Want to walk into your TEAS English Language Usage test feeling confident and fully prepared?
You’re in the right place. This page breaks down every question type you’ll face in the English and Language Usage section of the ATI TEAS 7—and gives you FREE sample questions, expert tutor tips, and a printable PDF to guide your prep. This guide will help you get into nursing school.
"Many aspiring nurses worry about the English section of the TEAS. With guided practice, I help students master grammar, usage, and sentence structure to boost their scores and their confidence."
Gali. ATI TEAS Expert at TestPrep-Online
The TEAS English Language Usage test assesses a test taker's understanding and application of standard English. The test is broken into three main parts, and on this page we have sample questions from those three parts. we will start with conventions of standard English:
Conventions of Standard English: This section focuses on the rules of grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.
Topics include:
Here are some sample questions. See how your knowledge stacks up.
As the journalist was proofreading her article, she realized that some words were incorrecty spelled and needed correction before submission.
Which of the following corrects a misspelling in the sentence above?
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
The correct answer is (b). "Incorrecty" is missing the letter 'l' and should be spelled "incorrectly." Let's analyze why the other options are incorrect:
Study Tip: When studying spelling, focus on commonly misspelled words and create mnemonics to remember challenging spellings.
TestPrep-Online Tutor's Tip:
"When I coach students on spelling and grammar, I always say—look out for words your brain “autocorrects.” Read aloud and look for red flags like missing letters or wrong homophones. Mnemonics work wonders for tricky ones like “accommodate” or “definitely.”"
Get everything you need to pass the TEAS English section
Focus: Punctuation (specifically commas)
Specific Skill: Understanding comma usage in introductory phrases. The question tests the knowledge of when to use a comma after an introductory phrase.
Which of the following sentences correctly uses punctuation?
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
The correct answer is (C)
TestPrep-Online Tutor's Tip:
"If you see an introductory phrase (like “Before the meeting starts”), drop a comma right after it. I tell my students to “pause and place” — if your voice naturally pauses, a comma probably belongs there."
Focus: Sentence Structure (specifically dependent clauses)
Specific Skill: Identifying dependent clauses. This question requires the test taker to understand the difference between independent and dependent clauses
Which of the following are dependent clauses? (Select all that apply.)
Correct!
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
A2: The correct answers are A and C.
Dependent clauses are groups of words with a subject and a verb that do not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence. They typically begin with subordinating conjunctions like "because," "since," "while," "although," etc.
A. "Since the book was overdue." - This is a dependent clause because it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence without additional information. It starts with the subordinating conjunction "since," which signals that it's dependent.
C. "Because she practiced daily." - This is a dependent clause. It has a subject ("she") and a verb ("practiced"), but the sentence doesn't express a complete thought and relies on something else to make it complete. It begins with "because," a subordinating conjunction.
E. "While the cake was baking in the oven, the children were playing in the yard." - This sentence is a complex sentence, which contains a dependent clause ("While the cake was baking in the oven") and an independent clause ("the children were playing in the yard"). The dependent clause starts with "while," a subordinating conjunction, and cannot stand alone as a complete thought.
Options B and D remain independent clauses because they can stand alone as complete sentences.
Study Tip: Dependent clauses often begin with subordinating conjunctions like "since," "because," "while," or "although."
TestPrep-Online Tutor's Tip:
"If you see an introductory phrase (like “Before the meeting starts”), drop a comma right after it. I tell my students to “pause and place” — if your voice naturally pauses, a comma probably belongs there."
Knowledge of Language: This section tests the test taker's understanding of how language works in different contexts.
Topics include:
Focus: Writing Structure, specifically transition words/phrases and logical flow.
Specific Skill: Choosing the appropriate transition word to connect two clauses and establish a cause-and-effect relationship.
Despite extensive preparations, Jane's presentation did not go as planned, ______ she forgot some of her main points.
Which of the following transition words or phrases best completes the sentence?
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
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The correct answer is C.
In the given sentence, the transition is needed to show causation or reason between Jane's extensive preparations and her presentation not going as planned due to forgetting some of her main points.
The word "because" effectively indicates that her forgetting the points is the reason the presentation did not go well, despite her preparations.
Study Tip: Create a personal reference chart of transition words grouped by their function (contrast, cause-effect, addition, etc.).
TestPrep-Online Tutor's Tip:
"When choosing transition words, ask: “What’s the relationship here—cause, contrast, example?” I tell students to group transitions by type and memorize a few for each (e.g., because = cause, however = contrast)."
Focus: Audience Awareness/Context and Diction.
Specific Skill: Recognizing language and vocabulary that evokes a specific historical setting.
Which of the following sentences would indicate that the setting is in medieval Europe?
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
The correct answer is A.
Study Tip: Pay attention to time-specific vocabulary and cultural markers. Create a timeline of different historical periods and their associated terms.
TestPrep-Online Tutor's Tip:
"Words like “joust,” “king’s favor,” or “flapper” are clues. I help students connect key vocab with historical periods using a simple visual timeline—we build context together and it sticks."
Focus: Vocabulary and Word Parts (specifically prefixes)
Specific Skill: Determining word meaning through analysis of prefixes
Based on an analysis of word structure, a "biannual" event happens___
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
The correct answer is (A) Twice a year.
Common confusion point: "Biennial" (not "biannual") means "once every two years"
Study Tip: Create a prefix reference chart:
TestPrep-Online Tutor's Tip:
"Prefixes are gold. I drill these with flashcards and quick quizzes: “bi-” = two, “semi-” = half, “anti-” = against. Understanding word parts helps decode tough words fast on test day."
Focus: Writing Structure (transition words/phrases)
Specific Skill: Choosing appropriate transition words to show contrast between clauses
The DMV is issuing new driving licenses to people, men, and women under the age of 21. Which of the following words or phrases are redundant in the sentence above?
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
The correct answer is (C)
The phrase "men and women" is included in the noun "people."
TestPrep-Online Tutor's Tip:
"In writing, less is more. I teach students to check: does this phrase repeat something already stated? “People” already includes “men and women,” so cut the fluff. Clean writing = clear thinking."
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Using Language and Vocabulary: This section focuses on effective communication and vocabulary skills.
Topics include:
Focus: Clarity and Conciseness/Effective Communication, specifically academic integrity and source attribution.
Specific Skill: Understanding when citations are necessary in writing. This question tests the understanding of plagiarism and the importance of giving credit to original sources.
In which of the following scenarios must the author provide a citation?
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
The correct answer is D. Citations are required when:
Options a-c don't require citations because:
Study Tip: Remember the acronym QUOTE:
TestPrep-Online Tutor's Tip:
" I use the acronym QUOTE:
If in doubt—cite! "
Focus: Vocabulary, specifically understanding word forms and their meanings.
Specific Skill: Recognizing the correct noun form for "a person who advocates.
Which of the following means "a person who advocates for something"?
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
The correct answer is D.
An "advocator" is a person who supports or argues for a cause or policy. The word part "advocate" means to support or argue for, and the suffix "-or" typically turns a verb into a noun, indicating a person who performs the action of the verb. In this case, "advocator" means a person who advocates.
Study Tip: Learn common noun formations:
TestPrep-Online Tutor's Tip:
"Know your suffixes. “-er,” “-or,” and “-ist” usually signal “the person who does.” Advocate = verb. Advocator = person. I give my students a suffix decoder chart and practice with real examples like teacher, scientist, trainer, etc"
Focus: Vocabulary, specifically understanding word meanings (synonyms).
Specific Skill: Identifying a synonym for "prosperity." This question directly tests vocabulary knowledge.
Prosperity most nearly means____
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Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
The correct answer is (C) Affluence.
Study Tip: Build vocabulary through word families:
TestPrep-Online Tutor's Tip:
"I tell students to create word families: prosperity → prosperous → prosper. Then match them with synonyms they already know: “affluence” = wealth. It’s all about making connections."
Focus: Writing Structure (transition words/phrases)
Specific Skill: Choosing appropriate transition words to show contrast between clauses
It is very rare to see green turtles off the coast of California; ________, during the summer they can be found among the rocks.
Which of the following words best completes the sentence above?
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Answer & Explanation
The correct answer is (C).
The two parts of the sentence are meant to contrast with each other. The first part states that it is rare to see green turtles, while the second part mentions that they can be found during the summer. The word "however" is used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or seems to contradict something that has been said previously. Therefore, "however" is the best word to complete the sentence. The sentence should read:
"It is very rare to see green turtles off the coast of California; however, during the summer they can be found among the rocks."
TestPrep-Online Tutor's Tip:
"Look for contrast. The first clause says it’s rare. The second says it happens. That’s a switch, so you need a contrast word like “however.” I have students memorize 5 contrast transitions—“but,” “yet,” “however,” “although,” “nevertheless."
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The ATI Nursing English and Language Usage Section is one of the four sections of the TEAS exam – and includes questions that will assess your knowledge of proper English.
The section includes a total of 37 questions to be answered in 37 minutes. The section includes three types of questions:
Preparing for the TEAS English & Language Usage section requires a focused approach, as this part of the exam evaluates your proficiency in English language conventions, grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure. Here are specific tips to help you prepare effectively:
By following these strategies and dedicating consistent time to practice, you can significantly improve your performance on the TEAS English & Language Usage section.
Click here to get access to our detailed TEAS 7 Preparation!
A good score on the TEAS English & Language Usage section varies by program, but generally, programs look for scores in the range of 60% to 80% (Overall TEAS 7 score which constitutes all the sections together). Competitive programs may require scores at the higher end or above. Aiming for a score in the 70th percentile and above is considered a high score.
However, it's crucial to check the specific score requirements of the programs you're applying to, as these will provide the most accurate target. Essentially, a "good" score is one that meets or exceeds the minimum requirement of your targeted nursing or allied health program.
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The TEAS English and Language Usage section consists of 37 questions (with 9 pre-test questions).
Participants are given 37 minutes to complete this section of the TEAS exam.
Grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, transitions, tone, vocabulary, and more.
Most programs expect 60–80%. Aim for the 70th percentile or higher to be competitive.
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