Mdtrm Grammar Mini Reviews
January 11, 2013
Subject-­‐Verb Agreement
1.
The sign near the glass doors (explains, explain) the theme of the exhibit.
2.
Several Emiklio Sanchez paintings (was, were) hanging in the gallery. 3.
Anne, together with her cousins, (is, are) backpacking in Nevada this summer.
4.
Robert, along with Kimberly and Elvin, (has, have) been nominated for class president.
5.
Ben, not Rochelle and I, (is, are) in charge of the decorations.
6.
Anne Bradstreet and Edgar Allen Poe (is, are) poets.
Mdtrm Grammar Mini Reviews
January 11, 2013
Subject-­‐Verb Agreement
7. Rhyme, alliteration, assonance, and consonance (helps, help) poets express their feelings.
8. Students in this school (enjoys, enjoy) weeklong breaks in December, February, and April.
9. One computer lab for a school of two thousand students (is, are) not enough.
10. Second chances given to one ungrateful person (accomplishes, accomplish) nothing.
Mdtrm Grammar Mini Reviews
January 11, 2013
Incorrect Verb Tense (Consistency)
Check the following sentences for confusing shifts in tense. If the tense of each
underlined verb expresses the time relationship accurately, write S (satisfactory). If a
shift in tense is not appropriate, write U (unsatisfactory) and make necessary changes. In
most cases with an inappropriate shift, there is more than one way to correct the
inconsistency. Reading the sentences aloud will help you recognize differences in time.
___ 1. If the club limited its membership, it will have to raise its dues.
___ 2. While Barbara puts in her contact lenses, the telephone rang.
___ 3. Thousands of people will see the art exhibit by the time it closes.
___ 4. By the time negotiations began, many pessimists have expressed doubt about
them.
___ 5. After Capt. James Cook visited Alaska on his third voyage, he is killed by
Hawaiian islanders in 1779.
Mdtrm Grammar Mini Reviews
January 11, 2013
Incorrect Verb Tense (Consistency)
___ 6. I was terribly disappointed with my grade because I studied very hard.
___ 7. The moderator asks for questions as soon as the speaker has finished.
___ 8. Everyone hopes the plan would work.
___ 9. Harry wants to show his friends the photos he took last summer.
___ 10. Scientists predict that the sun will die in the distant future.
___ 11. The boy insisted that he has paid for the candy bars.
___ 12. The doctor suggested bed rest for the patient, who suffers from a bad
cold.
(OWL Purdue Online Writing Lab)
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/exercises/2/22/49/
Mdtrm Grammar Mini Reviews
January 11, 2013
Pronoun Case
A subject in a sentence is the person, place, thing, or idea in the sentence that
_______________________.
Therefore, a subjective case pronoun is a pronoun that can be the ___________________ of a
sentence.
Subjective Case
1st Person
2nd Person
3rd Person
Singular
Plural
Mdtrm Grammar Mini Reviews
January 11, 2013
Pronoun Case
An object in a sentence is the person, place, or idea in a sentence that
_____________________________.
Therefore, an objective case pronoun is a pronoun that _________________________________________.
Objective Case
1st Person
2nd Person
3rd Person
Singular
Plural
Mdtrm Grammar Mini Reviews
January 11, 2013
Pronoun Case
When a pronoun shows possession it acts like an adjective but must still follow
pronoun rules.
Possessive “Pronouns”
1st Person
2nd Person
3rd Person
Singular
Plural
Mdtrm Grammar Mini Reviews
January 11, 2013
Pronoun Case
WHO AND WHOM: Remember, “who” is subjective case and
“whom” is objective case.
Examples:
Who saw the Martian?
It kidnapped whom?
Mdtrm Grammar Mini Reviews
January 11, 2013
1.
Pronoun Case
If a person wants to succeed in corporate life, ___________ must know the
rules of the game.
2.
A student must see ___________ counselor by the end of the term.
3.
You want to trust _________? (Use who or whom)
4.
Somebody has left ___________ bag in the room.
5.
This homework is for ___________. (Use a 1st person pronoun.)
6.
This homework is for Jake and ___________. (Use a 1st person pronoun.)
7.
A fool is one ___________ repeats an error expecting a new result. (Use
who or whom)
8.
________ did you ask to prom? (Use who or whom.)
Mdtrm Grammar Mini Reviews
January 11, 2013
Ambiguous Pronouns
With each example, state the problem and fix it:
1. Some people miss relatives, and some people avoid distant family members, but
that doesn’t mean they are bad.
Jane hated her friend’s lizard, but she did not mind.
When your mother and your wife argue, you cannot oppose her.
Mdtrm Grammar Mini Reviews
January 11, 2013
Clause Review
When I have taught grammar I have found that students know a lot but can explain a little.
You are more successful when you have prepared.
Mdtrm Grammar Mini Reviews
January 11, 2013
Parallelism or Parallel Structure
Similar parts of a sentence should be phrased in a similar manner.
-­‐Me
Use the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same importance. -­‐Purdue OWL
Which of the following sentences has parallel structure?
1. I like monster movies that have epic levels of destruction, absurd creatures, and offer ridiculously dubbed dialogue.
2. Such films are entertaining, exciting, and amusing.
3. A monster versus alien movie can do all these things, provide a break from life's concerns, and it is just awesome.
Mdtrm Grammar Mini Reviews
January 11, 2013
Parallelism and Clause Review: Be sure to Aix clauses before Wixing parallelism.
1. When Godzilla eats invaders from Mars. Humanity feels relief, excitement, and they are at peace.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_
2. However, realizing one must still face a gigantic dinosaur with a bad attitude. Is disheartening, shocking, and causes confusion.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_
3. This is a time for humans who are clever, quick, and are ingenious in their thoughts.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_
4. They can provide hope, save lives, and courage in such situations.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_
Mdtrm Grammar Mini Reviews
January 11, 2013