Boredom Be Gone-Grammar- Lesson 13
More Grammar Tips
These tips are meant to cover some of the most common grammar errors.
1. When do you use “good” and when do you use ”well”? (Remember this and you’ll never get it wrong again!)
Good is an adjective. In other words, it is used to describe a noun, a pronoun or another adjective. You did a good job on the test. (“Good“ describes the noun “job”.)
Well is adverb. It answers the question “how”, “when“, “why” or “where” and modifies a verb, an adjective or another adverb. You did really well on the test. (“Well” answers the question “how” you did. “Really“ is also an adverb. It modifies “well” and answers the question “how well did you do?”)
2. If the sentence begins with “there”, first identify the subject.
There were two boys sitting in the back of the room. (The subject is “boys”, so you need the plural form of the verb.)
There was an error in your composition. (The subject is “error”, so you need a singular subject.)
3. (This one is a review.) If the subject of the sentence ends in -one or -body, you need to use the singular form of the verb.
Someone in the back of the room raised his hand.
Everybody moves out in a single line. (Remember it this way: You only have “one” “body”.)
4. Another review: If “either” —-“or” appears in the sentence, use the subject that is closer to the verb when deciding which form of the verb to use.
Either John or his friends are going to the dance. (“Friends” Is closer to the verb, so you need the plural form of the verb.)
Either his friends or John is going to the dance. (”John” is closer to the verb, so you need the singular form of the verb.)
5. Remember that a subject will never be found within a prepositional phrase.
The answer to the questions is in the back of the book.
( The subject is “answer”, not “questions.)
6. When do you use “bad,” and when do you use “badly?” “Bad” is an adjective. (He was a very bad boy.) ”Badly” is an adverb. (He did badly on the test..)
7. When do you use “them”, and when do you use “those?”
”Those” is an adjective. “Them” is in the objective case, so it can only be used as a direct object, indirect object, or object of the preposition.
Those oranges are too ripe.
I gave them the correct answers.
I called them to the phone.
It’s Your Turn
Choose the correct form of the verb.
1. (Them, Those) girls are not my friends.
2. I felt (bad, badly) that’s so many students failed.
3. I feel (real, really) (good, well) today.
4. Someone left (her, their) on the table.
5. John did (bad, badly) on the test.
6. Andrea thought it was a (good, well) test because she did (good, well) on it.
7. We all look forward to (them, those) vacation days.
8. One of those boys (is, are) responsible.
9. The point of his lessons (is, are) always the same.
10. Either you or your friend (is, are) expected to show up.
11. Someone left (their, her paper lying on the desk.
12. There (is, are) far too many failures this quarter.
13. He did (poor, poorly) on his last exam.
14. He can’t see too (good, well) without his glasses.
15. i’m not sure what’s wrong with (them, those) people.
Note: Answers to this exercise in addition to answers to the Study Guide accompanying Lesson 12 will appear at the end of Lesson 14.
