Identifying Errors in a Sentence

1. My brother or my sister are arriving tomorrow.

Answer explanation

1. My brother or my sister are arriving tomorrow.

Correct sentence:  My brother or my sister is arriving tomorrow

Explanation: Two singular subjects connected by or require a singular verb. In this sentence, there brother and sister are both singular, so the sentence should use the singular verb is.

2. Neither Ella nor her friends is available to assist you.

Answer explanation

2. Neither Ella nor her friends is available to assist you.

 

Correct sentence:  Neither Ella nor her friends are available to assist you.

When a singular subject and a plural subject are connected by neither/nor or either/or, the verb agrees with the subject nearest to it. In the sentence above, the plural verb are is used because it is nearer to the plural subject friends.

3. Armand, together with his friends, are going on a camping trip tomorrow.

Answer explanation

3. Armand, together with his friends, are going on a camping trip tomorrow.

Correct sentence:  Armand, together with his friends, is going on a camping trip tomorrow.

Explanation: In general, phrases such as together with, along with, as well as, should be ignored when considering the verb of the sentence. The verb should always agree with the subject. In this sentence, Armand is the singular subject, so the singular verb is is used

4. Jim and Mike are going to take the Subprofessional Civil Service Examination next month.

Answer explanation

4. Jim and Mike are going to take the Subprofessional Civil Service Examination next month.

Explanation: No error. Jim and Mike is a plural subject, so the plural verb are is used.

5. Each of the boys play piano well.

Answer explanation

5. Each of the boys play piano well.

Correct sentence:  Each of the boys plays piano well.

Explanation: The pronouns each, anyone, anybody, everyone, every one, everybody are singular and require singular verbs. In the sentence, each is singular so, the singular verb plays must be used.

6. Neither of them are available to meet you at the airport.

Answer explanation

6. Neither of them are available to meet you at the airport.

Correct sentence:  Neither of them is available to meet you at the airport.

Explanation: Sentences that use either or neither (without or) always require singular verb.

7. Ten years are such a long time to wait my love.

Answer explanation

7. Ten years are such a long time to wait my love.

Correct sentence:  Ten years is such a long time to wait my love.

Explanation: Periods of time take singular verb.

8. Five thousand pesos are a high price to pay for a single T-shirt.

Answer explanation

8. Five thousand pesos are a high price to pay for a single T-shirt.

Correct sentence:  Five thousand pesos is a high price to pay for a single T-shirt.

Explanation: Amount of money takes singular verb.

9. Fifty percent of the cake have disappeared after just two minutes.

Answer explanation

9. Fifty percent of the cake have disappeared after just two minutes.

Correct sentence: Fifty percent of the cake has disappeared after just two minutes.

Explanation: The verb used in words that indicate portions such as percent, fraction, part, all, some, etc. depends on the noun in the “of phrase.” In the sentence above, the cake in “of the cake” phrase is singular, therefore, the singular verb has should be used.

10. Everybody is happy about the result of the examination

Answer explanation

10. Everybody is happy about the result of the examination

Explanation: No Error. See no. 5 for explanation.