Serious Errors

A Letter Grade Off

Misspelling Spell check! Look for words like form and from. Its and it’s

Subject-Verb Disagreement A singular subject must agree with a singular

verb. Singular verbs end in s! Plymouth Plantation provides an example of our

country’s earliest horticulture. Watch out for intervening phrases.

Gardening for the early settlers was a difficult task.

Subject-Verb Disagreement A plural subject must agree with a plural verb.

A plural verb does not end in s! The landscapes of Plymouth Plantation provide an

insight into the lives of the people. Watch out for intervening phrases.

American settlers, not the Indian population, were discouraged during the winter.

Subject-Verb Disagreement Some predicate nouns differ in number from the

subject. The settlers’ gardens were an area divided into specific

parts. One part of the gardens was medicinal plants.

Subject-Verb Disagreement Watch out for inverted order.

The words there and here will never be subjects. Was a garden a necessity for early settlers? Here are several dead plans without flowers.

Subject-Verb Disagreement Singular- billiards, checkers, molasses, measles,

news, Niagara Falls, the United States Plural- clothes, glasses, goggles, contacts, contact

lenses, pants, slacks, pliers, proceeds, riches, shears, scissors, soapsuds, suds, thanks, tights, tweezers

Subject-Verb Disagreement If a collective noun refers to a group as a unit, it

takes a singular verb. The landscape committee is leaving the assembly

room. If a collective noun refers to the individual

members within the group, it takes a plural verb. The landscape committee are arguing about the

decision to plant trees.

Subject-Verb Disagreement

Titles, quotations, and amounts take singular verbs. Anne of Green Gables is a favorite of many

readers. Yours is what you meant to write, not your’s. “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” does

not apply to my grandfather. Ten dollars was a reasonable price. Two quarters (is, are) on the floor where Kyle

dropped them.

Subject-Verb Disagreement: Indefinite Pronouns

Always singular- one, body, thing, another, each, either, neither, little, less, much

Always plural- both, few, fewer, many, several Either singular or plural- all, any, more, most,

none, some

Subject-Verb Disagreement: Indefinite Pronouns

Everyone (is, are) going to the soccer game. Several (is, are) injured and cannot play the game. Some of my homework (is, are) not completed for

tomorrow. Some of the assignments (was, were) finished on

time.

Subject-Verb Disagreement Measure words (half, part, and percent) follow

the rules of a singular or plural indefinite pronoun. Half of the team is in the locker room right now. Half of the required hours for graduation are taken in

the first two years.

Subject-Verb Disagreement A relative pronoun takes the number of its

antecedent. The students who proofread typically receive higher

grades. The student who proofreads typically receives higher

grades.

Subject-Verb Disagreement

Singular- the number of, the only one of The number of times that we rode the new

roller coaster was twelve. She is the only one of the students who studies

diligently. Plural- a number of, one of the

A number of people ride the roller coaster at the same time.

She is one of the students who study diligently.

Subject-Verb Disagreement Compound subjects joined by and take a plural

verb. Overseeding and adequate fertilization were necessary

for success. Both utilitarian plants and flowers decorate our

gardens today.

Subject-Verb Disagreement Exception: If the two words joined by and refer to

the same person, thing, or idea, they are considered a singular unit and take a singular verb. Today apple pie and ice cream is an American

tradition. Macaroni and cheese is one of my favorites.

Subject-Verb Disagreement Compound subjects joined by or or nor take a

verb that agree with the closest subject. Neither James nor his friends are staying after school

to study. Neither James, his friends, nor Peter is staying after

school to study.

Practice Human brains (weighs, weigh) about three

pounds. A person on a diet often (misses, miss) sweets. The best workers in the bookkeeping department

(has, have) received raises. Either Tybalt or the Capulets (threaten, threatens)

Romeo’s life.

Pronoun-Antecedent Disagreement An antecedent is a noun a pronoun replaces. If an antecedent is singular, the pronoun needs to

be singular too. The storm has destroyed may houses in its path.

If an antecedent is plural, the pronoun needs to be plural too. As a result of the rain, the rivers have overrun their

banks.

Pronoun-Antecedent Disagreement A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in

gender. Robert rescued his outdoor animals from the coming

storm. Dr. Rachel Roth, the meteorologist, made her

prediction for the storm’s path. The storm made its way up the coast in only a few

hours.

Pronoun-Antecedent Disagreement If a singular antecedent does not indicate a

specific gender, use both to be politically correct (unless you go to Pensacola). The book report presenter must include his/her

opinion of the book during his/her presentation. Often, it is easier to change to the plural form.

The book report presenters must include their opinions of their books during their presentations.

Pronoun-Antecedent Disagreement If two antecedents are joined by and, use a plural

pronoun. As a result of the storm’s destruction, the parents and

their children went to their relatives’ house. If two antecedents are joined by or or nor, use the

antecedent closest to the pronoun to determine the number and gender. Either the twin boys or their older brother will lay out

his sleeping bag upstairs. Neither Dad nor the children could close their eyes

while the wind blew violently.

Pronoun-Antecedent Disagreement If a collective noun that acts as a single unit is the

antecedent, use a singular pronoun. The rescue unit does its best to rescue an endangered

family pet. If a collective noun refers to the individuals of

that group, use a plural pronoun. The rescue unit perform their jobs with speed and

precision.

Pronoun-Antecedent Disagreement Indefinite pronouns may function as antecedents. If the indefinite pronoun is always singular, use a

singular pronoun. Everyone takes his/her book along to class.

If the indefinite pronoun is always plural, use a plural pronoun. Both of the students brought their books.

Pronoun-Antecedent Disagreement If the indefinite pronouns is either singular or

plural, look at the sentence’s context to determine number (i.e. an of prepositional phrase). Most of the students brought their books.

Pronoun-Antecedent Disagreement Again it might be less awkward to change the

antecedent to a plural indefinite pronoun. Everyone brought his/her book to class and took out

his/her assignment notebooks to write the assignment down.

All of the students brought their books to class and took out their assignment notebooks to write the assignment down.

Practice Life in the poorest tropical countries is horrible.

They are often very short and miserable. All need to have basic services. He needs food,

clothing, and shelter. A higher birth rate and a greater survival rate are

modern trends. Together, it makes the words population double in thirty-five years.

The Fragment A group of words wrongly punctuated as a

sentence Remember a sentence has a subject, verb, and

complete thought. Some fragments are missing an element such as

the subject, the verb, and/or a complete thought. Effectively campaigning for office.

Fragments Some fragments cannot stand alone as a sentence.

They have a subject and verb but are missing the complete thought. They usually begin with subordinating conjunctions. As though he were the only candidate.

Although they studied long into the night.

Fragments Some fragments are incorrectly punctuated with a

semicolon. I like to run on trails rather than on street roads; because asphalt

is hard on my knees.

Although you could get hit by lightning during a thunderstorm;

you have a better chance of getting in a car wreck.

Senator James conducted an honest campaign; and won the

election.

Permissible Fragments? Professional writers often use fragments

effectively for emphasis or effect.

However, you are not a professional writer so do not use fragments.

Practice!

One of my friends, who won a contest by playing

a variety of instruments.

Freddy stayed up late. Working on an overdue

assignment.

Before he knew exactly what God wanted him to

do.

Review Each sentence must have a capital letter beginning

the sentence, a subject, a corresponding verb, a complete thought, and an end mark (. ? !).

To join two sentences you may use a comma and a conjunction (FANBOY), a semicolon (;), or a colon (:).

Comma Splices Comma splices are two sentences that are joined

together with simply a comma. Remember when you want to join two sentences

with a comma, the comma must be before a coordinating conjunction (FANBOY- for, and, nor, but, or, yet).

The weather was calm and still, only a soft breeze

rustled the leaves.

Fused Sentences Fused sentences are two sentences that are joined

together improperly, without a comma.

The sky was dark we feared a storm would soon

be upon us.

Practice! In 1976 Americans enthusiastic about CB radios

discovered that First Lady Ford shared their

fetish, she often broadcast in the CB world under

the name “First Mama.”

Congress approved the construction of the Trans-

Alaska Pipeline in 1973 oil production began in

June of 1977.