1 Verb Agreement and Tense 1. In the past three months, a new series of low-priced computers (has been released, have been released). 2. The insurance company hopes that neither the architect nor the construction firm (are held, is held) liable. 3. In the next section, the criteria for assessing each system (are given, is given). 4. To connect a temperature measurement circuit to the HC11 microcontroller, we added new hardware and developed new software. The added hardware controlled both the measurement and the display of the temperature. This hardware (included, includes) light emitting diodes that (attach, attached) to Port B. Figure 1 (showed, shows) a schematic of this hardware. 5. Conclusion. This report (has presented, presented, presents) a design of a temperature measurement circuit for the HC11 microcontroller. 2 Word Choice (Basic)1. We produced a small (amount, number) of automobiles this year, even (fewer, less) than last year. 2. The serum had serious side (affects, effects). 3. Every 250 years, Pluto completes (its, its) orbit about the sun. 4. When a photon in that energy range strikes the atom, the atom (looses, loses) one of its outer electrons. 5. The talk centered (around, on) the (principal, principle) of virtual work. 1. This report discusses how the eruption (affected, effected) the surrounding terrain. 2. Last year, Japan (lead, led) the world in automobile sales. 3. We then sent the broken part to John Brooks, (who, whom) the laser group had recommended. 4. Reduced weight was the (principal, principle) reason for choosing aluminum. 5. Neither the engineers (nor, or) the technicians were hurt in the blaze. 6. All the bombings involved explosives (that / , which) contained the chemicals PETN and RDX. 7. All the bombings involved Semtex (that / , which) contains the chemicals PETN and RDX. 8. To treat a bite from the puff adder, select the anti-venom serum (, which counteracts the adders poison. / that counteracts the adders poison.) 9. (Hopefully, / It is hoped that) the antibodies will destroy the cancer cells. 3 Exercises on a, an and the3.1 Basic Indefinite Articles: a and an ；Definite Article: theCountable vs. NoncountableFirst vs. Subsequent MentionGeneral vs. Specific3.1.1 The is not used with noncountable nouns referring to something in a general sense:no article Coffee is a popular drink.no article Japanese was his native language.no article Intelligence is difficult to quantify.3.1.2 The is used with noncountable nouns that are made more specific by a limiting modifying phrase or clause:The coffee in my cup is too hot to drink.The Japanese he speaks is often heard in the countryside.The intelligence of animals is variable but undeniable.3.1.3 The is also used when a noun refers to something unique:the White Housethe theory of relativitythe 1999 federal budget3.1.4 Note: Geographical uses of theDo not use the before:names of countries (Italy, Mexico, Bolivia) except the Netherlands and the US names of cities, towns, or states (Seoul, Manitoba, Miami) names of streets (Washington Blvd., Main St.) names of lakes and bays (Lake Titicaca, Lake Erie) except with a group of lakes like the Great Lakes names of mountains (Mount Everest, Mount Fuji) except with ranges of mountains like the Andes or the Rockies or unusual names like the Matterhorn names of continents (Asia, Europe) names of islands (Easter Island, Maui, Key West) except with island chains like the Aleutians, the Hebrides, or the Canary Islands Do use the before:names of rivers, oceans and seas (the Nile, the Pacific) points on the globe (the Equator, the North Pole) geographical areas (the Middle East, the West) deserts, forests, gulfs, and peninsulas (the Sahara, the Persian Gulf, the Black Forest, the Iberian Peninsula) 4 Recognizing Run-Ons and Fragments (Basic) 3.2 Sentence FragmentsFragments are incomplete sentences. Usually, fragments are pieces of sentences that have become disconnected from the main clause. One of the easiest ways to correct them is to remove the period between the fragment and the main clause. Other kinds of punctuation may be needed for the newly combined sentence. Below are some examples with the fragments shown in red. Punctuation and/or words added to make corrections are highlighted in blue. Notice that the fragment is frequently a dependent clause or long phrase that follows the main clause. Fragment (phrase or dependent clause) Possible RevisionPurdue offers many majors in engineering. Such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering.Purdue offers many majors in engineering, such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering.Coach Dietz exemplified this behavior by walking off the field in the middle of a game. Leaving her team at a time when we needed her.Coach Dietz exemplified this behavior by walking off the field in the middle of a game, leaving her team at a time when we needed her.I need to find a new roommate. Because the