ENGLISH GRAMMAR

Alvin Serrano Snchez

Universidad of Turabo
Workshop Three
ENGL 245

ENGLISH GRAMMAR
Definitions
a. Subject and Verb Agreement: The subject and verb must agree if both are plurals or singulars.
b. Passive and active voice: In the passive voice the subject is acted upon by the verb. In the
action voice the subject performs the action.
c. Gerund: A noun made from a verb by adding "-ing."
d. Participles: a form of a verb that is used in a sentence to modify a noun, noun phrase, verb or
verb phrase, and thus plays a role similar to that of an adjective or adverb. It is one of the types
of nonfinite verb forms
e. Infinitives: a grammatical term used to refer to certain verb forms
f. Adjectives: describe or modify another person or thing in the sentence
g. Adverbs: a word or set of words that modifies verbs, adjectives

ENGLISH GRAMMAR

1st Quiz:

Select one answer from the choices provided after each sentence. The word you
choose should fit the blank in the sentence. Don't use the HINT buttons unless
you really need them.
1. Either the physicians in this hospital or the chief
administrator ____ going to have to make a decision.
is
are

You're right! When subjects are connected by or, the

subject closer to the verb (which is, in this case, singular)
determines the number of the verb.

2. ______ my boss or my sisters in the union going to win this grievance?

Is
Are

Again, the subject closer to the verb (my boss) determines the number of
the verb.

3. Some of the votes __________ to have been miscounted.

seem
seems

ENGLISH GRAMMAR

You're right! Some is the subject in this sentence; it is plural because the
word votes makes it a countable indefinite pronoun.

4. The tornadoes that tear through this county every spring _____ more than just a
nuisance.
are
is

You're right! The subject is tornadoes. You were not confused by the words
and phrases that came between the subject and its verb.

5. Everyone selected to serve on this jury _____ to be willing to give up a lot of time.
have
has

You're right! Everyone! seems to be a plural word, but it is always singular.

6. Kara Wolters, together with her teammates, _________ a
formidable opponent on the basketball court.
presents
present

You're right! The subject is not compounded by

phrases such as along with, together with, and as well as.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR

7. He seems to forget that there __________ things to be done before he can

graduate.
are
is

You're right! The subject (things, in this case) comes after the verb in
constructions that begin with here or there.
8. There _______ to be some people left in that town after
yesterday's flood.
have
has

The subject is people, which is plural, and that

determines the verb (not the word there).

9. Some of the grain __________ to be contaminated.

appear
appears

You're right! Some is the subject of this sentence and, since it is not really
countable (you can't count the grain), it is singular.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR

10. Three-quarters of the students __________ against the tuition hike.

is
are

You're right! Three quarters of the students represents a countable number.

11. Three-quarters of the student body __________ against the tuition hike.
is
are

You're right! Three quarters of the student body represents a lump sum, a
singular entity.

12. A high percentage of the population _________ voting for the new school.
is
are

You're right! "Percentage" is a mathematical proportion, expressing here a

singular lump sum.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR

13. A high percentage of the people _________ voting for the new school.
was
were

You're right! "Percentage" is a mathematical proportion, but here it reflects

a countable, therefore plural, quantity.

Results: 11 Correct -- 2 Wrong -- 0 Skipped

Prescriptive Grammar

ENGLISH GRAMMAR
The general definition of the word prescriptive is to prescribe a strict set of rules. As
similar to descriptive grammar, prescriptive grammar is concerned by rules of how language
should be in terms of writing and speaking. These rules are not natural and must be learn in
school (formal learning).
Prescriptivism elevates the language by stating norms that helps identifying what is
improper and wrong. It is exactly the opposite of descriptivism, which tends to be more natural
than formal. The objective of prescriptive grammar is to delay the deterioration of language. This
is why some prescriptivists define the concept as a form to fix language, setting correct sentences
and preserving the so called correct use of English. Therefore, prescriptive grammar is an
academic perspective..