Basic Grammar Review

subject-verb agreement

verb tense

wrong word

poor expression

Lessons 2 & 3

Grammar and You

To improve your grammar, and therefore your writing, you need to read and write.

When you read you should take time to notice how writers write.

When do they use a semi-colon?

How do they use a colon?

When do they use the past-perfect tense?

What words do they use to join/contrast ideas?

How do they express their ideas?

Grammar Check

Read the following sentences. Which sentences are correct?Why are the others incorrect?

Cellular phones is more popular in Japan than in Canada.

There are many student that download music from the internet.

Many elementary school students are studying English at school these days.

Grammar CheckThis error/mistake is called subject-verb agreement.It is a common mistake.It is a mistake you should easily find and fix.

Cellular phones is more popular in Japan than in Canada.

There are many student that download music from the internet.

Many elementary school students are studying English at school these days.

Grammar CheckThis error/mistake is called subject-verb agreement.It is a common mistake.It is a mistake you should easily find and fix.

Cellular phones is more popular in Japan than in Canada.

There are many student that download music from the internet.

Many elementary school students are studying English at school these days.

subject

subject

S/V

Task 1Do the task on subject-verb agreement.

1. The electronic industry are very important to the Japanese economy.

is

2. Before cellular phones became popular among young people, pagers are very common.

were

3. Because of the changing climate, traditional crops cannot be grown anymore.

4. Other telephone companies will offering the same telephone plan next month.

are will be

5. Mass tourism is established in the 1960’s when people in the West become more affluent.

was verb tense

6. Many people is wanting smoking to be banned in public places.

are / want verb tense / want

Task 1 continued

7. Although it is unhealthy, smoking has become very common among young women.

8. People is believing that global warming will change the world forever.

9. If the world is to be saved, then new technologies is needed.

10. In 1965 several countries sign the treaty for whale conservation.

signed

11. Teachers is the most important influence on a child’s education.

12. Without the sun warming the earth, plants cannot grow.

verb tensePeople believe

are

verb tense

are

Task 1 continued

13. While some students study hard, others is not interested in studying.

14. Illegal downloading are taking money away from the studios and the artists.

15. Illegal downloading is very common in universities due to the easy access to broadband.

When you check your paragraph/essay, look for is and are and make sure your subject and verb agree.

are

is