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Split Infinitive
• This error in language
• occurs when an adverb or adjective is place between
infinitive verb.
• infinitive verb?
• Infinitive verbs are non-finite verbs
• adds detail to a sentence
• Combination of a finite verb and the word to, e.g., to run,
to play, to sing.
• Error = e.g., to quickly run – quickly is an error.
How to identify and correct a split infinitive?
• Thandeka played her flute to entertain the class. (used as an
adverb to modify played)
• This holiday is a great time to go to the beach. (used as an
adjective to modify time)
• She only want to talk to her friend. (used as a noun)
• We ordered sushi to share with our friends. (used as an
adverb to modify ordered)
• The rain ruined my plan to tend the garden. (used as an
adjective to modify plan)
Here are infinitives that are split:
• Thandeka played her flute to gracefully entertain the
class.
• This holiday is a great time to finally go to the beach.
• She only wants to hastily talk to her friend.
• We ordered sushi to liberally share with our friends.
• The rain ruined my plan to carefully tend the garden.
How to fix the split infinitive error?
• Thandeka played her flute to entertain the
class gracefully.
• This holiday is a great time to go to the beach
finally.
• She only wants to talk to her friend hastily.
• We ordered sushi to share liberally with our
friends.
• The rain ruined my plan to tend the
garden carefully.
Comma splice error
• When joining two independent clauses with a comma
and not a conjunction.
• Study Parts of speech: Finite verbs – strong verbs, can
change tense, are normally tangible.
• Study sentence types.
• Know the function of your punctuation, especially
commas.
How to identify the comma splice error?
• We won the game, we lost the tournament.
• The teacher is carrying many bags, someone should help her.
• Most head girls spend more than sixty percent of their time at their
school, they spend their time attending meetings, overseeing
implementation of duties and delivering speeches.
• The ogre caught the unicorn, the terrible ogre then took the terrified
beast to the Dark Mountains.
• Julie had a little pigmy horse, its fur was a soft as cotton wool .
How to correct the comma splice error?
Fix #1: Add a Conjunction
• We won the game but (we) lost the tournament.
• Julie had a little pigmy horse and its fur was as soft as cotton wool.
• The teacher is carrying many bags and someone should help her.
Fix #2: Change the Comma to a Semicolon
• The ogre caught the unicorn; the terrible ogre then took the terrified beast to
the Dark Mountains.
NB! If you decide to use a semicolon, make sure there is a close, logical
connection between the two independent clauses.
Fix #3: Make Separate Sentences
• Most head girls spend more than sixty percent of their time at their school.
They spend their time attending meetings, overseeing implementation of
duties and delivering speeches.
Concord error
• Concord is the verb – noun – agreement.
• Single subject (noun/pronoun) takes a single verb.
e.g. Suzanne (single – 1) is (single verb) very happy.
• Plural subject takes a plural verb.
e.g. Suzanne and Paul (2 = plural) are (plural verb)
very happy.
• BUT that is not all!
Concord rules
1. subordinate clause between subject and verb
• The women, who is dancing up and down the
hall, is very pretty. Single.
Looking for verb. Any
single verb would do!
• The cakes, which are covered in freshly made
icing, look lovely today.
2. phrase between the subject and the verb
• The look of this hamburger is very peculiar.
• The shows in the theatres of London were very
elaborate.
More concord rules
3. the subject of a sentence = two or more nouns or pronouns
connected by and - use a plural verb.
• Thandeka and her squad are performing at the park.
• The computer, the mouse, and all the keyboards are broken.
4. subjects refers to the same thing = verb singular
• Chicken and rice is my brother’s most hated meal.
• Consistency and diligence is the key to success.
Even more concord rules
5. nouns singular and connected by 'or', 'nor', 'neither'/'nor',
'either'/'or', or 'not only'/'but also’ = single verb
• Neither Amy nor Julian is coming to class.
• Winning or losing is largely based on your level of commitment.
6. subject both singular and plural nouns/pronouns - noun/pronoun
closest to the verb determines type of noun
• My wife or my animals greet me at the window.
• Neither my work-friends nor my mother knows my secret.
One final rule for now…
• Subject ending on -body, -one or -thing = single verb.
• Nobody has arrived for dance classes.
• Everyone is passing the beggar without helping him.
Singular
Try these online worksheets
• https://ndla.no/subject:1:c8d6ed8b-d376-4c7b-b73a-
3a1d48c3a357/topic:5f7bfe1f-ad7c-4c45-b08d-
ae0fa9b9fc08/resource:3be1caa7-a27d-434c-96f3-a64761190c1c
• https://perfectyourenglish.com/grammar/split-infinitive.htm
References
• https://www.grammarly.com/blog/comma-
splice/?gclid=CjwKCAjwpKyYBhB7EiwAU2Hn2SwillWJwRYe30K3zi8Vn2N6kq
qD_JlQQh00Q178oeONkUsjjyrvhhoCEYUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
• https://www.k5learning.com/free-grammar-worksheets/fifth-grade-
5/sentences/comma-splices
• https://worldwidewriting.ruhosting.nl/English/html/chapter_764_990.htm
#:~:text=Problems%20with%20verbs-
,Concord%20error,followed%20by%20a%20singular%20verb.
• https://ndla.no/nb/subject:1:c8d6ed8b-d376-4c7b-b73a-
3a1d48c3a357/topic:5f7bfe1f-ad7c-4c45-b08d-
ae0fa9b9fc08/resource:d7aff48e-b1a4-4ea6-a09f-326b96c694af
• https://acadel.org/concord/
