Mechanics

Each, none, neither, either, anyone, anybody, someone, everyone, everybody: are singular.

  a. Each of the boys has/have arrived.*

  b. Neither of the teams is/are any good.*

  c. None of them whines/whine about homework.*

  d. Neither of the cars gets/get good gas mileage.*

  a. If one owner:  ‘s --> one boy’s dream one girl’s microscopes*

  b. If more than one owner:  s’  -->  two boys’ dream two girls’ microscope*

  c. men’s, women’s, children’s, and people’s are always ‘s*

  a. Always say both words: it’s, you’ve, you’re,  they’ve, we’ve, he’s, they’re, who’s, etc…*

  b. Who’s v. Whose*

  i. There’s the guy, who’s/whose an achiever, not a slacker.*

  ii. There’s the guy, who’s/whose effort should lead to many scholarships.*

 iii. Who's/Whose cat left a surprise package on my front door step?

 iv. Does anyone know who's/whose attending the Homecoming dance?

  v. Who's/Whose watching a good Netflix series right now? 

a. Semi-colon ; = , and*

b. Colon : = example(s) to follow*

c. Hyphen or dash - = a comma or a colon*

1. After seeing that the amusement park had four roller coasters; Maria was determined to ride them all. <-- Correct / Incorrect

2. The amusement park has four roller coasters; Maria was determined to ride them all. <-- Correct / Incorrect

3. Liz went to the costume shop for the supplies she needed for Halloween, including: fake blood, plastic spiders, and a witch’s hat. <-- Correct / Incorrect

4. Allie was minding her own business when her brother, a mischievous eight-year-old—snuck up and surprised her.<-- Correct / Incorrect

5. The two main types of camels are; bactrian camels, which have two humps, and dromedary camels, which have one.

A. NO CHANGE

B. are: bactrian

C. are bactrian

D. are, bactrian

6. Adding to the drama, Joe according to the rumor mill — stole Alfonso's girlfriend.

A. NO CHANGE

B. Joe,

C. Joe who

D. Joe —

7. My whole family was at the reunion, including my cousins, Kirsten and Jeremy; my aunts, Tracy and Megan; and my grandparents, Carl and Jen. <-- Correct / Incorrect

For more information on punctuation, go here

Stay with the trend within the sentence.*

She was walking, talking, and running.*

She walked, talked, and ran.*

a. A subject – The dog sought shelter from the storm.*

b. A Verb – Mary proudly carried her bucket of fish.*

c. A complete thought – Bobby yelled.*

a. The butterfly is colorful.*

b. The friends are together.*

c. When hunting down the subject, slash the prepositional phrase.*

a. It must be clear what the pronoun refers to (must have a clear antecedent).*

    i. Bob and Jim shopped. He/they bought some jeans.*

b. Must agree in number and gender with its antecedent.*

    i. Sally and George are happy. They are kind.*

c. Get rid of the names around the pronoun: isolate the pronoun.*

    i. Give the books to Ed, Rod, Barb, and me/I.*

    ii. Please study with Ralph and me/I.*

i. Make sure the antecedent involves people*

ii. Begin with who/whom. Take out who or whom. Put in he or they.*

iii.If he or they works, go with who. If neither he nor they works, go with whom.*

    1)Who/Whom is this for?*

    2) Who/Whom gave you that?*

    3) With (who/whom) were you speaking last night?

    4) (Whoever, Whomever) invented the Internet was a genius.

    5) (Who, Whom) will voters elect in the election?

    6) Your weekend visitor was (who, whom)?

    7) Will (whoever, whomever) took my keys please return them?

    8) You may invite (whoever, whomever) you wish to the party.

    9) Luckily, our neighbors are people (who, whom) we trust.

  10) My sister is someone (who, whom) inspires other people.

  11) For (who, whom) did you order the bouquet of roses? 

  12) (Who, Whom) forgot to turn off the lights?

--Driving home after dark, the deer was hit. --> Driving home after dark, he proceeded cautiously.*

--A dedicated cellist, Netflix does not distract Rachel. --> A dedicated cellist, Rachel doesn’t watch Netflix.*

Participial Phrases: [looks like a verb but functions as an adj; ends in -ed or -ing]  

Ruining her breakfast by eating three donuts on the way to work, Mrs. Simons avoided the McDonald's drive-thru. 

Greta Thunberg, pressuring the United Nations with antagonizing yet mournful remarks, scolded the individuals for their inability to act in this moment of global climate crises. 

Infinitive Phrases: [TO + a VERB] Sloane, the grey tabby cat, hissed at his owner to distract her attention. 

Thunberg recognized it was best to read the script.   "To be or not to be. That is the question," thought Hamlet. 

Gerund Phrases: [looks like a verb but functions as a noun; ends in -ed or -ing]

Running through the hallways proved to be a dangerous venture for poor Margaret. 

If it wasn't for picking the short straw, Judy, a cat in the Simonses' household, would have been born with beautiful stripes instead of blotches. 

-- One will find that the library is a great place for you/one to learn.*

-- If you have quit playing an instrument, you/one can undo that decision.*

a. Two things: use –er, more, or less *

b. Three or more things: use est, most, or least.*

    i. That’s the faster car vs. That’s the fastest car.*

    ii. less expensive dress vs. least expensive dress*

a. Full sentence; full sentence (___;___)*  --> Laura went to the store; she purchased gum.

b. Full sentence, and full sentence (___, and ___)* -->Laura went to the store, and she bought some gum.*

a. irregardless b. funner c. where at d. its’ e. could of*    ALSO: would of

When torn between two answers, cross out the gunk: prepositional phrases, adjectives, adverbs, and extra info.*