Common Sentence Errors: Exercises

Sentence Fragments

The sentences below appeared in papers written by students. Act as their editor, marking a C if the sentences in the
group are all complete and an F if any of the sentences in the group is a fragment. Could you tell these writers why the
fragments are incomplete sentences?

____ 1. Then I attended Morris Junior High. A junior high that was a bad experience.

____ 2. The scene was filled with beauty. Such as the sun sending its brilliant rays to the earth and the leaves of various
shades of red, yellow, and brown moving slowly in the wind.

____ 3. He talked for fifty minutes without taking his eyes off his notes. Like other teachers in that department, he did not
encourage students' questions.

____ 4. Within each group, a wide range of features to choose from. It was difficult to distinguish between them.

____ 5. A few of the less serious fellows would go into a bar for a steak dinner and a few glasses of beer. After this meal,
they were ready for anything.

____ 6. It can be really embarrassing to be so emotional. Especially when you are on your first date, you feel that you
should be in control.

____ 7. The magazine has a reputation for a sophisticated, prestigious, and elite group of readers. Although that is a
value judgment and in circumstances not a true premise.

Modifiers

1. Select the correctly written sentence in this group.

a. Spending way too much money on his old car, Fred's salary just wasn't enough.
b. Spending way too much money on his old car, Fred soon found he'd used up his salary.

2. Select the correctly written sentence in this group.

a. To become a respected politician, one must administer campaign funds carefully.

3. Select the correctly written sentence in this group.

a. I like to listen to rock music doing my homework.

4. Select the correctly written sentence in this group.

a. The soccer team only won four games in the last three years.
b. The soccer team won only four games in the last three years.

5. Select the correctly written sentence in this group.

a. Without a plan for the weekend, we decided to take in a Saturday matinee.

6. Select the correctly written sentence in this group.

a. The children were delighted by the monkeys swinging wildly through the trees.
b. Swinging wildly through the trees, the children were delighted by the monkeys.
Run-on Sentences

Each of the following is a run-on sentences. From the group of three sentences that follows, select the group of words that
corrects the run-on.

1. Our solar system has nine major planets only one is known to have intelligent life.

a. Our solar system has nine major planets, only one is known to have intelligent life.
b. Our solar system has nine major planets only one, is known to have intelligent life.
c. Our solar system has nine major planets; only one is known to have intelligent life.

2. Most asteroids are small and far away therefore they are dim and hard to see.

a. Most asteroids are small and far away, therefore they are dim and hard to see.
b. Most asteroids are small and far away therefore, they are dim and hard to see.
c. Most asteroids are small and far away; therefore, they are dim and hard to see.

3. Look through Angelo's telescope you can see Saturn's rings.

a. If you look through Angelo's telescope, you can see Saturn's rings.
b. Look through Angelo's telescope, you can see Saturn's rings.
c. You can see Saturn's rings, look through Angelo's telescope.

4. Please check the position of that star cluster I can't find it.

a. Please check the position of that star cluster; I can't find it.
b. Please check the position of that star cluster, I can't find it.
c. Please check the position, of that star cluster, I can't find it.

5. Marie is never interested in stargazing during the winter however on warm summer nights she often goes to the
college observatory.

a. Marie is never interested in stargazing during the winter, however, on warm summer nights she often goes to the
college observatory.
b. Marie is never interested in stargazing during the winter. However, on warm summer nights she often goes to the
college observatory.
c. Marie is never interested in stargazing, during the winter however, on warm summer nights she often goes to the
college observatory.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Context Exercises

Subject-verb separation: When the subject and verb of a sentence are separated by a group of
words that may include one or more nouns, be sure that the verb agrees in number with the
subject of the sentence, not with one of these nouns in the intervening group of words.

a. The school board, as well as the local citizens, _____ (was, were) pleased with the plans for the new high
school.
b. The intelligence of many sea animals ______ (is, are) indeed amazing.

Singular subjects joined by and: When two or more singular subjects are joined by the
coordinating conjunction and, a plural verb should be used. An exception to this occurs when the
parts of a compound subject refer to one thing or person or when each or every preceded the
compound subject.

a. Freedom and justice _______ (was, were) two cornerstones of the democracy from the beginning.
b. Every man, woman, and child _______ (was, were) taken from the village.

Singular subjects joined by or and nor: When singular subjects are joined by or or by
either…or or neither…nor, a singular verb should be used. However, if one of the subjects is
singular and the other is plural, the plural one should be placed in the second position (closer to
the verb) and the verb made plural.

a. Either a certified check on deposit or a valid major credit card _______ (is, are) required for one to bid on the
merchandise.
b. Neither the instructor nor the students _______ (want, wants) to do another watercolor.

Indefinite pronouns (I): Indefinite pronouns that end with -body, -one, or -thing (e.g.,
somebody, someone, something) always take a singular verb. In like manner, the indefinite
pronouns another, each, either, neither, and one (used alone) take a singular verb. However, the
indefinite pronouns both, few, many, others, and several always take a plural verb.

a. Alas, another of these detergents _______ (has, have) proved to be harmful to the delicate skin of the
househusband.
b. Several in the audience _______ (was, were) beside themselves with anger at what the speaker had said.

Indefinite pronouns (II): The indefinite pronouns all, any, more, most, and some and other
words that indicate a quantity, part, percentage, or fraction of something (e.g., half, two-thirds,
three-quarters) may take either a singular verb or a plural verb, depending upon the number of
the word they precede and refer to, which is the object of the prepositional phrase that follows
the pronoun.

a. Some of Herman's time _______ (was, were) taken up settling disputes among the workers.
b. Forty percent of the trees _______ (was, were) scheduled for harvest.

Indefinite pronouns (III): The indefinite pronoun none poses peculiar problems. It always takes
a singular verb when the object of the prepositional phrase following it is singular. It also takes a
singular verb when used to mean "not one," even if the object of the following prepositional
phrase is plural. However, none may take a plural verb when it is used to mean "not any" and the
object of the following prepositional phrase is plural. Thus, when you use none in such
constructions you must be sure of your meaning.

a. None of the players _______ (was, were) able to pass the physical fitness test.
b. The dean was displeased to learn that none of the foreign students _______ (is, are) majoring in education or
sociology.

Collective nouns: Sometimes called group nouns, collective nouns are singular in form but
denote a group of some sort. Examples include committee, class, crew, family, staff, troop, jury,
team, squad, and union. A collective noun takes a singular verb when the group is regarded as a
unit functioning as one. However, a collective noun takes a plural verb when individual members
of the group are regarded as functioning separately.

a. The family ______ (has, have) been arriving two or three at a time since last weekend.
b. For the third time this year, the committee ______ (is, are) going to consider increasing the dues.

Inverted sentences: Sometimes sentences are structured in such a way (inverted) that the verb
precedes the subject. Such sentences may begin with a modifying phrase or such words as here,
there, how, what, and where. When you write such sentences, take care to match the verb with
the subject that follows.

a. Here ______ (comes, come) the coaches and the players for both teams.
b. Beside the old gymnasium ______ (stands, stand) an elm, several maples, and a huge Indian.

Relative pronouns: When the relative pronouns who, which, or that are used as subjects of
dependent adjective clauses, the verb of the adjective clause must agree in number with the
antecedent of the pronoun. If the antecedent is singular, the verb of the adjective clause must be
singular; if the antecedent is plural, the verb of the adjective clause must be plural.

a. Each fraternity has its own elected officers, who ______ (conducts, conduct) the business of the organization.
b. This reference book concludes with pages that _____ (contains, contain) lists of American colleges and
universities.
Subjects with predicate nouns: When the subject and a predicate noun in the sentence differ in
number, the verb--always a linking verb--should agree with the subject, not with the predicate
noun.

a. To Clinton's way of thinking, fancy dinners _____ (is, are) not a luxury.
b. My favorite brunch _______ (is, are) sausage, eggs, chips, and a green salad.

Verbal nouns and noun clauses: Verbal nouns--i.e., gerunds and gerund phrases, infinitives
and infinitive phrases--and noun clauses used as subjects always take a singular verb.

a. Swimming across the English Channel _____ (is, are) still a major accomplishment.
b. Whether we were great leaders or ordinary citizens really ______ (makes, make) little difference later on.

Titles of works, names of businesses, and words and words: The title of a literary work, even
if plural in form, always takes a singular verb. Similarly, the name of a business enterprise and
words referred to as words take a singular verb.

a. Frames Unlimited _____ (does, do) most of the work for the gallery.
b. Concerti _____ (is, are) the plural form of concerto.

Plural forms with singular meanings: Some nouns are plural in form but singular in meaning,
and thus take a singular verb. Examples include aerobics, economics, headquarters, hives,
mathematics, means, measles, mumps, news, physics, stamina, summons, and whereabouts.

a. Economics _____ (has, have) never been exactly my cup of tea.

Noun phrases: Subjects composed of noun phrases that indicate such things as a measured
distance, a period of time, a specific quantity, or a sum of money, when considered as a single
unit, take singular verbs.

a. Fifty miles _____ (is, are) a long way to walk, much less run.
b. Precisely thirty years _____ (was, were) his tenure of office.

Parallelism

Each of the following sentences starts well but then goes off the track. Rewrite the odd part to make it parallel
with the rest of the sentence. Change or add things as necessary.

1. We were dirty, hungry, and penniless.

2. My roommate liked to repair things around the house and his own cooking.

3. During the day, we went on long hikes, rowed around the lake, or just leisure time.

4. She returned to pay the rent and because she had left some of her things.

5. Two things that I found hard to learn as a freshman were to get enough sleep and trimming expenses.

6. He asked me about my courses and where I was planning to be next year.

7. The doctor said that I should rest and not to get excited or upset.