GED Language Arts: Grammar and Usage Concepts
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Overview
This chapter covers the grammar and usage rules tested in GED editing questions. In these questions, words or phrases inside a short workplace or community document appear in drop-down menus, and you choose the correct option. The rules include commonly confused words, subject-verb agreement, pronoun use, and formal usage. Keeping verb tenses consistent is also part of clear writing.
Confused words sound alike but mean different things: its and it's, their, there, and they're, affect and effect. A quick test is to expand a contraction: if it is (or it has) or they are does not fit the sentence, the contraction is wrong.
For subject-verb agreement, first find the real subject. Phrases between the subject and the verb, such as of safety rules or along with her assistants, do not change it. Words like each and one are singular, and with neither and nor the verb agrees with the nearer subject. The number of is singular, while a number of means many and is plural.
For pronouns, test the pronoun alone: Ms. Patel asked me, not asked I. Use object pronouns (me, him, them) after words like to and with. A pronoun must clearly point to one noun; if she could mean two people, replace it with the name. In formal writing, use standard forms such as try to instead of try and.
Key concepts
Commonly confused words
Words that sound alike but differ in meaning: its (belonging to it) and it's (it is or it has); their (belonging to them), there (place), and they're (they are); affect (usually a verb) and effect (usually a noun).
Memory tipExpand the contraction. If it is (or it has) or they are does not fit, use the other word.
Subject-verb agreement
A singular subject takes a singular verb (is, has, creates); a plural subject takes a plural verb (are, have, create).
Memory tipCross out phrases between the subject and the verb, then read the two together.
Tricky subjects
Each, one of, and the number of are singular. Along with and as well as do not make a subject plural. With neither/nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject.
Memory tipAsk how many things the real subject names.
Pronoun case
Subject pronouns (I, he, she, we, they, who) do the action; object pronouns (me, him, her, us, them, whom) receive it or follow words like to and with.
Memory tipRemove the other person: send it to Mr. Lee or me becomes send it to me.
Pronoun agreement and reference
A pronoun must match its noun in number and must clearly refer to one noun.
Memory tipIf a pronoun could mean two different people, replace it with a name.
Verb tense
The form of a verb that shows time: past (tested), present (tests), or future (will test).
Memory tipLook for time clues such as yesterday, before it went live, or next month.
Formal usage
Standard written English avoids informal speech, such as try and (use try to) and could of (use could have).
Memory tipIf it sounds like casual talk, check whether a more formal form exists.
Often tested
- its = belonging to it; it's = it is or it has.
- Find the real subject; ignore the phrase between it and the verb.
- Each, one of, and the number of take singular verbs.
- After to, with, or for, use me, him, her, us, them.
- Replace an unclear pronoun with the noun it should mean.
Easy to confuse: Sound-alike words
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| its | belonging to it | The cart is in its spot. |
| it's | it is / it has | It's time to leave. |
| their | belonging to them | They showed their licenses. |
| there | a place, or to begin a sentence | Put the box over there. |
| they're | they are | They're going to finish soon. |
3 sample questions
Verified practice questions from this unit.
Question 1. Which choice correctly fills in the blank in this sentence from an office memo? Please return the cart to ______ usual spot after each delivery.
- ① its'
- ② it's
- ③ its
- ④ it is
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ③ its
Key point: its = belonging to it; it's = it is
The cart's usual spot belongs to the cart, so the possessive "its" is correct. Test it: "return the cart to it is usual spot" makes no sense, so "it's" is wrong.
Wrong choices
- "its'": "Its'" is never a correct English word.
- "it's": "It's" means "it is" or "it has."
- "it is": "It is usual spot" does not make sense.
Question 2. Which choice correctly fills in the blank in this sentence from a team email? The drivers said ______ going to finish the deliveries before noon.
- ① there
- ② theirs
- ③ their
- ④ they're
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ④ they're
Key point: they're = they are
The sentence needs "they are going to finish." The contraction for "they are" is "they're."
Wrong choices
- "there": "There" points to a place or begins a sentence, as in "There is a meeting."
- "theirs": "Theirs" means "belonging to them" and cannot stand for "they are."
- "their": "Their" shows ownership, as in "their trucks."
Question 3. Which choice correctly fills in the blank in this sentence from a safety report? The list of safety rules ______ posted next to every exit.
- ① are
- ② is
- ③ were
- ④ have been
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ② is
Key point: Agreement: the verb matches the real subject
The subject is "list," which is singular. The phrase "of safety rules" only describes the list. A singular subject takes "is."
Wrong choices
- "are": "Are" would agree with "rules," but "rules" is not the subject.
- "were": "Were" is plural and also changes the tense to past.
- "have been": "Have been" is plural; the singular subject "list" needs "has been."
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