Ten Sentence Errors

1. Ten Sentence Errors

2. Exit quiz  1.__ Many home owners in the northern states use a window sealant, for it will prevent heat loss in the winter. • A. for it will prevent • B. in which it will prevent • C. that will prevent • D. for the prevention of • E. being able to prevent 2.__ Yoni would have been able to avoid the extreme cold air of the Montana winter morning if he had awoken • A B C • later. No error. • D E 3.__The internet is becoming an indispensable part of everyday life, but there is not much use in the developing world. • A. life, but there is not much use in the developing world • B. life, but in the developing world there is not much use • C. life but it is not used much in the developing world • D. life, but use in the developing world is not much • E. life, but using it is not done much in the developing world 4.__ Similar to William Shakespeare were the works of Christopher Marlowe, which included plays, poetry, and translations of ancient works into English. • A. Similar to William Shakespeare were the works of Christopher Marlowe, which • B. Similar to Williams Shakespeare’s works were those of Christopher Marlow, which • C. Similar to William Shakespeare was Christopher Marlowe, who • D. Similarly to William Shakespeare’s works were those of Christopher Marlowe, which • E. Similar to William Shakespeare’s works were those of Christopher Marlowe, where they 5.__ Having plenty of training, my errors in judgment during my first day on the job were few. • A. my errors in judgment during my first day on the job were few • B. I made few errors in judgment during my first day on the job • C. there were few errors in the judgment I used during my first day on the job • D. my first day on the job, I made few errors in judgment • E. the judgment I used during my first day on the job had few errors

3. 1. Parallelism (368) Items thrown in conjunction must be parallel: word, phrase, clause 1. At the gate theytried both persuasion and to force their way in. A B C D No error. E 2. According to my teacher, my composition revealed exceptional A B C creative ability but that I make too many spelling errors. No error. D E

4. Parallel Words, Phrases, Clauses Words: My favorite activities are swimming, skating, and dancing Phrases: Books enable me to see the world and to imagine better worlds. Clauses: My friends attend school, because they like to make new friends, because they want to play new sports, or because they love to learn new things.

5. Typical Errors in Faulty Parallelism Correlative Conjunctions: neither…nor; either…or; not only…but also The doors in the cottage were not only too narrow but also were too short. Corrected The doors in the cottage were not only too narrow but also too short.

6. Typical Errors in Parallelism Correlative conjunctions: Faulty parallelism: I was counseled to quit my job or ask for a higher wage. C orrected: I was counseled either to quit my job or to ask for a higher wage

7. Faulty Parallelism Correlative conjunctions: Faulty: Either you leave town by the train or by the road. Corrected: You leave town either by the train or by the road.

8. Parallelism 4. Hockey fans in the 1990s saw more violence on the rink than the 1950s and 1960s. A. than B. than did C. than the hockey of D. than with the fans in E. than did fans in

9. Faulty Parallelism 5. She spent the day visiting all the tourist shops and watched the children on the beach, and then she went back to the hotel for a late lunch. • watched the children on the beach, and then she went back to the hotel for a late lunch. • watched the children on the beach, and then returned to the hotel. • watching the children on the beach, and then she went back to the hotel for a late lunch. • watching the children on the beach, and then she had returned to the hotel for a late lunch.

10. Faulty parallelism 6. The candidate’s goals include winning the election, a national health program, and the educational system. a. a national health program, and the educational system. b. to start a national health program, and creating an educational system. c. creating a national health program and improving the educational system. d. creating a nationa health program and to improve the educational system.

11. Faulty parallelism 7. Some critics are not so much opposed to capital punishment as postponing it for so long. a. opposed to capital punishment as postponing it for so long. b. opposing capital punishment as to postpone it. c. opposed to capital punishment as postponed it for so long. d. opposed to capital punishment as they are to postponing it for so long.

12. Parallelism 5. The daily responsibilities of a law student are often as strenuous as a medical student. A. as a medical student B. as those of a medical student C. like a medical student D. such as a medical student E. like a medical student

13. 2. Modifiers—Adverbs and Adjectives (583) Confusing adjectives 6. This paper’s going pretty good, although I’m not sure I’ll be A B C done on time. No error. D E 7. No matter how careful kites are flown, they oftenget tangled A B C D in trees. No error. E

14. Modifiers: adjectives and adverbs Misuse in comparisons: comparative (better) superlative (best) 8. Of the two cars I drive, I like the Lamborghini Diablo best. A B C D No error. E 9. Although both Laura and Ted wrote on the same topic, A B Laura’s paper was longest. No error. C D E

15. 3. Idioms and Negatives (319) 10. While the principal of the high school is relatively laid back, the A B vice principal is often accused to be too harsh with the students. No error. C D E 11. It’s vital to find out whether we will keep that spirit bright or let the light dim to keep the A B C boat from rocking. No error. (mixed metaphor is idiomatic error) D E 12. When night fell they realized that it was so dark in there they couldn’t hardly see A B C anything in the valley. No error. (hardly and scarcely are negatives) D E

16. 4. Passive Voice (575) 13. After Timmy dropped his filthy socks in the hamper, the offensive garment was washed by his long-suffering father. A. the offensive garment was washed by his long-suffering father B. his long-suffering father washed the offensive garment C. the washing of the offensive garment took place by his long-suffering father D. long-suffering, the offensive garment was washed by his father E. he left the offensive garment for his long-suffering father who washed it

17. 5. Run-on sentences 14. In the New England, deer are found only in sparsely populated areas, since such is the case, very few are ever seen by urban dwellers. A. since such is the case, very few are ever seen by urban dwellers B. and very few are ever seen by urban dwellers because of that C. no more than a few are ever seen by urban dwellers as a result D. the number ever seen by urban dwellers is very few for this reason E. and so no more than a few are ever seen by urban dwellers.

18. 6. Misplaced/dangling modifier (362-65) 15. While shopping for a birthday present for Anna, that was when Julie remembered a clearance sale at the outlet mall. A. that was when Julie remembered a clearance sale at the outlet mall B. Julie remembered a clearance sale at the outlet mall C then Julie’s memory of the outlet mall’s clearance sale took place D. the outlet mall’s clearance sale was what Julie remembered E. a clearance sale at the outlet mall was remembered by Julie

19. 7. Verb Tenses (419-421) Troublesome verbs Tense shift (375) Conditional “If” clauses

20. Verbs: Troublesome verbs: lie, lay, swim, drink 16. On Saturday afternoon, I laid in the sun for an hour, working on my tan. A B C D No error. E 17. Mark asked us how long we had swam in the pool before the police got there. A B C D No error. E 18. When they opened the refrigerator in the morning for breakfast, they discovered that someone had A B C drank was left of the milk. No error D E Lie, Lay, Lain (recline); Lay, Laid, Laid (place) Swim, Swam, Swum Drink, drank, drunk

21. Tenses: Tense shift or sequencing Tenses: present, past, future, present perfect, past perfect, future perfect 19. At swimming pools last summer, the heat will have brought hundreds and even A B thousands of people to bathe in chlorine-infested waters. No error. C D E 20. Walt would have done much better on the exam if hewas present at our study A B C D sessions. No error. E 21. If Gary would have read the advertisements, he could have saved a hundred A B C dollars on that camera. No error. D E

22. Verbs: subjunctive Used in contrary to fact, or wishful thinking = were 22. If I was to see a movie with Mom and Dad, I would risk my reputation. A B C D No error. E 23. If shewas the captain of the team, we would be doing much better. No error. A B C D E

23. 8. Conciseness—wordiness (381) Targets repeated terms or ideas.

24. Conciseness 23. One way Cameron raised his math grade was because of doing the extra credit problems on his final exam. a. because of doing the extra credit problems on his b. when he did the extra credit problems on his c. through his doing of the extra credit problems on his d. by its doing of the extra credit problems on his e. by doing the extra credit problems on his

25. Conciseness 24. The teachers agreed to meet in a month’s time and they would discuss a number of issues affecting the school. A. to meet in a month’s time and they would discuss B. to meet in a month’s time to discuss C. to meeting in a month’s time, thereby discussing D. with meeting in a month’s time for discussing of E. on the meeting in a month’s time to the discussing

28. 9. Subject-Verb Agreement (510) Find the subject for every verb Neither…nor; Either…or

29. Beware of introductoryor interrupting expressions 25. Even though Esther created a petition to protest the crowning of a Prom Queen, A B there is many people who refused to sign, saying they support the 1950s-era C D tradition. No error. E

30. Subject-Verb: Beware of introductoryor interrupting expressions Sundaes with whipped cream and cherries, while good if consumed in moderation, A B is heinous if eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. No error. C D E

31. Subject-verb: Neither…nor Neither Kylie nor Jason measure up to Carrie. No error. A B C D E

32. 10. Pronouns (523) Agreement Case Me/I confusion Me/My with gerund Pronoun shift Ambiguous pronouns Comparisons using pronouns

33. Pronoun: Agreement 1. Every student at the party tried to looktheirbest . No Error. A B C D E 2. Even though some possess the flexibility to put their legs over their heads, most A people vary in his or her ability to achieve this feat. No Error. B C D E

34. Pronoun: case (subject, object, possessive) Pronoun case 1. Despite the harried pace of the office, my secretarial staff and me were able to maintain a calm demeanor thanks • A B C to our diligence and cooperation. No error. D E ME/I confusion 2. There is usually a haze of blue smoke surrounding Jesse and I in Chem lab, especially when we mix together A B C chemicals of unknown origin. No error. D E ME/MY (with gerund) 3. When it comes to me studying for the math tests, “concentration” is my middle name. No Error. A B C D E

35. Pronoun: ME/I confusion There is usually a haze of blue smoke surrounding Jesse and I in Chem lab, A B especially when we mix together chemicals of unknown origin. No error. C D E

36. Pronoun: ME/MY (with gerund) When it comes to me studying for the math tests, “concentration” is my middle A B C name. No Error. D E

37. Pronoun: Pronoun Shift When one first begins to arm wrestle, it’s important to work on one’s endurance A B and to make your biceps appear formidable. No error. C D E

38. Pronoun: Ambiguous Pronoun Reference Sarah told Emma that shehad a serious foot odor problem, and that medicated A B C spray might help. No error. D E

39. Pronoun: Comparisons I’m much stronger than her, which is good, because it means I’ll dominate this A B C D wrestling match. No error. E

40. Exit quiz 1. Universities today offer a large number of courses, and it has improved the quality of education. a. a large number of courses, and it has b. a great deal of courses, and that is c. so many courses: it is, therefore d. so many courses that they have e. so many courses, which they have been 2. The cake recipe called for sugar, and Chad used a sugar substitute a b instead since he wanted to lower the cake’s calorie count. No error. c d e

41. Exit quiz 3. The other students and her felt unpreparedwhen tested on facts a b c d not learned in class. No error. e 4. Althoughtheir research was neither original or current, the doctors a b c d received grant money from the university. No error. e 5. Reaching a weight of up to 100 tons, the great blue whale is likely the a b c largest mammal currently in existence. No error. d e