Why it matters on the HSPT
The Language section asks you to find the sentence with a mistake in usage, or to choose no mistakes. Agreement errors are the most common usage error the test plants, because they are easy to hide. The writer puts a plural noun right before a singular verb, or a singular pronoun like each in front of a plural phrase, and hopes your ear follows the nearest word instead of the real subject. About one Language item in six turns on agreement, and the same rule decides several items in the composition part of the section.
The rules
The verb matches the subject, not the nearest noun. A singular subject takes a singular verb, and in the present tense the singular verb is the one that ends in s: the dog runs, the dogs run. Find the subject by asking who or what is doing the verb, and ignore everything in between.
Cross out the phrases. Prepositional phrases, the ones that start with of, in, on, with, from, near, and similar words, never contain the subject. The set of keys is on the hook: set is the subject, so is is right. The players on the bench were restless: players is the subject, so were is right. Phrases starting with along with, together with, as well as, and in addition to work the same way; they do not make a subject plural. The captain, along with two teammates, was late.
And makes a plural. Two subjects joined by and take a plural verb: Maya and her brother walk to school. The exception is when the two words name one thing: macaroni and cheese is my favorite.
Or and nor go with the nearest subject. Neither the coach nor the players were ready. Neither the players nor the coach was ready. The verb looks at whichever subject is closest to it.
Some pronouns are always singular. Each, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anyone, anybody, someone, somebody, no one, nobody. Each of the essays was graded. Everybody in the stands cheers. The plural phrase after them is a trap.
Some are always plural. Both, few, many, several. Both of the doors were open.
Some depend on what follows. All, any, most, none, some. All of the cake is gone, but all of the cookies are gone. Look at the noun after of.
Sentences that start with there or here. The subject comes after the verb. There is a reason. There are three reasons. Say the sentence with the subject first to hear it: three reasons are there.
Collective nouns. Team, class, family, committee, and audience are singular when the group acts as one: the team practices on Tuesdays.
Contractions. Doesn't is singular and don't is plural. He doesn't know; they don't know. The test likes he don't because it sounds casual enough to slip past.
Worked examples
Example 1
Which sentence contains an error in usage?
A. The box of old photographs were in the attic.
B. Each of the runners has a number.
C. There are two reasons for the delay.
D. No mistakes.
- A.A
- B.B
- C.C
- D.D
Show answer
Answer: A: A
Cross out of old photographs and the subject is box, which is singular, so the verb must be was. Sentence B is correct because each is singular. Sentence C is correct because the subject, reasons, is plural.
Example 2
Which sentence contains an error in usage?
A. Neither the twins nor their cousin was at the party.
B. Both of the entrances is locked at night.
C. My aunt and uncle live in Ohio.
D. No mistakes.
- A.A
- B.B
- C.C
- D.D
Show answer
Answer: B: B
Both is always plural, so the sentence needs are. Sentence A is correct because with nor the verb matches the nearest subject, cousin. Sentence C is correct because and makes a plural subject.
Example 3
Which sentence contains an error in usage?
A. Everyone in the three classes wants a turn.
B. The coach, along with her assistants, is arriving early.
C. Some of the paint have dried on the brush.
D. No mistakes.
- A.A
- B.B
- C.C
- D.D
Show answer
Answer: C: C
Some takes its number from the noun that follows. Paint is singular, so the verb must be has. Sentence A is correct because everyone is singular. Sentence B is correct because along with does not change the subject, coach.
Example 4
Which sentence contains an error in usage?
A. He don't remember the combination.
B. The committee meets on the first Monday.
C. Several of the windows were left open.
D. No mistakes.
- A.A
- B.B
- C.C
- D.D
Show answer
Answer: A: A
He is singular, so the contraction must be doesn't. Sentence B is correct because a committee acting as one group is singular. Sentence C is correct because several is plural.
Example 5
Which sentence contains an error in usage?
A. Here are the keys you lost.
B. Either the bus or the trains is running late.
C. The price of the tickets has gone up.
D. No mistakes.
- A.A
- B.B
- C.C
- D.D
Show answer
Answer: B: B
With or, the verb matches the nearest subject, trains, which is plural, so the verb must be are. Sentence A is correct because keys, the subject after here, is plural. Sentence C is correct because the subject is price, not tickets.
Example 6
Which sentence contains an error in usage?
A. All of the students were on time.
B. Neither of the answers is complete.
C. My brother and my best friend plays on the same team.
D. No mistakes.
- A.A
- B.B
- C.C
- D.D
Show answer
Answer: C: C
Two subjects joined by and take a plural verb: my brother and my best friend play. Sentence A is correct because all takes its number from students. Sentence B is correct because neither is singular.
Example 7
Which sentence contains an error in usage?
A. The team celebrates every win with pizza.
B. One of my cousins live in Texas.
C. There is a spider on the ceiling.
D. No mistakes.
- A.A
- B.B
- C.C
- D.D
Show answer
Answer: B: B
Cross out of my cousins and the subject is one, which is singular, so the verb must be lives. Sentence A is correct because team is a collective noun acting as one. Sentence C is correct because spider is singular.
Common mistakes
- Matching the verb to the nearest noun. The word right before the verb is often the end of a phrase, not the subject. Cross the phrase out.
- Treating each and everyone as plural. They feel plural because they refer to groups, but they are grammatically singular.
- Letting along with and as well as add a subject. Only and makes a compound subject.
- Reading there is as a subject. There is never the subject; look past the verb for it.
- Hearing he don't as fine. It is common in speech and always wrong on the test.
Practice
Agreement errors are the core of usage and grammar items, and the same rules decide which sentence is correct in composition items. The pronouns lesson covers the other half of usage errors.