The Quick and Easy Guide to
Common Grammar Problems

 Subject-Verb Agreement

Since every sentence has a subject and a verb, this relationship is very important. The basic rule for subject-verb agreement is simple: verbs agree with their subjects in number (singular/plural) and in person (1st/2nd/3rd). A singular, first person subject needs a "singular, first person" verb.

Correct: I talk. She talks. They talk.

Most problems with subject-verb agreement arise when there is confusion over whether the subject is singular or plural OR when words or phrases come between the subject and the verb OR when the verb comes before the subject.

Incorrect: The stores opens at 8 am.
Incorrect: But the line of customers were blocking traffic.
Incorrect: The orders given by the officer was to disperse and to leave the area.
Incorrect: There were surprisingly little resistance offered by the crowd.

Solution: Find the subject (not its complement) and the verb. Change the verb to agree in number and person.

Correct: The stores open at 8 am.
Correct: But the line of customers was blocking traffic.
Correct: The orders given by the officer were to disperse and to leave the area.

Compound subjects also can be confusing for writers. Subjects joined by and are usually treated as plural, unless preceded by every or each. Subjects joined with or/nor and either/neither …or/nor phrases have verb agreement determined by the subject nearer the verb. (Careful: Either and neither can be used alone as indefinite pronouns, which are singular.)

Incorrect: Bob, Barney and Boris hopes to leave for vacation soon.
Incorrect: Neither Bob nor his brothers wants to wait until June.
Incorrect: Everyone plan to go as soon as possible.

Solution: If joined with and, treat as plural. If joined with or/nor, use the nearest subject. If an indefinite pronoun, treat as singular.

Correct: Bob, Barney and Boris hope to leave for vacation soon.
Correct: Neither Bob nor his brothers want to wait until June.
Correct: Everyone plans to go as soon as possible.

Pronoun-Antecendent Agreement and Clear References

A pronoun (I, we, he, she, they, it, etc.) always refers to someone or something (called an antecedent). This someone or something is (or should be) named in the document prior to using the pronoun. Confusion arises with pronouns that do not match those antecedents or do not clearly refer to specific antecedents.

Pronoun-antecedent disagreement occurs when the pronoun does not match the antecedent for number or gender. Often this problem is caused by confusion over whether an antecedent is singular or plural and/or whether a corresponding pronoun is singular or plural. A related problem is sexist language, assuming that an individual or group is one gender or another based on bias or type-casting.

Incorrect: The council members finished its meeting on schedule.
Incorrect: Everyone was glad to leave as they had other meetings to attend.
Incorrect: Even the mayor and the press were surprised; he thought it would take longer.
Incorrect: Every public servant relishes it when he finishes a project.

Solution: Find the antecedent. Ensure that the pronoun matches for number and gender. Treat indefinite antecedents (e.g., anyone, somebody), generic nouns and collective nouns as singular. Treat compound antecedents connected by and as plural. For compound antecedents connected with either/neither … or/nor, make the pronoun agree with the nearer antecedent. (Hint: It may be easier to change the antecedent than the pronoun.)

Correct: The council members finished their meeting on schedule
Correct: Everyone was glad to leave as he or she had other meetings to attend.
Correct: Even the mayor and the press were surprised; they thought it would take longer.
Correct: Public servants relish it when they finish a project.

Ambiguous pronoun references can occur when one of the following happen:

• More than one antecedent is present
• The reference is not close to the antecedent
• The pronoun refers to an implied antecedent
• Indefinite pronouns are used to refer to broad ideas or to people or groups in general
• That or which is used to refer to persons

Incorrect: Jill was mad and talked to her boss about it. Something upset her.
Incorrect: The office manager had yelled at her, which explains her emotional state.
Incorrect: But the boss didn't know which started the confrontation.
Incorrect: Disagreements happen at the office. They need to work it out themselves if they can.

Solution: Replace the pronoun with a noun or move the pronoun closer to the antecedent. Use who, whom or whose when referring to persons.

Correct: Jill was mad, as something upset her, and she talked to her boss about it.
Correct: The office manager had yelled at her, a fact which explains Jill's emotional state.
Correct: But the boss didn't know who started the confrontation.
Correct: Disagreements happen at the office. Office workers need to work it out themselves it they can.