Free HESI A2 Grammar practice test
25 original Grammar questions on parts of speech, grammar terms, common grammar errors, confusing word pairs, punctuation and capitalization.
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HESI A2 Grammar practice test
- 25 questions
- Grammar
- 23 min in exam mode
- Practice mode, no timer
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Questions are original practice items written to the published exam content, not real exam questions.
In the sentence "The aide quietly closed the door," what part of speech is the word quietly?
Correct answer: A
An adverb describes a verb, an adjective or another adverb, and it often answers how, when, where or why. Here quietly tells how the aide closed the door, so it describes the verb closed. Many adverbs end in -ly, but always confirm by asking what the word describes.
- A Correct: quietly tells how the aide closed the door, so it is an adverb describing the verb closed.
- B A preposition comes before a noun or pronoun to link it to the sentence, and quietly has no noun after it.
- C The verb in this sentence is closed; quietly only describes how that action was done.
- D An adjective describes a noun, but quietly describes the action closed, not a person or thing.
Learn this topic: How to tell which job a word is doing in a sentence 5-minute lesson
Source: Purdue OWL, Parts of Speech Overview · City College of New York Writing Center, Introduction to the Parts of Speech (PDF) ·
In which sentence is the word chart used as a verb?
Correct answer: B
A word's part of speech depends on the job it does in its sentence, not on the word itself. A verb shows an action or a state of being; in choice D, chart is the action the nurses perform. In the other sentences, chart names a thing and follows a word such as the or each, so it is a noun.
- A Here chart names a thing (the chart on the wall) and is the subject, so it is a noun; the verb is lists.
- B Correct: chart is the action the nurses perform, so it works as a verb in this sentence.
- C Here chart names an object and follows each, so it is a noun; the verb is has.
- D Here chart is the thing she placed, a direct object, so it is a noun; the verb is placed.
Learn this topic: How to tell which job a word is doing in a sentence 5-minute lesson
Source: Mt. San Antonio College Writing Center, DLA: Word Forms (PDF) · Purdue OWL, Parts of Speech Overview ·
In which sentence is the word after used as a conjunction?
Correct answer: C
After can be a preposition or a conjunction, depending on what follows it. When only a noun or pronoun follows (after dinner, after them), after is a preposition. When a whole clause with its own subject and verb follows (after the alarm stopped), after is a conjunction that begins a dependent clause.
- A Only a noun phrase (the staff meeting) follows after, with no verb of its own, so after is a preposition here.
- B Only the noun dinner follows after, so after is a preposition here.
- C Correct: after begins the clause the alarm stopped, which has its own subject (alarm) and verb (stopped), so after works as a conjunction.
- D Only the pronoun them follows after, so after is a preposition here; a pronoun alone is not a clause.
Learn this topic: How to tell which job a word is doing in a sentence 5-minute lesson
Source: Purdue OWL, Identifying Independent and Dependent Clauses · City College of New York Writing Center, Introduction to the Parts of Speech (PDF) ·
Select the correct pronoun: The charge nurse sent Dana and ___ to restock the supply room.
Correct answer: B
Dana and the missing pronoun are objects of the verb sent, so the pronoun must be in the objective case. Drop the other person to test it: the charge nurse sent me, not sent I. Compound objects take me, him, her, us or them, and myself should not replace me just to sound formal.
- A I is a subject pronoun; you would not say the charge nurse sent I, so it is wrong after a verb.
- B Correct: the pronoun is an object of sent (sent me), so the objective case me is needed.
- C Myself is for sentences such as I did it myself; it is not a formal substitute for the object me.
- D We is a plural subject pronoun; the slot needs one person in the objective case (me).
Learn this topic: How to spot the grammar mistakes your ear misses 6-minute lesson
Source: OpenStax Writing Guide with Handbook, Handbook (H8 Pronoun Case; Table H4, myself) · Purdue OWL, Pronoun Case ·
Which word best completes the sentence? The box of sterile gloves near the sinks ___ almost empty.
Correct answer: D
A verb agrees with its true subject, not with a noun inside a phrase that comes between them. Cross out of sterile gloves and near the sinks; the subject left is box, which is singular. Say the subject and verb together to check: the box is empty.
- A Are agrees with gloves or sinks, which sit inside phrases; the true subject, box, is singular.
- B Have been is plural; a singular subject would need has been, so this choice also matches the wrong noun.
- C Were is a plural past form chosen to match gloves or sinks, but the singular subject box needs a singular verb.
- D Correct: the subject is the singular noun box, so it takes the singular verb is.
Learn this topic: How to spot the grammar mistakes your ear misses 6-minute lesson
Source: Purdue OWL, Making Subjects and Verbs Agree · OpenStax Writing Guide with Handbook, Handbook (H7 Subject-Verb Agreement) ·
Which sentence uses the verb correctly?
Correct answer: A
Irregular verbs have a past form and a separate past participle, and the past participle is the one used after has, have or had. Swim, swam, swum; drink, drank, drunk; write, wrote, written; and ring, rang, rung all follow this pattern. So had swum is correct, while had drank, has wrote and had rang use the simple past where the participle belongs.
- A Correct: swum is the past participle of swim, so had swum is the right form after the helper had.
- B Drank is the simple past; after had, the past participle drunk is needed (had drunk).
- C Wrote is the simple past; after has, the past participle written is needed (has written).
- D Rang is the simple past; after had, the past participle rung is needed (had rung).
Learn this topic: How to spot the grammar mistakes your ear misses 6-minute lesson
Source: Purdue OWL, Irregular Verbs · OpenStax Writing Guide with Handbook, Handbook (H7 Irregular Verbs) ·
Which word best completes the sentence? The students left ___ backpacks in the hallway.
Correct answer: B
Their is the possessive form that goes in front of a noun to show the noun belongs to them. They're is a contraction of they are, and there points to a place or begins a there is sentence. Expanding they're is a quick check: the students left they are backpacks makes no sense.
- A There points to a place or begins a there is sentence; it cannot show that the backpacks belong to the students.
- B Correct: their shows ownership and comes before the noun backpacks.
- C Theirs is a possessive pronoun that stands alone (the backpacks are theirs); it cannot come right before a noun.
- D They're means they are, and the students left they are backpacks makes no sense.
Learn this topic: How to choose between words that sound alike 6-minute lesson
Source: OpenStax Writing Guide with Handbook, Handbook (Table H4, their/there/they're) · Purdue OWL, Spelling: Common Words that Sound Alike ·
Which word best completes the sentence? The new break schedule had a positive ___ on staff morale.
Correct answer: B
Affect is usually a verb meaning to influence, and effect is usually a noun meaning a result. The words a positive call for a singular noun, so effect is correct. The RAVEN memory aid helps: Remember, Affect is a Verb, Effect is a Noun.
- A Affect is usually a verb meaning to influence; as a noun it is a psychology term for outward emotion, not a result, so it does not fit after a positive.
- B Correct: the slot after a positive needs a singular noun meaning result, which is effect.
- C Affects is a verb form (it affects morale), so it cannot follow a positive as a noun.
- D Effects is plural, but the article a requires a singular noun (a positive effect).
Learn this topic: How to choose between words that sound alike 6-minute lesson
Source: Purdue OWL, Spelling: Common Words that Sound Alike · OpenStax Writing Guide with Handbook, Handbook (Table H4, affect/effect) ·
Which sentence uses lie or lay correctly?
Correct answer: D
Lie means to recline and takes no object; its forms are lie, lay, lain. Lay means to put or place and always takes an object; its forms are lay, laid, laid. Because lay is also the past tense of lie, Ana lay down (she reclined, with no object) is correct.
- A Marcus reclined and put nothing down, so the past tense of lie is needed: Marcus lay on the couch.
- B The towels are an object being placed, so the verb must be lay: Please lay the clean towels on the shelf.
- C The keys are resting, not placing anything, so the past participle of lie is needed: have lain.
- D Correct: lay is the past tense of lie (to recline), and lying down takes no object.
Learn this topic: How to choose between words that sound alike 6-minute lesson
Source: Purdue OWL, Commonly Confused Verbs · Missouri Western State University Center for Academic Support, Commonly Confused Words (PDF) ·
Which word best completes the sentence? The thermometer and the blood pressure cuff ___ on the bedside table.
Correct answer: A
Two subjects joined by and form a compound subject, which takes a plural verb. Here thermometer and cuff are two separate items, so the verb must be plural: they are on the table. Only when the joined words name a single unit (such as macaroni and cheese) does the verb stay singular.
- A Correct: the compound subject thermometer and cuff is plural, so it takes the plural verb are.
- B Is is singular and would fit only one item; thermometer and cuff together are plural.
- C Sits is the singular form of the verb; two items joined by and would sit, not sits.
- D Was is singular; the compound subject thermometer and cuff needs a plural verb (are, or were in the past tense).
Learn this topic: How to spot the grammar mistakes your ear misses 6-minute lesson
Source: Purdue OWL, Making Subjects and Verbs Agree · OpenStax Writing Guide with Handbook, Handbook (H7 Subject-Verb Agreement) ·
Which word best completes the sentence? Each of the nursing students ___ a skills checklist before the lab begins.
Correct answer: C
Indefinite pronouns such as each, everyone, everybody and nobody are singular and take a singular verb. The phrase of the nursing students sits between the subject and the verb, but it does not change the subject, which is each. Cross out the of phrase and read each has a checklist.
- A Have matches students, but students is inside the phrase of the nursing students; the real subject, each, is singular.
- B Were is a plural verb chosen to match students; the singular subject each would need was given.
- C Correct: each is singular, so it takes the singular verb has.
- D Need is the plural form; with the singular subject each it would have to be needs.
Learn this topic: How to spot the grammar mistakes your ear misses 6-minute lesson
Source: Purdue OWL, Making Subjects and Verbs Agree · OpenStax Writing Guide with Handbook, Handbook (H7 Subject-Verb Agreement) ·
Select the correct pronoun: The patient asked to speak with the nurse ___ had admitted her that morning.
Correct answer: C
Use who when the pronoun is the subject of its clause and whom when it is an object. In the clause ___ had admitted her, the missing word is the one doing the admitting, so it is a subject. Test it with he or she: she had admitted her, so who is correct. Which refers to things, not people.
- A Whom is an object pronoun, but the blank is the subject of had admitted (she had admitted her), so who is needed.
- B Whose shows possession (whose badge), but nothing here belongs to anyone; the blank needs a subject.
- C Correct: the pronoun is the subject of had admitted, so the subject form who is right.
- D Which is used for things; the word refers to a person, the nurse.
Learn this topic: How to spot the grammar mistakes your ear misses 6-minute lesson
Source: OpenStax Writing Guide with Handbook, Handbook (H8 Pronouns: Pronoun Case, Who or Whom) · Missouri Western State University Center for Academic Support, Commonly Confused Words (PDF) ·
Which word best completes the sentence? Either the two residents or the attending physician ___ going to present the case at rounds.
Correct answer: A
When two subjects are joined by or, either/or or neither/nor, the verb agrees with the subject closer to it. Here the closer subject is the attending physician, which is singular, so the verb is is. If the order were reversed (the attending physician or the two residents), the verb would be are.
- A Correct: the verb agrees with the nearer subject, physician, which is singular, so is is right.
- B Are agrees with residents, but with either/or the verb follows the nearer subject, physician.
- C Were is plural and past tense; the nearer subject, physician, is singular.
- D Have been is plural; a singular subject would need has been, and the sentence calls for is going.
Learn this topic: How to spot the grammar mistakes your ear misses 6-minute lesson
Source: Purdue OWL, Making Subjects and Verbs Agree · OpenStax Writing Guide with Handbook, Handbook (H7 Subject-Verb Agreement) ·
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Correct answer: A
Adverbs describe action verbs and tell how something is done; adjectives describe nouns. After a sense or linking verb such as smell, look or feel, use an adjective because it describes the subject. Confidently tells how the student answered, so the adverb is correct.
- A Correct: confidently is an adverb that tells how the student answered, and answered is an action verb.
- B Smelled is a sense verb describing the soup, so it takes the adjective wonderful; wonderfully would mean the soup did the smelling.
- C Clear is an adjective, but the word tells how Dr. Patel explained, so the adverb clearly is needed.
- D Gentle is an adjective, but the word tells how the aide handled the child, so the adverb gently is needed.
Learn this topic: How to spot the grammar mistakes your ear misses 6-minute lesson
Source: Purdue OWL, Adjective or Adverb: Avoiding Common Errors · Northern Illinois University Writing Tutorial, Adjective or Adverb ·
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Correct answer: B
Standard written English uses only one negative word to make a statement negative. Words such as no, not (n't), none, never and nobody each count as a negative. Fix a double negative by removing one negative or by changing it to a positive word such as any.
- A Didn't and no are two negatives; write didn't list any allergies or listed no allergies.
- B Correct: the sentence has only one negative word, no.
- C Didn't and none are two negatives in the same statement.
- D Hasn't and never are two negatives; write has never listed any allergies.
Learn this topic: How to spot the grammar mistakes your ear misses 6-minute lesson
Source: Northern Illinois University Writing Tutorial, Double Negatives · University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing, Supplemental Handbook Material for "Voices", 4.2 Negative Statements ·
Which word best completes the sentence? The afternoon clinic was busier ___ the morning clinic.
Correct answer: D
Than is used to compare things, often after a comparative word such as busier, more or less. Then refers to time or to what comes next (first we checked in, then we waited). Because this sentence compares two clinics, than is correct.
- A That does not complete a comparison; busier that the morning clinic is ungrammatical.
- B Then refers to time or sequence, not comparison; it is the classic sound-alike mistake for than.
- C As is used in equal comparisons (as busy as), not after a comparative form such as busier.
- D Correct: than introduces a comparison after the comparative word busier.
Learn this topic: How to choose between words that sound alike 6-minute lesson
Source: Purdue OWL, Spelling: Common Words that Sound Alike · Missouri Western State University Center for Academic Support, Commonly Confused Words (PDF) ·
Which word best completes the sentence? The new protocol calls for ___ blood draws per patient than the old one did.
Correct answer: C
Use fewer with things you can count and less with amounts you cannot count. Blood draws can be counted one by one (one draw, two draws), so fewer is correct. A quick check: if the noun is plural and countable, use fewer; if it is a mass such as blood or time, use less.
- A In standard written English, less is for amounts that cannot be counted (less blood), but draws are countable.
- B Lesser means smaller in importance or rank (a lesser concern) and does not fit before a countable plural noun.
- C Correct: draws are countable, so fewer is the right word.
- D Little describes a small amount of something uncountable and cannot pair with than here.
Learn this topic: How to choose between words that sound alike 6-minute lesson
Source: OpenStax Writing Guide with Handbook, Handbook (Table H4, Words Commonly Confused) · Northern Illinois University Writing Tutorial, Commonly Confused Words ·
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Correct answer: B
Its is the possessive form of it and never takes an apostrophe. It's is a contraction of it is or it has. Expand any it's to it is and reread; if the sentence makes no sense, the possessive its is needed.
- A It's means it is, and posted it is new hours makes no sense; the possessive its is needed.
- B Correct: the menu belongs to the cafeteria, so the possessive its, with no apostrophe, is right.
- C This sentence means it is important, so it needs the contraction it's.
- D The siren belongs to the ambulance, so the possessive its is needed, not the contraction it's.
Learn this topic: How to choose between words that sound alike 6-minute lesson
Source: Purdue OWL, Spelling: Common Words that Sound Alike · Purdue OWL, Apostrophe Introduction ·
Which word best completes the sentence? From the frown on the instructor's face, the students ___ that their presentation had gone poorly.
Correct answer: B
Imply means to suggest something without saying it directly; infer means to reach a conclusion from evidence. The speaker or writer implies, and the listener or reader infers. Here the students are drawing a conclusion from the instructor's frown, so they inferred it.
- A Implied would mean the students hinted at something, but they are the ones drawing a conclusion.
- B Correct: the students concluded something from the evidence of the frown, so they inferred it.
- C Imply has the wrong meaning (to suggest) and also shifts to the present tense in a past-tense sentence.
- D Inferring is not a complete verb, so the students inferring that... leaves the sentence without a main verb.
Learn this topic: How to choose between words that sound alike 6-minute lesson
Source: OpenStax Writing Guide with Handbook, Handbook (Table H4, Words Commonly Confused) ·
What part of speech is the bold word? The anxious patient asked many questions before the procedure.
Correct answer: A
An adjective describes a noun or pronoun and often tells what kind. Anxious tells what kind of patient, so it is an adjective. Adverbs, by contrast, describe verbs, adjectives or other adverbs and often end in -ly.
- A Correct: anxious describes the noun patient, so it is an adjective.
- B A preposition comes before a noun or pronoun to show a relationship (before the procedure); anxious describes a noun instead.
- C A noun names a person, place, thing or idea; the noun here is patient, and anxious describes it.
- D An adverb describes a verb, adjective or adverb; anxious describes a noun, and the adverb form would be anxiously.
Learn this topic: How to tell which job a word is doing in a sentence 5-minute lesson
Source: Purdue OWL, Parts of Speech Overview · City College of New York Writing Center, Introduction to the Parts of Speech (PDF) ·
What part of speech is the bold word? Several of the volunteers stayed late to fold linens.
Correct answer: B
A pronoun takes the place of a noun. In this sentence, several stands alone as the subject and refers to some of the volunteers, so it works as an indefinite pronoun, like each, both, few and many. When several sits directly in front of a noun (several volunteers), it describes that noun instead.
- A Several would describe a noun only if it came right before one (several volunteers); here it stands alone as the subject.
- B Correct: several stands in for a noun and acts as the subject, so it is an indefinite pronoun.
- C Several does not name a person, place or thing; it stands in for the people meant (some of the volunteers).
- D An adverb describes a verb, adjective or adverb; several is the subject that stayed late.
Learn this topic: How to tell which job a word is doing in a sentence 5-minute lesson
Source: OpenStax Writing Guide with Handbook, Handbook (H7 Subject-Verb Agreement) · Purdue OWL, Parts of Speech Overview ·
What part of speech is the bold word? The extremely long line at the pharmacy moved slowly.
Correct answer: C
Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives and other adverbs, often answering how or to what extent. Extremely tells how long the line was, so it describes the adjective long. It sits in front of a noun phrase, but it does not describe the noun line directly, which is why it is not an adjective.
- A Long is the adjective describing line; extremely describes long, and a word that describes an adjective is an adverb.
- B The verb in the sentence is moved; extremely shows no action or state of being.
- C Correct: extremely tells to what extent the line was long, so it modifies an adjective and is an adverb.
- D Extremely does not name a person, place, thing or idea; the noun in this phrase is line.
Learn this topic: How to tell which job a word is doing in a sentence 5-minute lesson
Source: Purdue OWL, Parts of Speech Overview · City College of New York Writing Center, Introduction to the Parts of Speech (PDF) ·
Which of the following is a sentence fragment?
Correct answer: A
A sentence fragment is a group of words punctuated as a sentence that is not a complete thought. A clause that begins with a subordinating word such as because, although or when is a dependent clause and cannot stand alone, even though it has a subject and a verb. Fix it by attaching it to a main clause: We went home because the lab closed early.
- A Correct: because turns the clause into a dependent clause that leaves the reader waiting for the rest of the thought.
- B This is a complete sentence with a subject (lab) and verb (closed) that expresses a full thought.
- C This joins two independent clauses with a comma and the coordinating conjunction so, which is correct.
- D The dependent clause when the lab closed is attached to the independent clause we went home, so the sentence is complete.
Learn this topic: How to build and fix a complete sentence 6-minute lesson
Source: Purdue OWL, Sentence Fragments · OpenStax Writing Guide with Handbook, Handbook (H4 Sentence Errors: Fragments, Comma Splices, Run-ons) ·
Which sentence uses capital letters correctly?
Correct answer: D
Capitalize proper nouns, the specific names of people, places and organizations, such as Mercy Hospital. Family words such as aunt and mother are lowercase after a possessive word like my, and job titles such as nurse are lowercase when they are not part of a name. A word is capitalized because it is a name, not because it seems important.
- A Aunt follows my and is not used as a name, so it should be lowercase.
- B Mercy Hospital is the name of a specific hospital, so both words must be capitalized.
- C Nurse is a common job title and should be lowercase, and hospital is part of the proper name, so it needs a capital.
- D Correct: aunt and nurse are common nouns, and Mercy Hospital is the full name of a specific place.
Learn this topic: How to punctuate by rule, not by pause 6-minute lesson
Source: Purdue OWL, A Little Help with Capitals · OpenStax Writing Guide with Handbook, Handbook (H9 Punctuation: Commas, Semicolons; H10 Capital Letters) ·
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Correct answer: D
Do not put a comma between a subject and its verb, even when the subject is long. The clause who miss the review session is essential because it tells which students may borrow the notes, so it is not set off with commas. The whole phrase nursing students who miss the review session is the subject, and may borrow is the verb.
- A This comma separates the long subject from its verb, may borrow, which standard punctuation does not allow.
- B A single comma after students splits the subject from the clause that identifies which students are meant; essential clauses take no commas.
- C A comma after may splits the verb phrase may borrow, which is never correct.
- D Correct: the essential clause takes no commas, and nothing separates the subject from the verb.
Learn this topic: How to punctuate by rule, not by pause 6-minute lesson
Source: Purdue OWL, Extended Rules for Using Commas · OpenStax Writing Guide with Handbook, Handbook (H9 Punctuation: Commas, Semicolons; H10 Capital Letters) ·
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Each program picks the sections and sets its own minimum.
| Program | Sections | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Baylor University | Math, English composite | 80 or better on each |
| Lone Star College, ADN | Reading, Grammar, Vocabulary, A&P, Math, Critical Thinking | 80 on each section (750 for Critical Thinking) |
| University of Arizona | Math, Reading, Vocabulary, Biology | 75% combined score |
| CNM (New Mexico) | Grammar, Reading, Vocabulary, Biology, Chemistry, Math | 75% on every section and 75% composite |
Your score is the percent you got right in each section. The real HESI A2 also scores each section as percent correct, and your cumulative score is the average of the sections you took.
Rules change every year. Always check your own program’s page. Checked October 15, 2026.
HESI A2 format
| Section | Questions (scored) | Suggested time |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 55 (50) | 60 min |
| Vocabulary | 55 (50) | 50 min |
| Grammar | 55 (50) | 50 min |
| Math | 55 (50) | 50 min |
| Biology | 30 (25) | 25 min |
| Chemistry | 30 (25) | 25 min |
| Anatomy & Physiology | 30 (25) | 25 min |
Five questions in each section are unscored pilot items. Elsevier doesn’t publish these numbers; they come from nursing programs’ pages.
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Sources (checked October 15, 2026)
- Elsevier, HESI NG A2 faculty guide (schools choose modules, calculator and time)
- South Texas College, HESI exam information (50 scored + 5 pilot items)
- Tarrant County College, HESI A2 exam information
- Baylor University, HESI A2 information
- Lone Star College, HESI A2 test
- University of Arizona, HESI admission assessment
- CNM, HESI A2 exam