Transcript Grammar Skills Review

Grammar Error #1
Agreement
The most tested grammatical rule on
the ACT is subject/verb and pronoun
antecedent agreement.
Sample Agreement Item
If a student won’t study they won’t
do well.
The owner of the bicycles are going
to sell them.
Sample Agreement Item
If a student won’t study, he or she
won’t do well.
If students won’t study, they won’t do
well.
The owner of the bicycles is going to
sell them.
Grammar Error #2
Agreement Errors with Compound
Subjects and Objects
Sample Agreement Item
The fool gave the wrong tickets to
Bob and I.
The fool gave the wrong tickets to
Bob and me.
Grammar Error #3
Punctuating Parenthetical
Phrases
Sample Parenthetical Phrase
Liz—the last girl on the right, is
always late.
Liz, the last girl on the right, is
always late.
Grammar Error #4
Fragments and Run-ons
Sample Run-On Sentence
Ed’s a slacker, Sara isn’t.
Ed’s a slacker, but Sara isn’t.
Ed’s a slacker; Sara isn’t.
Ed’s a slacker. Sara isn’t.
Ed, unlike Sara, is a slacker.
Sample Fragment Item
Emily listened to music. While she
studied.
Emily listened to music while she
studied.
Grammar Error #5
Punctuation Marks
Punctuation Marks
Semicolon – used to separate two
complete thoughts. (think period)
Colon – follows a complete thought
and often begins a listing.
Dash – can be used for any pause.
(think comma)
Grammar Error #6
Recognizing the need for
adverb or adjective
Adjective or Adverb?
Anna is an extreme gifted child,
and she speaks beautiful too.
Anna is an extremely gifted
child, and she speaks beautifully
too.
Grammar Error #7
Good or Well
Sample Usage
Joe did good on the ACT.
Joe did well on the ACT.
Grammar Error #8
Idioms
Double check to make sure idioms
utilize the correct preposition. Many
words require particular prepositions.
Idiom Example
An idiom is an established phrase that
has a unique or special meaning that
can be looked down in the dictionary.
Grammar Error #10
Who or Whom
Who functions as a subject.
Whom functions as an object.
Who or Whom Example
Who washed the car?
She gave the present to whom?
Grammar Error #11
Apostrophe Use
When you make a noun possessive
by adding an “s,” you use an
apostrophe.
You never use an apostrophe to make
a pronoun possessive. Pronouns
have special possessive forms.
Apostrophe Example
The company claims its illegal to use
it’s name that way.
The company claims it’s illegal to use
its name that way.
Grammar Error #12
Comparative and Superlatives
Comparing two things – use –er or
more.
Comparing more than two things –
use –est or most.
Comparative/Superlative Example
My goldfish is more smarter than
your brother.
*Never use both more or most and an
ending.
I think vanilla is the most tastiest
pudding ever!
Grammar Error #13
Between or Among
Between – Two things
Among – More than two things
Usage Example
I will walk among the two sections of
the class. I will walk between the
many students.
I will walk between the two sections
of the class. I will walk among the
many students.
Grammar Error #14
Less or Fewer
Use the word less only for
uncountable things.
When things can be counted, use
fewer.
Usage Example
I have less people here tonight than
last week.
I have fewer people here tonight than
last week.
Grammar Error #15
Verb Forms
Fritz had just began to toast Lydia’s
marshmallows when the rabbits
stampeded.
Grammar Error #16
Misplaced Modifiers
Snarling and snapping, Juanita
attempted to control her pet turtle.
Grammar Error #17
Shifts in Pronoun Person or
Number
Hamsters should work at the most
efficient pace that one can.
Grammar Error #18
Pronoun Forms and Cases
Sam and Susie annoyed there parents
all the time.
After the incident with the peanut
butter, John and me were never
invited back.