What is wrong with this lyric?

Can you handle me the way I are?

Subject Verb Agreement• Most missed questions on the ACT The verb within a sentence needs to match in singular/plural and

tense with the subjectVerb = the action word

Subject = the person place, thing, or idea that is doing or being something

Highlight the subject and circle the verb in the following sentence: Most students take the ACT in April.

Basic Subject Rules

• Singular subject takes a singular verb - The horse leaves the barn. - Catherine runs on the beach.

• Compound subject takes a plural verb - The horses leave the barn. - Catherine and her dog run on the beach

Agreement

Rule: The subject and verb must agree

Where is the mistake?

Cori, along with her sisters, spend hours cleaning the house.

• Correct -Cori, along with her sisters, spends hours cleaning the house.

Cori is the singular subject within this sentence. The verb must also be singular to match the subject.

ACT Test Rule: When a verb is underlined within a question, trust your ear. When in doubt, identify its subject and make sure singular/plural and tense match the subject

Tricky ACT Grammar

Which sentence is correct? a. Paul, along with his cats, were going to the vet. b. Paul, along with his cats, was going to the vet.

The underlined portion of these sentences is called a prepositional phrase

Paul is the subject that is doing the action, so the verb must agree with the singular subject (Paul). His cats are included to confuse the test taker.

The ACT likes to confuse test takers by including prepositional phrases within their questions.

An Easy Fix

• Don’t Panic! There is a simple solution you can use to out-smart the test makers. Simply ignore the extra information within the sentence

ACT Test Trick: When a verb is underlined, identify the subject and cross out any prepositional phrases; a prepositional phrase NEVER counts as the subject of the verb.

What should I cross out?

• Jimmy with his friends walks to the store• The number of awards proves how smart Sally

is. • Billy along with six kids goes to the store.

• Jimmy with his friends walks to the store• The number of awards proves how smart Ms.

Mueller is. • Billy along with six kids goes to the store.

Helpful HintRead the question to yourself and trust your ear! If something does not sound right, then it is probably incorrect.

Practice

Cross out the prepositional phrase, and then select the correct answer.

I, with several other interns, were arriving at the “Bermuda Government Offices”.

a. No change c. was arrivingb. Had been arrived d. were being arriving

It’s Me!

What should be changed in the underlined portions of this sentence?

Sometime in college, Manuel and me had heard

that an enlightened person is so relaxed that their eyes are always half closed. I doubt its true, but at the time we believed it.

Using It’s and Me

• It’s/Its and Me usage is something to know for the ACT

Correct Sentence: Sometime in college, Manuel and I had heard that an enlightened person is so relaxed that their eyes are always half closed. I doubt it’s true, but at the time we believed it.

It’s Vs. Its What is the difference?

• It’s = It is ( a contraction, like can’t, won’t, didn’t)

• Its= possessive case

When determining whether to use it’s or its, simply insert “it is” into the sentence. If this makes sense, then your answer is it’s ( with an apostrophe). If “ it is” does not make sense within the sentence, then the answer is “its” (no apostrophe)

It’s Time to Practice

A few years later we were traveling and met a guru, a very advanced yoga teacher. “The key to a yoga practice,” he said, “is to follow its call.” We all sat together awhile and talked.

a) No changeb) It’sc) Theird) They’re

Me Me MeAll about me/I

I Vs. MeHighlight the sentence that sounds better. • Ashley and Me thought we were fluent in

Spanish. • Ashley and I thought we were fluent in

Spanish.

ACT Test TrickIf “I” or “ me” is underlined, test it by putting the I/me first or drop the other person and trust your ear. This trick also works with He/him, she/her, We/us, they/them, and who/whom.

The Scene was perfect. Someone brought tea to Manuel and I. The guru wore all white and sandals and spoke in wise aphorisms.

How should you rewrite this to test whether to use me or I?

Someone brought tea to Manuel and I.Someone brought tea to I.

Does that sound correct?

Some Practice For You and Me

• The Scene was perfect. Someone brought tea to Manuel and I. The guru wore all white and sandals and spoke in wise aphorisms.

a. no changeb. Manuel and myselfc. Manuel and, Id. Manuel and me

I was listening to a story about he and his student, when I realized that the guru’s eyes were half closed. “Wow,” I thought “he is enlightened.”

a. no changeb. his student and himselfc. him and his studentd. his student and he

Recap of ACT Tricks

Remember subject and verb must agreeCross out the extra infoReplace its/it’s with it isput the I/me first or drop the other person

and trust your earIf it doesn’t sound right, then it is most likely

wrong

Commas, Periods, Semicolons, Oh My!

What do I use and when?

Phrases that can stand alone are separated with a semicolon, commas with aconjunction( and, but, or, yet) or a period.

Examples of punctuation usage

Semicolon: He woke up; he decided to go back to bed.

Comma with “and” : He woke up, and he decided to go back to bed.

Period: He woke up. He decided to go back to bed.

Both parts of this sentence can stand alone. They are independent clauses. This allows for the use of a semicolon, a comma with “and”, or the creation of two separate sentences with the insertion of a period.

Practice

Test Trick Test your sentence. Can you make two separate sentences? If the answer is yes, then you can use a period, a semicolon, or a comma with “and” to separate the clauses.

What are the two independent clauses in this sentence? What two ideas can stand alone?

Jean Piaget popularized a theory of intellectual development he taught that all children moved through a set pattern of development in a fixed order

Jean Piaget popularized a theory of intellectual development

He taught that all children moved through a set pattern of development in a fixed order

Independent Ideas

Rewrite the sentence three different ways using a semicolon, a period, and a comma + “and”.

Jean Piaget popularized a theory of intellectual development; he taught that all children moved through a set pattern of development in a fixed order

Jean Piaget popularized a theory of intellectual development. He taught that all children moved through a set pattern of development in a fixed order

Jean Piaget popularized a theory of intellectual development, and he taught that all children moved through a set pattern of development in a fixed order

Practice

I found my department, and I was immediately given a list of mundane tasks.

Which of the following alternatives to the underlined portion would NOT be acceptable?

a. department: and I wasb. department; I wasc. department and wasd. department. I was

Colons: more than a semicolon

ACT Grammar Rule Use a colon after an independent clause to direct attention to a list, an appositive, a quotation, or a summary or an explanation.

Examples

Before A ListYou will need to bring three things to class Monday: your brains, your books, and yourself.

After an independent clause that is followed by information that directly modifies or adds to the clause (reasoning of the content)

The novel is clearly autobiographical: the author even gives his own name to the main character.

Another way to think about colons

Colons are used after complete sentences to introduce related information that usually comes in the form of a list, an explanation, or a quotation.

Example:( Explanation) The wedding had all the elements to make it a classic: the elegant bride beamed as her mother wept and as the bridesmaids fainted.

( Quotation)The mothers exclamation best summed up the wedding: “ If only the bridesmaids hadn’t fainted!”

Practice

The charming elements of the city are difficult to avoid the vintage lights, the cobbled streets, and the historic buildings

a. No changeb. avoid:c. avoid,d. avoid;

Practice

There are several reasons why children love the Beatles’ early work, and those reasons are: the melodies are sweet and catchy, the lyrics are pleasant and easily memorized, and the artistry is exciting.

a. No changeb. work, some of the reasonsc. work:d. work, because:

Skill Recap

• Phrases that can stand alone are separated with a semicolon, commas with “and,” or a period.

• Test your sentence. Can you make two separate sentences? If the answer is yes, then you can use a period, a semicolon, or a comma with “and” to separate the clauses.

• A colon is used before a list or after an independent clause that is followed by summary or explanation.

Grammar Day Three

Pronouns

• Pronoun: takes the place of either a proper or a common noun.

• Substitutes the noun in the sentence

Must match singular/plural form of the noun it is referring to.

ACT Rule: A pronoun should be placed so that it clearly refers to a specific noun ( its antecedent or its pronoun antecedent)

Trace The Noun

My grandma begins to flatten the dough with a wooden roller coated with flour. I devote my energies to the cookie cutters. They are all heaped together in an old plastic shopping bag. I become overwhelmed by my options and lay them all out. I love the simplicity of the star, but am also intrigued by the complexity of the Santa. There’s also the reindeer, the Christmas tee, and the sleigh. I select each cookie cutter that we will use and realize I have chosen mostly stars and Santas.

Singular and Plural Pronouns

Singular pronoun antecedents ( these words receive singular pronouns to replace them)

- each, either, neither, one, no one, nobody, nothing, anyone, anybody, anything, someone, somebody, something, everyone, everybody, everything

Each student received his or her grade.

PLURAL:  several, few, both, manyMany students forgot their worksheets.

Ambiguous Pronouns • Examples of Ambiguous Pronouns- Incorrect: Some foods are dangerous for your

pets, so they should be placed out of reach. - Correct: Some foods are dangerous for your

pets, so these foods should be placed out of reach.

PracticeCorrect the mistake• Matt and Phil left early to get his guitar repaired • Matt and Phil left early to get_________ guitar repaired.

Be Specific!

ACT RuleWhen a pronoun is underlined, we must be totally sure what noun it is referring to. If it is unclear in any way, it is incorrect. The underlined pronoun must also match ( singular or plural) the noun that it refers to

Are these sentences correct? If not, correct them.

1. A small child will always want to be with their parent or guardian.

2. Despite the controversy surrounding the candidates, the committee made their decision very quickly.

3. Betty needed to go to her locker.

Corrections

1.A small child will always want to be with his or her parent or guardian. ( singular)

2.Despite the controversy surrounding the candidates, the committee made its decision very quickly. ( singular)

3.Betty needed to go to her locker. ( correct)

Parallel Construction

Definition: putting grammatical elements that have the same function in the same form

Having a recognizable pattern within a sentence.

Example: I like to sing, to dance, and to read.Incorrect: I like to sing, dancing, and to read.

What is the difference?

How does this work?

• Make sure all words, phrases, and clauses used within a sentence share the same grammatical form

More examples:

Patricia enjoyed running and riding her bike.The distance from L.A to Detroit is greater than

the distance from Detroit to New York City.

Practice

Correct these sentences by underlining the incorrect portion and modify the sentence to reflect parallel structure.

1. This car is sporty, economical, and goes very fast.2. I like reading books, walking my dog, and crossword

puzzles.3. She knocked over the computer, damaging the outer

casing, ruining the screen, and the draft of her Advocacy paper was almost destroyed.

4. Look at the directions above!

Answers

1. This car is sporty, economical, and very fast.2. I like reading books, walking my dog, and doing

crossword puzzles.3. She knocked over the computer, damaging the outer

casing, ruining the screen, and almost destroying the draft of her Advocacy paper.

4. Correct these sentences by underlining the incorrect portion and modifying the sentence to reflect parallel structure.

The two of us will be singing a duet. Together.

How redundant.

Why is Waldo right about Alfalfa being redundant?

Redundancy

Don’t Be redundant. Redundancy is something you should not do.

Redundancy: the attribute of being superfluous and unneeded

AKA saying the same idea two different ways or using different words that mean the same thing.

ACT Rule The ACT likes crisp and clear; we always want the answer that is most clear, concise, direct, and nonredundant.

Examples:Frank was elected as Chairman unanimously by all members.

Unanimously means that everyone made the same decision. We do not need to say “all members” to make our point.

Norm Bruce is most widely remembered today for his invention and creation of the pitching machine.

Why is this wrong?

Invention and creation are the same concept. We do not need to say it twice to understand the meaning of the sentence.

PracticeIt was a routine Sunday evening and like manyothers. In due course, after waiting for awhile, myneighbor signaled for the waitress and asked herwhy he still had not received his calamari. After meditating my muscles became relaxedand less tight.

Answers

• It was a routine Sunday evening and like many others.

• In due course, after waiting for awhile, my neighbor signaled for the waitress and asked her why he still had not received his calamari.

• After meditating my muscles became relaxed and less tight.

More Practice and more questions to work on your skills.

When you are ready and all set, gently stretch in a way that feels most natural for you.

What should be left in the sentence?a. No changeb. Set and readyc. All ready and setd. ready

More, further, other practice

What I said to my neighbor intern who worked next to me was meant for only her to hear.

a. No changeb. Neighbor intern next to mec. Neighbor internd. Neighbor, the intern next to me