Grammar Review

GRAMMAR REVIEWCommon Errors on the ACT

Diagnostic Preview: Subject-Verb Agreement What is Subject-Verb Agreement?

Subject-verb agreement is a grammatical rule that states that the verb must agree in number with its subject.

In a correct sentence, there must be correspondence of a verb with its subject in person (first, second, or third) and number (singular or plural).

A singular subject needs a singular verb, and a plural subject needs a plural verb.

In the following sentences, either a verb does not agree with its subject or a pronoun does not agree with its antecedent.

On your paper, write the correct form. If a sentence is already correct, write “C”.

Sentence #1

Is the sentence correct?

How does it need to be corrected?

There was women, as well as men, who set out on the perilous journey into new territory.

There were women, as well as men, who set out on the perilous journey into new territory.Women is a plural noun, and therefore, requires a plural verb. Was is a singular verb and needs to change to the plural form were in order for the sentence to be correct.

Sentence #2

Is the sentence correct?

How does it need to be corrected?

The Morenos, I think, have the best chance of winning.

C – Correct. Morenos is plural (more than one). They have the best chance of winning. Both the subject and verb are plural and agree in number.

Sentence #3

Is the sentence correct?

How does it need to be corrected?

The store, the hotel, and the airport is all in a ten-mile radius of the beach.

The store, the hotel, and the airport are all in a ten-mile radius of the beach.Because there are three subjects in this sentence (compound subject), there must be a plural verb for the sentence to be complete.Is is a singular verb and needs to change to the plural form are in order for the sentence to be correct.

Sentence #4

Is the sentence correct?

How does it need to be corrected?

Bronzeville Boys and Girls are a collection of poems by Gwendolyn Brooks.Bronzeville Boys and Girls is a collection of poems by Gwendolyn Brooks.In this sentence, the subject is collection, a singular subject.Because are is a plural verb, it needs to be changed to the singular form is in order for the sentence to have correct agreement.

Perfect Score Tip

Take out the surrounding words and just say the subject and the verb. Other words can hide verb mistakes, but a verb that doesn’t match its subject will become clearer if you just say it after its subject.

Time for you to practice Complete Exercise A on Worksheet 1

Rewrite subjects/verb pairs in plural (more than one) form

13 minutes Rapid Fire Around the Room! Complete Exercise B

Rewrite subject/verb pairs in singular (single/one) form

10 minutes Trade again! Complete Exercise C and turn in!

Diagnostic Preview: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

A pronoun is a word that replaces a noun or another pronoun. He, She, It, They, We, You, I, me, my, each,

one, everyone……. A noun or a pronoun that a pronoun

refers to is called its antecedent. A pronoun should agree in both number

and gender with its antecedent. Use singular pronouns to refer to singular

antecedents. Use plural pronouns to refer to plural antecedents.

Examples Singular: Richard Strauss composed

many operas. Der Rosenkavalier is perhaps his most famous.

Plural: The mountain climbers believe that they will reach the summit by Friday.

Feminine: Does Margaret like her dance class?

Masculine: Arturo is doing his homework. Neuter: Because the car wouldn’t start, it

had to be towed.

Practice In the following sentences, either a verb

does not agree with its subject or a pronoun does not agree with its antecedent.

On your paper, write the correct form. If a sentence is already correct, write “C”.

Sentence #1

Is the sentence correct?

How does it need to be corrected?

Neither of the candidates has prepared their statement.

Neither of the candidates has prepared his (or her) statement.Neither is a singular pronoun antecedent, and therefore, requires a singular pronoun. Their is a plural pronoun and needs to change to the singular form his/her in order for the sentence to be correct.

Sentence #2

Is the sentence correct?

How does it need to be corrected?

To apply for the scholarship, a student must submit at least four samples of their work.

To apply for the scholarship, a student must submit at least four samples of his (or her) work.student is a singular noun (antecedent), and therefore, requires a singular pronoun. Their is a plural pronoun and needs to change to the singular form his/her in order for the sentence to be correct.

Sentence #3

Is the sentence correct?

How does it need to be corrected?

A hostile crowd gathers outside the courtroom to show their disapproval of the verdict.

A hostile crowd gathers outside the courtroom to show its disapproval of the verdict.crowd is a singular noun (antecedent), and therefore, requires a singular pronoun. Their is a plural pronoun and needs to change to the singular form its in order for the sentence to be correct.Another option would be to change the verb gathers to gather if remaining plural…A hostile crowd gather outside the courtroom to show their disapproval of the verdict. *It just sounds clunky.

Perfect Score Tip

Take out the surrounding words and just say the subject and the verb. Other words can hide verb mistakes, but a verb that doesn’t match its subject will become clearer if you just say it after its subject.

Time for you to practice Complete Exercise A on Worksheet 1

Underline antecedent and correct the pronoun. Write C if it is correct.

11 minutes Rapid Fire Around the Room! Complete Exercise B & C

Choose the correct pronouns 10 minutes

Rapid Fire Complete Exercise A&B on back and turn

in!

Pronouns in Compounds Another common agreement or matching error

concerns compounds, which are phrases that join two words with and or or.

Remember that when we compound a pronoun with something else, we don't want to change its form. Following this rule carefully often creates something that "doesn't sound good." You would write, "This money is for me," So when someone else becomes involved, don't

write, "This money is for Fred and I."

More Examples In compound structures, where there are

two pronouns or a noun and a pronoun, drop the other noun for a moment. Then you can see which case you want.

Not: Bob and me travel a good deal.(Would you say, "me travel"?)

Not: He gave the flowers to Jane and I.(Would you say, "he gave the flowers to I"?)

Not: Us men like the coach.(Would you say, "us like the coach"?)

Comparisons Comparisons usually follow than or as:

He is taller than I (am tall). This helps you as much as (it helps) me. She is as noisy as I (am).

Comparisons are really shorthand sentences which usually omit words, such as those in the parentheses in the sentences above. If you complete the comparison in your head, you can choose the correct case for the pronoun. Not: He is taller than me.

(Would you say, "than me am tall"?)

You Try: The fool gave the wrong tickets to Bob and I.

The fool gave the wrong tickets to Bob and me. Use the hint: The fool gave the wrong tickets to me. I is a subject; it can’t be the object of the

preposition to. The coach congratulated the two starting

forwards, Angela and I. The coach congratulated the two starting forwards,

Angela and me. Us girls made the playoffs!

We girls made the playoffs! Would you say, “Us made the playoffs!”?

Common Usage Mistakes: Bad and Badly

Bad is an adjective (modifies a noun). Fido was bad.

In most uses, badly is an adverb (modifies a verb or adjective). Fido behaved badly.

There seems to be a (bad, badly) telephone connection.

I shivered so (bad, badly) that I had trouble breathing.

He felt (bad, badly) about the whole affair.

Common Usage Mistakes: Good and Well

Good is an adjective (modifies a noun). Her singing sounds good. Good is describing (modifying) singing – the

noun in this case. Well may be used either as an adjective

or an adverb. As an adjective, well has two meanings: “in

good health” and “satisfactory.” Trish is well. (In good health) All is well. (All is satisfactory)

Good and Well, cont. As an adverb, well means “capably.”

Pedro did well in the music competition. (Modifies “did”)

She sings well. (Modifies “sings”) Shakespeare is (good, well) known for

his plays. I have to keep playing (good, well) or I’m

going to get lapped. It is (good, well) to have goals. The teacher spoke (good, well) of them.

Common Usage Mistakes: Lie and Lay

Lie is a verb that means “to rest” or “to recline” or “to be in a place.” It does not take a direct object.

Lay is a verb that means “to put (something) in place.” It generally takes a direct object.

Forms of Lay/LieBase Form Present

ParticiplePast Past Participle

lie [is] lying lay [have] lainlay [is] laying laid [have] laid

Examples Please lie down. The packages are lying here. The key lay on the shelf. The old papers had lain on the desk for

months. Please lay the tools down. I am laying your packages here. The boy laid the key on the shelf. He had laid the old papers on the desk. *Note the direct objects for the verb

“lay”

Lie/Lay Practice The mason (is lying, is laying) the tiles

on the patio. A light haze (lie, lay) over the hills. The cat (lay, laid) its toy on the doorsill. Someone’s books (are lying, are laying)

in the hall. She (had lain, had laid) down for a nap. (Lie, Lay) the material on the counter. You (could lie, could lay) down and relax.

Who/Whom Which word to use depends on how it

operates in the sentence. Who: If it is the subject or a predicate

nominative (a noun or pronoun that completes the meaning of a linking verb and identifies the subject) Rick is the only student who earned a perfect score. I don’t know who has my notebook.

Whom: If it is a direct object, indirect object, or an object of a preposition I saw Sabrina, whom I know from school. Are you the person to whom I give my essay?

You Try (Who, whom) did you vote for in the

election? Whom did you vote for in the election? Whom is the direct object of the

sentence – is receiving the action. Tip: reword the sentence to find the

verb. In this case, it is vote. In other words, you voted for whom.

You Try (Who, whom) is on the telephone? Who is on the telephone? Who is the subject of the sentence. Tip: You can replace the pronoun

Who/Whom with a proper noun and it might clarify it for you. Mrs. Cady is on the telephone. This is

clearly the subject of the sentence, and therefore, should be who.

You Try I feel sometimes that I don’t know (who,

whom) you are anymore. I feel sometimes that I don’t know who

you are anymore. Who is a predicate nominative in the

clause “who you are anymore”.

Its/It’s Its is the possessive form of it.

The town has not raised its tax rate in years. The spider reared its legs.

It’s is the contraction of it is or it has. It’s cold, and it’s started to snow. Anyone who says grammar is easy hasn’t tried to

learn all the rules; it’s hard.

You Try (Its, It’s) not every day that her parents

let her use the car. It’s not every day that her parents let

her use the car. It is not every day…

Are/Our Are is a form of the verb to be.

The students are sitting quietly at their desks. The snowflakes are falling.

Our is the possessive of first person plural. Our classroom is the hottest in the building. At the end of class, Mrs. Cady will collect our

assignments.

There/Their/They’re/Theirs There is an adverb that designates a location, or used

as an expletive at the beginning of the sentence. I have not been there in a long time. There is too much pepper in my soup! *Where? There.*

Their is the possessive form of they. Their apartment has a view of the river.

Theirs is the third person plural possessive pronoun - it replaces "their" + noun Theirs is a better idea.

They’re is a contraction of they are. They’re reading a book by Virginia Driving Haw Sneve.

Commas – 1 While Commas have many uses, the following are the

MAIN uses: Use commas to separate items in a series.

The camp counselor distributed baseballs, bats, volleyballs, tennis rackets, and bandages. [words in a series]

We have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. [phrases in a series]

I know I will pass the test if I take good notes, if I study hard, and if I get a good night’s sleep. [clauses in a series]

When the last 2 items in a series are joined by and, or, or nor, the comma before the conjunction is sometimes omitted when it is not needed to make the meaning of the sentence clear. The entertainers sang, danced and juggled. [clear without comma] John, Sue and Marian went fishing. [not clear – Is John going fishing

or being addressed?]

Commas – 2 Use commas to separate two or more adjectives

preceding a noun. I’ve had a long, hectic, tiring day. When the last adjective in a series is thought of as part

of the noun, the comma before the adjective is omitted. I mailed the package at the main post office. [post and office

name a place and shouldn’t be separated] For lunch, we had a smooth, creamy broccoli soup. [don’t

separate broccoli and soup since they together name a thing] The tests:

If you can put the word and between them logically, put a comma.

If the order of the adjectives can be changed sensibly, put a comma.

Commas – 3 Use commas to set off nonessential clauses and

phrases. Emilia Ortiz, who lives across the street from me, won a

scholarship to Stanford University. Kelly, waiting outside the stage door, got the band

leader’s autograph. Make sure the information is nonessential:

Test: Can the sentence exist without the information? The sophomores who made the honor roll were listed in

the school newspaper. [only those who made honor roll, essential=no comma]

Marla’s sister, who attends Stanford University, sent her a sweatshirt. [Marla has only one sister.]

Marla’s sister who attends Stanford University sent her a sweatshirt. [Marla has more than one sister – essential info]

Commas – 4 Use commas before conjunctions (FANBOYS),

when the conjunction joins independent clauses. Patrick brought the sandwiches, and Cindy brought the

potato salad. We got there on time, but Jeff and Maria were late.

Always use a comma before yet, so, or for joining independent clauses. The comma is sometimes left out before and, but, or, or nor IF the independent clauses are very short AND the sentence will not be misunderstood without it. He was apprehensive, yet he was also excited. The bears failed to catch any salmon, so they went away. I applied for the job and I got it.

Beware Don’t confuse a compound sentence

with a simple sentence that has a compound verb. Han brought charcoal and lighter fluid, but

she forgot matches. [two independent clauses]

Han brought charcoal and lighter fluid but forgot matches. [one independent clause with a compound verb]

Semicolons – 1 Use a semicolon between independent

clauses that are closely related in thought and NOT joined by FANBOYS. Everyone else in my family excels in a

particular sport; I seem to be the only exception.

The river is rising rapidly; it is expected to crest by noon.

Semicolons – 2 Use a semicolon between independent

clauses joined by a conjunctive adverb or transitional phrase. Leonor is planning to become an enginer;

however, she is also interested in graphic design.

Only two people registered for the pottery lessons; as a result, the class was cancelled.

Use semicolons before:Commonly Used Conjunctive Adverbs and Transitional

ExpressionsAccordingly Furthermore Meanwhile Otherwise

Also However Moreover Still

Besides Indeed Nevertheless Then

Consequently Instead Next Therefore

As a result For instance In fact In spite of

For example In conclusion In other words That is

*Be sure that these words appearing in the sentence are part of an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE*

Semicolons – 3 Use a semicolon before a coordinating

conjunction to join independent clauses that contain commas. June sat with Tony, Pat, and me; and Josh

sat with Flora, Zack, and Geraldo. Searching for the house key, I found a

dime, a nickel, and a penny; and John, my brother, found his lost watch.

Semicolons – 4 Use a semicolon between items in a

series if the items contain commas. In 2000, the three largest metropolitan

areas in the United States were New York, New York; Los Angeles, California; and Chicago, Illinois.

You may turn in your book reports on Thursday, September 14; Friday, September 15; or Tuesday, September 19.

Colons (:) A colon is used to mean “note what follows”:

Before a list of items The only tools allowed in the examination area are

as follows: pencils, compasses, rulers, and protractors.

Before a statement that explains or clarifies a preceding statement He deserves a raise: He completed the project on

schedule and under budget. Preston slapped his forehead: He had forgotten to

put oregano in the sauce.