Comparisons
My brother swims much better than (I/me).
My brother swims much better than I.
My brother swims much better than I do.
This is the (princess's, princess') room.
This is the princess's room.
Princess is singular - add 's.
There (is/are) three strawberries left.
There are three strawberries left.
Three strawberries are left.
Neither of the lawyers (is/are) willing to take the case.
Neither of the lawyers is willing to take the case.
The indefinite pronoun neither* is singular.
Everyone, everything, everybody, anyone, anything, anybody, someone, something, somebody, no one, nothing, nobody, each, either*, nothing, and one are also singular.
*Neither/nor and either/or can be singular or plural.
I (can/can’t) hardly believe it.
I can hardly believe it.
Hardly is a negative word. Can't hardly believe it means you can believe it. Scarcely and barely are also negative words.
Bob is the (faster, fastest) of the two runners.
Bob is the faster of the two runners.
Comparing two things, use "er."
Does this sentence need apostrophes or not?
Her 4s and 9s looked alike.
No apostrophes.
Don't use apostrophes to make numbers plural. Also, don't add apostrophes to make letters plural, except for the letters A, I, U, a, i, and u).
Write your A's, Bs, and Cs. Type your u's, i's, and zs.
Correct or incorrect?
My favorite activities are watching TV, playing games, and to sleep.
Incorrect.
My favorite activities are watching TV, playing games, and sleeping.
Both Jim and his sister (is/are) coming to the party.
Both Jim and his sister are coming to the party.
The indefinite pronoun both is plural.
Complete sentence, run-on, or fragment?
Because I didn’t see you coming.
Fragment.
She is the (less, least) fun of the four cousins.
She is the least fun of the four cousins.
Comparing more than two, use least.
Comparing two things, use less.
(Her’s, Hers) is the blue book.
Hers is the blue book.
Hers is a possessive pronoun. Possessive pronouns do not have apostrophes in them.
The president of the club, but not the other officers, (has/have) special privileges.
The president of the club, but not the other officers, has special privileges.
The president of the club has special privileges.
Neither Bob nor Sue (was/were) willing to participate in the game.
Neither Bob nor Sue was willing to participate in the game.
Either/or and Neither/nor
- If both are singular, use singular form of verb. Bob - singular, Sue - singular
- If both are plural, use plural form of verb.
- If one singular and one plural, choose form based on which is closer to the verb.
Correct or incorrect?
While asleep, the flea bit the dog.
Incorrect. Was the flea or the dog asleep?
Bill likes chocolate more than (I/me).
Bill likes chocolate more than I.
Bill likes chocolate more than I do.
Correct or incorrect?
You may not enter Mrs. Thomas' office without her permission.
Incorrect. You may not enter Mrs. Thomas's office without her permission.
Mrs. Thomas is singular, so you add 's = Mrs. Thomas's
Correct or incorrect?
I walked to work in the morning, ran two miles at lunch, and resting at home after work.
Incorrect.
I walked to work in the morning, ran two miles at lunch, and rested at home after work.
Some of my goals (has/have) yet to be met.
Some of my goals have yet to be met.
The indefinite pronoun some can be either singular or plural. The verb generally agrees with the noun in the phrase.
Complete sentence, run-on, or fragment?
I have the book you need, it is on the table.
Run-on.
I have the book you need. It is on the table.
Bill said he likes me, but I think he likes my friend more than (I, me).
Bill said he likes me, but I think he likes my friend more than me.
Bill said he likes me, but I think he likes my friend more than he likes me.
Correct or incorrect?
My brother and sister’s backpacks are both blue.
Incorrect. My brother’s and sister’s backpacks are both blue.
There are two separate backpacks, so both brother and sister need 's.
If they shared a backpack = My brother and sister's backpack is blue.
The folder, not the letters, (was/were) misplaced.
The folder, not the letters, was misplaced.
The folder was misplaced.
Either Greg or his sisters (is/are) going to pick us up.
Either Greg or his sisters are going to pick us up.
Either/or and Neither/nor
- If one singular and one plural, choose form based on which is closer to the verb. Greg - singular, sisters - plural
- If both are singular, use singular form of verb.
- If both are plural, use plural form of verb.
One, two, or zero apostrophes?
Its in its own box.
One. It's in its own box.
It's = It is
its = possessive