why can't i pass this freaking grammar section

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Sep 10, 2016

You'll need to make time to proofread. Sometimes, the only difference in two identical sentences could be a harmless little comma.

Also, pay attention to the action of the sentence. For example, if the first part of a sentence is in the present tense, make sure the second part is in the present tense. "As I was walking, he laid on the sidewalk". This is incorrect because there is a present-tense verb and a past tense. Correct: "As I walked, he laid on the sidewalk".

I'm willing to bet that things like that are throwing you off. The sentences need to keep moving in the same direction. Be mindful of misplaced and/or added commas and semicolons.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2016

I don't have time to read a lot of books, I was looking for advice on study guides, websites etc.

Here is the issue...present-day performance on reading and grammar examinations is based largely on past literacy experiences. No study guide or website will correct deficiencies in a skill that most started accruing in early childhood.

My former nursing instructor made the following comment: "We can teach students dosage calculations. However, we cannot teach grammar and reading comprehension." He posited that grammatical skills are developed over a lifetime through formal education and informal means such as reading books regularly.

Hence, grammatical skills usually cannot be crammed into a person's fund of knowledge in the span of a few short weeks using study guides.

dawniepoo · Sep 10, 2016

I'm only asking because I'm curious. I am not judging you, but are you in a college program? Did you need to take college English in order to be accepted to your nursing program? In order to be respected in your career, you will need to be able to write a coherent sentence. Get a handle on this now before you start working. There are many websites that you can visit that will help you learn the rules. Many include quizzes. Good luck to you!

cayenne06, MSN, CNM · Sep 10, 2016

I can't pass up the opportunity to share my favorite grammar blogpost.

Hyperbole and a Half: The Alot is Better Than You at Everything

ALOT11.png.449d480b6347cafc5c8adae22a0ad3f4.png

fashionablylayt · Sep 10, 2016

I am preparing to register/sit for the HESI, but am struggling a bit in the grammar section too. When it comes to grammatically correct or incorrect questions, I find it helpful to break the sentence down by identifying different parts and reading it quitely to myself. If the answer is not obvious, then more often then not, it seems to be a tense issue or a plural versus singular problem. Those are the questions I get wrong the most, knowing this indicates where I need to hone my study and focus.

The other commenters are not trying to be insulting or unhelpful. I think they are simply saying: by following grammar rules in their personal writing, plus reading for pleasure, sets them up for success. In today's America many of us do not speak proper English, our popular books for teens are full of errors. What kind of example is that? We often fall for a writers style, meanwhile overlooking the writers lack of grammar skills.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2016

I have always enjoyed the ______ For Dummies books. I noticed that Amazon has several grammar books from that line. One is even a workbook. I don't know how helpful they actually are, but they might be worth a try.

English Grammar For Dummies: Geraldine Woods: 978

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Sep 10, 2016

I homeschooled my four kids, and feel that the BEST grammar book out there is Easy Grammar. Super-simple to use, it teaches you a concept, and then you practice that concept in a variety of sentences until you have it. This text covers all of the HESI content about grammar, punctuation, and parts of speech. (

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Sep 10, 2016

I am preparing to register/sit for the HESI, but am struggling a bit in the grammar section too. When it comes to grammatically correct or incorrect questions, I find it helpful to break the sentence down by identifying different parts and reading it quitely to myself. If the answer is not obvious, then more often then not, it seems to be a tense issue or a plural versus singular problem. Those are the questions I get wrong the most, knowing this indicates where I need to hone my study and focus.
The other commenters are not trying to be insulting or unhelpful. I think they are simply saying: by following grammar rules in their personal writing, plus reading for pleasure, sets them up for success. In today's America many of us do not speak proper English, our popular books for teens are full of errors. What kind of example is that? We often fall for a writers style, meanwhile overlooking the writers lack of grammar skills.

There are two necessary parts to becoming a good writer. First, you must READ good writing. Then you must practice - and practice means revision. In other words, before you hit 'send', look it over and correct those items you may not have caught while composing. Yes, even internet message boards, text messages, and the like. By consistently doing this, you become a better writer.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2016

I am preparing to register/sit for the HESI, but am struggling a bit in the grammar section too. When it comes to grammatically correct or incorrect questions, I find it helpful to break the sentence down by identifying different parts and reading it quitely to myself. If the answer is not obvious, then more often then not, it seems to be a tense issue or a plural versus singular problem. Those are the questions I get wrong the most, knowing this indicates where I need to hone my study and focus.
The other commenters are not trying to be insulting or unhelpful. I think they are simply saying: by following grammar rules in their personal writing, plus reading for pleasure, sets them up for success. In today's America many of us do not speak proper English, our popular books for teens are full of errors. What kind of example is that? We often fall for a writers style, meanwhile overlooking the writers lack of grammar skills.

I would not normally comment on another person's grammar mistakes, but you mentioned that you are also struggling with the grammar portion of the HESI. You have made several errors in the paragraph above. The best way to improve is to practice editing one's own writing at every turn. It is the rare person who does not make the occasional typo, grammar error, or misspelling. I would encourage you to proof every post you make here, every paragraph you write in a homework assignment, every email you send, etc. That is a great way to practice, practice, practice.

I always proof my posts on AN. Nevertheless, I still miss things that should have been so obvious to me! We are all fallible, but if we make a habit of proofing our writing every chance we get, we can slowly improve our written communications.

neuron · Sep 10, 2016

In those question, look for incorrect spelling, incorrect form of word (took, take).

Emergent, RN · Sep 10, 2016

I wasn't proof reading this post, and have had a long day, but yes I did grow up speaking correct English. I'm just having problem picking the correct one.
One question was "pick the correct sentence"
and they seemed to be all incomplete.
*sigh* idk

Get into the habit of proof reading all of your writings. I notice you use a lot of text speak in your posts. I suspect you grew up in the texting generation. That writing style is grammatically incorrect.

You probably had a inadequate education in K-12. Good luck in remedying that. Be open to suggestions.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Sep 10, 2016

My comment was not meant as a slight. A lot of areas of the country have dialects/ways of phrasing things that are not "correct" English. You are probably ahead of me on naming the parts of a sentence, but I always score really high in those types of tests because I have always read ALOT. I know instinctively which is "right" without breaking it apart. It just sounds better to me.
Sorry aside from my earlier suggestions that's all I have.

I agree that reading a lot has improved my ability to recognize a "correct sentence" and to distinguish it from one that is incorrect. The problem is that if the poster isn't already a reader, I doubt she would read enough between now and her next scheduled test to make any improvement. With reading, you tend to absorb sentence structure, grammar and increase your vocabulary more or less by osmosis. The poster needs something she can study to help her pass the next exam and unfortunately, I have no idea what that would be other than a high school English text book. (And perhaps that is the key.)