How to fix unclear sentences with rules, not by ear
TEAS 7 outline: Use grammar to improve clarity
Also covers HESI A2 Grammar (Common grammar errors)
- Your ear can approve sentences that break written rules.
- The verb agrees with its true subject, not the nearest noun.
- Each pronoun points to one clear noun; who is a subject, whom an object.
- Put each modifier right next to the word it describes.
- List items share one form; verbs stay in one time frame.
Key facts
- A verb agrees with its true subject; cross out phrases such as of the supplies or along with her, because the true subject sits outside them (portion words such as some, most and all are the exception: Most of the supplies are here).
- Each, everyone, everybody, nobody and someone take a singular verb; with either/or and neither/nor, the verb agrees with the subject closer to it.
- In a sentence starting with there is or there are, the real subject comes after the verb, so look ahead to choose is or are.
Show all 7 key factsShow fewer
- A pronoun must match its noun in number and point to only one clear noun; a vague this, it or they with no clear noun is an error.
- Use who where he or she would fit (a subject) and whom where him or her would fit (an object of a verb or preposition).
- An opening -ing or to phrase describes the subject that comes right after the comma; limiting words such as only, almost and just go directly before the word they limit.
- Items joined by and or or share one grammatical form, and verbs stay in the same tense unless the time really changes.
Quick check1 question · 2 more at the end
Which of the following sentences uses who or whom correctly in formal writing?
Correct answer: C.
Use who where he or she would fit (a subject) and whom where him or her would fit (an object of a verb or preposition). Answering the question with he or him is a quick test: you would send the forms to him, so whom is correct after the preposition to. In choice B, we thanked him, so formal writing needs whom; in choices A and D, he is covering and he fixed, so who is needed.
A Who is needed because the pronoun is the subject of is covering (he is covering, not him is covering).
B In formal writing this needs whom, because the pronoun is the object of thanked (we thanked him); who here is the casual spoken form.
C Correct: whom is the object of the preposition to (send the forms to him).
D Who is needed because the pronoun is the subject of fixed (he fixed the printer); whom wrongly sounds more formal here.
Full lesson
Each part starts with its main idea. Open a part when you want the details.
The short answer: To make a sentence clear, check four things. The verb agrees with its true subject, not the nearest noun. Each pronoun points to one clear noun and matches it; who is a subject, whom an object. Each modifier sits next to the word it describes. List items share one form, and verbs stay in one time frame.
1 Why can't you trust what sounds right?Your ear is trained on casual speech, so it often approves sentences that break written rules. 1 min
Your ear is trained on casual speech, so it often approves sentences that break written rules. The TEAS 7 outline asks you to use grammar to improve clarity, so check each answer choice with these 4 steps.
- Cross out any phrase between the subject and the verb, then say the subject and verb together.
- Point from each pronoun (he, she, it, they, this, who) to the one noun it stands for.
- Touch test each describing phrase: is it right next to the word it describes?
- Match the items in any list and the tense of every verb.
2 How do you make subjects and verbs agree?The verb matches its true subject, which is often not the noun right beside it. 1 min
The verb matches its true subject, which is often not the noun right beside it. Find the subject first, then choose the verb.
| Tricky subject | Rule | Correct | Incorrect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phrase in between (of, with, along with) | Ignore the phrase | The list of supplies is on the cart. | The list of supplies are on the cart. |
| Each, everyone, nobody, someone | Singular | Everyone on the night shift has a badge. | Everyone on the night shift have a badge. |
| Either/or, neither/nor | Match the closer subject | Neither the aides nor the supervisor was told. | Neither the aides nor the supervisor were told. |
| There is / there are | Subject comes after the verb | There are two forms to sign. | There is two forms to sign. |
Quick test: say only the subject and verb, such as "list is."
3 How do you keep pronouns clear?Every pronoun needs one clear noun to point to, and it must match that noun. 1 min
Every pronoun needs one clear noun to point to, and it must match that noun. If a reader could pick two nouns, or none, rewrite.
| Rule | Correct | Incorrect |
|---|---|---|
| Match number | The nurses put away their charts. | The nurses put away her charts. |
| One clear noun | Mia told Rosa, "I passed the exam." | Mia told Rosa that she passed the exam. |
| No vague they | The facilities manager says the cafeteria will close. | They say the cafeteria will close. |
| Who = subject | Who signed the form? (He signed it.) | Whom signed the form? |
| Whom = object | To whom should I send it? (Send it to him.) | To who should I send it? |
Quick test for who and whom: answer the question with he or him. He means who; him means whom.
4 How do you place modifiers so they describe the right word?A describing phrase attaches to whatever it sits next to, so park it beside its target. 1 min
A describing phrase attaches to whatever it sits next to, so park it beside its target.
| Problem | Correct | Incorrect |
|---|---|---|
| Dangling opener (no doer) | Rushing to the bus, I spilled my coffee. | Rushing to the bus, my coffee spilled. |
| Misplaced phrase | We sold the wheelchair with a broken wheel to a neighbor. | We sold the wheelchair to a neighbor with a broken wheel. |
| Limiting word (only, almost, just) | The new aide checked almost every chart. | The new aide almost checked every chart. |
Quick test: read the first noun after an opening phrase. If it can't do the action, the modifier dangles.
5 How do you keep lists and verb tenses consistent?Items joined by and or or share one form, and verbs stay in one time frame. 1 min
Items joined by and or or share one form, and verbs stay in one time frame. Line list items up and compare their first words; shift tense only when the time really changes.
| Rule | Correct | Incorrect |
|---|---|---|
| Parallel list | The job involves lifting boxes, answering phones, and entering data. | The job involves lifting boxes, to answer phones, and data entry. |
| Same tense | Yesterday the visitor walked to the lobby and asked for a map. | Yesterday the visitor walked to the lobby and asks for a map. |
Common mistakes
The traps students fall into most. Read these before you practice.
Watch out: Choose the rule-correct sentence, not the one that sounds most natural in casual speech; Neither the aides nor the supervisor was told is correct even though it sounds odd.
Watch out: The noun nearest the verb is often not the subject: The list of supplies is on the cart, not are.
Watch out: Singular they (Everyone has their own locker) is increasingly accepted, though some formal style rules still prefer his or her; look for a choice that breaks a clear rule, not one that only uses singular they.
Watch out: A revision that fixes one error but creates another (for example, fixes a dangling modifier but switches tense) is still wrong.
Watch out: Whom is not just a fancier who; Whom is on call tonight? is wrong because he is on call, not him.
How to remember it
Remember the four verbs cross out, point, touch, match in that order. They cover agreement, pronouns, modifiers, and lists and tenses.
Self-check:
- Fix this sentence and name the rule: "The box of gloves are empty."
- Answer "Who/Whom did the manager call?" with he or him, then choose the pronoun.
- Rewrite "Walking into the room, the alarm was loud" so the phrase has a doer.
Show answers
- "The box of gloves is empty." (subject-verb agreement)
- Cross out the phrase "of gloves."
- The true subject is box, which is singular, so the verb is is.
- Whom.
- Answer it: "The manager called him."
- Him means whom: "Whom did the manager call?"
- Sample: "Walking into the room, I heard the loud alarm."
- An alarm can't walk, so the original phrase dangles.
- Put the doer (I) right after the comma.