SUBJECT, VERB, PRONOUN AGREEMENT
PUNCTUATION!!
Misplaced Modifiers
Frequently Confused Words
Random Grammar
100
A lion must see their prey before pouncing.
A) NO CHANGE
B) its
C) it's
D) they're
B) A lion must see its prey before pouncing.
Both 'its' and 'their' are determiners. 'Its' is singular, and 'their' is plural. So, the basic rule is to use 'its' with singular nouns and 'their' with plural nouns.
its (without an apostrophe) is a possessive pronoun, like his or her, for nouns that don't have a defined gender. In contrast, it's (with an apostrophe) is the shortened form, or contraction, of it is or it has.
100
London, which is a very old city has some extremely modern parts.
A) NO CHANGE
B) London which is a very old city has some extremely modern parts.
C) London, which is a very old city, has some extremely modern parts.
D) London- which is a very old city has some extremely modern parts.
C) London, which is a very old city, has some extremely modern parts.
Use commas to enclose clauses not essential to the meaning of a sentence. These nonessential clauses are called nonrestrictive.
100
Chilly in the winter, a space heater would make this basement more comfortable.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. Chilly in the winter, space-heating would make this basement more comfortable.
C. A space heater would make this basement, chilly in the winter, more comfortable.
D. A space heater, chilly in the winter, would make this basement more comfortable.
C. A space heater would make this basement, chilly in the winter, more comfortable.
Only Choice C correctly modifies the basement as being "chilly in the winter." The other choices all create a Misplaced Modifier by describing the heater as "chilly in the winter."
100
Marion did not intentionally loose her passport so that she could stay in Spain longer.
A) NO CHANGE
B) loss
C) lose
- D) loosen
C) lose
100
Before our conversation yesterday, Paul has never heard the word "brouhaha." Now he hears it everywhere he goes.
A). NO CHANGE
B). had never heard
C). was never heard by
D). was never hearing
B). had never heard
This choice corrects the error by changing to the past perfect tense. The conversation happened yesterday, so it cannot be in the present.
200
Help for improving test-taking skills and reading skills are also available.
A) NO CHANGE
B) ares
C) is
D) here
C) Help for improving test-taking skills and reading skills is also available.
Help is singular so is must be used. Are is for plural nouns.
200
The art exhibit's brochure read like a "who's who" of famous Italian artists; Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci…
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. artists, Michelangelo
C. artists: Michelangelo
D. artists (Michelangelo
C. artists: Michelangelo
This sentence is a textbook example of the ideal time for colon usage. Check the two colon criteria. First, there is a complete sentence before the colon. Second, the colon introduces one or more examples or a definition.
Choice D uses an open parentheses without a close parentheses, and Choice A uses a semicolon, but the second half of the sentence is not an Independent Clause.
200
If there are errors in the below sentence, pick the best option. Pick the one that is grammatically the best.
Because they eat mosquitoes, many home owners have considered building bird houses in their backyards.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. Because birds eat mosquitoes, many home owners have
C. Home owners, because they eat mosquitoes, have
D. Because mosquitoes are eaten by birds, many home owners have.
B. Because birds eat mosquitoes, many home owners have
In the original version, the modifier "because they eat mosquitoes" will attach to the closest noun - in this case, "home owners." Of course, most people ("home owners") don't eat mosquitoes.
The same Misplaced Modifier problem causes Choice C to be incorrect.
Choice B correctly fixes the Misplaced Modifier by making it clear that birds eat mosquitoes, so homeowners are building more birdhouses to attract birds for pest control.
Choice D isn't as good - it fixes the Misplaced Modifier, but uses a passive, wordier version - "because mosquitoes are eaten by birds" - compared to Choice B.
200
Romeo was faced with a life-changing decision: whether to honor his family or pursue his love, Juliet.
A) NO CHANGE
B) wither
C) weather
- D) when
A) NO CHANGE
200
Ellen DeGeneres, who had her first major debut in 1986, recently was launching a new lifestyle brand.
A). NO CHANGE
B). launched
C). was launched by
- D). is launching
B). launched
This choice correctly uses the past tense verb "launched", which logically follows the timeline set up in the adverb "recently".
300
Illegal logging in Mexican forests have resulted in the destruction of the monarch butterfly’s habitat.
A) NO CHANGE
B) is
C) are
D) has
D) Illegal logging in Mexican forests has resulted in the destruction of the monarch butterfly’s habitat.
Has is the third person singular present tense of have. This just means that it is used when you are speaking in the third person singular, i.e., with the pronouns he, she, and it.
300
Surfing (riding the waves on a wooden or plastic board) gained much of its' popularity in the 1950s and 60s in Hawaii, California, and Australia.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. much of its popularity
C. much of it's popularity
D. much of their popularity
B. much of its popularity
Remember that its' is not a real word, so we can eliminate Choice A immediately.
Choice D is wrong because it commits a Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement mistake by using the plural pronoun "their" to refer to the singular antecedent "surfing."
Choice C incorrectly uses the contraction it's, meaning "it is," when a possessive singular pronoun is what we actually need.
That leaves us with only Choice B, its, which is the correct singular possessive pronoun form.
300
Standing in Northumberland County, invading armies were never able to breach the thick stone walls of Warkworth Castle.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. Invading armies were never able to breach the thick stone walls of Warkworth Castle, which stands in Northumberland County.
C. Invading armies, never breached the thick stone walls of Warkworth Castle, standing in Northumberland County.
D. Invading armies, standing in Northumberland County, were never able to breach the thick stone walls of Warkworth Castle.
B. Invading armies were never able to breach the thick stone walls of Warkworth Castle, which stands in Northumberland County.
The modifying phrase "standing in Northumberland County" is clearly supposed to give details about Warkworth Castle, not about the "invading armies," who obviously don't just stand in one place the way that a castle does!
Choice B correctly places the modifying phrase ("standing in Northumberland County") next to its intended target, "Warkworth Castle."
Choice C also commits a Sentence Structure error with a Sentence Fragment arising from poor use of a comma.
300
Krista didn’t know how to precede when her history teacher fell asleep during her presentation.
A) NO CHANGE
B) proceed
C) proceeds
D) cede
B) proceed
300
Is there an error in this sentence? If so, find the letter that is wrong and write what it should be corrected to.
C. to work
There is a gerund, “working”, underlined. Replace the gerund with an infinitive to determine what sounds better. Would you say “they had an inability working together” or “they had an inability to work together”? The latter is correct, and the infinitive form should be used.
Gerund- a form that is derived from a verb but that functions as a noun, in English ending in -ing
400
The rise of meal delivery service HomeBites and the app Foodie (that allows users to rate restaurants) are just two instance of how technology has dominated our eating culture.
Choose 1 answer:
- A). NO CHANGE
- B). illustrations
- C). example
- D). case
B). illustrations
This choice maintains consistency across the sentence. The plural noun "illustrations" matches the two examples provided.
400
Alvin is struggling in math class this year; and there are many topics in Precalculus that he finds both challenging and frustrating.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. this year (there are
C. this year, there are
D. this year; there are
D. this year; there are
Choice B is out instantly: it uses an open parentheses with no close parentheses.
Choice A won't work because you can only use a semicolon between two complete sentences, but the second half begins with "and" - a subordinating conjunction that prevents the second half from standing on its own.
Choice C is out because you can't use a comma to connect two Independent Clauses without a conjunction.
Choice D is perfect because it uses a semicolon to separate two complete Independent Clauses.
400
An author of passionately nationalistic novels, Carl Gustaf Verner's writing depicts Swedish life and traditions.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. Authoring passionately nationalistic novels, Carl Gustaf Verner's writing depicts Swedish life and traditions.
C. Carl Gustaf Verner, an author of passionately nationalistic novels, depicts Swedish life and traditions in his writing.
D. Authoring passionately nationalistic novels, Swedish life and traditions were depicted by Carl Gustaf Verner's writing.
C. Carl Gustaf Verner, an author of passionately nationalistic novels, depicts Swedish life and traditions in his writing.
The original sentence, as well as Choice B, are trying to conceal a Misplaced Modifier error by using a distracting possessive. The phrase "an author of passionately nationalistic novels" is supposed to be modifying "Carl Gustaf Verner," but the Misplaced Modifier incorrectly states that his writing is an "author."
Choice C correctly describes Verner as an author.
Choice D incorrectly attaches the modifier "authoring passionately nationalistic novels" to "Swedish life and traditions" and also veers into passive, wordy territory.
400
The tyrant and his descendants reined over the people of St. Guinevere for 300 years.
A). NO CHANGE
B). reigned
C). rained
D). waned
B) reigned
400
The Whitney Footbridge in Minneapolis features an engraving of a John Ashbery poem; pedestrians can read the poem as they walk.
- A). NO CHANGE
- B). was featuring
- C). was featured by
- D). would be featuring
A). NO CHANGE
correctly matches the present tense of "can read" and "walk".
500
According to a recent study, an increasing number of people in their 30’s choose to remain single, a finding that, despite reports to the contrary, suggest that fewer people plan to have children.
A) NO CHANGE
B) suggests
C) suggesting
D) suggester
B) According to a recent study, an increasing number of people in their 30’s choose to remain single, a finding that, despite reports to the contrary, suggests that fewer people plan to have children.
In first- or second-person, or third-person plural, you use "suggest." Use "suggests" in third-person singular.
Look at "a finding" to see which one should be used. This is third-person singular, as "a finding" is the noun.
500
Living independently and demonstrating an intense work ethic; the Harvey Girls became known as a transformative force in the American West.
A) NO CHANGE
B)Living independently and demonstrating an intense work ethic the Harvey Girls became known as a transformative force in the American West.
C) Living independently and demonstrating an intense work ethic: the Harvey Girls became known as a transformative force in the American West.
D) Living independently and demonstrating an intense work ethic, the Harvey Girls became known as a transformative force in the American West.
D) Living independently and demonstrating an intense work ethic, the Harvey Girls became known as a transformative force in the American West.
The semi-colon should become a comma because it is not joining two independent clauses. Comas join introductory clauses with the independent clause.
500
BONUS!!!!!
Is the sentence correct? If not, work with your team to correct it.
Dressed in a diaper and drooling, Grandpa read a book to his granddaughter.
Grandpa read a book to his granddaughter, who was dressed in a diaper and drooling.
Grandpa may, in fact, be in a diaper and drooling, but I’m guessing the writer meant the granddaughter was in that state.
500
It takes courage to except when you're wrong and humbly apologize.
A). NO CHANGE
B). accept
C). expect
D). intercept
B) accept
500
Is there an error in this sentence? If so, find the letter that is wrong and write what it should be corrected to.
B) stimulated
must be past tense