Comprehensive Grammar CheckPoint

Read the following sentences, and focus on the grammar area specified in the left column. Then, complete Appendix H by selecting the correct sentence (a or b) for each number and providing an explanation of why you made that choice.
Subject-verb agreement
1a. Did you know a famous animal-rights activist has criticized horseracing because of the dangers involved?
1b. Did you know a famous animal-rights activist have criticized horseracing because of the dangers involved?
Subject-verb agreement
2a. Peer editing academic papers require critical-thinking skills and diplomacy.
2b. Peer editing academic papers requires critical-thinking skills and diplomacy.
Subject-verb agreement
3a. Vitamins that are sold in a health-food store are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
3b. Vitamins that are sold in a health-food store is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Using regular and irregular verbs
4a. John has become a rather good actor.
4b. John has became a rather good actor.
Using regular and irregular verbs
5a. Some athletes have taken drug tests to prove they are not on steroids.
5b. Some athletes have took drug tests to prove they are not on steroids.
Using regular and irregular verbs
6a. I lay my book on the table, but now I cannot find it.
6b. I laid my book on the table, but now I cannot find it.
Using the correct form of be and have in the present tense
7a. I was interested in working on the presidential campaign if the opportunity still exists.
7b. I am interested in working on the presidential campaign if the opportunity still exists.
Verb form and verb tense
8a. Since American Idol premiered on television, many talented contestants have appeared on the show.
8b. Since American Idol premiered on television, many talented contestants appeared on the show.
Verb form and verb tense
9a. The ancient Egyptians built pyramids as burial sites for their leaders.
9b. The ancient Egyptians have built pyramids as burial sites for their leaders.
Identifying antecedents
10a. The antecedent in the following sentence is students: Students in online classes have to be organized to keep up with their assignments.
10b. The antecedent in the following sentence is class: Students in online classes have to be organized to keep up with their assignments.
Identifying antecedents
11a. The antecedent in the following sentence is Doctors: Doctors should schedule more time for patients so they do not spend so much time in the waiting room.
11b. The antecedent in the following sentence is patients: Doctors should schedule more time for patients so they do not spend so much time in the waiting room.
Pronoun-antecedent agreement
12a. When a driver wants to buy a new vehicle, he or she usually test drives them.
COM 150
12b. When a driver wants to buy a new vehicle, he or she usually test drives it.
Pronoun-antecedent agreement
13a. Most presenters spoke without looking at his or her notes.
13b. Most presenters spoke without looking at their notes.
Pronoun-antecedent agreement
14a. You may rent a movie or a video game for just one night if they are new.
14b. You may rent a movie or a video game for just one night if it is new.
Pronoun-antecedent agreement with indefinite pronouns
15a. Neither the mayor nor the council members have filed their reports.
15b. Neither the mayor nor the council members have filed his reports.
Pronoun-antecedent agreement with indefinite pronouns
16a. Anyone who requests a copy of the game may have it for their video library.
16b. Anyone who requests a copy of the game may have it for his or her video library.
Pronoun-antecedent agreement with indefinite pronouns
17a. Each of the applicants must submit his or her completed form to the interviewer.
17b. Each of the applicants must submit their completed forms to the interviewer.
Pronoun case
18a. My brother knows more about technology than me.
18b. My brother knows more about technology than I.
Pronoun case
19a. Please send an invitation to Bob and she.
19b. Please send an invitation to Bob and her.
Pronoun case
20a. My best friend and I are going to Hawaii this summer.
20b. My best friend and me are going to Hawaii this summer.
Pronoun case for who and whom
21a. Who was the star of last year’s award-winning movie?
21b. Whom was the star of last year’s award-winning movie?
Pronoun case for who and whom
22a. To who should we send the letter of commendation?
22b. To whom should we send the letter of commendation?
Pronoun case for who and whom
23a. Jon Bon Jovi, who is a well-known singer and actor, also owns an arena football team.
23b. Jon Bon Jovi, whom is a well-known singer and actor, also owns an arena football team.
Vague pronouns
24a. When the car hit a tree, it made a terrible noise.
24b. The car made a terrible noise as it crashed into a tree.
Vague pronouns
25a. Air pollution normally increases along with population growth. This increasing pollution is a big problem for many cities.
25b. Air pollution normally increases along with population growth. This is a big problem for many cities.

Please let me know if I am right. I think that the answere are:
1A
2A
3A
4A
5A
6B
7B
8A
9B
10B
11B
12B
13B
14A
15A
16A
17A
18B
19B
20A
21A
22B
23A
24A
25B
I need to know what the explanation is for each one please.

Writeacher and I answered these questions this afternoon.

http://www.jiskha.com/display.cgi?id=1219768217

If you give us YOUR explanations, we'll be happy to comment on them.

1. sujbect verb agreement is animal rights activist

2. subject ver agreement is papers required
3. subject verb agreement is vitamins
4. using regular and irregular verbs is has become
5. using regular and irregular verbs is have taken
6. using regular and irregular verbs is laid
7. if the offortunity exists
8. have appeared
9. built
10. students
11. patients
12. tes drives
13. spoke
14. they
15. their reports
16. his or her
17. his or her
18. then I
19. Bob and her
20. friend and I
21. year's
22. whom
23. Jon Bon Jovi
24. it made
25. this is a big problem

please let me know if I am correct

I don't think you understand the explanation for your answers. I'll get you started.

1a. Did you know a famous animal-rights activist has criticized horseracing because of the dangers involved?
The singular subject, activist agrees with the singular verb has criticized.

4a. John has become a rather good actor.
The past participle, become is needed because of the helping verb has.

10a. The antecedent in the following sentence is students: Students in online classes have to be organized to keep up with their assignments.

It's the students who need to be organized, not the classes.

labhfzo qalyiskw ykjpindh bnrjosak sewqci ioufnhm apgznletd

Here are the correct answers and explanations for each sentence:

1a. Did you know a famous animal-rights activist has criticized horseracing because of the dangers involved? - This sentence is correct because the subject "animal-rights activist" is singular and agrees with the singular verb "has criticized."

2b. Peer editing academic papers requires critical-thinking skills and diplomacy. - This sentence is correct because the subject "Peer editing academic papers" is singular and agrees with the singular verb "requires."

3a. Vitamins that are sold in a health-food store are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. - This sentence is correct because the subject "Vitamins" is plural and agrees with the plural verb "are not regulated."

4a. John has become a rather good actor. - This sentence is correct because the verb "has become" is the correct past participle form.

5a. Some athletes have taken drug tests to prove they are not on steroids. - This sentence is correct because the verb "have taken" is the correct past participle form.

6b. I laid my book on the table, but now I cannot find it. - This sentence is correct because the verb "laid" is the past tense form of the verb "lay."

7a. I was interested in working on the presidential campaign if the opportunity still exists. - This sentence is correct because the verb "was interested" is the correct past tense form.

8a. Since American Idol premiered on television, many talented contestants have appeared on the show. - This sentence is correct because the verb "have appeared" is the correct past participle form.

9a. The ancient Egyptians built pyramids as burial sites for their leaders. - This sentence is correct because the verb "built" is the correct past tense form.

10a. The antecedent in the following sentence is students: Students in online classes have to be organized to keep up with their assignments. - This sentence is correct because the pronoun "they" refers back to the antecedent "students."

11b. The antecedent in the following sentence is patients: Doctors should schedule more time for patients so they do not spend so much time in the waiting room. - This sentence is correct because the pronoun "they" refers back to the antecedent "patients."

12b. When a driver wants to buy a new vehicle, he or she usually test drives it. - This sentence is correct because the pronoun "it" agrees in number with the singular antecedent "a new vehicle."

13b. Most presenters spoke without looking at their notes. - This sentence is correct because the pronoun "their" agrees in number with the plural antecedent "presenters."

14b. You may rent a movie or a video game for just one night if it is new. - This sentence is correct because the pronoun "it" agrees in number with the singular antecedent "a movie or a video game."

15a. Neither the mayor nor the council members have filed their reports. - This sentence is correct because the pronoun "their" agrees in number with the plural antecedents "mayor" and "council members."

16b. Anyone who requests a copy of the game may have it for his or her video library. - This sentence is correct because the pronoun "his or her" agrees in number with the singular antecedent "Anyone."

17a. Each of the applicants must submit his or her completed form to the interviewer. - This sentence is correct because the pronoun "his or her" agrees in number with the singular antecedent "Each."

18a. My brother knows more about technology than me. - This sentence is incorrect, the correct sentence should be - My brother knows more about technology than I. - The pronoun should be in the nominative case (I) instead of the objective case (me).

19b. Please send an invitation to Bob and her. - This sentence is correct because the pronoun "her" agrees in number with the singular antecedent "Bob."

20a. My best friend and I are going to Hawaii this summer. - This sentence is correct because the pronoun "I" is in the nominative case.

21a. Who was the star of last year's award-winning movie? - This sentence is correct because "who" is used as the subject of the sentence.

22b. To whom should we send the letter of commendation? - This sentence is correct because "whom" is used as the object of the preposition "to."

23a. Jon Bon Jovi, who is a well-known singer and actor, also owns an arena football team. - This sentence is correct because "who" is used as the subject of the clause.

24a. When the car hit a tree, it made a terrible noise. - This sentence is correct, but it can be improved by specifying the subject to avoid vagueness. The revised sentence would be: "When the car hit a tree, the car made a terrible noise."

25b. Air pollution normally increases along with population growth. This is a big problem for many cities. - This sentence is correct and maintains clarity by using "this" to refer back to "pollution."