Term
Mina and her sister are both petite, but Mina is the smallest. |
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Definition
Comparative/Superlative
Mina and her sister are both petite, but Mina is the smaller. |
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Term
| Neil has been informed by me that I will take away his television privileges if his behavior does not improve. |
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Definition
Passive vs. Active
Neil has been informed that I will take away his television privileges if his behavior does not improve. |
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Term
| At the moment when Thom called my cell phone, I am just trying to hail a cab to get downtown. |
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Definition
Verb Tense
At the moment when Thom called my cell phone, I was just trying to hail a cab to get downtown. |
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Term
| Practice didn't actually stat until after eight o'clock, Coach Gilson was running quite late. |
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Definition
Run-on
Practice didn't actually stat until after eight o'clock because Coach Gilson was running quite late |
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Term
| Because of the fact that I was sick, I decided to skip teh book club meeting this month even though I had enjoyed the book. |
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Definition
BS
Because I was sick, I decided to skip teh book club meeting this month even though I had enjoyed the book. |
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Term
| Even though Pat knew he had done nothing wrong, he felt that he should of tried harder. |
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Definition
Verb Tense
Even though Pat knew he had done nothing wrong, he felt that he should have tried harder. |
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Term
| After I take Baxter for a walk, I stopped at the neighbors' to pick up their mail, since they were out of town. |
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Definition
Verb Tense
After I took Baxter for a walk, I stopped at the neighbors' to pick up their mail, since they were out of town. |
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Term
| Charlotte started walking before she was a year old her parents could hardly keep up with her. |
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Definition
Run-on
Charlotte started walking before she was a year old (;, and) her parents could hardly keep up with her. |
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Term
| Both tuition costs as well as the dropout rate have skyrocketed duing the dean's tenure. |
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Definition
BS
Both tuition costs and the dropout rate have skyrocketed duing the dean's tenure. |
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Term
| The contract gave Lisa a choice between receiving a lump payment at the conclusion of the project and to be paid biweekly from the payroll. |
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Definition
Parallelism
The contract gave Lisa a choice between receiving a lump payment at the conclusion of the project and being paid biweekly from the payroll. |
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Term
| I will send the cover letter this afternoon, but I'm not sure to who I should address it. |
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Definition
Pronoun
I will send the cover letter this afternoon, but I'm not sure to whom I should address it. |
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Term
| Trapped in the house by the snow, unable to shovel a path to the garage. |
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Definition
Fragment
Who was trapped? Where is the subject? |
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Term
| Besides making contributions to the children's toy drive, Jane is also volunteering at the soup kitchen as well. |
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Definition
BS
Besides making contributions to the children's toy drive, Jane is volunteers at the soup kitchen. |
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Term
| In contrast to the difficult novels of James Joyce, Jane Austen is often found by first-year studetns to be very engaging. |
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Definition
Comparisons +Active vs. Passive
In contrast to the difficult novels of James Joyce, first-year students find Jane Austen's books to be very engaging. |
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Term
| I had a hard time during my first smester here, but I am doing good this term. |
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Definition
Adjective/Adverb
I had a hard time during my first semester here, but I am doing well this term.
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Term
| The survey, which showed a high satisfaction rating, was sent to all customers separate from their bills. |
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Definition
Adjectives vs. Adverbs
The survey, which showed a high satisfaction rating, was sent to all customers separately from their bills. |
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Term
| After the home team played the visiting hteam, their coach encouraged them to shake hands. |
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Definition
Vague
After the game, the home team's coach encouraged them to shake hands with the visiting team. |
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Term
| The Reilly sisters were committed to literacy, so each of them gave annual donations to our summer reading program. |
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Definition
Single vs. Plural Agreement
The Reilly sisters were committed to literacy, so each of them gave an annual donation to our summer reading program. |
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Term
Several of them were damaged, but this is the only one of the puppet show's marionettes that have been sent away for repairs.
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Definition
Subject-Verb (Singular/Plural) Agreement
Several of them were damaged, but this is the only one of the puppet show's marionettes that has been sent away for repairs.
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Term
| The board of directors is happy to announce that the vacation policy has been reinstated by it due to popular demand. |
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Definition
Passive vs. Active
The board of directors is happy to announce that the vacation policy has been reinstated due to popular demand. |
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Term
| When we had climbed this weekend, I reached a higher point than Laure, although she is an experienced rock climber. |
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Definition
Verb Tenses
When we climbed this weekend, I reached a higher point than Laure, although she is an experienced rock climber. |
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Term
| I believe that of all the teams that are here, our team is the team that is best prepared for the competition. |
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Definition
BS
I believe that of all the teams that are here, ours is the best prepared for the competition. |
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Term
| Of the three permanent jobs I have had in this field, I am happier in this one because of the flexibility it offers. |
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Definition
Comparative/Superlative
Of the three permanent jobs I have had in this field, I am happiest in this one because of the flexibility it offers. |
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Term
| All of the children in the toddler room at Lousia's day care have their own personal mat for nap time. |
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Definition
Agreement
All of the children in the toddler room at Lousia's day care have their own personal mats for nap time. |
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Term
| Sunshine House providing secure housing for senior citizens, while allowing them to maintain their independence. |
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Definition
Fragment
Sunshine House provides secure housing for senior citizens to allow them them to maintain their independence. |
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Term
| None of us has been to New York before, so you will need to pay extra attention as we move around the city. |
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Definition
You vs. One (Pronoun Agreement)
None of us has been to New York before, so we will need to pay extra attention as we move around the city. |
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Term
| After the program begins, some of the dancers will wait backstage, while others are following Mme. Lvelle to the costume area. |
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Definition
Parallelism
After the program begins, some of the dancers will wait backstage, while others will follow Mme. Lvelle to the costume area. |
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Term
| Four days before I have arrieved in Paris, I will take the train to Madrid. |
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Definition
Verb tenses
Four days before I arrive in Paris, I will take the train to Madrid. |
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Term
| Each of us faces our own challenges when it comes to working as a team. |
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Definition
Prounoun Agreement
Each of us faces his or her own challenges when it comes to working as a team. |
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Term
| The weather was so beautiful that the firls stayed and swum in the lake all afternoon. |
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Definition
Irregular Verb
The weather was so beautiful that the firls stayed and swam in the lake all afternoon. |
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Term
| Chris finally repaired the doorknob, which had broke several months earlier. |
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Definition
Irregular Verb
Chris finally repaired the doorknob, which had broken several months earlier. |
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Term
| She was always an overachiever, in high school and college she joined every club she could. |
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Definition
Run-on
She was always an overachiever(;or conjunction) in high school and college she joined every club she could. |
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Term
| I am entirely fluent in Cherokee, so I gave the book to a native speaker who could translate it more faithful. |
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Definition
Adjective vs. Adverb
I am entirely fluent in Cherokee, so I gave the book to a native speaker who could translate it more faithfully. |
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Term
| It has been shown to be a proven fact that a child whose parents read to her is more likely to succeed in school. |
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Definition
BS
It has been shown that a child whose parents read to her is more likely to succeed in school. |
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Term
| Because he was so busy, Anthony agreed with William that they wouldn't be able to meet after all. |
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Definition
Vague
It's not clear whether Anthony or William is the one who was busy.
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Term
| As soon as it has been editeed by me, I will send a copy of the manuscript to the author. |
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Definition
Unnecessary Passive
As soon as it has been editeed, I will send a copy of the manuscript to the author. |
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Term
| As soon as we decided to collaborate on the chapter, the publisher will request more information about its focus. |
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Definition
Verb tenses
As soon as we decided to collaborate on the chapter, the publisher requested more information about its focus.
or
As soon as we decide to collaborate, the publisher will... |
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Term
| My house, as well as the other structures on my property, are insured against earthquake damage. |
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Definition
Subject-Verb Agreement
My house, as well as the other structures on my property, is insured against earthquake damage. |
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Term
| My favorite parts of our summer at the beach were swimming as the sun came up and to bring a picnic lunch on an afternoon hike. |
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Definition
Parallelism
My favorite parts of our summer at the beach were swimming as the sun came up and bringing a picnic lunch on an afternoon hike. |
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Term
What is the difference a comparative and a superlative?
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Definition
Just remember that comparatives
=
a question of degree
My brother eats more than I do.
superlatives
=
the highest/best or lowest/worst of a category
My brother is the person who eats the most in my family.
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Term
| When do I use I and when do I use me? |
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Definition
Use I when it is the subject of the sentence.
John and I love going to the movies.
Use me when it is the object of the sentence.
He gave me the movie.
The same holds true for
s/he and her/his
we and us
they and their
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Term
| What is the most common error of subject verb agreement? |
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Definition
Remember that in English the he/she/it pronouns take s...
so
I eat
you eat
he/she/it eats
we eat
you eat
they eat
You will often tested on your knowledge of each +it/his/her
Each person has his/her own hobbies (not Each person has their own hobbies). |
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Term
| What is the difference between the active and the passive? |
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Definition
The homework was done by him.
vs.
He did the homework (doesn't this one sound better?) |
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Term
| How can a sentence be ambiguous? |
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Definition
Think about this sentence:
Marisa and Annie were doing the dishes when she broke a glass.
Aren't you wondering who broke the glass?
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Term
| How can I identify a Big Sentence (BS)? |
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Definition
You want the sentence to get to the point more quickly. These sentences often have words that repeat/that mean the same thing or use the passive.
example:
Besides bringing Mike to school, I picked up some candy for him in addition.
Doesn't this sound better:
Besides bringing Mike to school, I picked up some candy for him.
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Term
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Definition
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs
so
He ran quickly (and not He ran quick)
He was really nice (and not He was real nice) |
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Term
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Definition
These are sentences that have a
subject +verb
+
subject +verb
and don't have a ;, a period, or a conjunction (a joining word such as and, but, or) |
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Term
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Definition
| Every sentence needs a subject and a verb. If there is no thing or person performing the action, then you've got a fragment. |
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Term
What are some pairs of conjunctions?
An example: Either....or |
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Definition
both...and
not only...but
not...but
neither...nor
whether...or
as....as |
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Term
| Which are the most common errors that you'll find in Writing Section of the SAT? |
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Definition
Run-ons
Fragments
Comparisons vs. Superlatives
Pronoun Agreement
Subject-Verb Agreement
Sequence of Verb Tenses
Parallelism
Passive vs. Active verbs
Big Sentences (BS)
Adjectives vs. Adverbs
Sentences where the subject/object is vague/ambiguous
Me vs. I
Him,her vs. s/he
we vs us
they vs. them |
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Term
| While driving down the road, the house with the large yard and small pond attracted the family's attention. |
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Definition
Dangling Modifier
While driving down the road, the family was attracted to the house with the large yard and small pond. |
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Term
| What is a Dangling Modifier? |
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Definition
| Do you remember the example, "Sitting close to the field, a foul ball hit Bob" from your A list book. Bob must come after the comma, since the first part of the sentence describes him. |
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