SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT
Subjects and verbs are the necessary
components of an independent clause. The subject and verb in every
sentence must agree in number: both must be singular, or both must be plural.
The verb must agree with its subject, not with a random noun or pronoun in
the sentence.
Underline the
subject(s) (without modifiers or conjunctions) and circle the correct verb.
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1.
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Neither
his younger brothers nor Mark (was, were) able to get through accounting.
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2.
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Mary
along with her sisters (is, are) waiting for the bus to Ybor.
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3.
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One
thousand dollars (was, were) enough for the down payment on the apartment.
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4.
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Every
dentist, doctor, and surgeon (is, are) at the Moffit Christmas party.
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5.
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(Is,
Are) either of the two boys paying for the new glove?
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PRONOUNS
Pronouns refer back to a noun or take the place of a noun. The word that the
pronoun refers to is generally called the antecedent. You need to use the
correct pronoun so that your reader clearly understands which noun your pronoun
refers to. Pronouns need to agree in number, agree in person, and refer clearly
to a specific noun.
In each of the following sentences
underline the pronoun antecedent and circle the pronoun in question, and
write a “C” if the reference is correct or “E” if the sentence contains an
error in the reference. Example: ___E__She talked endlessly about her
operation, and this was tiresome.
1. _____ If a student parks a motorcycle
on the Tampa campus, they have to buy a parking sticker.
2. _____Neither of the captains brought
her kickball.
3. _____Although the skateboard ran into
the golf-cart, it was not damaged.
4. _____When Dr. Murray reads the class
roster, it reads slowly.
5. _____If you do well on this grammar
diagnostic, you can put it in your notebook.
ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS
Adjective
and adverbs are words that modify other words or phrases. Adjectives
modify nouns; adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Remember
that adverbs cannot modify nouns and many of them are easily to recognize
because they end in -ly.
In the following sentences underline
the word or words being modified and circle the correct form of adjective or
adverb.
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1. As I proceeded to take the test, I
grew more and more (sleepy, sleepily).
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2. The second segment of the grammar
diagnostic seemed (some, somewhat) lighter than the first.
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3.
One wonders whether he will remain
(fearless, fearlessly) after he is confronted by Mr. Vieregge.
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4. You should take your truck to my
mechanic because he’s (real, really) reliable.
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5. Even though we must drive (cautious,
cautiously), we should reach Orlando by dark.
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SENTENCE FRAGMENTS
A sentence
fragment is an incomplete sentence because it lacks either a subject or a verb,
or both.
For each of the following write C
if the group of words forms a complete sentence or F if it is a
fragment.
1. ________
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Although
they belonged to the club and had played golf there before.
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2. ________
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Riding
bicycles in the winter when the weather is warm.
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3. ________
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Driving
to the beach for spring break is a great idea.
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4. ________
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Within
each room, a dizzying array of colors and aromas inviting visitors in.
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5. ________
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She
fell.
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COMMA SPLICES AND FUSED SENTENCES
For each of the following sentences,
write a C if the group of words properly forms a sentence or a CS
if the group of words forms a run-on. If the group of words is a comma splice
or a fused sentence, please add the necessary punctuation to correct the run-on.
1. ______ She often watched the football
game highlights when they were on the College Sports Network her dorm mate
preferred to watch the games live.
2. ______ He enjoys walking through the
Hillsborough County Parks, and he often goes backpacking on his vacations.
3. _______ I didn't know which job I
wanted after I graduated this April I was too confused to decide.
4. _______ The SunDome parking lot is
always full after nine in the morning; however, the lot across the street
sometimes remains empty all day.
5. _______ They weren’t activists they
were dangerous criminals in disguise.
MISPLACED MODIFIERS
In the following sentences indicate
one of the following: (A) misplaced phrase or clause; (B) ambiguous modifier
(C) misplaced word; (D) split infinitive; (E) correct.
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1.______
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A
piece was played at the concert that was composed of dissonant chords.2. |
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2.______
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The
girl who had been dancing gracefully entered the room. |
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3.______
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The
baby only cried until he was six months old. |
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4.______
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He
always tries to efficiently and promptly do his work. |
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5.______
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Because
everyone else was inside, only I heard John shouting at the boys.
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DICTION
Circle the correct term.
1.
He
(can not, cannot) forget her.
2.
The
(effect, affect) of what I said seemed to (effect, affect) her greatly.
3.
(Accept,
except) for the two of us, there were few others there.
4.
(Its,
It’s) raining outside of the library but (its, it’s) not raining by the
Marshall Center.
5.
Is
it (alright, all right) if I go with you?
MECHANICS
Circle the correct response:
1.
He
went (west / West) after he left New York, but he returned a year later to
spend the rest of his life in the (east / East).
2.
The
word (“tree” / tree) has two (“e’s” / e’s).
3.
In
Homer’s (“The Odyssey” / The Odyssey) Penelope waits many years for
(Ulysses’ / Ulysses’s) return.
4.
(Mary’s
/ Mary) and Donald’s house is extremely beautiful and (well made / well-made).
5.
Hemingway’s
short story (“A Clean Well-Lighted Place” / A Clean Well-Lighted Place)
reminds me of the poem (“The Heavy Bear” / The Heavy Bear ).
PUNCTUATION
In the following sentences, insert any
necessary punctuation:
1. In his address at the St. Pete
Times Forum Senator Obama made the following statement George Washington
the first President of the United States could have been king if he had wished.
2. She is a friendly warm-hearted person
I know that she will be popular with everyone
3. Was it Franklin D Roosevelt who said
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself?
4. The author Hans Christian Andersen
born in Odense Denmark was a much-loved writer of children’s stories
5. Sally Mobley she’s the girl over there
in the blue shorts will probably be our tennis champion this year.