Incorrect:

Just before he died, my friend who writes poetry published his first book.

Correct:

Just before he died, my friend who wrote poetry published his first book.

Exercises:

Part A: Choose the correct answer.

From 1926 until her death, Margaret Mead ----- New York's American Mu-seum of Natural History.

(A) was associated with  (B) associates with  (C) is associated with  (D) associated 

Part B: Choose the incorrect word or phrase and correct it.

Before dinosaurs became  extinct, plant life is  very  different  on Earth.

Problem 5 Agreement - modified subject and verb

There must be agreement of subject and verb. Avoid using a verb which agrees with the modifier of a subject instead of with the subject itself.

Examples:

Incorrect:

His knowledge of languages and international relations aid him in his work.

Correct:

His knowledge of languages and international relations aids him in his work.

Exercises:

Part A: Choose the correct answer.

Groups of tissues, each with its own function, ________ in the human body.

(A) it makes up the organs  (B) make up the organs  (C) they make up the organs  (D) makes up the organs 

Part B: Choose the incorrect word or phrase and correct it.

The Zoning Improvement Plan, better known as  zip codes, enable  postal clerks to speed  the routing of an  ever-increasing volume of mail.

Problem 6 Agreement - subject with accompaniment and verb

There must be agreement of subject and verb. Avoid using a verb which agrees with a phrase of accompaniment instead of with the subject itself.

Examples:

Incorrect:

The guest of honor, along with his wife and two sons, were seated at the first table.

Correct:

The guest of honor, along with his wife and two sons, was seated at the first table.

Exercises:

Part A: Choose the correct answer.

Thor Heyerdahl, accompanied by the crew of the Kon Tiki, _____ in order to prove his theories of cultural diffusion.

(A) sail specifically charted courses  (B) sailing specifically charted courses  (C) sails specifically charted courses  (D) they sail specifically charted courses 

Part B: Choose the incorrect word or phrase and correct it.

The high protein content of various strains of alfalfa plants, along with the characteristically   long root system that enables  them to survive long droughts, make  them particularly  valuable in arid countries.

Problem 7 Agreement - subject with appositive and verb

There must be agreement of subject and verb. An appositive is a word or phrase that follows a noun and defines it. An appositive usually has a comma before it and a comma after it. Avoid using a verb that agrees with words in the appositive after a subject instead of with the subject itself.

Examples:

Incorrect:

The books, an English dictionary and a chemistry text, was on the shelf yesterday.

Correct:

The books, an English dictionary and a chemistry text, were on the shelf yesterday.

Exercises:

Part A: Choose the correct answer.

Cupid, one of the ancient Roman gods, __________.

(A) were a little winged child  (B) representing as a little winged child  (C) was represented as a little winged child  (D) a little winged child 

Part B: Choose the incorrect word or phrase and correct it.

Columbus, Ohio, the capital of the state, are  not only the largest  city in Ohio but also  a typical metropolitan area, often used  in market research.