2.1 Sentence Structure, Agreement, and Verb Tense

2.1 Sentence Structure, Agreement, and Verb Tense

The CLEP College Composition Modular exam heavily emphasizes the mechanics of Standard Written English. Mastery of subject-verb agreement, pronoun choice, and verb tense sequence is essential for identifying error-free sentences and revising flawed constructions under timed test conditions.

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1. Subject-Verb Agreement

At its core, the rule of subject-verb agreement is simple: a singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb. However, test writers construct questions designed to obscure the true subject using complex sentence structures.

The Intervening Phrase Trap

The most common agreement trap on the CLEP involves placing prepositional phrases, appositives, or parenthetical expressions between the subject and the verb. Words introduced by phrases such as along with, as well as, in addition to, together with, accompanied by, or including do not change the number of the subject.

• Incorrect: The lead researcher, along with three laboratory assistants, were recognized at the annual symposium.
• Correct: The lead researcher, along with three laboratory assistants, was recognized at the annual symposium.
• Rule: Strip away the intervening phrase ("along with three laboratory assistants"). The singular subject is "researcher," which requires the singular verb "was."

Compound Subjects: Joining with And vs. Or / Nor

1. Subjects joined by and: Take a plural verb unless the joined elements refer to a single entity or person.

   • Plural: The primary investigator and the clinical director have approved the protocol.
   • Singular (Single Entity): Ham and eggs is a classic breakfast dish.
   • Singular (Same Person): The creator and director of the documentary was present at the screening.

2. Subjects joined by or, nor, either...or, or neither...nor: The verb agrees with the subject closest to the verb (the rule of proximity).

   • Neither the senior analysts nor the project manager was available. (Manager is singular and closest).
   • Neither the project manager nor the senior analysts were available. (Analysts is plural and closest).

Indefinite Pronouns: Categorization Rules

Indefinite pronouns replace non-specific nouns. The CLEP tests your ability to classify them correctly into three agreement groups:

Collective Nouns and Inverted Sentence Structure

• Collective Nouns: Nouns like committee, faculty, team, jury, audience, board take a singular verb when the group acts as a single, unified unit, but take a plural verb when individual members act independently.
  • Unified (Singular): The committee has finalized its report.
  • Independent (Plural): The committee are arguing among themselves over the recommendations.
• Inverted Sentences: When sentences begin with there is/are, here is/are, or a prepositional phrase, the subject follows the verb.
  • Incorrect: High on the mountain ridge stands three ancient pine trees.
  • Correct: High on the mountain ridge stand three ancient pine trees. (Subject: trees).

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2. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement and Pronoun Case

A pronoun must agree with its antecedent (the noun it replaces) in number, person, and gender. Furthermore, pronouns change form (case) based on their grammatical function within the sentence.

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Singular indefinite pronouns (each, everyone, anybody) require singular possessive pronouns (his, her, or his or her).

• Flagged on the exam: Every candidate must bring their identification to the testing center.
• Traditional formal agreement: Every candidate must bring his or her identification to the testing center.
• Plural revision (usually the best answer): All candidates must bring their identification to the testing center.

Singular they is accepted by most current style manuals, including MLA and APA, for a person whose gender is unknown or nonbinary. On a CLEP conventions item, however, the tested rule is formal number agreement with a singular indefinite pronoun, and the option that recasts the sentence in the plural is almost always available and always safe. Choose the plural revision when it appears.

The Three Pronoun Cases

1. Subjective (Nominative) Case: Used when the pronoun functions as the subject or predicate nominative (I, he, she, we, they, who).
   • Subject: She and I drafted the grant proposal.
   • Predicate Nominative: It was she who answered the phone.
2. Objective Case: Used when the pronoun functions as a direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition (me, him, her, us, them, whom).
   • Direct Object: The committee selected her for the fellowship.
   • Object of Preposition: Between you and me (never you and I), the findings are questionable.
3. Possessive Case: Indicates ownership (my/mine, his, her/hers, our/ours, their/theirs, whose).

Pronoun Case in Special Structures

• Comparisons (than or as): Complete the elliptical (implied) clause to determine the correct case.
  • Example: Marcus is more experienced than she [is]. (Not her).
  • Example: The manager trusts Sarah more than me [than the manager trusts me].
• Possessives Before Gerunds: A gerund is an -ing verb form functioning as a noun. Nouns or pronouns preceding a gerund must be in the possessive case.
  • Incorrect: We were surprised by him winning the election.
  • Correct: We were surprised by his winning the election. (What surprised us was the winning, which belonged to him).
• Relative Pronouns: Who vs. Whom
  • Use who when the pronoun performs the action (subjective: replace with he/she).
  • Use whom when the pronoun receives the action (objective: replace with him/her).
  • Rule: "[Who/Whom] did the board appoint?" -> The board appointed him. Therefore, use Whom.

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3. Verb Tense Consistency, Sequence, and Mood

Maintaining consistent and logical verb tenses prevents confusion regarding the timeline of events.

Sequence of Tenses

• Present Perfect (has/have + past participle): Describes an action that began in the past and continues into the present, or an action completed at an unspecified past time with present relevance.
  • Example: Dr. Chen has published over twenty papers since joining the faculty.
• Past Perfect (had + past participle): Used when two past actions occur at different times; the past perfect designates the earlier of the two actions.
  • Incorrect: By the time the bell rang, the students finished the examination.
  • Correct: By the time the bell rang, the students had finished the examination.
• Future Perfect (will have + past participle): Indicates an action that will be completed prior to a specified future moment.
  • Example: By next December, the research team will have completed the trial.

Subjunctive and Conditional Moods

The subjunctive mood expresses hypothetical conditions, wishes, or formal demands/recommendations.

1. Contrary-to-Fact Clauses (If clauses): Use were instead of was for singular subjects in hypothetical or impossible situations.
   • Incorrect: If I was the dean of admissions, I would revise the policy.
   • Correct: If I were the dean of admissions, I would revise the policy.
2. Mandative Subjunctive: Verbs of command, insistence, demand, recommendation, or request (insist, demand, recommend, request, require, propose) are followed by that clauses using the base form of the verb.
   • Incorrect: The safety officer demanded that the facility is closed immediately.
   • Correct: The safety officer demanded that the facility be closed immediately.

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Summary Table: Grammar Errors & Corrections

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CLEP Exam Traps & Strategy Checklist

1. Watch out for Neither...Nor structures: Verify that the verb agrees with the subject component nearest to it.
2. Identify Gerunds: Whenever an -ing word acts as a noun object of a verb or preposition, ensure the preceding noun/pronoun is possessive (John's leaving, their approving).
3. Test Who/Whom with Substitution: Isolate the clause containing who/whom. Substitute he/she (for who) or him/her (for whom) to check for correct case.
4. Check If Clauses for Mood: If a condition is contrary to fact, ensure were is used for past hypothetical state and had + past participle is used for past conditional conditions.