Core Grammar For Lawyers Post Test Answers

Core Grammar for Lawyers: Post-Test Answers and Comprehensive Review

This post provides comprehensive answers and explanations for a hypothetical core grammar post-test for lawyers, covering crucial grammatical concepts essential for legal writing. We’ll delve into each question, exploring the correct answer and why other options are incorrect, reinforcing your understanding of grammar’s role in legal precision and clarity. This detailed analysis will also help you prepare for similar assessments and enhance your legal writing skills overall.

Section 1: Subject-Verb Agreement

Question 1: The jury, along with the judge and bailiffs, ______ adjourned for lunch.

(a) has (b) have

Answer: (a) has

Explanation: The subject of the sentence is "jury," which is singular. Phrases like "along with," "as well as," and "in addition to" do not change the number of the subject. Therefore, the singular verb "has" is correct.

Question 2: Neither the plaintiff nor the defendants ______ presented sufficient evidence.

(a) has (b) have

Answer: (a) has

Explanation: With "neither...nor," the verb agrees with the closest subject. In this case, "defendants" is plural, but "neither" makes the subject grammatically singular. Hence, "has" is the correct choice.

Question 3: The data, which ______ compiled over several years, supports the prosecution's argument.

(a) was (b) were

Answer: (a) was

Explanation: While the relative clause ("which...years") contains a plural noun ("years"), the subject of the main clause is "data," which is considered singular in this context. Therefore, the singular verb "was" is correct.

Section 2: Pronoun Agreement and Case

Question 4: Each lawyer must present ______ case with clarity and precision.

(a) their (b) his or her (c) his

Answer: (b) his or her (or the singular "they")

Explanation: While "their" is increasingly used as a singular gender-neutral pronoun, using "his or her" remains the most formally correct option in legal writing to avoid ambiguity. The use of the singular “they” is also becoming increasingly accepted, particularly in style guides that favor inclusivity. "His" is incorrect because it is not inclusive.

Question 5: The attorney and ______ client conferred privately before the hearing.

(a) his (b) her (c) their

Answer: The answer depends on the gender of the client. If the client is male, (a) is correct. If the client is female, (b) is correct.

Explanation: Pronoun case must agree with the noun it refers to. If the sentence refers to a male client, then "his" is correct; if it refers to a female client, then "her" is correct.

Question 6: Between you and ______, I believe the verdict will be overturned.

(a) I (b) me

Answer: (b) me

Explanation: This requires the objective case pronoun. "Between" is a preposition, and prepositions take objective case pronouns.

Section 3: Verb Tense and Parallelism

Question 7: The witness testified that he ______ the defendant at the scene of the crime.

(a) saw (b) had seen

Answer: (b) had seen

Explanation: The main verb is in the past tense ("testified"), but the action of seeing the defendant happened before the testifying. Therefore, the past perfect tense ("had seen") is necessary to indicate the earlier action.

Question 8: The judge ordered the defendant to appear in court, to provide a statement, and ______ all relevant documents.

(a) to submit (b) submit

Answer: (a) to submit

Explanation: Maintain parallel structure. Since the judge ordered the defendant to do three things, all actions need to be expressed using the infinitive ("to" + verb).

Question 9: The lawyer meticulously reviewed the contract, carefully examined the exhibits, and ______ every relevant case.

(a) researched (b) researching

Answer: (a) researched

Explanation: The sentence uses parallel structure with past tense verbs, so the answer must also be a past tense verb.

Section 4: Comma Usage and Punctuation

Question 10: The defendant however, maintained his innocence.

(a) Correct (b) Incorrect

Answer: (b) Incorrect

Explanation: A comma should not separate a subject from its verb. The comma should be placed after "defendant." The correct sentence is: "The defendant, however, maintained his innocence."

Question 11: The lawyer argued passionately; convincingly; and persuasively.

(a) Correct (b) Incorrect

Answer: (b) Incorrect

Explanation: Items in a series should be separated by commas. The correct sentence is: "The lawyer argued passionately, convincingly, and persuasively."

Question 12: My client, a renowned expert in this field, testified on several occasions.

(a) Correct (b) Incorrect

Answer: (a) Correct

Explanation: The commas correctly set off the nonrestrictive appositive phrase ("a renowned expert in this field").

Section 5: Word Choice and Style

Question 13: The witness's testimony was ______ to the case.

(a) irrelevant (b) irrelative

Answer: (a) irrelevant

Explanation: "Irrelevant" is the correct word to indicate that the testimony was not related to the case. "Irrelative" is not a standard English word.

Question 14: The judge's ruling was ______ and left no room for appeal.

(a) definitive (b) defiative

Answer: (a) definitive

Explanation: "Definitive" means conclusive and final, accurately reflecting the nature of the judge's ruling. "Defiative" is not a standard English word.

Question 15: The lawyer presented a ______ argument, leaving the jury unconvinced.

(a) cogent (b) incoherent

Answer: (b) incoherent

Explanation: Since the jury was unconvinced, the argument was poorly constructed or illogical. Therefore, incoherent fits better than cogent (logical and well-reasoned).

Section 6: Sentence Structure and Clarity

Question 16: Although the evidence was circumstantial, the jury found the defendant guilty because of the overwhelming proof.

(a) Correct (b) Incorrect

Answer: (a) Correct

Explanation: This is a grammatically correct and clear complex sentence.

Question 17: Running quickly to the courthouse, the case files were dropped by the lawyer.

(a) Correct (b) Incorrect

Answer: (b) Incorrect

Explanation: This sentence suffers from a misplaced modifier. The case files were not running quickly. The correct version would be something like: "Running quickly to the courthouse, the lawyer dropped the case files."

Question 18: The lawyer, experienced and articulate, successfully argued the case, and winning a favorable judgment for her client.

(a) Correct (b) Incorrect

Answer: (b) Incorrect

Explanation: The sentence has a comma splice; the two independent clauses are incorrectly joined with only a comma. A semicolon or a conjunction would be required to correctly join the two clauses. Alternatively, the sentence could be separated into two sentences.

Conclusion: Mastering Core Grammar for Legal Writing Excellence

This post provides a comprehensive review of core grammar principles critical for lawyers. Accurate and precise language is paramount in legal writing, impacting the clarity and strength of arguments, contracts, and other legal documents. Consistent application of these grammatical rules is crucial for crafting persuasive and legally sound documents, avoiding ambiguity and potential misinterpretations. By understanding the nuances of subject-verb agreement, pronoun case, tense consistency, punctuation, word choice, and sentence structure, legal professionals can significantly enhance their communication skills and professional credibility. Continued practice and attention to detail are essential for achieving mastery in legal writing. Regular review and application of these grammatical concepts will lead to improved legal writing skills and increased confidence in producing high-quality, error-free legal documents. Remember to always consult style guides specific to your jurisdiction for the most accurate and up-to-date guidelines on legal writing conventions.