TACHS: Written Expression: conventions

A method you can use

1. Read the full sentence and its neighboring sentences before editing. First identify the tested relationship: subject and verb, pronoun and antecedent, consistent time, punctuation between clauses, or the modifier’s intended subject. An edit must repair a real error while preserving meaning.
2. In “The basket of notebooks are beside the desk,” basket is the singular subject; of notebooks describes its contents. Replacing are with is gives “The basket of notebooks is beside the desk.” Choosing the plural verb because notebooks is closer confuses a descriptive phrase with the sentence’s subject.
3. For line-error questions, reconstruct the complete sentence across the displayed lines. A boundary on the screen is not automatically a sentence boundary. Check each line, and use a no-error or no-change choice only when the directions offer it and the entire construction is acceptable.
4. Transfer: “Each of the volunteers have a badge.” Each is the singular subject, so “Each of the volunteers has a badge” is correct. Self-check by temporarily removing of the volunteers; the remaining subject–verb pair should still agree.

Before you answer

Read the directions first. Check whether the question wants one answer or several, and what your answer has to include.

Related section practice

46 practice questions cover this skill. Try a set below or use the question bank for more.