Table of Contents:

Sentence Structure........... 2

Sentence Structure Exercise 4

Run-On Sentences. 7

Run-On Sentence Exercises 7

Pronouns 10

Pronoun Exercises . 13

Modifiers . 17

Modifier Exercises . 21

Verbs .. 26

Verb Exercises 28

Verb Tenses ... 29

Verb Tense Exercises 30

Subject Verb Agreement 33

Verb Agreement Exercises ................................................................................................. 34

Indefinite Pronoun Subjects 36

Indefinite Pronoun Subjects Exercises .. 37

Compound Subjects 39

Compound Subject Exercises ............................................................................................... 39

Miscellaneous . 41

Parallel Structures .. 42

Parallel Structure Exercises . 43

Miscellaneous Exercises .. 46

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Sentence Structure
Every sentence has two basic parts: a subject and a predicate.
The subject tells who or what the sentence is about.
The predicate tells what the subject is or does or what happens to the subject.

Subject Predicate
Huge cresting waves pound the sailboat.
Hurricane-force winds tear the sails off the mast.
The fragile sailboat is thrown on its side.

Both parts are usually necessary for the meaning of a group of words to be clear. When a
subject or a predicate is missing, the group of words is a sentence fragment.

Simple Sentences
A simple sentence consists of one independent clause and no subordinate clauses. A simple
sentence may contain a compound subject, a compound verb, and one or more phrases.
Most TV family shows idealize family life.
Leave it to Beaver and Father Knows Best were examples of the ideal American family.
According to TV, parents could understand and solve almost any problem.

Compound Sentences
A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses joined together.

The TV father worked, and the TV mother stayed at home with the TV children

Independent clauses can be joined with a comma and coordinating conjunction, a semicolon, or
a semicolon and a comma with a conjunctive adverb.

TV families often owned dogs, but you rarely saw a cat.

Housekeepers were family too; they often gave wise advice.
In 1968, viewers saw their first African-American family (Julia) on TV; however, the
stories were like those on Father Knows Best.

Dont use a comma to join two independent clauses. This error a comma splice creates a
run-on sentence.

Sentence Fragments
A sentence fragment is part of a sentence that is punctuated as if it were a complete sentence.

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Fragments Caused by Missing Parts
Sometimes a sentence fragment does not express a complete thought because the subject or
verb is left out.

Fragment Correction Explanation

In 1853, Native Soon thereafter he faced a Fragment lacks a
American George Crum guests disapproval. subject.
served his version of
French fries at Moon
Lake Lodge. Soon
thereafter faced a
guests disapproval.
Chef Crum angered by Chef Crum was angered by Fragment lacks a
the rejection. the rejection. complete verb.
Eventually, he created
the potato chip.

Phrases as Fragments
A phrase is a group of words that functions as a part of speech and does not have a subject or a
verb. A phrase that stands alone is a fragment.

Fragment Correction Explanation

The pretzel has a The pretzel has a long and Participial phrase
long and interesting interesting history dating combined with
history. Dating back back to A.D. 610. previous sentence.
to A.D. 610.
Popular folklore Popular folklore suggests Prepositional phrase
suggests that the that the pretzel was combined with
pretzel was created. created by a medieval previous sentence.
By a medieval Italian Italian monk to reward
monk to reward children.
children.
He shaped the He shaped the pretzel in Infinitive phrase
pretzel in the image the image of childrens combined with
of childrens folded folded arms in prayer to previous sentence.
arms in prayer. To motivate them to
motivate them to memorize their prayers.
memorize their
prayers.

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Subordinate Clauses as Fragments
A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. A clause that cannot stand
alone as a sentence is a subordinate, or dependent, clause. Fragments often occur because a
subordinate clause is mistaken for a complete sentence.

Fragment Correction Explanation

Earl Charles Grey Earl Charles Grey helped Clause is combined
helped abolish slavery abolish slavery throughout with the previous
throughout the British the British Empire, sentence.
Empire. Although he is although he is better
better known for Earl known for Earl Grey tea.
Grey tea.
After a British diplomat After a British diplomat Subordinate clause is
saved the life of a saved the life of a Chinese combined with the
Chinese government government official, the independent clause
official. The earl earl received the recipe for
received the recipe for the tea as a gift.
the tea as a gift.

Sentence Structure Exercises

Sentence Fragments
Rewrite the numbered fragments as complete sentences. You may add words to the
fragments or combine them with sentences.

(1) Have been baking bread since prehistoric times. About 4,600 years ago, bakers in Egypt

learned how to use yeast. (2)To make bread rise. Before that, people made various kinds of

breads. (3)By baking mixtures of water and ground grain on heated stones. (4)Because breads

contained no leavening agents. They did not rise. Today most cultures have their own

traditional breads. (5)Examples of flatbreads from around the world the Mexican tortilla, the

Indian chapati, and the Ethiopian injera. Many cultures serve yeast-risen bread. (6)Including

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the Russian black bread and the Danish sourdough bread. French bakeries make and sell

baguettes. (7) Which are long, thin loaves of white bread with crisp brown crusts. In Mexico,

bakers make a special bread called fiesta bread. (8)And hide small ornaments within it. Be sure

to check out the selection of breads. (9)If you find yourself at a large international food market.

(10) Wont regret it!

Baking soda is used as an ingredient in batter and dough. The soda reacts with acids in various

other ingredients, such as milk or lemon juice, and produces carbon dioxide bubbles. (1)Cause

the batter or dough to expand. Because of its chemical properties, baking soda has many other

uses. (2)Apart from baking. It neutralizes acids, including stomach acids. (3)Than can cause

acid indigestion. because many odors can be traced to acids, baking soda can often be used to

neutralize the acids and eliminate the odors. (4)Have probably seen people using baking soda

to absorb odors in refrigerators, closets, and litter boxes. (5)To deodorize a locker filled with

sneakers and gym clothes!

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Run-On Sentences
A run-on sentence is two or more sentences written as though they were one sentence.

The Comma Splice

A comma splice, or comma fault, occurs when the writer mistakenly uses a comma instead of a
semicolon or period.
For generations, people have enjoyed the ever-popular ice cream as a dessert, historical
records show that ice cream was invented by the Chinese around 2000 B.C.

Missing Punctuation or Conjunction

Joining two sentences together without a comma and a conjunction, can confuse the reader.
Historians believe that the Chinese included overcooked rice, milk, and spices in their
recipe no one is sure how the recipe spread to Europe.

Transitional Words and Phrases

Transitional words and phrases help connect ideas by showing relationships.

Transitional Expressions
Time before, by, finally, first, meanwhile
Place above, around, beneath, down, here, there
Order of importance first, second, mainly, more important, most important
Cause and effect as a result, because, consequently, for, so, therefore
Contrast but, however, in contrast, on the other hand, unlike, yet
Comparison as, in the same way, likewise, similarly, than

Run-Ons
Correct the run-ons below. There may be more than one way to fix each run-on. If a
sentence is not a run-on, write Correct.

1. Julia Child originally had not prepared for a career in the food industry in fact, she majored
in history in college.

2. During World War II, Child served with a secret intelligence agency her assignments took
her around the world.

3. After the war, she took courses at a cooking school in Paris there she met two chefs with
whom she wrote the book Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

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4. The book paved the way for Childs television series The French Chef eventually Child
became a star in the world of cooking.

5. On her show Julia Child shared recipes, demonstrated cooking techniques, and offered
good-humored advice.

6. Paul Newman became famous as a movie actor now he is also known for a line of food
products.

7. Newmans food company is somewhat unusual, its after-tax profits are donated to
educational and charitable causes.

8. The company began on a small scale Newman and writer A.E. Hotchner decided to market
the actors homemade salad dressing.

9. At first they sold the dressing only locally soon orders were pouring in from all over the
country.

10. The company so far has donated more than $100 million to the American Red Cross and
many other not-for-profit organizations.

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11. Fannie Farmer occupies a special place in the history of food writing, in the late 1800s she
invented the modern cookbook.

12. Before Farmer created a recipe format that gave exact measurements, cooks used recipes
that advised them to add a pinch or a handful of an ingredient.

13. Farmers method ensured that a recipe gave the same results each time, it did not matter
who did the cooking.

14. Her approach was an immediate success with the American public, the Boston Cooking
School Cook Book, her first published work, became a bestseller in the United States and
was soon translated into French, Spanish, and Japanese.

15. Think of Fannie Farmer the next time you measure out a teaspoon of this or a cup of that
while making your favorite recipe!

16. Irma Rombauer was another groundbreaking cookbook author; her book, The Joy of
Cooking, is generally considered a classic of the genre.

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17. Over the years, three generations of Rombauers have been involved in producing various
editions of the book, Rombauers daughter Marion coauthored a major revision that was
published in 1951, and her son Ethan was in charge of the revision that came out in 1997.

18. Perhaps cooking is not exactly your cup of tea, perhaps your taste in reading tends toward
humor.

19. If this is the case, you might enjoy the essays of Calvin Trillin.

20. Trillin is an author and humorist who has a keen interest in food he clearly enjoys searching
out memorable foods, unusual food facts, and remarkable food rituals to share with his
readers.

Pronouns
A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun or another pronoun. The word that a pronoun
stands for is called its antecedent.
Antecedent

Ray said he wanted musical talents to audition for the play.

Pronoun

Mary and I auditioned together. We both got lead parts.

Antecedent Pronoun

Personal Pronouns
Singular Plural
First Person I, me (my, mine) We, us (our, ours)
Second Person you (your, yours) you (your, yours)

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Third Person He, him, she, her, it They, them
(his, her, hers its) (their, theirs)

Possessive pronouns show ownership or relationship. In the chart above, possessive pronouns
are in parentheses.
Pronoun
Sonia delivered her famous monologue.
Antecedent

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number, gender, and person. An antecedent is
the noun or pronoun that a pronoun refers to.

Agreement in Number
If the antecedent is singular, use a singular pronoun. If the antecedent is plural, use a plural
pronoun.
The Ramayana is one of Indias greatest epics. It tells stories about heroic characters.
Two of them are Rama and Sita, his wife.
Ramayana (singular) it
characters (plural) them

Agreement with Compound Subjects

Use a plural pronoun to refer to nouns or pronouns joined by and.
Rama and Ravana class when they fight over Sita.

A pronoun that refers to nouns or pronouns joined by or or nor should agree with the noun or
pronoun nearer to it.
Neither Ravana nor Ramas troops can defeat their foes.

Agreement with Collective Nouns

A collective noun, such as family, may be referred to by either a singular or plural pronoun. The
number of the collective noun is determined by its meaning in the sentence.

Use a singular pronoun if the collective noun names a group acting as a unit.
The family finally gives its support to Rama.

Use a plural pronoun if the collective noun shows the members or parts of a group acting
individually.
Ramas family argue over their plans to rescue Sita.

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Agreement in Gender and Person
The gender of a pronoun must be the same as the gender of its antecedent. Remember that
gender refers to the masculine (he, him, his), feminine (she, her, hers) or neuter forms (it, its) of
personal pronouns.
Hanuman, the monkey chief, brings his troops to the battle.

The person of the pronoun must be the same as the person of its antecedent.
All you fans should buy your tickets for the latest Rama movie.

Indefinite Pronouns as Antecedents

A person pronoun must agree in number with the indefinite pronoun that is its antecedent.

Indefinite Pronouns
Singular Plural Singular or Plural
Another Much Both All
Anybody Neither Few Any
Anyone Nobody Many More
Anything No one Several Most
Each Nothing None
Either One Some
Everybody Somebody
Everyone Someone
Everything Something

Indefinite pronouns that end in one, body, or thing are always singular

Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns.

Use a singular pronoun to refer to a singular indefinite pronoun.
Each myth has its own heroes and villains.
Everyone has his or her favorite myth.
*Notice that the phrase his or her is considered a singular personal pronoun.

Use a plural pronoun to refer to a plural indefinite pronoun.

Both of the Viking chiefs have their loyal followers.
Only a few of us brought our mythology books along.

Indefinite Pronouns That Can Be Singular or Plural

Some indefinite pronouns can be singular or plural. Use the meaning of the sentence to
determine whether the indefinite pronoun is singular or plural.

Use the intervening prepositional phrase to help you decide whether the indefinite pronoun is
singular or plural.

None of the mythology has lost its appeal

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 Since the noun in the prepositional phrase is singular, the pronoun is singular.

Most of the stories have their origins in tribal myths.

Since the noun in the prepositional phrase is plural, the pronoun is plural.

Pronoun Exercises

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Choose the correct pronoun from those in parentheses

1. Rama and Ravana are well known in India because of (his, their) roles as the hero and the
villain, respectively, of the Ramayana.

2. In the epic, either Rama or his half-brother Bharata must give up (his, their) claim to the
throne and Bharata is made king.

3. Rama, his faithful wife Sita, and his loyal supporter Laksmana leave (his or her, their) home
to love in the forest.

4. There, the demon king Ravana and his army kidnap Sita and take her away to (his, their)
land.

5. Rama and Laksmana are unable to rescue Sita until a band of talking monkeys and bears
offers to help (him, them).

6. At the head of the band is (its, their) leader, the mighty monkey-general Hanuman.

7. In a great battle, neither Ravana nor his demons are easy to defeat because of (his, their)
ability to change shapes at will.

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8. However, Ravana is defeated by Ramas army through (its, their) incredible feats of strength
and bravery.

9. Ravanas army must accept (its, their) defeat.

10. Rama and Sita return to (his or her, their) countrys capital where Rama is finally crowned
king.

11. Mount Everest divides Tibet from Nepal, with Nepal situated on (their, its) south side.

12. Mount Everest was formed about 60 million years ago, but until May 29, 1953, no one had
ever climbed to (his, its) highest point.

13. Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first men to do so when (they, he)
reached the summit on that date.

14. Hillary, a beekeeper from Auckland, New Zealand, and Tenzing, the son of a farming family
from Nepal, first met when (he, they) joined an expedition to climb Everest.

15. When the men began the expedition, (it, they) all dreamed of being the first to reach the
summit.

16. Other members turned back, but neither Hillary nor Tenzing wanted to give up (his, their)
dream.

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17. Either Hillary or Norgay put (his, their) foot on the summit first, but neither would say who
did so.

18. Hillary and other climbers have written books about (his, their) experiences conquering the
worlds highest mountain.

19. Jon Krakauer describes the natural beauty of Mount Everest in (its, his) book Into Thin Air.

20. The mountain was named for Sir George Everest in 1865, but (its, his) name in Nepal is
Sagarmatha, which means ocean mother, while in Tibet it is called Chomolungma, or
mother goddess of the universe.

Choose the correct pronoun from those in parentheses

1. In one Norse myth, all of the gods loved Balder, (his, their) gentle partner.

2. Most were upset when (he, they) heard a prophecy that the gentle Balder would soon die.

3. Balders mother traveled around the world to ask all the beings to give (its, their) promise
not to harm Balder.

4. Each gave (its, their) promise, except for the tiny mistletoe plant, which she forgot to ask.

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5. Everybody believed that (his or her, their) friend would be protected by his mothers
actions.

6. The gods didnt know that (his or her, their) friend was still doomed.

7. Loki, who was jealous because few gave (his or her, their) love to him, made an arrow from
the mistletoe plant.

8. The gods were playing a game; each tossed (his or her, their) arrow or stone at Balder, but
none hurt him.

9. When Loki gave his mistletoe arrow to one of the gods, (he, they) threw it at Balder and
killed him.

10. Balders death plunged the gods into grief so deep that no one ever gave Loki (his or her,
their) forgiveness.

11. Everyone who values freedom should pay (their, his or her) respects to Harriet Tubman, a
onetime slave who became an American hero.

12. In the years before the Civil War, many who escaped slavery owed (his or her, their)
freedom to Tubman.

13. Each of the people who traveled on the Underground Railroad was willing to risk (their, his
or her) life for the sake of freedom.

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14. Several of the people who were abolitionists risked (his or her, their) lives to help slaves
reach the north and freedom.

15. After Tubman made her own escape, she joined forces with some of the abolitionists,
working with (them, him or her) to liberate others.

16. Each of the 18 trips she made along the Underground Railroad had (its, their) dangers.

17. Most of the journey was fraught with peril up until (their, its) end.

18. Of the more than 300 slaves Tubman guided along the Underground Railroad, no one lost
(his or her, their) life or was recaptured.

19. Both of Tubmans parents, whom Tubman helped escape in 1857, owed (his or her, their)
freedom to their daughter.

20. Abolition and womens rights were critical issues to Tubman, and both took (its, their) share
of her time and energy.

Modifiers
Modifiers are words that give information about, or modify, the meanings of other words.
Adjectives and adverbs are common modifiers.

Using Adjectives
Adjectives modify nouns and pronouns. They answer the questions which one, what kind, how
many, and how much.

Example:

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 In medieval times, many English people believed that carrying a small, harmless spider
in a cloth pouch around their necks would prevent dreadful sickness.

Using Adverbs
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. They answer the questions where, when,
how, and to what degree. Adverbs such as so, very, most, more, and ever intensify the meaning
of the words they modify.

Example:
A Cherokee story explains how Spider very cleverly steals the sun. Half the world is
always dark, and the other half always light. Spider travels far to save her people.

Notice that an adverb can be placed before or after a verb it modifies.

Place modifiers like only and even next to the words they modify. Changing their positions will
change the meanings of the sentences.

Only she stole the sun. No one else did it.

She only stole the sun. She merely stole it; she didnt destroy it.
She stole only the sun. She didnt steal anything else.

This, That, These, Those

This, that, these, and those are demonstrative pronouns that can be used as adjectives. There
are only three rules that you need to remember when using these words as adjectives.
1. They must agree in number with the words they modify.
These kinds of myths stem from half-truths (plural)
This kind of myth stems from half-truths (singular)
2. Never use here or there with demonstrative adjectives. The adjective already points out
which one; it doesnt need any help.
INCORRECT: This here sewer worker saw an alligator.
CORRECT: This sewer worker saw an alligator.
3. Never use the pronoun them as an adjective in place of these or those.
INCORRECT: Them people have written a book about urban myths.
CORRECT: These (Those) people have written a book about urban myths.

Using Comparisons
Adjectives and adverbs have two forms that can be used to make comparisons: the
comparative form and the superlative form.

Making Comparisons
An adjective or an adverb modifies a In most legends, Coyote is a smart trickster.
word and makes no comparison.

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The comparative compares two persons, Coyote is smarter than Wolf at outwitting
places, or things. people.
The superlative compares three or more Coyote is the smartest of all the animals.
persons, places, or things.

Regular Comparisons
Rule Comparative Superlative
Add er or est
to a one-syllable word tougher toughest
to many two-syllable words happier happiest
Use more or most
with some two-syllable words to avoid more helpless most helpless
awkward sounds
with words of more than two syllables more important most important
with adverbs ending in ly more quickly most quickly

Never use the superlative form when comparing only two things.
INCORRECT: Of the two stories, which was the most exciting
CORRET: Of the two stories, which was the more exciting.

Common Irregular Forms

Adverb or Adjective Comparative Superlative
good better best
well better best
far farther, further farthest, furthest
bad worse worst
much more most
many more most
little less, lesser least
Do not use both er and more to form a comparative. Do not use both est and most to form a
superlative.
INCORRECT: The actors eyes were more yellower than a wolfs.
CORRECT: The actors eyes work yellower than a wolfs.

INCORRECT: He wears the most hairiest makeup Ive ever seen.

CORRECT: He wears the hairiest makeup Ive ever seen.

When you are comparing something that is part of a larger group to the group itself, use other
or else to avoid an illogical comparison.
INCORRECT: I think a werewolf is more mysterious than any monster.

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 CORRECT: I think a werewolf is more mysterious than any other monster.

Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word it
modifies/describes.

Misplaced modifiers can usually be corrected by moving the modifier to a more sensible place in
the sentence, generally next to the word it modifies.

Examples: Misplaced adjective

The child ate a cold dish of cereal for breakfast this morning.

FIX: The child ate a dish of cold cereal for breakfast this morning.

cold modifies cereal

The dealer sold the Cadillac to the buyer with the leather seats.

the buyer does not have leather seats

FIX: The dealer sold the Cadillac with the leather seats to the buyer.

with the leather seats modifies Cadillac

Misplaced clause
The waiter served a dinner roll to the woman that was well buttered.

FIX: The waiter served a dinner roll that was well buttered to the woman.

well buttered modifies dinner roll

A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that is not clearly and logically related to the word or
words that it modifies.

Unlike a misplaced modifier, a dangling modifier cannot be corrected by simply moving it

to a different place in a sentence.
In most cases, the dangling modifier appears at the beginning of the sentence, although it
can also come at the end.

Examples: Dangling modifier

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Walking to the movies, the cloudburst drenched Jim.
Because of the placement of walking to the movies, this sentence suggests that the
cloudburst is walking to the movies even though a possible walker - Jim - is mentioned
later.

FIX: Walking to the movies, Jim was drenched by the cloudburst.

Dangling modifier

Having been repaired the night before, Marcos could use the car.
Since having been fixed the night before is placed next to Priscilla, the sentence means that
Priscilla was fixed the night before.

FIX: Since the car had been fixed the night before, Marcos could use it.

Modifier Exercises
Modifiers
Write whether each underlined word in these sentences is used as an adjective or adverb.

1. Around the world, superstitious beliefs about the spiders still persist.

2. Some people say that if you accidentally step on a spider, rain will come.

3. If this idea were true, it would be raining everywhere, all the time.

4. In Tahiti, people see the web-spinning, lowly spider as a shadow of the gods.

5. They teach children, big or small, never to harm any spider.

6. South Sea islanders say that if you see a spider drop down in front of you, you will receive a
present.

7. Find a tiny spider on your clothes and youll soon receive money.

8. In Ozark folk belief, discovering a web with your initials in it near a door brings you good
luck forever.

9. Spiders have often been used in traditional medicine.

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10. One interesting remedy involves rolling a live spider in butter and swallowing it.

For each sentence, write the correct choice of the words in parentheses.

1. Urban myths appear (frequent, frequently) in newspapers.

2. One example of (this type, these types) of story concerns a choking guard dog.

3. A woman comes home, and her dog is choking (bad, badly).

4. She (quick, quickly) takes the dog to a veterinarian and leaves it there.

5. She (hasnt, has) scarcely returned home when the phone rings.

6. The vet has found three fingers lodged (firm, firmly) in the dogs throat.

7. The vet shouts, Dont waste (no, any) time! Get out of the house!

8. The woman calls the police, who drive (rapid, rapidly) to her home.

9. They search the house (good, well) for intruders.

10. They find a (real, really) scared burglar hiding in the closet with three fingers missing!

11. While in a department store, a woman (sudden, suddenly) became very sick.

12. She hadnt been doing (anything, nothing) except trying on a fur coat.

13. The doctor examined her (good, well) and found tiny punctures.

14. He (could, couldnt) hardly believe what he was seeing.

15. Her wounds (strong, strongly) indicated that she was a snake-bite victim.

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16. Later the store found a coral snake trapped in the sleeve of (that, that there) fur coat.

17. You may have heard a story like (this, this here) one before.

18. It is one of (them, those) urban myths that seems to have an element of truth.

19. It (has, hasnt) never been disputed that coral snakes are poisonous and strike quickly.

20. A story about a deadly snake in a coat sleeve seems (possible, possibly).

Comparison Modifiers
For each sentence, write the correct comparative or superlative form.

1. Many squabbles break out among wild horses, but the (fiercer, fiercest) battles are between
stallions.

2. The dominant stallion has been the (more victorious, most victorious) one in battle.

3. In the herd, survival of the (fittest, more fit) is the law.

4. In the competition between two stallions, often only the (stronger, strongest) one survives.

5. When a stallion senses a battle, its instincts become (most acute, more acute).

6. Since the dominant stallion has (greater, greatest) strength than a young stallion, the contest is
uneven.

7. But a fight to the death against an unequal is the (more challenging, most challenging) contest of all
for a stallion.

8. A stallion must fight (better, more well) than his challenger.

9. The (less, least) sign of hesitation could cost him his life).

10. His senses are heightened as his challenger comes (closest, closer).

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Misplace & Dangling Modifiers
Rewrite these sentences to fix misplaced and dangling phrases. If a sentence has no error, write
Correct.

1. Mike Lambert is one of the top indoor volleyball players in the United States.

2. To become an outstanding all-around player like Lambert, many hours of training are required.

3. Competing for Stanford University, the most-valuable-player trophy at the 1997 NCAA championship
was awarded to Lambert.

4. Growing up in Hawaii, soccer was a favorite sport besides volleyball.

5. Lambert joined a professional team after graduating from Stanford in Greece.

6. Holly McPeak is one of the worlds best players in womens beach volleyball.

7. Raised in Manhattan Beach, California, few activities were more enjoyable than volleyball.

8. Having won more than $200,000 during her career, her performances include victories in over 20
tournaments.

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9. To have success in two-on-two beach volleyball, the right partner must be found.

10. McPeak is especially well-known for her outstanding defensive play by fans.

11. To be good at volleyball, may skills are required.

12. A player in several different ways must be able to hit the ball.

13. Three of the most common ways of hitting the ball are digging, setting, and spiking.

14. To make a dig, the ball is hit just before it reaches the floor by a player who lunges or squats.

15. For a set, the ball is hit high in the air so that another player can spike it.

16. Making a spike, the ball is hit hard by a player who jumps high, near the net.

17. Having a height of seven to eight feet, it is difficult for young players to spike over a volleyball net.

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18. Consisting of six players, good chemistry is required for a volleyball team.

19. Called the forwards, the three players who stand near the net focus on spiking and on blocking the
other teams spikes.

20. Called the backs, digging and setting for the forwards is the focus of the other three players.

VERBS
The Principal Parts of a Verb
Every Verb has 4 principal parts: the present, the present participle, the past, and the past
participle. You use these principal parts to make all of a verbs tenses and forms.

Present Present Participle Past Past Participle

look (is) looking looked (has) looked
break (is) breaking broke (has) broken

Examples:

Astronomers use a valuable information collector in space

Present Present Participle
The Hubbell Space Telescope is providing scientists with new insights about the universe

Space agencies decided that a more sophisticated devise needed to be sent into orbit.
Past Past Participle

A number of countries have worked together to build an International Space Station.

Forming Verb Tenses

A tense is a verb form that shows the time of an action or condition. A verbs tenses are
formed from its principal parts.

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Simple Tenses
The present tense shows that an action or a condition
occurs regularly or is generally true:
Good stories transport us across time and space
is occurring in the present:
I have the new book by Stephen King
occurs regularly:
Every night, I read several chapters of this chilling tail.

The past tense shows that an action or a condition occurred in the past:
King published Carrie, his first novel, in 1974.

The future tense shows that an action or a condition will occur in the future:
I will lend you Kings new book next week.
Simple Tenses
Tense Singular Plural
Present
First person I travel We travel
Second person You travel You travel
Third person He/she/it travels They travel
Past
First person I traveled We traveled
Second person You traveled You traveled
Third person He/she/it traveled They traveled
Future will (shall) + present
First person I will (shall) travel We will (shall) travel
Second person You will travel You will travel
Third person He/she/it will travel They will travel

Perfect Tenses
The present perfect tense shows that an action or a condition
was completed at one or more indefinite times in the past:
King has published several books under the pen name of Richard Bachman.
began in the past and continues in the present:
King has written more than 30 novels in the last 30 years.
The past perfect tense shows that an action or a condition in the past preceded another past
action or condition:
King had written two novels that were rejected by publishers before he published
Carrie.
The future perfect tense shows that an action or a condition in the future will precede another
action or condition:
By next summer, I will have read half of Kings books.

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Perfect Tenses
Tense Singular Plural
Present perfect have/has + past participle
First person I have traveled We have traveled
Second person You have traveled You have traveled
Third person He/she/it has traveled They have traveled
Past perfect had + past participle
First person I had traveled We had traveled
Second person You had traveled You had traveled
Third person He/she/it had traveled They had traveled
Future perfect will (shall) have + past participle
First person I will (shall) have traveled We will (shall) have traveled
Second person You will have traveled You will have traveled
Third person He/she/it will have traveled They will have traveled

Progressive Form
The progressive form of a verb expresses an event in progress. Each tense has a progressive
form, made by using the corresponding tense of the verb be with the present participle.
I am reading this horror story.
A group of friends were camping in the Maine woods.
An escaped convict had been hiding in a nearby cabin.

Verb Exercises

Forming Verb Tenses

In each sentence below, the underlined verb is in the incorrect tense or form. Write the verb in the
correct tense or form.

1. Books offer us pleasure and opened doorways to other places and times.

2. Right now, Shay was reading a book.

3. Although she is in the library, her mind had been transported to another time and place.

4. By the end of the day, who knows how far she has traveled.

5. Perhaps Mark Twain invites her on a trip down the Mississippi while she was choosing something to
read.

6. As she scanned the shelves, maybe a pioneer family has made room for her on a journey westward.

7. Yesterday she is thinking about ocean voyages.

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8. Now she will be following the Titanic across the Atlantic.

9. If tomorrow she thinks about circling the globe, undoubtedly she chooses Jules Vernes famous
novel.

10. After all, Vernes Around the World in Eighty Days had taken many an armchair traveler on an
exciting adventure.

Using Verb Tenses

Writing About the Present

When you are writing about the present, you can use the
simple present tense
present progressive form
present perfect tense
present perfect progressive form

Example Sentence Verb Tense

I like to read about real-life adventures. I The simple present shows an action or a
especially enjoy stories in which people condition that is continuously true.
struggle against nature.
I am reading the book Back from Tuichi by The present progressive shows action that is
Yossi Ghinsberg. The suspense is so intense now in progress.
that I am getting goose bumps.
So far I have learned that Yossi is a young The present perfect shows an action or
Israeli man who is on an adventure through condition that began in the past and continues
the rain forests of Bolivia. into the present.
I have been trying to resist the urge to skip The present perfect progressive shows an
ahead in the book. action that began in the past and is still in
progress.

Writing About the Past

When you write about the past, verb tenses can help you show the sequence of events.
Describing such a sequence can be very complicated because some events are ongoing and
overlap other events. By using correct tenses, you can make it easier for your readers to follow
the events.

Example Sentence Verb Tense

Yossi Ghinsberg traveled to Bolivia in the The simple past shows actions that were

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1980s. He explored the rain forests near the completed in the past.
Tuichi River.
At first Yossi was traveling with three men. The past progressive shows actions that
They were searching for a remote Indian continued over time in the past.
village and gold.
After the men had experienced difficult travel The past perfect shows an action in the past
for several weeks, two of them gave up and that came before other actions in the past.
headed back to civilization on foot.
Yossi and the remaining man, Kevin, had been The past perfect progressive shows an action
trying to raft down a dangerous river when that was in progress in the past when another
they became separated. action happened.

Writing About the Future

Future tenses allow you to describe what will happen, what will be happening, or what will
have happened in the future.

Example Sentence Verb Tense

When you get to the part where Yossi has The simple future shows a condition that will
been left alone in the rain forest, you will be occur in the future.
eager to find out what happens to him.
Yossi will be trying to make it out of the jungle The future progressive shows an action that
with the help of only a few supplies. will be in progress in the future.
You may wonder if any wild animals will have The future perfect shows an action in the
attacked Yossi before he reaches the nearest future that will occur before another action.
village.
Yossi will have been causing you to lose a lot The future perfect progressive shows an
of sleep at night before you get to the end of action in progress in the future when another
the book. action will happen.

Using Verb Tenses

In each sentence below, the underlined verb is in the incorrect tense. Write it in the correct tense.

1. Often I am wondering if I would have the courage to survive in the wilderness.

2. You never knew what you can do until you are put to the test.

3. Yosssi Ghinsbergs story was so engrossing that I feel that I was with him in the jungle.

4. He has been traveling with three other men when his personal tale of survival began.

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5. The group split up: two headed back to civilization, but Ghinsberg will continue with Kevin.

6. As the two careened down the river on a handmade raft, they run into rapids, rocks, and whirlpools.

7. During one accident, they became separated, and Ghinsberg will find himself alone on the raft.

8. Kevin shouts, Hang on tight! just before Ghinsberg plunged over a waterfall.

9. I am gasping for breath as he described the horrible dance of death in the raging waters.

10. He almost drowned, but he finally struggles to the riverbank, about to face even deadlier challenges.

Write the correct tense of each underlined verb.

1. As I am reading, I kept wondering what else could happen to Yossi Ghinsberg.

2. He survives the terrors of the river, but he faced other problems on land.

3. It was growing dark, and Ghinsberg has needed food and shelter.

4. He didnt know whether Kevin is looking for him.

5. At one point, when a deadly snake was within striking distance, Ghinsberg becomes angry.

6. He had been keeping his frustration in check, but he suddenly vents his anger against the snake.

7. Driven by hatred, he has picked up a rock and killed the snake with it.

8. As I eagerly turned the page, I wonder by morning, will he have eaten the snake?

9. I have never been so hungry that I will think of eating a snake.

10. However, I am never in a fight for survival, so I dont know what I would be capable of doing.

Verb Tense Consistency

Each of the following sentences contains an error in consistency of verb tense. Revise each
sentence to make the verb tenses consistent. Give only one answer for each sentence.

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Example 1. Slowly, the sun sank below the horizon, and the sky becomes became dark.
or
Slowly, the sun sank sinks below the horizon, and the sky becomes dark.

1. Pioneers traveled west in Conestoga wagons and have endured many hardships.

2. After the president of the United States threw out the first ball, the baseball game begins.

3. The hungry child will eat some crackers and drank a cup of milk.

4. Eduardo worked in the garden while we trim the hedges.

5. By dinner I will have finished my homework, and Laurie finishes her chores.

6. After I swallowed the huge gulp of water, I will cough.

7. As the trees sway in the breeze, the birds will have sung merrily.

8. Hannah had mixed her paints before she notices a crack in her palette.

9. My parents owned a diner until last year when they sell it.

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 10. Tim had washed the dishes but forgets to put them away.

For the following sentences, fill in each blank with an appropriate tense for the verb given in
parentheses.

Example: Jason ___has played___ piano since he was five years old. (play)

1. She has roasted a turkey and _________________ rolls for the holiday meal. (heat)
2. I noticed the last bus and _________________ after it. (run)
3. Last weekend I _________________ Grandma and spent the afternoon with her. (visit)
4. Ron will do the laundry, and I _________________ the windows. (wash)
5. Jessie _________________ his homework before his mother came home from the store. (finish)

Subject-Verb Agreement
Agreement in Number
A verb must agree with its subject in number. Singular subjects take singular verbs. Plural
subjects take plural verbs.

Singular Plural
One early fictional detective was Di Renjie Todays detectives are very similar to Di
of China. Renjie.
This book describes ways to analyze These books describe ways to examine
evidence of all kinds. physical evidence.

In a verb phrase, it is the first helping verb that must agree with the subject.
In the play Trifles, a neighbor has reported a murder.
The officers have been searching for clues.

Words Between Subject and Verb

The subject of a verb is never found in a prepositional phrase or an appositive phrase. Dont be
fooled by words that come between the subject and the verb. Mentally block out those words.
Then it will be easy to tell whether the subject is singular or plural.

Prepositional Phrase
The files of any computer are vulnerable to electronic-age thieves.
* files takes the plural verb are

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 A computer thief with the right codes controls all the data files.
* thief takes the singular verb controls

Appositive Phrase
These thieves, people like the hacker Kevin Mitnick, steal government and industry
secrets.

Mitnick, the most cunning of the thieves, was caught by one of his victims, Tsutomu
Shimomura.

Agreement in Number
Rewrite the incorrect sentences so that the verbs agree with their subjects. If a sentence contains no
error, write Correct.

1. The plays setting are a farmhouse in the early 1900s.

2. John Wright has been murdered in his own bed.

3. The local sheriff suspect the victims wife, Minnie.

4. Her motive remain a mystery, however.

5. Two women collects a few belongings to take to Minnie.

6. They piece together the murder from a few trifles in the house.

7. Two important clues surface a broken birdcage and a dead canary.

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8. Gradually, these people discovers Minnies motive for murder.

9. Their next action have surprised many readers.

10. This drama contain some clever twists and turns in the plot.

11. Since the late 1980s forensic scientists has used a remarkable technique to help solve crimes.

12. The technique is called DNA fingerprinting.

13. DNA fingerprints is not the same as the prints made by a persons fingertips.

14. Technicians use cells from a drop of blood, a strand of hair, or another part of the body to develop a
DNA fingerprint.

15. The initials DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid.

16. This chemical is found in the nucleus of every human cell, and it is the key to each individuals
genetic code.

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17. Like the fingerprinting long used by police in crime detection, DNA testing have been used to
establish a link between a suspect and a crime scene.

18. Some people has been cleared of crimes thanks to DNA fingerprinting.

19. Scientists even uses DNA analysis to help with historical research.

20. For example, one scientist were able to determine that a woman who had for many years claimed to
be Anastasia, the daughter of the last tsar and tsarina of Russia, was not in fact related to the royal
family.

Indefinite-Pronoun Subjects
An indefinite pronoun refers to an unspecified person or thing. Some indefinite pronouns are
always singular, and some are always plural. Others can be singular or plural, depending on
how theyre used.

Indefinite Pronouns
Singular another, anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, everyone,
neither, nobody, no one, one, someone.
Plural both, few, many, several
Singular or plural all, any, more, most , none, some

Singular indefinite pronouns take singular verbs.

Everyone has heard of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.
Does anyone know about the detective work of their creator?

Plural indefinite pronouns take plural verbs.

Few realize that Arthur Conan Doyle solved real-life cases.
Several were difficult even for a man of Doyles skill.

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Some indefinite pronouns take singular verbs when they refer to one person or thing. They
take plural verbs when they refer to two or more people or things. To determine whether the
pronoun takes a singular or plural verb, find the noun it refers to.

Most of the story takes place in England

*Most refers to story (singular)
Most of the stories take place in England
*Most refers to stories (plural)

Indefinite-Pronoun Subjects
Correct the subject-verb agreement errors in the sentences below by writing the correct verb form. if
a sentence contains no error, write Correct.

1. Many of Arthur Conan Doyles fans enjoy reading about the real-life cases Doyle solved.

2. One of these cases involve George Edalji, a young man from a small English village.

3. Someone among the villagers are viciously killing animals.

4. Nearly all of the animals are killed at night in open fields.

5. According to the police, most of the evidence point to Edalji.

6. Everyone on the jury find him guilty

7. Someone writes Doyle, asking him to help Edalji.

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8. One of Doyles tests reveal Edaljis night blindness.

9. No one with night blindness are able to chase and kill animals in the dark.

10. After hearing Doyles evidence, all of the commissioners pardons Edalji.

11. Most of Agatha Christies murder mysteries feature a detective who investigates and solves a crime.

12. In this story, someone invite ten people to a rocky, isolated island.

13. Nobody in the group, it turns out, know why this mysterious person has brought the ten strangers
together.

14. All seems to have terrible secrets in their past, however.

15. After dinner on the first night, each are accused of murder by a voice on a phonograph record.

16. Shortly afterward, several of the characters watch as one guest dies of poisoning.

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17. Another are found dead the next day.

18. Everyone are terrified when one more murder takes place; eventually, only two people are left on
the island.

19. Both now know who the murder is.

20. Few guesses the surprise twist before it is revealed at the end of the story

Compound Subjects
A compound subject consists of two or more parts joined by a conjunction, such as and, or, or
nor. To decide whether a compound subject takes a singular or plural verb, follow these
guidelines.

Compound Subjects
Write the verb form that agrees with the subject of each sentence.

1. Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys (has, have) been around for years.

2. Frank and Joe Hardy first (appear, appears) in the 1920s.

3. Neither the two boys nor Nancy (has, have) aged much.

4. Students and even adult fans (continue, continues) to demand more stories.

5. The brothers or Nancy always (show, shows) courage and quick thinking.

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6. Unlike the fans, however, critics and parents often (find, finds) fault with the popular detectives.

7. According to the critics, these books and their characters (show, shows) a lack of reality.

8. The average girl or boy (live, lives) in a far different world from the one in the detective books.

9. Neither Nancy nor the brothers (experience, experiences) problems at home or at school.

10. Nevertheless, the detectives sharp wits and intelligence (inspire, inspires) their readers.

11. Chester Himes and his detective novels featuring Grave Digger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson (has,
have) paved the way for other African-American detective writers.

12. Neither the detectives nor their creators (is, are) dull or predictable.

13. Marti MacAlister and Blanche White (is, are) two fictional female African-American female
detectives.

14. Eleanor Taylor Bland and Barbara Neely, the authors who created them, (knows, know) how to tell
exciting stories.

15. Problems at home and pressure from colleagues often (causes, cause) stress for MacAlister, the
mother of two and the only African-American female detective in her department.

16. Her toughness and intelligence (help, helps) her succeed.

17. Neither her complicated personal life nor her difficult and dangerous cases (overwhelm,
overwhelms) her.

18. Intellect and resourcefulness (enables, enable) Blanche White to solve crimes that baffle others.

19. Blanches job as a cook and housekeeper and her work as an amateur sleuth (expose, exposes) her
to all sorts of people and problems.

20. Either the unusual plots of the exploration of social issues within Blands books (is, are) bound to
capture your interest, whether or not you are a devoted reader of mysteries.

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Subjects Joined by And
A compound subject whose parts are joined by and usually requires a plural verb.
The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew are the worlds most famous teenage detectives.
These detectives and their fathers have been solving crimes since the 1920s.

Sometimes a compound subject containing and refers to a singular thing and takes a singular
verb.
Spaghetti and meatballs was my favorite takeout food.
Subjects Joined by Or or Nor
When the parts of a compound subject are joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the
part closest to it.

Neither the Hardy Boys nor Nancy is the stay-at-home type.

Nancy or the Hardy Boys are always near a crime scene.

Collective Nouns
Collective nouns refer to groups of people or things. Common collective nouns include the
following:

class committee flock crowd

team family staff police
club herd jury majority

When a collective noun refers to a group as a unit, it takes a singular verb. When it refers to a
group acting as individuals, it takes a plural verb.

Example Explanation
In 1911 a robbery team steals the Mona Lisa The team acts as one unit the verb is singular
from the Louvre in France.
The team separate after the theft. The team act as individuals the verb is plural
The museum staff argue about what to do. The staff act as individuals
Fortunately, the staff alone is not The staff is considered as one unit.
investigating this case.

Nouns Ending in S
Some nouns ending in s appear to be plural but are really singular in meaning. Use singular
verbs with these words.

mumps measles humanities news

genetics physics molasses

News about fake Mona Lisas appears every week in the papers.
Eventually, forensics is used to help solve the crime.

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Title, Amounts, and Time
Titles of works of art, literature, and music are singular. Words and phrases that refer to
weights, measures, numbers, and lengths of time are usually treated as singular.

Titles Another genuine Mona Lisa has been The Twelve Chairs is a comic mystery
discovered. story.
Amounts Fifty thousand dollars has been raised Over two-thirds of the money comes
to ransom the missing painting. from private donations.
Time Twelve years is a long time for an Fifty years was the maximum sentence
investigation to continue. for stealing a masterpiece.

Parallel Structure
Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have
the same level of importance. This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. The usual
way to join parallel structures is with the use of coordinating conjunctions such as "and" or "or."

Words and Phrases

With the -ing form (gerund) of words:
Parallel: Mary likes hiking, swimming, and bicycling.

With infinitive phrases:

Parallel: Mary likes to hike, to swim, and to ride a bicycle.
Parallel: Mary likes to hike, swim, and ride a bicycle.
*You can use "to" before all the verbs in a sentence or only before the first one.

Do not mix forms.

Not Parallel: Mary likes hiking, swimming, and to ride a bicycle.
Parallel: Mary likes hiking, swimming, and riding a bicycle.

Not Parallel: The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurate ly,
and in a detailed manner.
Parallel: The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and
thoroughly.

Not Parallel: The teacher said that he was a poor student because he waited until the
last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and
his motivation was low.

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 Parallel: The teacher said that he was a poor student because he waited until the last
minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and
lacked motivation.

Clauses

A parallel structure that begins with clauses must keep on with clauses. Changing to another
pattern or changing the voice of the verb (from active to passive or vice versa) will break the
parallelism.

Not Parallel: The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they
should not eat too much, and to do some warm-up exercises before the game.
Parallel: The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should
not eat too much, and that they should do some warm-up exercises before the game.
or
Parallel: The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, not eat too much,
and do some warm-up exercises before the game.

Not Parallel: The salesman expected that he would present his product at the meeting,
that there would be time for him to show his slide presentation, and that questions
would be asked by prospective buyers. (passive)
Parallel: The salesman expected that he would present his product at the meeting, that
there would be time for him to show his slide presentation, and that prospective buyers
would ask him questions.

Lists After a Colon

Be sure to keep all the elements in a list in the same form.

Not Parallel: The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings,
pronunciations, correct spellings, and looking up irregular verbs.
Parallel: The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings,
pronunciations, correct spellings, and irregular verbs.

Parallel Structure Exercises

Rewrite each sentence to fix all parallelism errors.

1. An actor knows how to memorize his lines and getting into character.

2. Tell me where you were, what you were doing, and your reasons for doing it.

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3. Clark's daily exercises include running, swimming, and to lift weights.

4. To donate money to the homeless shelter is helping people stay warm in the winter.

5. Jim not only likes working outside but also getting dirty.

6. We followed the path through the forest, over the hill, and we went across the river.

7. The writer was brilliant but a recluse.

8. After the party, we want to either go to a movie or the diner.

9. She told Jake to take out the trash, to mow the lawn, and be listening for the phone call.

10. Marcie studied for the test by reviewing her class notes and she read her textbook

In the following pairs, one sentence has parallel structure, and the other sentence lacks parallel
structure. Mark the CORRECT sentence.

1. Jennifer is smart, beautiful, and loves everyone.

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 Jennifer is smart, beautiful, and caring.

2. Andys day is so long that he gets up at 6:00 a.m., leaves for work at 6:30 a.m., is eating dinner at
11:00 p.m., and goes to bed at 2:00 a.m.

Andys day is so long that he gets up at 6:00 a.m., leaves for work at 6:30 a.m., eats dinner at 11:00
p.m., and goes to bed at 2:00 a.m.

3. Bob was not only Sams roommate, but also he was his best friend.

Bob was not only Sams roommate but also his best friend.

4. If you go to the store, please remember to pick up your prescription, buy some shampoo, and to
look for a notebook.

If you go to the store, please remember to pick up your prescription, to buy some shampoo, and to
look for a notebook.

5. I spent two hours with Ms. Smith, reviewing my job performance, evaluating my goals, and
discussing my future with the company.

I spent two hours with Ms. Smith, reviewing my job performance, evaluating my goals, and my
future with the company was also discussed.

6. Mr. Browns lecture was inaccurate, boring, and unnecessary.

Mr. Browns lecture was inaccurate, boring, and should have been omitted.

7. Most people play golf for pleasure, for exercise, and for social contacts.

Most people play golf for pleasure, for exercise, and so they can meet people.

8. The most dangerous forms of transportation are bicycles, cars, and riding a motorcycle.

The most dangerous forms of transportation are bicycles, cars, and motorcycles.

9. Many people share the same three fears: making speeches, being in high places, and numbers.

Many people share the same three fears: making speeches, being in high places, and working with
numbers.

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10. At the body shop, the car was sanded to the bare metal, painted with primer, and sprayed with blue
enamel.

At the body shop, the car was sanded to the bare metal, painted with primer, and blue enamel was
sprayed on.

Exercises

Transition Words and Phrases

Choose the best transition word or phrase to best complete the meaning of the sentences

1. John is very allergic to flowers. _____________, whenever he goes anywhere near roses, his nose
starts to run, his eyes water, and he sneezes uncontrollably.
A ) However
B ) For example
C ) Furthermore
D ) In conclusion

2. John really hates roses. _____________, cigarette smoke doesn't give him any problems.
A ) Therefore
B ) For example
C ) In addition
D ) However

3. John can work in the smokiest of bars without any problems. _____________, he could never work
in a flower shop.
A ) As a result
B ) Moreover
C ) For instance
D ) In contrast

4. Mary doesn't have a car. _____________, she has to take the bus.
A ) In addition
B ) In conclusion
C ) Therefore
D ) Nevertheless

5. Mary forgot her bathing suit. _____________, she can't go swimming today.
A ) In addition
B ) As a result
C ) In contrast

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 D ) For example

6. Forgetting her bathing suit wasn't the only bad thing that happened to Mary today.
_____________, she forgot her bus pass and had to pay for the fare with her lunch money.

A) In addition
B) As a result
C) However
D) For example

7. John Adams and John Quincy Adams were the second and sixth presidents of the United States.
_____________, they were father and son.
A ) As a result
B ) For example
C ) Moreover
D ) In contrast

8. George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush have the same first and last names. _____________, we
have to use their initials to tell them apart. Another way that people can tell the difference between
them is by calling them Bush I (the father) and Bush II (the son).
A ) Nevertheless
B ) However
C ) In addition
D ) Therefore

9. Two other presidents who had the same last name were Andrew Johnson, who became president
after Abraham Lincoln was killed, and Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded John F. Kennedy ninety-eight
years later. _____________, these two men, unlike George W. Bush and his father, George H.W.
Bush, are not related to each other.
A ) As a result
B ) Furthermore
C ) However
D ) In conclusion

10. Fast food restaurants must now post how many calories each food item, such as French fries or
burgers, has. _____________, fewer people may be eating fast food in the future.
A ) Consequently
B ) Otherwise
C ) On the other hand
D ) Nevertheless

11. Cheeseburgers have a lot of calories. _____________, carrots have very few calories.
A ) As a result
B ) Therefore
C ) In conclusion
D ) On the other hand

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12. People need to eat healthier and exercise more. _____________, the obesity problem in the United
States will get worse.

A) On the other hand

B) Furthermore
C) For instance
D) Otherwise

13. Mark had a terrible day. First, his alarm clock didn't go off. Next, he missed his bus, so he was late
to work. Finally, he accidentally wore his bunny slippers to work instead of his regular shoes.
_____________, he should have called in sick and stayed home.
A ) On the other hand
B ) Furthermore
C ) For instance
D ) In conclusion

14. Gary sometimes forgets which day it is. _____________, he once tried to go to work and wondered
why there was no one in the parking lot. The reason was that it was Saturday, but he thought it was
Friday.
A ) For instance
B ) In conclusion
C ) On the other hand
D ) Nevertheless

15. It was 100 F (37.8 C) outside. _____________, Patricia had to wear a coat when she was at work
because she works in a meat freezer at the supermarket.
A ) Therefore
B ) For instance
C ) Furthermore
D ) Nevertheless

16. Cell phones are very useful. First, you can use them anywhere if your car breaks down.
_____________, they often have other functions. For example, many cell phones can be used for e-
mail, taking pictures, or sending text messages.
A ) As a result
B ) Furthermore
C ) In conclusion
D ) However

Words Between Subjects and Verbs

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Correct the subject-verb agreement errors in the sentences below by writing the correct verb forms.
If a sentence contains no error, write Correct.

1. One day in 1994, Kevin Mitnick, one of the countrys most wanted computer criminals, makes a
critical mistake.

2. Mitnick, already under FBI investigation, break into the home computer of Tsutomu Shimomura.

3. Files of a highly sensitive nature is compromised by Mitnick.

4. Shimomura, a computer expert, vow to catch him.

5. Agents from the FBI joins Shimomura to track down Mitnick.

6. A trail of e-mail messages provide vital clues.

7. Calls from two different locations also help the team.

8. Mitnick, a self-taught expert, believe his calls to be untraceable.

9. Shimomura, with his technical skill, pinpoints Mitnicks exact location in North Carolina.

10. Experts on computer security follows such stories with great interest.

11. The real-life cases of Di Renjie has served as inspiration for detective novels featuring Judge Dee.

12. Di, a Chinese government official, lived during the seventh century A.D.

13. Historical records from the distant past reveals his remarkable detective skills.

14. Robert van Gulik, the creator of the Judge Dee stories, were an avid student of Chinese history.

15. Guliks portrayal of Judge Dee and his adventures are both entertaining and informative.

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Other Problem Subjects
Write the verb form that agrees with the subject of each sentence.

1. The usual crowd (begins, begin) to gather at the Louvre Museum on an August day in 1911.

2. The Mona Lisa (is, are) not hanging on the wall.

3. The security staff (think, thinks) that the painting is being photographed.

4. Sixty minutes (is, are) all that the robbery and escape took.

5. The robbery team (consists, consist) of a mastermind, a forger, a carpenter, and two accomplices.

6. A million francs (does, do) not even come close to the amount represented by the loss.

7. News of the robbery (break, breaks) slowly.

8. The staff (does, do) not agree about what to tell the press.

9. Forensics (is, are) used to help detect fake Mona Lisas.

10. The Day They Stole the Mona Lisa (is, are) a nonfiction book about the robbery and investigation.

11. Art and Authenticity (is, are) an article you might enjoy if you are interested in the subject of art
forgery.

12. The Art of the Faker also (provides, provide) a wealth of information on this topic.

13. News of forgeries occasionally (makes, make) headlines.

14. The majority of art forgers (fakes, fake) works of art.

15. These days, 10 million dollars (is, are) not an unheard of price for a painting by a famous artist.

16. Of course, the majority of art forgeries (duplicates, duplicate) the most valuable works.

17. To fight forgery and theft, the staff of a modern museum (spends, spend) a great deal of time,
energy, and money on security).

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18. Sometimes, two-thirds of a budget (goes, go) toward such security-related expenditures as
insurance and the salaries of security personnel.

19. Famous Forgeries and Famous Fakes (is, are) the title of a lecture series that the university art
museum is currently sponsoring.

20. The audience (seems, seem) fascinated by stories of notorious forgeries.

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