English: subject verb agreement; pronoun antecedent; modifiers; parallel structure
__________, no recognition for her skills, and a dislike for the polyester uniform made Kelsey quit the ping-pong team.
A. Because she was frustrated with the coach B. Frustration with the coach C. Having become frustrated with the coach
Stuart wiggled his foot, drummed a Jimi Hendrix riff with his pencil, and __________, but he could not burn off the caffeine-induced energy from an extra large cup of coffee.
A. chewed a mouthful of gum B. was chewing a mouthful of gum C. his jaw worked a mouthful of gum
Ironing a clean shirt, __________, and buying a pack of gum for fresh breath were the tasks Aaron completed before the first day of spring semester.
A. the printout of a course schedule B. printing a course schedule C. making sure that he had printed a course schedule
The blonde who sucked the ends of her hair, the athlete who blinked nervously, and __________ would not share their algebra homework with Jake.
A. the rebel slouching in his seat B. the slouching rebel C. the rebel who slouched in his seat
Select the singular verb for each subject. He ____(run, runs) Tom ____(is are) The teacher ____(go, goes)
He runs. Tom is. The teacher goes.
Correct the misplaced modifier. While camping, I saw a bear in my pajamas.
In my pajamas, I saw a bear while camping.
Correct the misplaced modifier. Pygmies hunted elephants armed with spears.
Pygmies armed with spears hunted elephants.
Correct the misplaced modifier. The dog was chasing the boy with the spiked collar.
The dog with the spiked collar was chasing the boy.
Correct the misplaced modifier. The woman walked the dog in purple suede cowboy boots.
The woman in the purple suede cowboy boots walked the dog.
Select the correct verb for each plural subject. They ____.(run, runs) The cars ___. (go, goes) The bugs ___. (bite, bites)
They run. The cars go. The bugs bite.
Correct the misplaced modifier. We saw several monkeys on vacation in Mexico.
While on vacation in Mexico, we saw several monkeys.
Most of my friends (is, are) on vacation.
are
Several fish (is, are) looking sick.
are
Some students (is, are) ready for summer.
are
The puppy and the kitten (chases, chase) each other.
chase
The students (complete, completes) work assigned by their teachers.
complete
A carton of eggs (cost, costs) $1.50.
costs (carton costs)
Teachers (explain, explains) difficult material to students.
explain
The price of milk and eggs (has, have) gone up in the last month.
has (price has)
Lucy picked up (she, their, her) clothes off the floor.
her
Michael mowed (her, his, its, their) front yard but forgot to do the back yard.
his
The puppy wagged (his, her, its, their) tail.
its
The principal (observe, observes) teachers in the classroom.
observes
Plural subjects must be paired with plural verbs. They, we, cars, teachers, bugs...are all (singular or plural)
plural
Several, few, both, some, and many are always paired with a (singular or plural) verb?
plural
Many (run, runs) in the race every year.
run
Somebody (sing,sings) the opening song each week.
sings
A singular subject must be paired with a singular verb. He, She, It, Tom, Lucy, teacher, car....are all (singular or plural).
singular
Anybody, somebody, everybody, each, either, and neither are always paired with a (singular or plural) verb?
singular
Both sheep (sleep, sleeps) a lot.
sleep
The girl with the balloons (smile, smiles) like your sister.
smiles (girl smiles)
pronoun antecedents--Pronouns must agree with their antecedent (noun or another pronoun) in number. Sam picked up (his) book. 'His' is the antecedent to 'Sam'. The workers began (its, his, their) jobs at 7 a.m.
their
Use a plural verb with two or more subjects when they are connected by 'and'. Lucy and her brother (walk, walks) to school every day.
walk
Either Lucy or Luke (walk, walks) the dog every day.
walks
Neither you or I (watch, watches) that show.
watches (neither watches)
