Subject-Verb Agreement
Verb Tense
Parallel Structure
Modifiers
Pronouns
100

Walking to the mall and then shopping there for three hours were tiring

Walking to the mall and then shopping there for three hours WAS tiring

100

After I woke up, I ate breakfast and then printed the essay that I had wrote the night before.

After I woke up, I ate breakfast and then printed the essay that I had WRITTEN the night before.

100

Once we finished painting the living room, we relaxed, ordered a pizza, and we enjoyed ourselves.

Once we finished painting the living room, we relaxed, ordered a pizza, and ENJOYED ourselves.

100

Going to Ireland, there are many things to see: the Blarney Stone, the town of Kilkee, Glenveagh Castle, and many more.

IN Ireland, there are many things to see: the Blarney Stone, the town of Kilkee, Glenveagh Castle, and many more.

100

The young college professor found teaching awkward because some of his students were older than him.

The young college professor found teaching awkward because some of his students were older than HE (WAS).

200

Inside the pet shop, there was a clerk who looked as if he loved his job and another clerk who looked bored.

Inside the pet shop, there WERE a clerk who looked as if he loved his job and another clerk who looked bored.

200

When it was time to leave Paris, Henry believed that he saw everything—until he saw the Eiffel Tower and said to a friend, “What’s that?”

When it was time to leave Paris, Henry believed that he HAD SEEN everything—until he saw the Eiffel Tower and said to a friend, “What’s that?”

200

Mary does her work with ease, good humor, and efficiently.

Mary does her work with ease, good humor, and EFFICIENCY.

200

Dancing on her toes, the ballerina’s grace and power amazed Mark.

Dancing on her toes, the ballerina AMAZED MARK WITH HER grace and power.

200

In the history of rock music, The Beatles are the gold standard; no single artist or group has had more hits than them.

In the history of rock music, The Beatles are the gold standard; no single artist or group has had more hits than THEY (HAVE HAD).

300

A swarm of bees are chasing Jason, so I suspect he now regrets having thrown the rock at the bees’ hive.

A swarm of bees IS chasing Jason, so I suspect he now regrets having thrown the rock at the bees’ hive.

300

When Charles completed his homework, he is allowed to play video games until bedtime.

When Charles HAS COMPLETED / COMPLETES his homework, he is allowed to play video games until bedtime.

300

From coast to coast, Americans have engaged in a nationwide effort to recycle.

1) From coast to coast, Americans have engaged in AN effort to recycle.

2) Americans have engaged in a NATIONWIDE effort to recycle.

300

Dominated by the Sahara Desert, many people think of Africa as essentially one large desert.

1) Dominated by the Sahara Desert, AFRICA IS THOUGHT OF BY many people as essentially one large desert.

2) Many people think of Africa, dominated by the Sahara Desert, as essentially one large desert.


300

When someone fails to do their chores, another family member is forced to do them, and the result can be discord.

When someone fails to do HIS OR HER chores, another family member is forced to do them, and the result can be discord.

400

The beagle in the TV ad is just one of many animals that is available for adoption at the animal shelter.

The beagle in the TV ad is just one of many animals that ARE available for adoption at the animal shelter.

400

It is hard to imagine how different the U.S. would have been if Lincoln decided to let the South secede.

It is hard to imagine how different the U.S. would have been if Lincoln HAD decided to let the South secede.

400

My parents made me choose between going to the concert this weekend or the party next weekend.

My parents made me choose between going to the concert this weekend AND the party next weekend.

400

The service staff delivered food to all of the customers with smiles.

1) WITH SMILES, the service staff delivered food to all of the customers.

2) The service staff delivered food to all of the SMILING customers.

400

Everyone seems to throw the word “hypocrite” around these days, but they have little knowledge of what the word actually means.

Everyone seems to throw the word “hypocrite” around these days, but MOST (PEOPLE) have little knowledge of what the word actually means.

500

Betty, as well as her younger sister, are planning to be on a float in the Rose Bowl Parade.

Betty, as well as her younger sister, IS planning to be on a float in the Rose Bowl Parade.

500

I hope to attend the wedding, but the recently scheduled surgery I must perform makes being at the wedding impossible.

I HAD HOPED to attend the wedding, but the recently scheduled surgery I must perform makes being at the wedding impossible.

500

Will had neither the time to fight the parking ticket nor did he have the motivation to contest what was, he admitted, a legitimate ticket.

Will had neither the time to fight the parking ticket NOR THE MOTIVATION to contest what was, he admitted, a legitimate ticket.

500

Struggling with the last problem on the test, time ran out before Sabrina could find a solution.

Struggling with the last problem on the test, SABRINA ran out OF TIME before SHE could find a solution.

500

Thinking about the report, that he was sure would get an A, he forgot all about the house that he had seen.

Thinking about the report, ON WHICH he was sure would get an A, he forgot all about the house that he had seen.

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