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Sentences of the Day

S. O. D. # 1:  Roberta said to her mother, “Mom, one of the apples are rotten.”

  Corrected version:  Roberta said to her mother, “Mom, one of the apples is rotten.

Rule 1-The verb must agree with the subject.  The subject in this sentence is singular, so the verb must be singular!

Rule 2-The subject of a sentence can never be in a prepositional phrase. That is why the subject of this sentence is the word “one” and not the word “apples.”  The prepositional phrase is [of the apples.]  The sentence really means one is rotten.

S. O. D.  # 2: Mrs. Maguire likes to run, to jump, and dancing.

  Corrected version:  Mrs. Maguire likes to run, to jump, and to dance.

Rule 3- Use parallel structure in all written work.  Parallel structure is the repetition of words, phrases, or sentences that are similar (parallel) in meaning and structure.

S. O. D. # 3:  The vice president will be in to see us today but will not stay for lunch.
                                           or

                       The vice president will be in to see us today, but he will not stay for lunch.

  Answer:  Both sentences are correct!

            Rule 4- Use a comma before a conjunction in a compound sentence

            Compound sentence- contains two independent clauses. (That means two separate subjects and two separate verbs.  The first sentence does not have a subject (he) in the second half of the sentence.
            Clause- is a group of words containing a subject and a verb.

            Phrase- is a group of words that does not have a subject and a verb.

S. O. D. # 4: Hester Prynne would not name the person that she sinned with.

  Corrected version:  Hester Prynne would not name the person with whom she sinned.
            Rule 5- In formal writing try not to end a sentence with a preposition.  (This is a favorite with the S.A.T. people.  Caution: This sometimes results in an “awkward sounding” sentence.  Keep revising until the sentence is both correct and pleasing to the ear.

            Rule 6- Technically, the word “that” may refer to people or things, but I think the word “who” sounds better when you are referring to people.

S. O. D. # 5:  Ten years after graduating from high school, the football jock said to his friends, "I should of studied harder in high school.  I don't think I really put in enough effort.  I probably could of gone to a good college.  That would of made a big difference in my current salary."

Fact: Graduates of high school usually make more than non-graduates. Graduates of college usually make more than high school graduates.  Obvious!?!
  
    Corrected version: Ten years after graduating from high school, the football jock said to his friends, "I should have studied harder in high school.  I don't think I really put in enough effort.  I probably could have gone to a good college.  That would have made a big difference in my current salary."

Rule 7: Never say, "could of," "should of," or "would of."  This also goes for the even less educated, "coulda," "woulda," or "shoulda!"  Always use the helping verb "have."