Sentence Correction Flashcards
What is the rule for colon’s in a sentence?
Whenever we have a colon, what precedes the colon must be able to stand on its own as a complete sentence.
What portion of a sentence needs to be able to stand on its own as a complete sentence?
ONLY the portion that precedes it
What are the requirements for a comma for a complex sentence with a subordinate and independent clause?
When a subordinate precedes the independent clause - subordinate must be followed by a comma, when it comes after - comma is optional
What are the relative pronouns?
that, which, who, whom, whose, where when
When is a relative pronoun required versus when it is not?
Required when it relates to the subject of a sentence - optional when it is the object
What (singular or plural) type of verbs does ‘each’ take
singilar
What type of verbs does ‘either / neither’ take
Without ‘or’ singular, with ‘or’ second noun determines verb
What are the key indefinite pronouns which can take both singular or plural verbs?
‘SANAMM’ - Some, Any, None, All, More, Most - dependent on the prep phrase
What is the tense when the word ‘number’ is used
If number is preceded by THE, it is singular, if it is A, it is plural
What is the tense when the word ‘percentage’ is used?
If percentage is preceded by THE, it is singular, if it is A, it takes the tense of what the percentage is a number of (can be either)
What is the tense when fractions are used
Dependent on what the fraction is a fraction of (i.e fraction of the class is singular, fraction of the students is plural)
What is the tense when the word ‘percent’ is used
Dependent on what the percent is a percent of (i.e percent of the board is singular, percent of the members is plural)
What is the tense for many?
When it’s just ‘many’ its plural, ‘many a’ is singular
What type of tense does every have?
Singular
How can pronouns relate to clauses?
They cannot
How can you test for the expletive ‘it’ in a sentence?
Replace ‘it’ with a later part of the sentence (It is apparent that milan is a skilled writer –> that milan is a skilled writer is apparent)
Where should a modifying prepositional phrase be placed in a sentence?
As close as possible to the word it modifies
What can relative pronouns ‘that’ and ‘which’ never refet to?
People
When is ‘that’ used versus ‘which’
‘That’ is used for a restrictive relative clause, which introduces nonrestrictive clauses
What is the rule with commas and ‘which’
If which is being used for a nonrestrictive clause - it must be separated with a comma. The exception is if ‘which’ is being used in a prepositional phrase (in which, by which etc)
What can ‘who’se relate to’
People or things
