Section 4.1: Subject-Verb Agreement, Pronouns, and Word Usage

Subject-Verb Agreement, Pronouns, and Word Usage

Quick Answer: The NPOST evaluates your ability to use standard English grammar. In law enforcement, writing clear, grammatically correct reports is just as important as physical fitness or tactical skills. A poorly written report can be dismantled by a defense attorney in court, destroying your credibility. This section covers the fundamental rules of subject-verb agreement, pronoun cases, and commonly confused words in the context of police reporting.

Police reports serve as the foundation of the criminal justice system. They document what happened, who was involved, and what actions were taken. Because these reports are legal documents that will be scrutinized by supervisors, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges, they must be clear, concise, and grammatically correct. Errors in grammar can change the meaning of a sentence, leading to confusion or reasonable doubt.

Subject-Verb Agreement

The most basic rule of grammar is that a subject and its verb must agree in number. A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

The Basic Rule

• Singular: The suspect runs down the alley.
• Plural: The suspects run down the alley.

Tricky Situations in Police Reports

Subject-verb agreement becomes challenging when words come between the subject and the verb, often in the form of prepositional phrases. You must ignore these intervening phrases and make the verb agree with the actual subject.

• Incorrect: The box of stolen watches were found in the trunk.

• Correct: The box of stolen watches was found in the trunk. (The subject is "box," not "watches.")

• Incorrect: The officer, along with his partner, are securing the scene.

• Correct: The officer, along with his partner, is securing the scene. (Phrases starting with "along with," "as well as," or "in addition to" do not make a singular subject plural.)

Compound Subjects

Subjects joined by "and" are generally plural and take a plural verb.

• Correct: The sergeant and the lieutenant are arriving at the scene.

However, when subjects are joined by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the part of the subject closest to the verb.

• Correct: Neither the witnesses nor the victim wants to testify. ("Victim" is singular and closest to the verb.)
• Correct: Neither the victim nor the witnesses want to testify. ("Witnesses" is plural and closest to the verb.)

Indefinite Pronouns

Certain pronouns are always singular, even if they seem to refer to multiple people. These include: anyone, everyone, someone, no one, anybody, everybody, somebody, nobody, each, either, neither.

• Correct: Everyone in the crowd was ordered to disperse.
• Correct: Each of the suspects has an alibi.

Pronoun Case and Usage

Pronouns replace nouns to prevent repetition. The NPOST frequently tests your ability to choose the correct pronoun case (subjective vs. objective).

Subjective vs. Objective Pronouns

• Subjective Pronouns: I, he, she, we, they, who. Use these when the pronoun is doing the action.
• Objective Pronouns: Me, him, her, us, them, whom. Use these when the pronoun is receiving the action or follows a preposition.

Common Pronoun Errors

Errors often occur with compound subjects or objects.

• Incorrect: The suspect assaulted Officer Jones and I.

• Correct: The suspect assaulted Officer Jones and me. (Test it by removing "Officer Jones and": You wouldn't say "The suspect assaulted I.")

• Incorrect: Between you and I, the suspect is lying.

• Correct: Between you and me, the suspect is lying. ("Between" is a preposition, so it requires an objective pronoun.)

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

A pronoun must agree in number with its antecedent (the noun it replaces).

• Incorrect: Every officer must submit their report by the end of shift.
• Correct: Every officer must submit his or her report by the end of shift. (Or rewrite to avoid the awkward "his or her": Officers must submit their reports by the end of shift.)

Commonly Confused Words

Using the wrong word can entirely change the meaning of your police report. The NPOST heavily tests your ability to distinguish between words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings.

Its vs. It's

• Its (Possessive): Belonging to it.
  • Example: The K9 lost its collar during the pursuit.
• It's (Contraction): It is or it has.
  • Example: It's going to be a long shift.

Their vs. There vs. They're

• Their (Possessive): Belonging to them.
  • Example: The suspects left their weapons in the vehicle.
• There (Location or placeholder):
  • Example: Place the evidence right there.
• They're (Contraction): They are.
  • Example: They're currently in custody at the precinct.

Affect vs. Effect

• Affect (Usually a Verb): To influence or change.
  • Example: The alcohol did not seem to affect his balance.
• Effect (Usually a Noun): The result of a change.
  • Example: The pepper spray had an immediate effect on the subject.

Accept vs. Except

• Accept (Verb): To receive or agree to.
  • Example: The department will not accept late applications.
• Except (Preposition): Excluding.
  • Example: Everyone was cleared from the building except the suspect.

Lose vs. Loose

• Lose (Verb): To misplace or fail to win.
  • Example: Do not lose the chain of custody form.
• Loose (Adjective): Not tight.
  • Example: The suspect escaped because the handcuffs were too loose.

Advise vs. Advice

• Advise (Verb): To give a recommendation.
  • Example: I will advise the victim to seek a protective order.
• Advice (Noun): The recommendation itself.
  • Example: The detective offered good advice to the rookie.

Passed vs. Past

• Passed (Verb): The past tense of pass.
  • Example: The fleeing vehicle passed the intersection on a red light.
• Past (Noun, Adjective, or Preposition): A previous time, or referring to distance.
  • Example: He has a criminal record in the past. The suspect ran past the bank.

Application in Law Enforcement

When writing narrative reports, you must consciously apply these rules. A defense attorney will look for any ambiguity. For example, if you write, "Officer Smith and myself searched the vehicle," a defense attorney might point out your poor grammar ("myself" is reflexive and incorrect here; it should be "I") to suggest you lack attention to detail.

Always proofread your reports to ensure the subjects match the verbs, pronouns refer clearly to the right person, and you have used the correct vocabulary words.