TEAS® English Study Guide
Sentence Structure
Complete sentences. Every complete sentence needs three things: a subject (who or what the sentence is about), a verb (the action or state of being), and a complete thought that can stand on its own. A group of words with all three is an independent clause — a full sentence. Miss any one and you have a fragment.
Fragments. A fragment is an incomplete sentence punctuated as if it were whole. It might lack a subject ("Ran to the store."), lack a verb ("The runner in the blue jacket."), or be a subordinate clause that can’t stand alone ("Because the store closed early."). That last type is the sneakiest; it has a subject and verb but begins with a word like because, although, when, or which, which leaves the thought hanging.
Run-ons and comma splices. A run-on jams two complete sentences together without a proper connection ("The rain fell all night the streets flooded"). A comma splice joins them with only a comma ("The rain fell all night, the streets flooded"). Both are errors. There are a few standard fixes.
Three ways to fix a run-on:
- Period: Creates two separate sentences. The rain fell all night. The streets flooded.
- Semicolon: Joins two closely related complete sentences. The rain fell all night; the streets flooded.
- Comma + coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so — remember FANBOYS). Properly separates two independent clauses. The rain fell all night, so the streets flooded.
Subject-verb agreement. A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb (the dog runs / the dogs run). Three situations often trip students up.
Agreement traps:
- A phrase between the subject and verb: Ignore it. In the box of chocolates was open, the subject is box (singular), not chocolates — so we use was, not were.
- Indefinite pronouns: Pronouns like each, every, everyone, neither, either, or one are singular. Each of the students has a locker.
- "Or" / "nor" subjects: The verb agrees with the subject nearest it. Neither the coach nor the players were ready.
Pronoun-antecedent agreement. A pronoun must match the noun it replaces (its antecedent) in number. If the antecedent is singular, the pronoun is singular. It’s each student brought his or her book, not their book, in strict usage.
Putting it in practice:
To check a sentence, find the subject and verb and confirm they agree. Then confirm the sentence expresses a complete thought. To fix a run-on, apply one of the three standard repairs. When your ear says one thing and the rule says another, follow the rule.
Example:
The list of assignments were posted online.
The subject is list (singular), not assignments — the phrase "of assignments" just sits in between. Thus, the verb should be was: The list of assignments was posted online.