Singular nouns that end in s—Some words like
Each of the boys wore his favorite costume.
measles, mumps, news, checkers or marbles (games),
physics,
economics, sports, and politics are singular despite their
plural form, because we think of them as a single thing.
Some are singular or plural depending on how they are
used in a sentence.
The news begins at 6 p.m.
Aerobics is a great way to get in shape and reduce
stress.
PRONOUNS
Both, few, many, and several are plural pronouns
and
agree with plural verbs.
Both of her ex-boyfriends are attending the
wedding.
■ All, any most, none, and some can be singular
or plural
pronouns, depending on their use.
All of the ice cream is gone.
All of the ice cream sundaes are gone. Both, few,
many, and several are plural pronouns and
agree with plural verbs.
Both of her ex-boyfriends are attending the
wedding.
■ All, any most, none, and some can be singular
or plural
pronouns, depending on their use.
All of the ice cream is gone.
All of the ice cream sundaes are gone.
If two nouns or pronouns are joined by and, they
need a
plural verb.
Oscar and Lorraine drive to work on most days.
■ If two singular nouns or pronouns are joined by
or or
nor, they need a singular verb.
On most days, Oscar or Lorraine drives to work.
■ Indefinite pronouns (pronouns that don’t refer to
a assistance),” or “increase.”
specific person) like each, either, neither, anybody,
anyone,
everybody, everyone, no one, nobody, one,
somebody, and
someone always require singular pronouns.
Neither of the tenants could find her copy of the
lease.
■ If two singular nouns or pronouns are joined by
and, use
a plural pronoun.
When Grandma and Grandpa visit, they always
bring
presents.
■ If two singular nouns or pronouns are joined by
or, use a
singular pronoun.
Remember to give Sophie or Jane her application.
■ If a singular and a plural noun or pronoun are
joined by
or, the pronoun agrees with the closest noun or
pronoun
it represents.
The coach or players will explain
Despite/In Spite of
The word despite and the expression in spite of mean the
same thing, but the former
cannot be used with of and the latter must appear with all
three words.
Despite his lack of training, he is very knowledgeable.
In spite of his lack of training, he is very knowledgeable.
The words although, even though and though mean the
same as despite and in
spite of, but they are used differently because they
cannot be followed by a noun
or noun phrase alone. Each must be followed by a
clause.
Although he lacks training, he is very knowledgeable.
clause
Rise/Raise
Rise and raise have similar meanings but are frequently
confused with each other.
Rise is an intransitive verb (meaning it cannot have a
complement), and raise is a
transitive verb (meaning it requires a complement).
Rise means “get up,” “move upwards (without outside
The tenses of this verb are rise, rose, risen, and rising.
The tide rises at the inlet several hours before it rises
further inland.
As the ambassador entered the room, the delegates rose.
When interest rates rise, stock values frequently fall. anxious about except for on
Raise means “lift” or “elevate” an object or “increase”
top of
something. The tenses of
this verb are raise, raised, raised, and raising.
You must raise your grades if you hope to be awarded apologize to (someone) fond of
the scholarship. opposite of
complement apologize for (something) from now on
This company has entered into a contract to attempt to prior to
raise the remains of approve of from time to
complement time proud of
the sunken ship. ashamed of frown on/upon
Lie/Lay regard to
Much like rise and raise, lie and lay are often confused. aware of full of related to
The first source of confusion is that there are two blame (someone) for glance
completely different verbs at/through rely on/upon
spelled lie in the English language. One verb means to
say something that is not blame (something) grateful to (someone) respect
true. That is not the verb I refer to in this section. for
The verb lie that is often confused with lay means to on grateful for (something) responsible for
“rest,” “repose,” or “be situated bored with in accordance with satisfied with
in a place.” It is often followed by the preposition down. capable of incapable of similar to
Lie does not take a compete with in conflict sorry for
complement (because it is intransitive). The tenses of complain about inferior to suspicious of
this verb are lie, lay, lain, composed of insist on/upon take care of
136 and lying. concentrate on in the habit of thank
Part III: Detailed Review of Items Tested (someconcerned
The old dog is lying in the sun. with in the near future one) for
The nurse asked the patient to lie on the table. congratulate on interested in tired of
Lay means to “place somebody or something on a conscious of knowledge of with regard to
surface.” This verb must have a consist of
complement (because it is transitive). The tenses of this
verb are lay, laid, laid, WOULD TATHER= PREFER
and laying.
She laid the baby in the crib.
Would Rather
The man had laid the documents on the table before he
Would rather is a commonly used idiom that means
sat down.
prefer.
Sit/Set
Bill would rather fly directly to Indianapolis instead of
Sit and set are easily confused as well.
stopping in Atlanta.
Sit means to “take a seat.” Like lie, it is also often used
This means that Bill prefers flying directly to
with the preposition down.
Indianapolis instead of stopping in
It is intransitive, so it does not take a complement. The
Atlanta.
tenses of this verb are sit,
Henry would rather have gone to New York than to St.
sat, sat, and sitting.
Louis.
After swimming, Bob sat on the beach to dry off.
This means that Henry went to St. Louis, but he wanted
They have sat in the same position for two hours.
to go to New York.
Set means to “put somebody or something on a surface
James would rather not eat at that restaurant.
or in a place.” Set is often
This sentence means that James prefers not to eat at that
interchangeable with lay or put except in certain
restaurant.
idiomatic expressions like set the
The phrase would rather that sets up a conjunctive idea
table. It is transitive, so it must take an object.
when followed by either
The man set the computer on the table.
the simple form of a verb or the past tense. A
Melinda is setting the forms in the trays.
conjunctive is a sentence in which
one person wishes or requires another to do something,
according to depend on/upon next to and the sentence structure
afraid of equal to of the opinion “. . . that . . .verb in simple form” is used. This concept is
covered more fully in
the Structure section. Would rather that is followed by
the simple form when it
has a subjunctive meaning.
She would rather that you call her tomorrow.
This means that she wants you to call tomorrow instead
of some other time.
We would rather that he take this class.
This sentence means that we want him to take this class.
55
Listening
Would rather that is followed by the past tense when the
meaning of the sentence
is contrary to fact, such as with unreal conditions and the
verb wish.
Rafael would rather that his paper were complete.
This means that Rafael wishes his paper were complete,
but it’s not complete.
When the verb that follows would rather that is in the
past tense instead of in simple
form, you know that the sentence is discussing a
situation that did not occur,
or a “past contrary to fact” concept.
Michelle would rather that Sheila had come to work
yesterday.
This means that Michelle is unhappy because Sheila
didn’t come to work yesterday.
Phrasal Verbs
Man: Why is the president so angry?
Woman: The chairmen of the two companies broke off
discussions regarding
the proposed merger. The answer is C. The phrasal verb
break off means to “discontinue.”
Man: Brenda has decided to, but Stephen is still looking
into his options. The phrasal verb looking into does not
mean that Stephen is
physically looking at something. The phrase indicates
that Stephen is considering
his choices.
Why not try outlining what you have now? Start
planning the writing before finishing the research
Bring up means “initiate.”
The attorneys for the developer are likely to bring up
some new defenses.
_ Call on means “ask,” and it can also mean “visit.”
The constitutional law professor enjoyed calling on
students in class.
The banker is required to call on several customers every
week.
_ Care for means “like,” and it can also mean “take care
of.”
The boy does not care for beets.
She earned extra money last year caring for several
young children.
_ Check out means “to remove or borrow temporarily,”
and it can also mean
“investigate.”
Please check out the file from central records.
The detective is still trying to check out all possible
leads.
_ Come down with means “become ill with.”
If you don’t take a flu shot, you’re likely to come down
with the flu.
_ Count on means “depend on” or “rely on.”
You should not count on receiving the scholarship.
_ Do away with means “eliminate.”
Because of the increasing cost of gasoline, some
companies have done
away with reimbursement of travel expenses.
57
Listening
_ Figure out means “interpret or understand.”
We are trying to figure out the annual budget.
_ Find out means “discover.”
The scientists are trying to find out why the Mars
explorer was lost.
_ Pass out (or hand out) means “distribute,” and it can
also mean to faint or
lose consciousness.
The attorney passed out documents.
The attorney passed out and fell to the floor.
_ Pick out means “select” or “choose.”
Please pick out a book to read.
_ Point out means “indicate.”
The victim pointed out the culprit.
_ Put off means “postpone.”
Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
_ Take over means “substitute.”
The co-pilot had to take over when the pilot suffered
chest pains.
_ Talk over means “discuss.”
The men talked over their dinner plans.
_ Try out means “test.”
A company must try out a new product before
introducing it.
_ Turn in means “submit.”
Please turn in your application.
 2. If it is hot tomorrow, let’s go to the beach.
3. The 20-foot-tall, long-necked giraffe is the tallest
living
animal on Earth.
4. The log-cabin quilt was probably designed as a
way to give
a second life to unwieldy but warm fabrics salvaged
from
suits and coats.

Circle the correct verb in each sentence.

5. The chief executive officer and the chairman of

the
board agrees/agree about the new benefit package.
6. All of the children sleeps/sleep at naptime.
7. One of the first modern detectives in literature
was/were
created by Edgar Allan Poe.

Circle the correct pronoun in each sentence.

8. No one in her/their right mind would follow your

advice.
9. Arnold or Jacques will bring his/their recorder so
Underline the independent clauses in the following he/they
sentences. can tape the interview.
10. Bring your/you’re fishing pole along if
your/you’re
1. I went for a walk downtown and mailed your coming.
letter.
11. Interstate 235, who/which/that runs through town, is
being repaired this summer.
12. Its/It’s your/you’re turn to do the dishes.

Choose the correct word in parentheses in each of the following

sentences.

13. The music sounded (strange, strangely).

14. My cowboy boots feel less (comfortable, comfortably)
than my pumps.
15. Ask (polite, politely) if you would like a second serving.
16. Phoebe makes (fewer, less) money than her sister does.
17. He runs so (good, well) that he often wins local road races.

Circle the correct modifier in each sentence.

18. The judge looked skeptical/skeptically at the attorney.

19. Pasta does not taste as good/well if it is overcooked.
20. Pleasant Lake is the best/better trout lake around.
13. The music sounded (strange, strangely).
14. My cowboy boots feel less (comfortable, comfortably)
than my pumps.
15. Ask (polite, politely) if you would like a second serving.
16. Phoebe makes (fewer, less) money than her sister does.
17. He runs so (good, well) that he often wins local road races.

Circle the correct verb in each sentence. SUBJUNTIVE

21. Statistics was/were my most difficult course in high school.

22. The clerk rings/ring up the sales while the customers
waits/wait in line.
23. Has/Have either of the tenants paid the rent?
24. If I was/were on the school board, I’d abolish the dress
code.
25. I stayed at a bed and breakfast inn in Vermont. The
building is/was Victorian.

1. Louise read the book very thorough, but she performed poorly on the test.

2. If your interested in pleasing customers, don’t make them wait for service.

3. In 1868, newspapers were filled with the accounts of men

________ claimed to have become rich overnight in California’s
gold fields. a. whom b. that c. which d. who
4. Each of the managers want to renew her contract before the new fiscal year.

5. The city doesn’t need no more taxes; everyone pays too much already.

6. The distinct geology of Cape Cod began ________ about 20,000 years ago.
a. formed b. form c. to form d. was forming

7. In contrast to its soft body and muscular feet, some mollusks have hard shells.

8. Surprisingly, my younger sister dresses more conservative than I do.

9. Jackson Pollock, the twentieth-century American painter,

was concerned ________ the connection between the unconscious and artistic creativity.
a. with b. in c. of d. for
10. After they vandalized the school, the teenagers ________ the scene.
a. flew b. flied c. fleed d. fled

11. In 1963, Betty Friedan’s expose of domesticity,

The Fem-inine Mystique, became an immediate 12. Homesteaders on the Great Plains brang few
bestseller and creating a national sensation. possessions to their new home.
13. Since his release from jail in 1990, Nelson
Mandela has emerged as the ________
spokesman for South Africa’s anti-apartheid
movement.
a. more prominent b. more prominently
c. most prominent d. most
prominently

scholarly. Adj not adverb

James is not only artistic but also scholarly.

B: raising. The word raise is transitive, so it requires a

complement. This context means it rises on its own; it
does not raise something. So the correct word would be
rising. Notice that lie is correct because it is properly
used as an intransitive verb. Pg 145 structure