1. Grammar Errors in Writing
Grammar Unit 2

2. Why is grammar important to writing?
Grammar is important to writing because if one uses proper grammar in his or her writing, the writing sounds much stronger, intelligent, and clear.
If one wants to communicate a clear and detailed thought through his or her writing, he or she needs to be grammatically correct.
Fixing a few grammatical errors can significantly help one’s writing skills.
It’s important to know what the parts of speech are and the parts of a sentence; However, if you cannot use the parts of speech properly in writing, then your knowledge about them becomes useless.
Why is grammar important to writing?

3. Sentence Fragments Part of a sentence has been left out.
A fragment does not convey a complete thought.
Examples:
A subject is missing.
Disappeared into cyberspace.
My homework disappeared into cyberspace.
A verb is missing.
Something strange on my desk.
Something strange is on my desk.
A helping verb is missing.
My friends saying that I couldn’t lose it.
My friends were saying that I couldn’t lose it.
Both a subject and a verb are missing.
Somewhere on the hard drive.
I’ll probably find it somewhere on the hard drive.
A subordinate clause is treated as if it were a sentence.
Because I spent two hours on my homework.
I’m frustrated because I spent two hours on my homework.
Sentence Fragments

4. Run-On Sentences Two or more sentences have been run together.
A run-on sentence doesn’t show where one idea ends and another begins.
Find the best way to separate the ideas or to show the proper relationship between the two.
Examples:
The end mark separating two complete thoughts is missing.
I practice the violin every day the dog always howls.
I practice the violin every day. The dog always howls.
Two sentences are separated only by a comma.
Singing dogs may be funny on TV, in real life they can drive you crazy.
Singing dogs may be funny on TV, but in real life they can drive you crazy.
Singing dogs may be funny on TV; in real life…
Singing dogs may be funny on TV. In real life…
Although singing dogs may be funny on TV, in real life…
Run-On Sentences

5. Subject-Verb Agreement
A verb does not agree with its subject in number.
Readers may regard your work as careless.
Identify the subject and use a verb that matches it in number.
Examples:
A verb agrees with the object of a preposition rather than with the subject.
The animation of cartoons are fascinating.
The animation of cartoons is fascinating.
A verb agrees with a word in a phrase that comes between the subject and the verb.
I, as well as my friends, are the first in line for animated films.
I, as well as my friends, am the first in line for animated films.
A verb doesn’t agree with an indefinite-pronoun subject.
Each of us plan to make cartoons our life.
Each of us plans to make cartoons our life.
Subject-Verb Agreement

6. Subject-Verb Agreement cont.
A verb in a contraction doesn’t agree with its subject.
It don’t seem like a waste of time to us.
It doesn’t seem like a waste of time to us.
A singular verb is used with a compound subject that contains and.
Celeste and Jono wants to open a studio someday.
Celeste and Jono want to open a studio someday.
A verb doesn’t agree with the nearest part of a compound subject containing or or nor.
Neither my friends nor my teacher think animation is a boring topic.
Neither my friends nor my teacher thinks animation is a boring topic.
A verb doesn’t agree with the true subject of a sentence beginning with here or there.
There is many new techniques in animated films.
There are many new techniques in animated films.
A singular subject ending in s, es, or ics is mistaken for a plural.
Mathematics are useful in learning those techniques.
Mathematics is useful in learning those techniques.
Subject-Verb Agreement cont.

7. Subject-Verb Agreement cont.
A collective noun referring to a single unit is treated as plural (or one referring to individuals is treated as singular).
Our group are working on a storyboard.
Our group is working on a storyboard.
A period of time isn’t treated as a single unit.
Two weeks aren’t enough time to learn how to draw!
Two weeks isn’t enough time to learn how to draw!
Subject-Verb Agreement cont.

8. A pronoun does not agree in number or gender with its antecedent, or an antecedent is unclear.
Lack of agreement or unclear antecedents can cause confusion.
Find the antecedent and make the pronoun agree with it, or rewrite a sentence to make the antecedent clear.
A pronoun doesn’t agree with an indefinite-pronoun antecedent.
Each of the team members cast their vote.
Each of the team members cast his or her vote.
A pronoun doesn’t agree with the nearest part in a compound subject joined by nor or or.
Neither the doctor nor the nurses hurt herself when I dropped the tray of glasses.
Neither the doctor nor the nurses hurt themselves when I dropped the tray of glasses.
A pronoun doesn’t have an antecedent.
In the handbook it says to put safety first.
The handbook says to put safety first.
Pronoun Reference

9. Pronoun Reference cont.
A pronoun’s antecedent is vague or indefinite.
I guess they knew I was coming.
I guess the supervisor knew I was coming.
A pronoun could refer to more than one noun.
The supervisor and the nurse talked, and she assigned my to pillow duty.
The supervisor and the nurse talked, and the supervisor assigned me to pillow duty.
Pronoun Reference cont.

10. Incorrect Pronoun Case
A pronoun is in the wrong case.
Readers may regard your writing as sloppy and careless, especially if your writing is supposed to be formal.
Identify how the pronoun is being used and replace it with the correct form.
A pronoun that follows a linking verb is in the wrong case.
The funniest student in school is him.
The funniest student in school is he.
OR: He is the funniest student in school.
A pronoun used as the object of a preposition is not in the objective case.
Geoff tries his jokes out on Marie and I.
Geoff tries his jokes out on Marie and me.
The wrong case is used in a comparison.
Not even Drew Carey is funnier than him.
Not even Drew Carey is funnier than he.
Who or whom is used incorrectly.
When we need a laugh, who do we call? Geoff!
When we need a laugh, whom do we call? Geoff!
Incorrect Pronoun Case

11. Who and Whom A form of the pronoun who or whoever is used incorrectly.
The correct use of who, whom, whoever, and whomever in formal situations gives the impression that the speaker or write is careful and knowledgeable.
Decide how the pronoun functions in the sentence to determine which form to use.
Whom is incorrectly used as a subject.
Whom is making noise in the basement?
Who is making noise in the basement?
Who is incorrectly used as the object of a preposition.
With who will you go to check out the noise?
With whom will you go to check out the noise?
Who is incorrectly used as a direct object.
Who could I ask?
Whom could I ask?
Who and Whom

12. Whomever is incorrectly used as the subject of a sentence or a clause.
Whomever is in the basement, come out now!
Whoever is in the basement, come out now!
Who’s is incorrectly used as the possessive form of who.
Who’s house could be this scary?
Whose house could be this scary?
Who and Whom cont.

13. Verb Forms and Tenses The wrong form or tense of a verb is used.
Readers may regard your work as careless or confusing.
Replace the incorrect verb with the correct form or tense.
The wrong form of a verb is used with a helping verb.
A thief in the park had stole a woman’s purse.
A thief in the park had stolen a woman’s purse.
A helping verb is missing.
Agent Lance seen the incident happen.
Agent lance had seen the incident happen.
An irregular verb form is spelled incorrectly.
Unfortunately, Lance had not wore his glasses.
Unfortunately, Lance has not worn his glasses.
A past participle is used incorrectly.
The thief got away long before Lance seen him.
The thief got away long before Lance saw (had seen) him.
Different tenses are used in the same sentence without a valid reason.
Lance lost his chance because he forgets his glasses.
Lance lost his chance because he forgot his glasses.
Verb Forms and Tenses

14. Missing or Misplaced Commas
Commas are missing or are used incorrectly.
Incorrect use of commas can make sentences hard to follow.
Determine where commas are needed and add or omit them wherever necessary.
A commas is used before the conjunction in a series.
Too many TV talk shows are crude, offensive and depressing.
Too many TV talk shows are crude, offensive, and depressing.
A commas is missing after an introductory phrase or clause.
Although these shows are about people’s problems the problems are rarely resolved.
Although these shows are about people’s problems, the problems are rarely resolved.
Commas are missing around a nonessential phrase or clause.
Other talk shows which feature entertainers are simply a means to promote products.
Other talk shows, which feature entertainers, are simply a means to promote products.
A comma is missing from a compound sentence.
Talk shows waste my time and most of them disgust me.
Talk shows waste my time, and most of them disgust me.
Missing or Misplaced Commas