Which sentence uses the correlative conjunction 'either/or' correctly?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Option A uses the correlative conjunction 'either/or' correctly by presenting two exclusive options. The structure 'either...or' is used to show a choice between two alternatives, and in this sentence, it clearly presents the options of coming to the party or staying home. Choice B incorrectly separates the options with a comma after 'either,' disrupting the correlative conjunction pair. Choice C uses 'whether' instead of 'either/or,' which changes the meaning and structure. Choice D uses 'either' incorrectly, as it should be followed by 'or' to form the correlative pair.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The clause 'as the sun dipped below the horizon' functions as a subordinate clause because it provides additional information about the main clause 'We sat on the beach,' indicating a dependent relationship between the two clauses. An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence, which is not the case here. Appositive clauses rename or explain nouns, while noun clauses act as nouns within a sentence. In this context, 'as the sun dipped below the horizon' acts as a dependent clause, making it a subordinate clause.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Option C correctly uses the phrase 'by the way' to introduce additional information that is not directly related to the previous sentence, making it a natural and appropriate use of the phrase in casual conversation. Choices A, B, and D do not use 'by the way' in the same context as option C. Choice A incorrectly uses 'by the way' to convey winning the lottery, which is not a casual or incidental piece of information. Choice B incorrectly uses 'by the way' after a semicolon in a way that disrupts the flow of the sentence. Choice D correctly uses 'by the way' but the information provided about the movie starting time is not a casual or incidental addition, unlike in option C.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: In this sentence, 'neither' is followed by two subjects, 'Michael' and 'Sarah.' When 'neither' is followed by two singular subjects joined by 'nor,' the verb should agree with the subject closer to the verb, which is 'Sarah' in this case. Therefore, the correct pronoun to complete the sentence is 'have.' Choice A, 'has,' is incorrect because it is singular and does not agree with the plural subject 'Sarah.' Choice C, 'are having,' is incorrect as it changes the sentence structure and does not fit grammatically. Choice D, 'does have,' is incorrect as 'does' is unnecessary and 'have' does not agree with the singular verb 'does.'

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is 'D, Past perfect tense.' In the sentence provided, the verb 'had left' is in the past perfect tense. The past perfect tense is used to indicate an action that was completed before another past action, which in this case is 'arrived.' Therefore, the main verb tense in the sentence is past perfect. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because the sentence does not contain present, past, or future tense verbs as the main verb. Instead, the main verb 'left' is in the past perfect tense, showing an action completed before another past event.