Grammar Lesson

Make it Parallel

100

In 1998, a tsunami hit a populated coast in Papua New Guinea, killing two thousand people and whole towns were wiped out.

In 1998, a tsunami hit a populated coast in Papua New Guinea, killing two thousand people and wiping out whole towns. (-ing forms killing and wiping out which are parallel)

200

A tsunami is usually caused by a fault line that either runs under the coastal land or beneath the ocean floor.

Switch "either runs" to "runs either" (Correlative Conjunction either...or followed by similar grammatical forms)

300

A tsunami can also result from a large explosion or when a volcano erupts.

A tsunami can also result from a large explosion or a volcanic eruption. (Parallel Nouns...explosion and eruption)

400

It is more likely for a tsunami to happen in the ocean than one occurring inland.

It is more likely for a tsunami to happen in the ocean than to occur inland.(Happen in the ocean is parallel to to occur inland)

500

Residents of the Tahoe area could not only be informed about the possibility of a tsunami but also about the actions to take if one occured.

Residents of the Tahoe area could be informed not only about the possibility of a tsunami but also about the actions to take if one occured.(Correlative Conjunction not only...but also are followed by prepositional phrases beginning with about.)

Pronoun Fixer-Upper

100

An American family is likely to have at least two cars in their garage

American families are likely to have at least two cars in their garage. (Pronoun their and its antecedent, families are plural)

200

A consumer in the 1970's expected their new car to burn efficiently.

Change "their" to "a". (Consumer is a singular antecedent with a plural pronoun, their.

300

A teenager should be given enough freedom to prove they are responsible.

Teenagers (Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement)

400

Neither the horse nor the cattle could get its fill of grass in the pasture after two months of drought.

Change its to their. (When a two-part antecedent is joined with or, the pronoun agrees with the closer part of the antecedent, in this case cattle)

500

A parent with too much imagination can make themselves frantic with worry about the children's safety.

Replace make themselves with become. (Themselves is a plural pronoun which does not agree with the singular antecedent parent.)

Fun Facts

100

Regis University was founded in this year

1877

200

The most represented states of enrollment are California, Missouri, Minnesota, Illinois, Washington, Texas, Oregon, Arizona and __________.

Colorado

300

In this year Regis College became Regis University...

1991

400

On April 16, 1974 Regis University hosted this British rock band's first US concert.

Queen

500

Bill Murray attended Regis University but never graduated. However in 2007 he received an honorary doctorate in what field of study?

Humanities

Pronoun Reference

100

Many actresses and female fashion models are painfully thin, which contributes to the perception that girls and women must be skinny to be attractive.

The fact that many actresses and female fashion models are painfully tin contributes to the perception that girls and women must be skinny to be attractive.(Which does not have an antcedent, it refers vaguelyto a idea not a word.)

200

All students can secure parking permits from the campus police office; they are open from 8:00a.m. until 8:00p.m.

They is plural and it references the students. Since students aren't open from 8am to 8pm, replace they with "it is open"

300

The detective removed the bloodstained shawl from the body and then photographed it.

The detective removed the bloodstained shawl from the body and then photographed the body. (it does not make a clear reference to either the body or the shawl)

400

In Professor Bailey's class, you are lucky to earn a C.

In Professor Bailey's class, students are lucky to earn a C. (you should not be used to refer to a general population, instead use identified groups like stuents)

500

In Ogden Nash's verse, he always manages to give me a laugh about every other line.

In his verse, Ogden Nash always manages to give me a laugh about every other line. (Ogden Nash's verse is refered to in the original sentence as he. In the revised sentence, his name is coupled with his verse to show possession)