4.1 Parts of Speech & Subject-Verb Agreement
Key Takeaways
The eight parts of speech are: noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection
Subject-verb agreement means singular subjects take singular verbs and plural subjects take plural verbs
Compound subjects joined by "and" take a plural verb; those joined by "or/nor" agree with the nearest subject
Collective nouns (team, group, committee) are usually treated as singular in American English
Indefinite pronouns like everyone, nobody, each, and either are singular and take singular verbs
Pronoun-antecedent agreement requires pronouns to match their antecedent in number, gender, and person
Common pronoun errors include using "me" as a subject, using "I" as an object, and unclear antecedents
Verb tenses must remain consistent within a sentence unless there is a clear reason for a shift
Grammar is essential for clear communication in healthcare. Errors in documentation can lead to misunderstandings that affect patient care. The HESI A2 Grammar section tests your mastery of English language mechanics.
The Eight Parts of Speech
| Part of Speech | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | Names a person, place, thing, or idea | nurse, hospital, syringe, health |
| Pronoun | Replaces a noun | she, he, it, they, who |
| Verb | Shows action or state of being | administer, assess, is, were |
| Adjective | Describes a noun | acute, severe, bilateral, elevated |
| Adverb | Modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb | quickly, carefully, very, extremely |
| Preposition | Shows relationship between words | in, on, at, between, during, after |
| Conjunction | Connects words, phrases, or clauses | and, but, or, because, although |
| Interjection | Expresses emotion | Oh! Ouch! Well, |
Subject-Verb Agreement
The fundamental rule: A verb must agree with its subject in number.
| Subject Type | Verb Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular subject | Singular verb | "The patient is stable" |
| Plural subject | Plural verb | "The patients are stable" |
| Compound (and) | Plural verb | "The doctor and nurse are ready" |
| Compound (or/nor) | Agrees with nearest | "Neither the doctor nor the nurses are ready" |
Tricky Subject-Verb Agreement Cases
1. Words between subject and verb (prepositional phrases): The subject is NEVER inside a prepositional phrase.
- "The box of supplies is on the shelf" (subject = box, singular)
- "The results of the test are normal" (subject = results, plural)
2. Collective nouns: Usually singular in American English:
- "The team is meeting at 3:00"
- "The committee has made its decision"
3. Indefinite pronouns:
| Always Singular | Always Plural | Singular or Plural |
|---|---|---|
| everyone, everybody | both | all |
| someone, somebody | few | any |
| no one, nobody | many | most |
| anyone, anybody | several | none |
| each, either, neither | some |
- "Everyone is required to wash hands" (singular)
- "Several patients are waiting" (plural)
- "Some of the medication is expired" (singular — "medication" is uncountable)
- "Some of the tablets are expired" (plural — "tablets" is countable)
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
A pronoun must agree with its antecedent (the noun it replaces) in number, gender, and person.
Correct: "Each nurse must update her or his patient records." (singular antecedent = singular pronoun) Correct: "The nurses must update their patient records." (plural antecedent = plural pronoun)
Common Pronoun Errors
| Error Type | Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| Subject/Object confusion | "Me and the doctor discussed the case" | "The doctor and I discussed the case" |
| Object form as subject | "Him and her went to the meeting" | "He and she went to the meeting" |
| Subject form as object | "The supervisor spoke to he and I" | "The supervisor spoke to him and me" |
| Unclear antecedent | "When the nurse spoke to the patient, she smiled" (Who smiled?) | "The nurse smiled when she spoke to the patient" |
Tip for subject vs. object pronouns: Remove the other person from the sentence. You would say "I discussed the case" (not "Me discussed"), so "The doctor and I" is correct.
Verb Tense Consistency
Maintain consistent verb tense within a sentence unless there is a logical reason for a shift:
- Incorrect: "The patient was resting when the alarm rings." (past + present)
- Correct: "The patient was resting when the alarm rang." (past + past)
- Correct shift: "The patient reported that she takes her medication daily." (past reporting, present habitual action)
Verb Tenses in Detail
| Tense | Form | Example | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple present | base verb / verb+s | "The nurse administers medication." | Habitual actions, facts |
| Simple past | verb+ed (or irregular) | "The patient received treatment." | Completed past actions |
| Simple future | will + verb | "The doctor will order labs." | Actions that haven't happened yet |
| Present progressive | am/is/are + verb-ing | "The patient is resting." | Actions happening now |
| Past progressive | was/were + verb-ing | "The nurse was charting when the alarm sounded." | Ongoing past action interrupted |
| Present perfect | has/have + past participle | "The patient has improved since admission." | Past action with present relevance |
| Past perfect | had + past participle | "The patient had eaten before the test." | Action completed before another past action |
Nursing documentation typically uses past tense (what was done) and present tense (current status):
- "Assessed patient at 0800. Vital signs are within normal limits."
- "Patient reports pain level of 4/10. Administered Tylenol 650 mg PO as ordered."
Active vs. Passive Voice
| Voice | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Active | Subject → Verb → Object | "The nurse assessed the patient." |
| Passive | Object → was/were + past participle → by + subject | "The patient was assessed by the nurse." |
- Active voice is preferred in most writing — it is clearer, more direct, and more concise
- Passive voice is used when the actor is unknown or unimportant: "The medication was administered at 1400."
- HESI A2 questions may ask you to identify or convert between active and passive voice
Commonly Confused Verb Forms
| Error | Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| Lie vs. Lay | "Lay down and rest." | "Lie down and rest." (lie = recline; lay = place an object) |
| Sit vs. Set | "Set in the chair." | "Sit in the chair." (sit = be seated; set = place an object) |
| Rise vs. Raise | "Raise up slowly." | "Rise up slowly." (rise = go up; raise = lift something) |
Memory tip: Lay, set, and raise all require a direct object (something being placed, set, or raised). Lie, sit, and rise do not take a direct object.
Select the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.
The group of nurses are going to the conference.
The group of nurses is going to the conference.
Neither the doctor or the nurse are available.
Each of the patients have been discharged.
Which sentence contains a pronoun error?
The doctor and I reviewed the lab results.
She and her colleagues attended the meeting.
The charge nurse assigned the case to him and I.
They completed their assignments on time.
Which indefinite pronoun is always SINGULAR?
Both
Several
Many
Everyone
Complete the sentence: "Neither the nurse nor the doctors _____ available." (was/were)
Type your answer below
Identify the verb tense error: "The patient was sleeping when the monitor beeps loudly."
"was sleeping" should be "is sleeping"
"beeps" should be "beeped"
There is no error in this sentence
"loudly" should be "loud"
Match each part of speech to its correct example.
Match each item on the left with the correct item on the right
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Preposition
Which sentence has correct pronoun-antecedent agreement?
Each student must bring their textbook to class.
Each student must bring his or her textbook to class.
The students must bring his textbook to class.
Each student must bring its textbook to class.
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.