Identifying Sentence Errors

I. Agreement of Subject and Verb

1. Intervening Words Between Subject and Verb

a. Verbs must agree with the subject noun or pronoun, not with words mistakenly
thought to be the subject.

Her understanding of the arrangements is that the bride will carry red roses.

The 1996 Olympic Games, regardless of the opposition, were held in Atlanta.

b. Verbs must agree with the subject and are not influenced by intervening phrases
beginning with in addition to, along with, as well as, including, or other similar phrases.

One of his paintings, in addition to several photographs, is on display in the library.

Her parents, as well as Helen, make the dicision.

2. Subjects Composed of More Than One Noun or Pronoun

a. Nouns, both singular and plural, when joined by ‘and’, are called compound subjects
and need plural verbs

The graphics and the photos are surrounded by a thick double line.

b. Compound subjects thought of as a unit need singular verb

Their pride and joy, Samantha, was born on Christmas Day.

Green eggs and ham is Reggie’s favorite breakfast.

c. Singular nouns joined by ‘or’ or ‘nor’ need singular verbs.

A Coke or a Pepsi is what I thirst for.

d. When a subject consists of a singular noun and a plural noun joined by ‘or’ or ‘nor’,
the number of the verb is determined by the noun closer to the verb.

Either a pineapple or some oranges are on the table.

Neither the linemen nor the quarterback was aware of the tricky play.

e. When a subject contains a pronoun that differs in person from a noun or another
pronoun, the verb must agree with the closer subject word.

Neither Meredith nor you are expected to finish the job.

Either he or I am planning to work late on Saturday.

f. When the subject is singular and the predicate noun is plural, or vice versa, the
number of the verb is determined by the subject.

The bulk of Wilkinson’s work is two novels and a collection of travelogues.

 Two novels and a travelogue are the bulk of Wilkinson’s work.

3. Subject Words That May Be Singular or Plural

Collective nouns sound singular but may be plural, depending on how they are used. Some
examples include family, group, crowd, team, jury, soybeans, audience, herd, public,
dozen, class, band, flock, majority, committee, heap and lot. Other words and expressions
governed by the same rule are units of time, money, weight, measurement, and all
fractions.

The jury is going to decide today.

The jury are returning to their homes tomorrow.

The majority favors a formal senior prom.

The majority have their tickets for the boat ride.

4. Subject Words That Are Singular but Sound Plural

The names of books, countries, organizations, certain diseases, course titles, and other
singular nouns may sound like plurals, because they end in ‘s’ but they usually require a
singular verb.

The United States is the only country not to ratify the treaty.

Measles is going around the school.

The World Series is played in October.

5. Subjects Consisting of Indefinite Pronouns

a. Each, either, neither, the ‘ones’ (anyone, no one, everyone, someone), and the
‘bodies’ (anybody, everybody, nobody, somebody) require singular verbs.

Each herb in the garden is different.

Neither of these parks belongs to the homeless people.

Everyone who works hard is definitely going to earn an “A”.

b. Both, many, few and several get plural verbs.

Several in the band are not going to the trip to Boston.

c. These words are versatile: any, none, some, all, most. Consider them as singular
when they refer to a singular noun. Consider them plural when they refer to a plural
noun.

Some of the collection is valuable. (‘Some’ refers to ‘collection’, which is singular)

Some of the bracelets are fake. (‘Some’ refers to ‘bracelets’, which is plural)

None of the ice cream is leftover.

None of the people are going to remain behind.

 6. When Subjects Follow Verbs

When the subject of the sentence follows the verb, the verb takes its number from the
subject as usual.

Behind the building was an alley.

The “bare bones” approach

To find the subject of long sentences, reduce the sentence to its ‘bare bones’. Strip away
everything but its subject (a noun/pronoun) and its verb. Remember that you’ll never find the
subject in (1) a prepositional phrase, (2) a dependent clause, or (3) a phrase that interrupts
the flow of the sentence.

- Look first for prepositional phrases. Cross out all of them.

- Look for dependent clauses. Cross out all of them. Hint: A comma frequently separates
the dependent clause from the main clause.

- Look for interrupters, portions of the sentence that impede the smooth flow of the main
idea. Usually they are set off by commas. Cross out all of them.

II. Verb Tense

1. A statement that is true is expressed in present tense regardless of the tense of other
verbs in the sentence.

Sheila had been taught that triangles contain 180 degrees.

2. In complex sentence, the verb tense of the dependent clause must be in sequence with
the tense of the main verb.

They had gone out for six months before they told their parents.

Your teacher believes that you will do well on the SAT.

3. In an if clause, don’t use would have to express the earlier of the two actions. Instead,
use the past perfect.

The ceremony would have been better, if Kirk had been the speaker.

4. The tense of infinitives (verbs preceded by to) must be governed by the tense of the
main verb and by the meaning of the sentence.

Ellen was happy to accept the invitation.

When the infinitive refers to a time before the action described in the main verb, the
perfect infinitive form must be used.

Ellen is happy to have accepted the invitation.

5. Participles must be adjusted according to the tense of the main verb.

Having worked hard on the essay, Joan hated to reduce the number of words.

III. Diction
 1. Confused Words and Word Choice

- Words that are easily mixed up: allusion/illusion/delusion

- Words that have the same roots: famous/infamous

- Wrong use: regardless/irregardless

- Informal: around/about

- Redundancy: both alike

2. Adjectives and Adverbs

She runs fast. She lives in the fast track

IV. Agreement in Pronoun and Antecedent

1. Agreement in Number

If the antecedent is singular, the pronoun must be singular. If the antecedent is plural, the
pronoun must be plural.

Despite the evidence, everybody is sticking to his own side of the story.

2. Agreement in Person; Shift in Pronoun Person.

Pronouns must be in the same person as their antecedents. Consistency is the key.

V. Verb Forms

1. Present

2. Past

3. Past Participle

The Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive expresses a condition contrary to fact, usually with if, as if, or as though,
and to statements expressing a wish. In almost every instance, the verb was is changed to
were.

If I were rich, I’d buy myself a sailboat.

Hal wished he were no longer on a diet.

The subjunctive is also used to convey a sense of doubt.

If only the bus were to arrive on time, we might see the launch.

The subjunctive is also used to make a recommendation, a request or a demand.

The lawyer insisted that her client be released on bail.

VI. Use of Comparisons

 1. Comparative Degrees

Use the comparative degree to compare two things, and the superlative degree to
compare three or more things. Never create a double comparison by putting words like
more, most, less and least in the same phrase with words in the comparative or
superlative degrees.

2. Incomplete Comparisons

a. Incomplete comparisons that cause ambiguity

Incomplete: Mark visited his aged aunt longer than Cathy.

Complete: Mark visited his aged aunt longer than Cathy did.

Mark visited his aged aunt longer than he visited Cathy.

b. Comparisons using “as” usually require repetitions of the word “as”

c. Comparing one thing to a group of which it is a part

Standard usage calls for the use of other or else when making comparisons.

Lieutenant Henry was braver than any other pilot in the squadron.

3. Parallelism in Comparisons

Not parallel: To go skateboarding is no longer as popular as hockey.

Parallel: Going skateboarding is no longer as popular as playing hockey.

4. Illogical Comparisons

Logic breaks down when two or more unlike things are compared.

VII. Pronoun Reference

1. Ambiguous References

The teacher told the student that one of her responsibilities (as teacher) was to hand
out books.

2. Implied Reference

On the news last night, Peter said that unemployment is down again.

VIII. Pronoun Choice

Then he and I went home.

Terry invited him to the prom

Replace ‘I’ and ‘me’ when you’re not sure about the pronouns.

Use possessive pronouns before a gerund.

Her asking the question shows that she is alert.

 Who and Whom: Use ‘who’ for all subjects, ‘whom’ when it’s an object of the preposition.

The new secretary, whom we hired today, looks like a competent person.

IX. Parallel Structure

1. Parallel ideas should be expressed in the same grammatical form.

Her parents objected to the loud music she played and to the late hours she kept.

2. When used to compare, parallel ideas should be grammatical equivalents.

Going out to eat no longer thrills me as much as cooking at home.

3. Parallel ideas are often signaled by pairs of words like ‘either/or’

I either plan to invite my aunt or my uncle to the wedding.

4. When articles, prepositions, and conjunctions appear before the first parallel idea, they
may have to be repeated before others as well.

Poor: Our mechanic did a better job on my car than his.

Correct: Our mechanic did a better job on my car than on his.

5. Parallel ideas should be logical equivalents.

Poor: Jim is six feet tall, kind, and a New Yorker.

Correct: Jim, a six-foot tall New Yorker, is kind.

X. English Idiom

There was no opposition in regards to the showing of the “R” rated film.

There was no opposition with regards to the showing of the “R” rated film.

XI. Modifiers

1. Misplaced Modifiers

Phillip donated his old car to a charity that no longer ran well.

2. Dangling Modifiers

Dangling: Climbing the ladder, Pete’s hand knocked over the paint can.

Precise: Climbing the ladder, Pete knocked over the paint can with his hand.

XII. Double Negatives

They didn’t do nothing anything wrong.

You can’t can hardly tell one bird from another without the guidebook.

XIII. Sentence Fragments, Run-ons and Comma Splices

1. Sentence Fragments
 Because the Supreme Court begins to hear cases on the first Monday in October.

2. Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices

Tracy worked hard on the project, she should have earned a higher grade.

3. Semicolon

Melissa adores Cheerios; she eats them every morning.

XIV. Wordiness

1. Meaningless repetition of an idea

Not only is the city hot in the summer, it is also humid, too.

2. Circumlocution

The reason why I came late was I came late because my car broke down.

3. The double “that” before a clause

I was delighted that when I returned the videotape that I was not charged an extra
day’s rental.