roughly 25 seconds per Language item, so read the three sentences once and run the quick checks in order. Always read all three, because a sentence that sounds natural can still hide the error. If two sentences both feel slightly off and time is ticking, pick one and move on. There is no penalty for a wrong answer on the HSPT.
Practice
See how many usage errors you catch under time pressure with our free diagnostic.
Shaky on the skill itself? Start with the lessons on subject-verb agreement, pronouns, verb tense and form, and modifiers and comparisons, then come back to the question format.