Grammar Check

In the following sentence, find the subject and verb.

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Then identify the phrase that comes between the subject and verb that you would IGNORE in order to check for subject/verb agreement:

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People planning to enter the medical field need many science classes.

• planning to enter the medical field

• need many science classes

• People need

• need many

Answer explanation

The subject is "people."

The verb is "need."

The phrase between the subject and verb is "planning to enter the medical field."

In the following sentence, identify the subject and verb:

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Then determine the phrase that comes between the subject and verb that you would IGNORE to check for subject/verb agreement:

*

The book on the shelf belongs to me.

• The book belongs

• belongs to me

• on the shelf

• to me

Answer explanation

The subject is "book."

The verb is "belongs."

The phrase between the subject and verb is "on the shelf."

Identify the subject and verb in the following sentence:

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Then find the phrase that comes between the subject and verb that you would IGNORE to check for subject/verb agreement:

*

The students over there studying diligently often achieve high grades.

• diligently often

• achieve high grades

• The students achieve

• over there studying diligently

Answer explanation

The subject is "students."

The verb is "achieve."

The clause between the subject and verb is "over there studying diligently."

Find the subject and verb in the following sentence:

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Then identify the phrase that comes between the subject and verb that you would IGNORE to check for subject/verb agreement:

*

The team of researchers is going to Canada.

• The team is

• is going

• of researchers

• going to Canada

Answer explanation

The subject is "team."

The verb is "is going."

The phrase between the subject and verb is "of researchers."

Following the rules of Standardized English, determine whether to fill the blank with a comma or a semicolon.

*

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After class ends __ we will grab some lunch.

• ,
• ;

Answer explanation

The words before the comma do not have a complete thought. Using a semicolon would create a fragment.

The comma provides a break between two parts of one sentence (one complete thought).

Following the rules of Standardized English, determine whether to fill the blank with a comma or a semicolon.

• *

• *

Class is over __ we should grab some lunch.

• ,

• ;

Answer explanation

This has two complete thoughts with nothing in between. It is a run-on. A comma alone cannot connect two complete thoughts, even if they are related.

A semicolon acknowledges that the two sides could stand alone grammatically, but they are related and should be read together.

Following the rules of Standardized English, determine whether to fill the blank with a comma or a semicolon.

• *

• *

I would like to study with Jim __ the best student in the class.

• ,
• ;

Answer explanation

The words after the comma do not have a complete thought. Using a semicolon would create a fragment.

The comma provides a break between two parts of one sentence (one complete thought).

Following the rules of Standardized English, determine whether to fill the blank with a comma or a semicolon.

• *

• *

I would like to study with Jim __ he is the best student in the class.

• ,

• ;

Answer explanation

This has two complete thoughts with nothing in between. It is a run-on. A comma alone cannot connect two complete thoughts, even if they are related.

A semicolon acknowledges that the two sides could stand alone grammatically, but they are related and should be read together.

Following the rules of Standardized English, determine whether to fill the blank with a comma or a semicolon.

• *

• *

She loves to play sports __ especially soccer and basketball.

• ,
• ;

Answer explanation

The words after the comma do not have a complete thought. Using a semicolon would create a fragment.

The comma provides a break between two parts of one sentence (one complete thought).

Following the rules of Standardized English, determine whether to fill the blank with a comma or a semicolon.

• *

• *

She loves to play sports __ but her favorites are soccer and basketball.

• ,
• ;

Answer explanation

This has two complete thoughts joined by the word "but" to form a compound sentence.

In compound sentences, a comma generally comes before the connecting word to help break up a long sentence.