Grammar edition you will be able to spot a grammar mistake in the blink of an eye

Y'all know me. Know how I earn a livin'. I'll catch this bird for you, but it ain't gonna be easy. Bad fish! Not like going down to the pond and chasing bluegills and tommycods. This shark, swallow ya whole. Little shakin', little tenderizin', down you go. And we gotta do it quick, that'll bring back the tourists, that'll put all your businesses on a payin' basis. But it's not gonna be pleasant! I value my neck a lot more than three thousand bucks, chief. I'll find him for three, but I'll catch him, and kill him, for ten. But you've gotta make up your minds. If you want to stay alive, then ante up. If you want to play it cheap, be on welfare the whole winter. I don't want no volunteers, I don't want no mates, there's too many captains on this island. Ten thousand dollars for me by myself. For that you get the head, the tail, the whole damn thing..

My brother, as well as my sisters, ( attend, attends) the martial arts dojo. (dojo = school for training in self-defense)

1. 
   The teacher, as well as twenty-one students, ( is, are ) happy about the Victoria Day holiday.
   
2. 
   Each of the players ( take, takes ) team practice seriously.
   
3. 
   A clairvoyant, say many faithful followers, ( predict, predicts ) the future.
   
4. 
   Directions for the cinnamon rolls (is, are ) on the back of the package.
   
5. 
   Kyle, together with Randy and Jack, ( plan, plans ) to go to Ottawa this month. (Find an error.)
   
6. 
   The master plumber with several qualified assistants ( was, were ) on the scene to repair the downed power line. (Find an error.)
   
7. 
   One of the English students at Niagara College ( write, writes ) much better essays then the others. (Find an error.)
   
8. 
   The Ford truck with the tinted windows and diamond plate rail caps ( need, needs ) to be polished.
   
9. 
   The young mother with her three small children ( want, wants ) to catch a ride on the trolley.
   
10. 
    A plan for several new schools in various locations ( is, are ) under consideration.
    
11. 
    A large map of all 48 states and 11 Canadian provinces ( is, are) printed in a road atlas. (Find an error.)
    
12. 
    One of the boys ( want, wants ) to go home.
    
13. 
    This magazine, including all the articles about basket weaving, ( is, are ) boring.
    
14. 
    The family van, filled with laughing children and their parents, ( wait, waits ) at the stoplight.
    
15. 
    A hungry teacher, followed in line by three ravenous students, ( fight, fights ) for the last chicken wing in the serving tray.
    
16. 
    One dollar, in addition to a 30 cents, ( is, are) my only money until I get payed. (Find an error.)
    
17. 
    Every one of my six goldfish ( demand, demands ) tiny crumbs of fried shrimp for breakfast.
    
18. 
    The flavor of Columbian coffees ( is, are) superior to the brews from Vietnamese beans.
    

In the back of the closet under the shelving ( was, were ) a pair of old shoes.

1. 
   In the refrigerater ( is, are ) an old sandwich and an opened can of soda. (Find an error.)
   
2. 
   Over the river and through the woods ( is, are ) the route to grandmother's house.
   
3. 
   Along the shoreline ( was, were ) a peice of driftwood and a small crab. (Find an error.)
   
4. 
   Under the bed ( is, are ) much dust and dirt.
   
5. 
   Behind the ramshackle old garage ( rest, rests ) a couple of vintage cars.
   
6. 
   In distant galaxies far from earth (live, lives ) unknown peoples and civilizations. (Find an error.)
   
7. 
   Below the sea near the Atlantic Ridge ( roam, roams) rare species of bioluminescent fish. (bioluminescent = glow from living things)
   
8. 
   In ancient forests around the Smokey Mountains ( dwell, dwells ) an ancestor of modern ferns. (Find an error.)
   
9. 
   In a cave forgotten for thousands of years ( lie, lies ) an stone blade made by a Neanderthal Man.
   
10. 
    From nations all over the world ( come, comes) representatives to the United Nations.
    
11. 
    ( Have, Has ) the mail for the Smiths arrived yet? (Hint: Turn the question into a statement.)
    
12. 
    At the end of the driveway on High Point Road ( sit, sits ) two large eagles mounted on brick pillars.
    
13. 
    Below the bridge ( live, lives ) a family of trolls.
    
14. 
    From this project ( has, have ) come many important discoveries cause a grant paid for the research.
    
15. 
    (Find an error.)
    
16. 
    ( Is, Are ) there going to be many people at tonight’s homecoming bonfire? (Hint: Turn the question into a statement.)
    
17. 
    Throughout the story of Dracula ( occur, occurs ) one scarey episode after another. (Find an error.)
    

(Who is “he”?)

Ambiguous: Mr. Jones told MIchael that he needed to study. (Which person needed to study?)

Mr. Jones told Billy, “I need to study.”

1a.___ Many students like both Math and English, but it has always been my favourite.

1b.___ Many students like both Math and English, but Math has always been my favourite.

2a.___ Carson said to his brother, “ You should see your doctor.”

2b.___ Carson thought that his brother should see his doctor.

3a.___ After Boon had fought Atamynak, he ran around the ring and shouted for joy.

3b.___ Boon ran around the ring and shouted for joy after he had fought Atamynak.

3c.___ After Boon had fought Atamynak, Boon ran around the ring and shouted for joy.

4a.___ Alex told Kerri that she hated her new hair style.

4b.___ Alex told Kerri that she hated Kyra’s new hair style.

4c.___ Kerri told Alex, “I hate your new hair style.”

5a.___ Jake and Ryan are good athletes, but he is a better student.

5b.___ Jake and Ryan are good athletes, but the latter is a better student.

5c.___ Jake and Ryan are good athletes, but the former is a better student.

6a.___ Although I enjoyed chemistry and biology, I never fully understood them.

6b.___ Although I enjoyed chemistry and biology, I never fully understood biology.

6c.___ Although I enjoyed chemistry and biology, I never fully understood it.

6d.___ Although I enjoyed chemistry and biology, I never fully understood the latter.

1. 
   Bill told his dad that he needed to lose some weight.
   
2. 
   After the coach had hollered at Morton, he felt terrible.
   
3. 
   When I parked my car next to the bus, I noticed that it had a flat tire.
   
4. 
   He removed the stone from the cloth and washed it carefully.
   
5. 
   When I tried to remove the dog’s dish, it bit me.
   
6. 
   The candidate informed his aide that he was leaving on the next plane.
   
7. 
   He bought a new car with an AM-FM radio, but it was in poor condition.
   
8. 
   Jane thought that Kathy ought to consult her doctor.
   
9. 
   When the eggs were served to the customers, they often looked green.
   
10. 
    Elaine had to stay home with her little sister because she had been naughty.
    
11. 
    Before the tourists mingle with the natives, they should be inoculated.
    
12. 
    Sam told his brother that he couldn’t go to the game.
    
13. 
    I dropped the glass on my foot and broke it.
    
14. 
    I gave some food to my kitten and chopped it up
    
15. 
    After eating all their food, we put the cats outside
    
16. 
    Mrs. Einhorn was proud that on her first hunting trip, she was able to shoot several animals as well as her husband
    
17. 
    The Iroquois hunter crouched behind a tree waiting for a bear to come along with a bow and arrow.
    
18. 
    I gave some food to my kitten and chopped it up
    
19. 
    After eating all their food, we put the cats outside
    
20. 
    If a baby does not thrive on raw milk, boil it.
    
21. 
    Mrs. Kimber says the course is fun to teach because it’s small, and they’re motivated.
    
22. 
    I read that Sara was married in the newspaper
    

be phrases or dependent clauses or any incomplete word group. Study the following examples:

Jeff walked all alone. To the store. (prepositional phrase fragment)

Walking to the store. She saw a car accident. (present participial phrase)

Because she exercises regularly. She is in good condition. (dependent/adverb clause fragment)

A run-on occurs when two sentences are run together without the proper punctuation and/or connecting words. One type of run-on, the fused sentence, occurs when two sentences are written together without any punctuation at all. Another type, the comma splice, occurs when a comma is used between two sentences without any connecting word (such as "and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet"). Study these examples:

Joe was happy about the raise he felt like celebrating. (fused sentence)

Joe was happy about the raise, he felt like celebrating. (comma splice)

2. No one I know watches “Glee”, I can't believe it.

3. Her husband loves to cook, however, he does not like to clean the kitchen afterwards.

4. Carson started his new job last Wednesday, and he really likes the boss.

5. I have a hard time understanding her lectures, when I talk to her one-on-one, I understand her fine.

6. Mary signed up because she thought the training would be interesting and help her on the job.

7. Meet me after class, I want to talk with you about the upcoming test.

8. The one who looks like a military officer but acts like a spoiled brat.

9. Although she has studied very hard, she is still worried about the midterm exam.

10. One of the best ways to improve your writing. Is to read and analyze what you read.

11. It has been a long time since I have been to the beach, I am looking forward to the trip.

12. When you have finished your homework and are ready to take a break.

The paragraph is a series of sentences developing one topic. The topic of a paragraph is stated in one sentence. This is called the topic sentence. The rest of the paragraph consists of sentences that develop or explain the main idea

• 
  Restate the topic sentence in different words.
  
• 
  A clincher sentence or concluding sentence clinches the point made in the paragraph.
  
• 
  It summarizes the paragraph.
  

• 
  The narrative paragraph tells a story.
  
• 
  The persuasive paragraph tries to convince the audience.
  
• 
  The descriptive paragraph describes something.
  
• 
  The expository or explanatory paragraph gives information or explains something.
  

Two other forms are always incorrect—hisself and theirselves. Do not use these nonstandard words.