GRAMMAR REVIEW
Common Errors on the ACT
Diagnostic Preview:
Subject-Verb Agreement

What is Subject-Verb Agreement?
Subject-verb agreement is a grammatical rule that states
that the verb must agree in number with its subject.
 In a correct sentence, there must be correspondence of a
verb with its subject in person (first, second, or third) and
number (singular or plural).
 A singular subject needs a singular verb, and a plural
subject needs a plural verb.



In the following sentences, either a verb does not agree
with its subject or a pronoun does not agree with its
antecedent.
On your paper, write the correct form. If a sentence is
already correct, write “C”.
Sentence #1
Is the sentence
correct?
How does it
need to be
corrected?
There was women, as well as men, who set
out on the perilous journey into new
territory.
There were women, as well as men, who
set out on the perilous journey into new
territory.
Women is a plural noun, and therefore,
requires a plural verb.
Was is a singular verb and needs to
change to the plural form were in order
for the sentence to be correct.
Sentence #2
Is the sentence
correct?
How does it
need to be
corrected?
The Morenos, I think, have the
best chance of winning.
C – Correct. Morenos is plural
(more than one). They have the
best chance of winning.
Both the subject and verb are
plural and agree in number.
Sentence #3
Is the sentence
correct?
How does it
need to be
corrected?
The store, the hotel, and the airport is all in
a ten-mile radius of the beach.
The store, the hotel, and the airport are all
in a ten-mile radius of the beach.
Because there are three subjects in this
sentence (compound subject), there must be
a plural verb for the sentence to be
complete.
Is is a singular verb and needs to change
to the plural form are in order for the
sentence to be correct.
Sentence #4
Is the sentence
correct?
How does it
need to be
corrected?
Bronzeville Boys and Girls are a
collection of poems by Gwendolyn
Brooks.
Bronzeville Boys and Girls is a
collection of poems by Gwendolyn
Brooks.
In this sentence, the subject is
collection, a singular subject.
Because are is a plural verb, it needs
to be changed to the singular form is
in order for the sentence to have
correct agreement.
Perfect Score Tip
Take out the surrounding words and just
say the subject and the verb. Other
words can hide verb mistakes, but a verb
that doesn’t match its subject will become
clearer if you just say it
after its subject.
Time for you to practice

Complete Exercise A on Worksheet 1
 Rewrite
subjects/verb pairs in plural (more than one)
form
 13 minutes


Rapid Fire Around the Room!
Complete Exercise B
 Rewrite
subject/verb pairs in singular (single/one) form
 10 minutes


Trade again!
Complete Exercise C and turn in!
Diagnostic Preview:
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

A pronoun is a word that replaces a noun or
another pronoun.
 He,
She, It, They, We, You, I, me, my, each, one,
everyone…….

A noun or a pronoun that a pronoun refers to is
called its antecedent.
A
pronoun should agree in both number and gender
with its antecedent.
 Use singular pronouns to refer to singular antecedents.
Use plural pronouns to refer to plural antecedents.
Examples
 Singular:
Richard Strauss composed many operas. Der
Rosenkavalier is perhaps his most famous.
 Plural: The mountain climbers believe that they will
reach the summit by Friday.
 Feminine: Does Margaret like her dance class?
 Masculine: Arturo is doing his homework.
 Neuter: Because the car wouldn’t start, it had to be
towed.
Practice


In the following sentences, either a verb does not
agree with its subject or a pronoun does not agree
with its antecedent.
On your paper, write the correct form. If a sentence
is already correct, write “C”.
Sentence #1
Is the sentence
correct?
How does it
need to be
corrected?
Neither of the candidates has
prepared their statement.
Neither of the candidates has
prepared his (or her) statement.
Neither is a singular pronoun
antecedent, and therefore, requires a
singular pronoun.
Their is a plural pronoun and needs to
change to the singular form his/her in
order for the sentence to be correct.
Sentence #2
Is the sentence
correct?
How does it
need to be
corrected?
To apply for the scholarship, a student must
submit at least four samples of their work.
To apply for the scholarship, a student must
submit at least four samples of his (or her)
work.
student is a singular noun (antecedent),
and therefore, requires a singular pronoun.
Their is a plural pronoun and needs to
change to the singular form his/her in
order for the sentence to be correct.
Sentence #3
Is the sentence
correct?
How does it
need to be
corrected?
A hostile crowd gathers outside the
courtroom to show their disapproval of the
verdict.
A hostile crowd gathers outside the
courtroom to show its disapproval of the
verdict.
crowd is a singular noun (antecedent), and
therefore, requires a singular pronoun.
Their is a plural pronoun and needs to
change to the singular form its in order for
the sentence to be correct.
Another option would be to change the verb gathers to
gather if remaining plural…A hostile crowd gather
outside the courtroom to show their disapproval of the
verdict. *It just sounds clunky.
Perfect Score Tip
Take out the surrounding words and just
say the subject and the verb. Other
words can hide verb mistakes, but a verb
that doesn’t match its subject will become
clearer if you just say it
after its subject.
Time for you to practice

Complete Exercise A on Worksheet 1
 Underline
antecedent and correct the pronoun. Write C
if it is correct.
 11 minutes


Rapid Fire Around the Room!
Complete Exercise B & C
 Choose
the correct pronouns
 10 minutes


Rapid Fire
Complete Exercise A&B on back and turn in!
Pronouns in Compounds


Another common agreement or matching error
concerns compounds, which are phrases that join two
words with and or or.
Remember that when we compound a pronoun with
something else, we don't want to change its form.
Following this rule carefully often creates something
that "doesn't sound good."
 You
would write, "This money is for me,"
 So when someone else becomes involved, don't write,
"This money is for Fred and I."
More Examples




In compound structures, where there are two
pronouns or a noun and a pronoun, drop the
other noun for a moment. Then you can see
which case you want.
Not: Bob and me travel a good deal.
(Would you say, "me travel"?)
Not: He gave the flowers to Jane and I.
(Would you say, "he gave the flowers to I"?)
Not: Us men like the coach.
(Would you say, "us like the coach"?)
Comparisons

Comparisons usually follow than or as:
He is taller than I (am tall).
 This helps you as much as (it helps) me.
 She is as noisy as I (am).


Comparisons are really shorthand sentences which
usually omit words, such as those in the parentheses in
the sentences above. If you complete the comparison in
your head, you can choose the correct case for the
pronoun.

Not: He is taller than me.
(Would you say, "than me am tall"?)
You Try:

The fool gave the wrong tickets to Bob and I.
 The
fool gave the wrong tickets to Bob and me.
 Use the hint: The fool gave the wrong tickets to me.
 I is a subject; it can’t be the object of the preposition to.

The coach congratulated the two starting forwards,
Angela and I.
 The
coach congratulated the two starting forwards, Angela
and me.

Us girls made the playoffs!
 We
girls made the playoffs!
 Would you say, “Us made the playoffs!”?
Common Usage Mistakes:
Bad and Badly

Bad is an adjective (modifies a noun).
 Fido

In most uses, badly is an adverb (modifies a verb or
adjective).
 Fido



was bad.
behaved badly.
There seems to be a (bad, badly) telephone
connection.
I shivered so (bad, badly) that I had trouble
breathing.
He felt (bad, badly) about the whole affair.
Common Usage Mistakes:
Good and Well

Good is an adjective (modifies a noun).
 Her
singing sounds good.
 Good is describing (modifying) singing – the noun in this
case.

Well may be used either as an adjective or an
adverb.
 As
an adjective, well has two meanings: “in good
health” and “satisfactory.”
 Trish is well. (In good health)
 All is well. (All is satisfactory)
Good and Well, cont.

As an adverb, well means “capably.”
 Pedro
did well in the music competition. (Modifies “did”)
 She sings well. (Modifies “sings”)




Shakespeare is (good, well) known for his plays.
I have to keep playing (good, well) or I’m going to
get lapped.
It is (good, well) to have goals.
The teacher spoke (good, well) of them.
Common Usage Mistakes: Lie and Lay

Lie is a verb that means “to rest” or “to recline” or
“to be in a place.”
 It

Lay is a verb that means “to put (something) in
place.”
 It

does not take a direct object.
generally takes a direct object.
Forms of Lay/Lie
Base Form
Present Participle
Past
Past Participle
lie
[is] lying
lay
[have] lain
lay
[is] laying
laid
[have] laid
Examples









Please lie down.
The packages are lying here.
The key lay on the shelf.
The old papers had lain on the desk for months.
Please lay the tools down.
I am laying your packages here.
The boy laid the key on the shelf.
He had laid the old papers on the desk.
*Note the direct objects for the verb “lay”
Lie/Lay Practice







The mason (is lying, is laying) the tiles on the patio.
A light haze (lie, lay) over the hills.
The cat (lay, laid) its toy on the doorsill.
Someone’s books (are lying, are laying) in the hall.
She (had lain, had laid) down for a nap.
(Lie, Lay) the material on the counter.
You (could lie, could lay) down and relax.
Who/Whom

Which word to use depends on how it operates in the
sentence.
 Who:
If it is the subject or a predicate nominative (a noun or
pronoun that completes the meaning of a linking verb and
identifies the subject)
 Rick
is the only student who earned a perfect score.
 I don’t know who has my notebook.
 Whom:
If it is a direct object, indirect object, or an object of
a preposition
I
saw Sabrina, whom I know from school.
 Are you the person to whom I give my essay?
You Try




(Who, whom) did you vote for in the election?
Whom did you vote for in the election?
Whom is the direct object of the sentence – is
receiving the action.
Tip: reword the sentence to find the verb. In this
case, it is vote. In other words, you voted for whom.
You Try




(Who, whom) is on the telephone?
Who is on the telephone?
Who is the subject of the sentence.
Tip: You can replace the pronoun Who/Whom with
a proper noun and it might clarify it for you.
 Mrs.
Cady is on the telephone. This is clearly the subject
of the sentence, and therefore, should be who.
You Try



I feel sometimes that I don’t know (who, whom) you
are anymore.
I feel sometimes that I don’t know who you are
anymore.
Who is a predicate nominative in the clause “who
you are anymore”.
Its/It’s

Its is the possessive form of it.
 The
town has not raised its tax rate in years.
 The spider reared its legs.

It’s is the contraction of it is or it has.
 It’s
cold, and it’s started to snow.
 Anyone who says grammar is easy hasn’t tried to learn all the
rules; it’s hard.
You Try



(Its, It’s) not every day that her parents let her use
the car.
It’s not every day that her parents let her use the
car.
It is not every day…
Are/Our

Are is a form of the verb to be.
 The
students are sitting quietly at their desks.
 The snowflakes are falling.

Our is the possessive of first person plural.
 Our
classroom is the hottest in the building.
 At the end of class, Mrs. Cady will collect our assignments.
There/Their/They’re/Theirs

There is an adverb that designates a location, or used as an
expletive at the beginning of the sentence.
I have not been there in a long time.
 There is too much pepper in my soup!
 *Where? There.*


Their is the possessive form of they.


Theirs is the third person plural possessive pronoun - it
replaces "their" + noun


Their apartment has a view of the river.
Theirs is a better idea.
They’re is a contraction of they are.

They’re reading a book by Virginia Driving Haw Sneve.
Commas – 1

While Commas have many uses, the following are the MAIN
uses:

Use commas to separate items in a series.
The camp counselor distributed baseballs, bats, volleyballs, tennis
rackets, and bandages. [words in a series]
 We have a government of the people, by the people, and for the
people. [phrases in a series]
 I know I will pass the test if I take good notes, if I study hard, and if I get
a good night’s sleep. [clauses in a series]


When the last 2 items in a series are joined by and, or, or nor, the
comma before the conjunction is sometimes omitted when it is not
needed to make the meaning of the sentence clear.
The entertainers sang, danced and juggled. [clear without comma]
 John, Sue and Marian went fishing. [not clear – Is John going fishing or
being addressed?]

Commas – 2

Use commas to separate two or more adjectives
preceding a noun.
 I’ve
had a long, hectic, tiring day.
 When the last adjective in a series is thought of as part of
the noun, the comma before the adjective is omitted.
I
mailed the package at the main post office. [post and office
name a place and shouldn’t be separated]
 For lunch, we had a smooth, creamy broccoli soup. [don’t separate
broccoli and soup since they together name a thing]
 The
 If
tests:
you can put the word and between them logically, put a comma.
 If the order of the adjectives can be changed sensibly, put a
comma.
Commas – 3

Use commas to set off nonessential clauses and phrases.
 Emilia
Ortiz, who lives across the street from me, won a
scholarship to Stanford University.
 Kelly, waiting outside the stage door, got the band leader’s
autograph.
 Make
 Test:
sure the information is nonessential:
Can the sentence exist without the information?
 The sophomores who made the honor roll were listed in the
school newspaper. [only those who made honor roll, essential=no comma]
 Marla’s sister, who attends Stanford University, sent her a
sweatshirt. [Marla has only one sister.]
 Marla’s sister who attends Stanford University sent her a
sweatshirt. [Marla has more than one sister – essential info]
Commas – 4

Use commas before conjunctions (FANBOYS), when the
conjunction joins independent clauses.
 Patrick
brought the sandwiches, and Cindy brought the potato
salad.
 We got there on time, but Jeff and Maria were late.
 Always
use a comma before yet, so, or for joining
independent clauses. The comma is sometimes left out before
and, but, or, or nor IF the independent clauses are very short
AND the sentence will not be misunderstood without it.
 He
was apprehensive, yet he was also excited.
 The bears failed to catch any salmon, so they went away.
 I applied for the job and I got it.
Beware

Don’t confuse a compound sentence with a simple
sentence that has a compound verb.
 Han
brought charcoal and lighter fluid, but she forgot
matches. [two independent clauses]
 Han brought charcoal and lighter fluid but forgot
matches. [one independent clause with a compound
verb]
Semicolons – 1

Use a semicolon between independent clauses that
are closely related in thought and NOT joined by
FANBOYS.
 Everyone
else in my family excels in a particular sport; I
seem to be the only exception.
 The river is rising rapidly; it is expected to crest by
noon.
Semicolons – 2

Use a semicolon between independent clauses
joined by a conjunctive adverb or transitional
phrase.
 Leonor
is planning to become an enginer; however, she
is also interested in graphic design.
 Only two people registered for the pottery lessons; as
a result, the class was cancelled.
Use semicolons before:
Commonly Used Conjunctive Adverbs and Transitional Expressions
Accordingly
Furthermore
Meanwhile
Otherwise
Also
However
Moreover
Still
Besides
Indeed
Nevertheless
Then
Consequently
Instead
Next
Therefore
As a result
For instance
In fact
In spite of
For example
In conclusion
In other words
That is
*Be sure that these words appearing in the sentence are
part of an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE*
Semicolons – 3

Use a semicolon before a coordinating conjunction
to join independent clauses that contain commas.
 June
sat with Tony, Pat, and me; and Josh sat with Flora,
Zack, and Geraldo.
 Searching for the house key, I found a dime, a nickel,
and a penny; and John, my brother, found his lost
watch.
Semicolons – 4

Use a semicolon between items in a series if the
items contain commas.
 In
2000, the three largest metropolitan areas in the
United States were New York, New York; Los Angeles,
California; and Chicago, Illinois.
 You may turn in your book reports on Thursday,
September 14; Friday, September 15; or Tuesday,
September 19.
Colons (:)

A colon is used to mean “note what follows”:
 Before
a list of items
 The
only tools allowed in the examination area are as
follows: pencils, compasses, rulers, and protractors.
 Before
a statement that explains or clarifies a
preceding statement
 He
deserves a raise: He completed the project on schedule
and under budget.
 Preston slapped his forehead: He had forgotten to put
oregano in the sauce.