【正文】 uperputer” may sound fanciful or exaggerated, it is simply an extremely fast mainframe that can execute trillions of calculations every second. Right: Although the term “superputer” may sound fanciful or exaggerated, it simply refers to an extremely fast mainframe that can execute trillions of calculations every second. The antecedent must be unambiguous Wrong: Researchers claim to have developed new “nanopapers” incorporating tiny cellulose fibers, which they allege give them the strength of cast iron. Right: researchers claim to have developed new “nanopapers” incorporating tiny cellulose fibers, which allegedly give these materials the strength of cast iron. The antecedent and pronoun must agree in number Pronoun case Watch out for parallelism Supernovas destroy their immediate environments in vast explosions, but by synthesizing heavy chemical elements, they provide the universe with the possibility of biochemistrybased life as we know it. ’s is often poor antecedent Wrong: The board is investigating several executives? pensation packages in order to determine how much may have been improperly awarded to them. Here THEM refers to “packages”, so it is wrong. Right: The board is investigating the pensation packages of several executives in order to determine how much these executives may have been awarded. The deadly five: it, its, they, them, their Wrong: Whenever a student es, take down their information. Right: Whenever a student es, take down his or her information. Right: Whenever students e, take down their information. This, that, these, and those Adjectives: New “nanopapers” incorporate fibers that give these materials strength. New copy The money spent by her parents is less than that spent by her children. The money spent by her parents is more than it was expected to by. Agree in number with previous version Wrong: Her pany is outperforming those of her petitors. Right: Her pany is outperforming the panies of her petitors. This, these, that, and those cannot be used as nouns. Wrong: Her products are unusual。 many consider these unique. Right: Her products are unusual。 many consider them unique. Modifiers Adjectives and adverbs Adjective + adjective + noun Both adjectives modify the noun. Wrong: James Joyce is Max?s supposedly Irish ancestor. Right: James Joyce is Max?s supposed Irish ancestor. Adverb + adjective + noun The adverb modifies the adjective. Wrong: Max?s grandmother is his supposed Irish ancestor. Right: Max?s grandmother is his supposedly Irish ancestor. Noun modifiers Type Position Example Adjective Before noun After noun The lazy cat took a nap. The cat, lazy from overeating, took a nap Proposition Before noun After noun On the couch, the cat took a nap. The cat on the couch took a nap. Past participle Before noun After noun The tired cat took a nap. Tires from chasing mice, the cat took a nap. Present participle without mas Before noun After noun The sleeping cat took a nap. The cat sleeping on the couch is named “Sue”. Relative pronoun After noun The grey cat, which loves tuna, took a nap. The cat that lives next door is noisy. The person who lives next door is noisy. The city where I live I noisy. Another noun Before noun After noun A lover of mice, my cat hunts night and day. The cat, a tabby raised on a farm, took a nap. Misplaced modifier Wrong: Jim biked along an old dirt road to get to his house, which cut through the woods. Right: To get to his house, Jim biked along an old dirt road, which cut through the woods. Dangling modifier Wrong: Resigned to the bad news, there was no motion in the office. Wrong: There was no motion in the office, resigned to the bad news. Right: Resigned to the bad news, the office workers make no motion. Also true for verb modifiers: Wrong: Using the latest technology, the problem was indentified. Right: Using the latest technology, the engineer indentified the problem. Modifiers have to make sense. Wrong: Only in the past century has origami?s development, a ceremonial activity invented millennia ago, into a true art form taken place. Right: Origamia ceremonial activity invented millennia ago has developed into a true art form only in the past century. Noun modifiers with relative clause That or whom can be dropped when acting as the objective The security guard we met was nice. The movie we watched last Friday was scary. “Where” cannot be used to modify a metaphorical place Such as condition, situation, case, circumstance, or arrangement Wrong: We had an arrangement where he cooked and I cleaned. Right: We had an arrangement in which he cooked and I cleaned. Essential vs. nonessential noun modifiers Verb modifiers Type Position Example Adverb Before verb After verb Frequently, I walk to the store. I frequently walk to the store. I walk frequently to the store. Preposition Before verb After verb On Mondays, I walk to the store I walk to the store on Mondays. Subordinator Before verb After verb When my car is broken, I walk to the store. I walk to the store when my car is broken. Some modifiers can modify both the subject and the verb. Type Position Example Present participle with as Before verb After verb Whistling “Beat it”, I lifted the weight. I lifted the weight, whistling “Beat it”. Preposition + simple gerund Before verb After verb By concentration, I lifted the weight. I lifted the weight by concentration. Infinitive of purpose Before verb After verb To free my leg, I lifted the weight. I lifted the weight to free my leg. Verb tense, mood and voice Tense Simple tense Simple present tense is often used to express “eternal” states or frequent events. Use simple present to define general definitions.