- A
usermod -aG group user
Correct: `usermod -aG` appends the user to the specified supplementary group(s) without affecting existing memberships.
- B
usermod -AG group user
Why wrong: Incorrect: The `-A` flag is not valid for usermod. The command would be interpreted as `-A -G`, which would replace all supplementary groups, and `-A` would cause an error.
- C
adduser user group
Why wrong: Incorrect: `adduser` is used to create a new user, not to modify existing user's group memberships.
- D
gpasswd -a user group
Correct: `gpasswd -a user group` adds the user to the specified group without removing the user from other groups.
- E
groupadd -a user group
Why wrong: Incorrect: `groupadd` creates a new group; the `-a` flag is not used for adding users. The correct syntax for adding a user to a group with gpasswd is `gpasswd -a`.
Adding a User to a Group Without Removing Other Group Memberships
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of manage users and groups. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which TWO commands can be used to add a user to a secondary group without removing existing supplementary group memberships? (Choose exactly 2)
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
usermod -aG group user
Option A is correct because `usermod -aG` appends the user to the specified supplementary group(s) without affecting any existing supplementary group memberships. The `-a` flag (append) must be used with `-G` to avoid overwriting the current list of supplementary groups. This is the standard method in Red Hat Enterprise Linux for adding a user to an additional group while preserving all other group memberships.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
usermod -aG group user
Why this is correct
Correct: `usermod -aG` appends the user to the specified supplementary group(s) without affecting existing memberships.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
usermod -AG group user
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: The `-A` flag is not valid for usermod. The command would be interpreted as `-A -G`, which would replace all supplementary groups, and `-A` would cause an error.
- ✗
adduser user group
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: `adduser` is used to create a new user, not to modify existing user's group memberships.
- ✓
gpasswd -a user group
Why this is correct
Correct: `gpasswd -a user group` adds the user to the specified group without removing the user from other groups.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
groupadd -a user group
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: `groupadd` creates a new group; the `-a` flag is not used for adding users. The correct syntax for adding a user to a group with gpasswd is `gpasswd -a`.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse `usermod -G` (which replaces all supplementary groups) with `usermod -aG` (which appends), and may also mistakenly think `groupadd` or `adduser` can modify group memberships, when in fact only `usermod -aG` and `gpasswd -a` are the correct tools for this task.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Incorrect: The `-A` flag is not valid for usermod. The command would be interpreted as `-A -G`, which would replace all supplementary groups, and `-A` would cause an error.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, supplementary group memberships are stored in the `/etc/group` file as a comma-separated list of usernames in the fourth field. The `usermod -aG` command appends the username to that list for the specified group(s), while `gpasswd -a` directly modifies the group entry by adding the user to the group's member list. Both methods avoid altering other group memberships, which is critical in multi-group environments like shared project directories where users need access to multiple collaboration groups without losing access to others.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the EX200 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Manage users and groups — study guide chapter
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Manage users and groups practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this EX200 question test?
Manage users and groups — This question tests Manage users and groups — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: usermod -aG group user — Option A is correct because `usermod -aG` appends the user to the specified supplementary group(s) without affecting any existing supplementary group memberships. The `-a` flag (append) must be used with `-G` to avoid overwriting the current list of supplementary groups. This is the standard method in Red Hat Enterprise Linux for adding a user to an additional group while preserving all other group memberships.
What should I do if I get this EX200 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on EX200
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which TWO commands can be used to add a user to an existing supplementary group without removing them from other groups?
easy- A.groupmod -a user group
- ✓ B.usermod -a -G group user
- C.usermod -g group user
- D.usermod -G group user
- ✓ E.gpasswd -a user group
Why B: Option B is correct because the `usermod -a -G group user` command appends the user to the specified supplementary group without affecting their membership in other groups. The `-a` (append) flag must be used with `-G` to add the user to additional groups; without `-a`, the `-G` option replaces all supplementary group memberships with the listed groups.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This EX200 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Red Hat certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the EX200 exam.
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