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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Jordan and Marvin’s mother has decided that they will become a lawyer when they grow up, but they seem more artistically inclined. No error
This sentence's error is a discrepancy in number. Two children are mentioned, "Jordan and Marvin," so logically, they would grow up to become two different lawyers. The sentence uses the singular noun "a lawyer" where it should use the plural noun "lawyers," so "lawyer" is the correct answer.
The corrected sentence reads, "Jordan and Marvin’s mother has decided that they will become lawyers when they grow up, but they seem more artistically inclined."
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Lewis and Clark, the now legendary explorers of the Louisiana Purchase, were chosen for their scientific knowledge and skills as a frontiersman. No error
This sentence has a discrepancy in number. Lewis and Clark are two different people, so they are two different frontiersmen. The corrected sentence reads: "Lewis and Clark, the now legendary explorers of the Louisiana Purchase, were chosen for their scientific knowledge and skills as frontiersmen."
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
All three of the pumpkins that Gerald entered into the contest became a top-ten winner; needless to say, he was thrilled. No error
In this sentence, there is a discrepancy in number. There are three pumpkins, so there should be multiple winners. The corrected sentence reads: "All three of the pumpkins that Gerald entered into the contest became top-ten winners; needless to say, he was thrilled."
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
As part of their development, caterpillars form a cocoon and eventually emerge as moths or butterflies. No error
This sentence's error is a problem with agreement of plurals. Multiple "caterpillars" should form multiple cocoons, but the sentence uses the singular noun "a cocoon," which doesn't make sense. "A cocoon" is thus the correct answer, and the corrected sentence reads, "As part of their development, caterpillars form cocoons and eventually emerge as moths or butterflies."
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Frida Kahlo and her husband Diego Rivera were both well-known and talented Mexican painter. No error
In this sentence, there are two individuals, both painters, so the object should reflect that number. The corrected sentence reads, "Frida Kahlo and her husband Diego Rivera were both well-known and talented Mexican painters."
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Dedication, hard work, and attention to detail are all an important factor in determining success. No error
As with pronouns, when a noun or group of nouns is replaced in a sentence by another noun, they must agree in number. The multiple subjects "Dedication," "work," and "attention" call for a plural word. A simple correction would be "important factors"
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Recognizing that the inhabitants of Earth suffered from many wars, disasters, and diseases, the aliens hoped to be welcomed as a savior. No error
This sentence lacks agreement between nouns. Since there are many aliens, “savior” should be plural. The corrected sentence reads, "Recognizing that the inhabitants of Earth suffered from many wars, disasters, and diseases, the aliens hoped to be welcomed as saviors."
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The professor decided that all of his students should become a fan of his favorite violinist, so he lent them CDs so that they could listen to the music. No error
"Students" is plural, so the plural word "fans" should be used in the sentence. However, the word used in the sentence as it is written is the singular “fan,” which is incorrect.
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All four of Martha’s children became a varsity athlete in high school; she was incredibly proud of her family. No error
Given that Martha has four children, the number of athletes should be plural. Therefore, “a varsity athlete” should be “varsity athletes."
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All of my classmates wanted to become a singer when they grew up, except for me. No error
There are multiple classmates described in the sentence. Therefore, there should also be multiple (or plural) singers. However, the word here is the singular, “singer,” which is incorrect.
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Two out of four teenagers who become addicted to drugs will go on to become a high school dropout. No error
Given that this sentence is talking about the fate of “two out of four teenagers,” multiple teenagers are being referred to. Therefore, “a high school dropout” should also be plural, and therefore read, “high school dropouts.”
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Polydactyl cats can have seven toes on each feet, a fact that makes me wonder whether the extra digits make it easier for them to scratch things. No error
The sentence uses the phrase "seven toes on each feet," and this is incorrect because "each" is used to describe a singular noun, but "feet" is plural. Changing "feet" to "foot" corrects this error.
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Reading, writing, and arithmetic are essential skill to learn in elementary school. No error
There is a discrepancy in the agreement of nouns in this sentence. "Reading, writing and arithmetic" require the plural form of "skill," "skills." Multiple subjects require a plural predicate to match their form. "Reading, writing, and arithmetic" are not being discussed as a unified group (which is an exception requiring a singular predicate), so the agreement must be plural, because several subjects are being discussed.
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I despise the chores that my mother asks me to do, but the act of pairing socks is by far the most tedious tasks. No error
In the clause "the act of pairing socks is by far the most tedious tasks," "act"and "tasks"are referring to the same thing, so "task"must be singular like "act"is. "Tasks"is plural and is therefore incorrect.
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Bob and Frank won the prize for first and second place in the elementary school baking contest. No error
This sentence refers to two prizes, first and second, for two people, Bob and Frank. The plural noun "prizes" should be used. The corrected sentence reads, "Bob and Frank won the prizes for first and second place in the elementary school baking contest."
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
All of my sisters are a pediatrician, but I want to be a marine biologist. No error
Because there are multiple sisters, the noun that describes their profession ("pediatrician") should be plural; "a pediatrician" should thus be changed to "pediatricians."
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Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Alyssa asked all of her friends to become a member of the new intramural volleyball team, even though some of them were not good athletes. No error
The correct answer is "a member." Because Alyssa is asking "her friends," which is plural, the corresponding noun should also be plural—"members" instead of "member."
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Elena, Laura, and May want to go to the movie theater, but they don't have enough money to buy a ticket. No error
Since the sentence uses a compound subject—"Elena, Laura, and May" —the corresponding noun of "ticket" should be plural, since the three girls will need multiple tickets.
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Many people have great ideas, but without plans those ideas are just a harmless notion. No error
Because the plural "ideas" and the singular "a dream" have the same referent, both should be either singular or plural. Therefore, the best way to correct this sentence is to pluralize "a harmless notion."
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All of the farmer's chickens proved to be an excellent producer of eggs; he made quite a large profit due to their productivity. No error
"All of the" is inconsistent with the rest of that sentence, specifically "an excellent producer." These two nouns must agree in number, but they do not here. "All" should be changed to "Each" in order to maintain agreement with "an excellent producer," and the corrected sentence would read: "Each of the farmer's chickens proved to be an excellent producer..."
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