1. Other Errors of Grammar
Chapter 8
Other Errors of Grammar

2. What you should know….. Sentence Fragments Subject & verb
Must be able to stand independently
My dog barks like a neurotic maniac.
sentence
Because my dog barks like a neurotic maniac.
fragment

3. What you should know….. Double Negative I don’t got no money.
Careful with the following negatives – hardly; but; scarcely; seldom; rarely, etc
I don’t have hardly any money.

4. What you should know….. Omission of Necessary Words
Helping verbs need to fit main verbs
My sister has and always will BOSS me around.
My sister always has bossed and will boss me around.
Prepositions need to fit
I am happy and saddened by your news.
I am happy about and saddened by your news.

5. OMISSION OF NECESSARY WORDS, CONT.
Two elements that are compared need to be equivalent.
Matty’s cooking is better than any chef.
Matty’s cooking if better than the cooking of any other chef.
Her cooking is disgusting, unlike her husband.
Her cooking is disgusting unlike her husband’s cooking, which is delicious.

6. What you should know…. Indirect & Direct Questions Direct questions:
End in question mark
Verb usually comes before subject
Did you bring my money?
Indirect questions:
End in period
Verb usually comes after subject
I asked if you brought my money.

7. The Tricky Stuff….. Like and As
Like = preposition (followed by object)
As = conjunction (followed by clause)
Like I told you, I don’t like cream cheese.
As I told you, I don’t like cream cheese.
Like my students, I don’t get enough sleep.

8. The Really Tricky Stuff: who, which, and that -- restrictive & nonrestrictive clauses
WHO: refers to single human or group thought of as individuals
WHICH/THAT: refers to group thought of as a group
the students who
the team that

9. The Really Tricky Stuff: who, which, and that -- restrictive & nonrestrictive clauses
RESTRICTIVE CLAUSE: identifies & defines; gives necessary information
who/that
no commas
NONRESTRICTIVE CLAUSE: describes & adds information
who/which
set off by commas
The lasagna that is out on the counter smells bad.
The smelly lasagna, which Fabio made, made me sick.