Grammar and Writing Handbook TE G3

Problem 3 Using a singular verb when a subject has two or more nouns joined by and No Agreement: Lisa and my little sister How many plants the seeds. nouns are in the Solution 3 subject? When the subject of a sentence has two nouns joined by and, you do not add -s or -es to a present-tense verb. Take out -s or -es to make the subject and verb agree. Agreement: Lisa and my little sister plant the seeds. Practice Rewrite the sentences correctly. Make the subject and verb in each sentence agree. Underlined verbs should be corrected. 1. Everyone cleans up. Even Fuzzer help. helps 2. Lisa and Ellie put away the hand tools. Dad and Mom rewinds the hose. rewind 3. I put away the shovel. Then you empties the wheelbarrow. empty 4. Two weeks pass by. Tiny plants finally pops up through the soil. pop 5. My family and I water and weed the garden. Before long Lisa, Ellie, and I picks vegetables. pick 251

Incorrect Verb Forms • An irregular verb has a special spelling to show the past tense. • Some irregular verbs have a special spelling when used with the helping verb have. Problem 1 Forming the past tense of an irregular verb incorrectly Incorrect: My friend Anna comed to New York with us. Is come an irregular verb? Solution 1 Some verbs are irregular. You do not add -ed to show actions in the past. Use the special forms of the irregular verbs. Correct: My friend Anna came to New York with us. Problem 2 Using incorrect irregular verb form for past tense Incorrect: We seen many interesting sights. Which sounds right: “We seen” Solution 2 or “We saw”? For irregular verbs, you do not add -ed to show actions in the past. You need to use the special forms of the irregular verbs. Correct: We saw many interesting sights. 252

Problem 3 Using incorrect irregular verb form for past with have Incorrect: I have never saw the Statue of Should have, has, Liberty before. or had go with saw or seen? Solution 3 The helping verb have helps the main verb tell about an action. You know that some irregular verbs change their spelling in the past tense and when they are used with the helping verb have. Change the verb form to the one used with have. Correct: I have never seen the Statue of Liberty before. Practice Rewrite the sentences. Use the correct verb forms. Underlined verbs should be corrected. 1. Our class had to do oral reports. I done mine on our trip to New York. did 2. I finished my scrapbook just in time. I bringed it to school. brought 3. Rita asked about the Statue of Liberty. Mike said he seen it last summer. saw 4. Have you been to New York City? Have you saw the Statue of Liberty? seen 5. Everyone liked my report. I sayed, “I’m glad.” said 253

Incorrect Use of Pronouns • A pronoun must match the noun or nouns that it refers to. • A subject pronoun is used as the subject of a sentence. • An object pronoun is part of the predicate. • Do not confuse possessive pronouns with contractions. Problem 1 Using object pronouns as subjects Incorrect: Her and I enjoyed playing the piano. How does the sentence sound without and I ? Solution 1 Replace the object pronoun with a subject pronoun. Subject pronouns include I, you, he, she, it, we, and they. Correct: She and I enjoyed playing the piano. Problem 2 Using subject pronouns in the predicate Incorrect: Scales are easier for me than Is she used as for she. the subject or as the object? Solution 2 Replace the subject pronoun with an object pronoun. Object pronouns include me, you, him, her, it, us, and them. Correct: Scales are easier for me than for her. 254

Problem 3 Confusing contractions and possessive pronouns Incorrect: You’re mother’s lesson is on Can you say Monday. “You are” instead of “You’re”? Solution 3 A possessive pronoun shows who or what owns something. A pronoun-verb contraction is a shortened form of a pronoun and a verb. It has an apostrophe. Correct: Your mother’s lesson is on Monday. Practice Rewrite the sentences. Write the pronouns, contractions, and possessive pronouns correctly. Words to be corrected are underlined. 1. We have our first recital soon. Mom and me are nervous. I 2. Mrs. Lowski said, “You’re ready.” She added, “So is you’re mother.” your 3. I played my piece for Dad and my sister. Him and her really liked it. He, she 4. Then Mom played for Dad, Patty, and me. She made they and me proud. them 5. My friends say they’re coming. Their proud of me. They’re 255

Incorrect Use of Adjectives • You can use adjectives to compare two or more nouns. • Add -er to an adjective to compare two nouns. • Add -est to compare more than two nouns. Problem 1 Forming adjectives that compare incorrectly Incorrect: Is the Nile River the longer river in the world? Are you comparing two or more than two? Solution 1 Count how many people, places, or things you are comparing. Then add -er or -est. Correct: Is the Nile River the longest river in the world? Practice Rewrite each sentence. Write the adjectives that compare correctly. Underlined words should be corrected. 1. Is the Rocky Mountain range longest than the Appalachian Mountain range? longer 2. Is Asia, North America, or Africa the world’s greater continent of all? greatest 3. Is the Pacific Ocean deepest than the Atlantic Ocean? deeper 4. Is the Atacama Desert in Chile the drier place on Earth? driest 5. Where is the world’s older capital city of all? oldest 256