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Be careful to match the verb to the correct noun

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Marte Cliff Copywriting

Yesterday, while writing a real estate bio, I made a common mistake: I matched a verb to a noun in the prepositional phrase rather than to the subject.

The sentence went something like: “Each of his listings, from fixer to mansion, is …” But the first time grammar bookthrough, I latched on to the word “listings” instead of the word “each,” and wrote “are.”

All I can say is that I’m glad I printed this out, let it sit overnight, and looked at it again this morning. When I read it with fresh eyes, the error jumped out and yelled at me. Thankfully, I didn't send that error to my client.

Once again, as with pronouns, the way to "see" the correct usage is to remove the extra “stuff.”

There is no way that I would have written “Each are…” But when I added in “of his listings” it was easy to hang that verb on the wrong word. Adding “from fixer to mansion” put even more space between the noun and the verb, and confused the issue even more.

A singular noun calls for a singular verb. A plural noun calls for a plural verb. Most of us match them up very well – unless extra words get in the way and confuse us.

 

 Grammar book courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Comments(21)

Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Marte- I run into this all of the time (when I'm writing) and I'm sure there have been times when I attached the verb to the wrong noun.  I go back to the original noun and leave out the "clutter" after that until I find the verb.  Then I hope that the people reading it will not think I put the wrong verb with the noun.  This grammar stuff is hard!!!

Mar 30, 2017 05:16 PM
Marte Cliff

Kathy Streib Nah - not so hard if we just read what we wrote and listen to how it sounds - and remove the clutter so we can actually see it.

Mar 30, 2017 06:20 PM
Kasey & John Boles
Jon Gosche Real Estate, LLC - BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com - Boise, ID
Boise & Meridian, ID Ada/Canyon/Gem/Boise Counties

Always love your grammar tips Marte. Have a great Friday!-Kasey

Mar 31, 2017 09:55 AM
Marte Cliff

Thanks Kasey & John Boles and the team at Jon Gosche Real Estate, LLC - I wish you a great day as well.


We have sunshine here today - hooray!

Mar 31, 2017 10:07 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

                                      Thank you Marte Cliff 

Apr 01, 2017 05:25 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Thank you Kathy Streib  - It's always an honor to be included in your weekly roundup.

Apr 01, 2017 07:39 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Great point, Marte. I'm always thankful that I gad a British teacher in fourth grade, who made it her mission to make sure we could spell, we could diagram sentences, all of which helps me with my writing today.

Apr 02, 2017 04:53 AM
Marte Cliff

Nina Hollander I also had some good teachers: My Mom, my Grandmother, and the Sisters at Holy Names Academy. We aren't Catholic, but my Mom wanted me to get a better education than she saw being delivered by the public schools. Those sisters not only insisted on academics - they insisted on courtesy. Please and thank you were musts.

Apr 02, 2017 09:00 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Marte Cliff ,

I'm so glad Kathy Streib featured your post in her "Ah-Ha" moments for the week as I missed this one! Always love your grammar tips and glad to hear you sit on something you write and come back to review. A good time to catch those pesky errors.

Apr 02, 2017 05:10 AM
Marte Cliff

Dorie Dillard Sometimes it's shocking to see what will jump out at you after you've let the copy sit for several hours. 

Apr 02, 2017 09:01 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning Marte Cliff whenever I have that situation, I always stop, analyze, proof and then continue.... it's a "show stopper" everytime....

Apr 02, 2017 05:35 AM
Marte Cliff

Yes Barbara Todaro Sometimes what looks correct at first glance just gives a little tingle to make you look twice.

Apr 02, 2017 09:03 AM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Marte. All I can say is "guilty" as charged from time to time! Enjoy your day!

Apr 02, 2017 05:47 AM
Marte Cliff

Wayne Martin I believe we're all guilty from time to time.

Apr 02, 2017 09:04 AM
Mick Michaud
Distinctly Texas Lifestyle Properties, LLC Office:682/498-3107 - Granbury, TX
Your Texas Lifestyle is Here!

I just love reading listing descriptions that are poorly written.  Makes me laugh sometimes but amazed that the agent would leave such glaring errors. 

Apr 02, 2017 06:21 AM
Marte Cliff

Mick Michaud Perhaps they don't even know that they're errors.

Apr 02, 2017 09:04 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Marte, it's not only matching verbs where I have an issue, it's those black socks too.  It doesn't seem fair to blame my grammar choices on my dryer though.  

Apr 02, 2017 06:34 AM
Marte Cliff

Michael Jacobs I have a drawer where I keep odd socks, just in case the mate shows up some day. I'll never figure out how the washing machine can eat so many - and why it doesn't eat the whole pair if it's so hungry.

Apr 02, 2017 09:06 AM
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Younger generation grew up spell what words sound. Text each other abbreviated words, slangs. Grammar is remotely mentioned in boring English class when one needs to take a nap.

  

Apr 02, 2017 07:38 AM
Marte Cliff

Sam Shueh That explains why the local school allowed hte students to hang a banner that said "Support are team," but not why, after the game, the kids shout "We won 'em!"


That younger generation you speak of must also include the teachers!

Apr 02, 2017 09:08 AM
Jeanne Gregory
RE/MAX Southwest - Sugar Land, TX
The most important home I sell is YOURS!

Now if you could just let everyone in this business to know the difference between sell, sale and sail, I would be most grateful.  The house will not sale fast.  Nor will it sail fast.  And it's not for sell. 

Apr 02, 2017 08:09 AM
Marte Cliff

That would be nice Jeanne Gregory - but I can't even convince some people not to take bad "advise."

Apr 02, 2017 09:10 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Marte

Your tips are always appreciated, and the examples make them easy to understand. I make this mistake often I'm afraid!

Jeff

Apr 02, 2017 11:12 AM
Marte Cliff

Thanks Jeff Dowler - I enjoy writing these posts, so I'm glad you like them.

Apr 02, 2017 01:11 PM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Hi Marte - that is how I was taught to do it as well but I can get careless.

Apr 02, 2017 12:42 PM
Marte Cliff

We all can get careless from time to time, Grant Schneider. I guess that means we're human - and we're doing something, even when it's wrong! 

Apr 02, 2017 01:12 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

I'm not sure I would have known which verb to use with "Each".  Makes perfect sense after your explanation though.

Apr 02, 2017 01:51 PM
Marte Cliff

Sharon Tara Thos indefinite pronouns can be tricky.


Here's a quote from web.cn.edu:


"The following pronouns are always singular, even though some of them sound like they should be plural."


each


anybody


somebody


nobody


everybody


everyone


someone


anyone


neither


either


nothing


anything


everything


something










   
Apr 02, 2017 02:06 PM
Jill Sackler
Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500 - Long Beach, NY
LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate

That's exactly what I was taught in school - remove the extra stuff!

Your grammar lessons are invaluable.

Apr 02, 2017 02:20 PM
Marte Cliff

Jill Sackler It sure makes it easier to see which word to use. Some people just think this has to be difficult and complicated, when it really isn't.

Apr 02, 2017 08:41 PM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

Wow ... you're good, Marte Cliff .  Although I know you're correct about this, I didn't catch the error immediately either.  The importance of proofreading is greatly undervalued and too often forgotten.

Gene 

Apr 03, 2017 01:00 PM
Marte Cliff

Thanks Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi - I wouldn't have caught it if I hadn't let it sit overnight.

Apr 03, 2017 01:38 PM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Grammar is my downfall, as you say write it how you would say it and that is what I try to do. Easy to get mixed up with the is and are in sentences.

Apr 03, 2017 04:41 PM
Marte Cliff

Yes Nick & Trudy Vandekar - if there's a phrase or two between the subject and the verb, it's very easy to get mixed up.

Apr 03, 2017 06:04 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I'm usually right there with you, but in this case, I may have selected the wrong verb. "Each are" sounds correct to me, but if I change "each" to "one" or "a" it doesn't. 

Apr 04, 2017 03:50 AM
Marte Cliff

Kat Palmiotti You've just revealed another good tip to help decide which verb to use.

Apr 04, 2017 08:42 AM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

I always struggle with this. It just sounds so right to put are as opposed to is. Oh well. Thanks for the tutorial as always.

Apr 04, 2017 12:12 PM
Marte Cliff

I know, Jane Peters - it's easy to get hung up on the object of the preposition rather than the subject of the sentence.

Apr 04, 2017 12:16 PM