Grammar Mistakes for Agents to Avoid
Complete Sentences – A sentence needs a subject and predicate (verb).
1. Comma Splice – I wrote an offer today, it was accepted by
the seller.
A. Add a conjunction after the comma:
I wrote an offer today, and it was accepted by the seller.
B. Replace the comma with a semicolon:
I wrote an offer today; it was accepted by the seller.
C. Change the compound sentence into two separate
sentences:
I wrote and offer today. It was accepted by the
seller.
2. Run-on sentence – I wrote an offer today it was accepted by the seller.
A. Correct in the same manner as correcting comma splice.
3. Combining an independent clause and dependent clause – I can get your offer accepted today, if you can send me a pre-approval letter.
A. Do not add a common when you are joining an independent clause with a dependent clause:
I can get your offer accepted today if you send me a pre-approval letter.
Possessive Nouns – Use an apostrophe to convert a noun to possessive form.
1. To form the possessive of a singular noun not ending in –s, add an apostrophe and –s:
The home’s exterior needs painting.
2. To form the possessive of a singular noun ending in –s, add an apostrophe and –s:
The waitress’s schedule lacked flexibility.
*The apostrophe is added to a singular proper noun ending in –s regardless of whether or not the conversion to the possessive form adds an extra syllable to the word:
George Thomas’s offer was accepted.
3. To form the possessive of a plural noun ending in –s, add only an apostrophe:
The Petersons’ house will go on the market in one week.
The Joneses’ agent will hold an open house on Sunday.
4. To form the possessive of a plural noun not ending in –s, add an apostrophe and –s:
The children’s bedrooms had beautiful furniture.
5. To express joint ownership (that is, two or more persons together own one thing), convert the final noun in the pair to the possessive form:
Elisa and Stacey’s deluxe condominium is located
downtown.
6. To express individual ownership by two or more persons (that is, two or more persons each individually own one thing), convert each noun in the pair to the possessive form and pluralize that which specifies what is owned:
Elisa’s and Stacey’s deluxe condominiums are located
downtown.
7. The possessive personal pronouns ending in –s do not have apostrophes:
Ours, yours, his, hers, theirs
Pronouns – Every pronoun must have a noun to which the pronoun clearly, unmistakably, refers:
The sellers told the buyers that they need to have the
pool inspected. (Who are they?)
1. Make sure that the antecedent of the pronoun is not ambiguous: The sellers told the buyer that they will have the pool inspected.
2. The pronoun must agree in number with its antecedent: Remind the inspector to bring their ladder, measuring tape, and flashlight. (Incorrect)
If the antecedent is singular, the pronouns must be singular; and if
the pronoun is plural, the pronoun must be plural:
Remind the inspector to bring his/her ladder, measuring tape, and
flashlight. (Correct)
Personal Pronouns- Subject pronouns are used when the pronoun is the subject of the sentence. (I, we, she, he, they, you, who and whoever) Object pronouns are used when a pronoun is used as a direct object, indirect object, or object of the preposition. (Me, us, him, her, you, whom, whomever)
1. She and I showed the house together. (Subject)
2. Mary opened the house for her and me. (Object)
3. The decision is between John and me. (Object)
Capitalization - Capitalize Mother, Dad, and other titles if you can insert the person's name and titles like Grandma and Major when they appear with a formal name.
Per buyers’ request, close of escrow to be December 31, 2009. (Per John and Mary Jones’ request, ….)
1. “Buyers” function as a personal name, so it should be capitalized. Per Buyers’ request, close of escrow to be December 31, 2009.
The Buyers request a December 31, 2009 close of escrow. (The John and Mary Jones – doesn’t make sense.)
1. Nouns proceeded by possessive pronouns, possessive nouns, or articles are written in lowercase:
The buyers request a December 31, 2009 close of escrow.
Commas – When three or more elements are listed in a series, a comma should follow every element except for the final one.
I showed homes in Elk Grove, Citrus Heights and Fair Oaks.
1. A comma should proceed the “and” before Fair Oaks:
I showed homes in Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, and Fair Oaks.
Contractions – The following are often confused:
1. Its – possessive form of the pronoun its
2. It’s – contraction for it is
3. Your – possessive for of the word you
4. You’re – contraction for you are
Spelling – These words are often misspelled:
1. A lot – is often spelled as one word
2. All right – also often spelled as one word
Dangling Modifier- A dangling modifier is a descriptive phrase that is logically incompatible with the noun or pronoun that immediately follows.
Walking in the house, the smell was worse than normal. The participial phrase “Walking into the house” needs to modify a noun designating the person on persons who walked into the house:
Walking into the house, the agent noticed the smell was worse than normal.
Complete Sentences – A sentence needs a subject and predicate (verb).
1. Comma Splice – I wrote an offer today, it was accepted by
the seller.
A. Add a conjunction after the comma:
I wrote an offer today, and it was accepted by the seller.
B. Replace the comma with a semicolon:
I wrote an offer today; it was accepted by the seller.
C. Change the compound sentence into two separate
sentences:
I wrote and offer today. It was accepted by the
seller.
2. Run-on sentence – I wrote an offer today it was accepted by the seller.
A. Correct in the same manner as correcting comma splice.
3. Combining an independent clause and dependent clause – I can get your offer accepted today, if you can send me a pre-approval letter.
A. Do not add a common when you are joining an independent clause with a dependent clause:
I can get your offer accepted today if you send me a pre-approval letter.
Possessive Nouns – Use an apostrophe to convert a noun to possessive form.
1. To form the possessive of a singular noun not ending in –s, add an apostrophe and –s:
The home’s exterior needs painting.
2. To form the possessive of a singular noun ending in –s, add an apostrophe and –s:
The waitress’s schedule lacked flexibility.
*The apostrophe is added to a singular proper noun ending in –s regardless of whether or not the conversion to the possessive form adds an extra syllable to the word:
George Thomas’s offer was accepted.
3. To form the possessive of a plural noun ending in –s, add only an apostrophe:
The Petersons’ house will go on the market in one week.
The Joneses’ agent will hold an open house on Sunday.
4. To form the possessive of a plural noun not ending in –s, add an apostrophe and –s:
The children’s bedrooms had beautiful furniture.
5. To express joint ownership (that is, two or more persons together own one thing), convert the final noun in the pair to the possessive form:
Elisa and Stacey’s deluxe condominium is located
downtown.
6. To express individual ownership by two or more persons (that is, two or more persons each individually own one thing), convert each noun in the pair to the possessive form and pluralize that which specifies what is owned:
Elisa’s and Stacey’s deluxe condominiums are located
downtown.
7. The possessive personal pronouns ending in –s do not have apostrophes:
Ours, yours, his, hers, theirs
Pronouns – Every pronoun must have a noun to which the pronoun clearly, unmistakably, refers:
The sellers told the buyers that they need to have the
pool inspected. (Who are they?)
1. Make sure that the antecedent of the pronoun is not ambiguous: The sellers told the buyer that they will have the pool inspected.
2. The pronoun must agree in number with its antecedent: Remind the inspector to bring their ladder, measuring tape, and flashlight. (Incorrect)
If the antecedent is singular, the pronouns must be singular; and if
the pronoun is plural, the pronoun must be plural:
Remind the inspector to bring his/her ladder, measuring tape, and
flashlight. (Correct)
Personal Pronouns- Subject pronouns are used when the pronoun is the subject of the sentence. (I, we, she, he, they, you, who and whoever) Object pronouns are used when a pronoun is used as a direct object, indirect object, or object of the preposition. (Me, us, him, her, you, whom, whomever)
1. She and I showed the house together. (Subject)
2. Mary opened the house for her and me. (Object)
3. The decision is between John and me. (Object)
Capitalization - Capitalize Mother, Dad, and other titles if you can insert the person's name and titles like Grandma and Major when they appear with a formal name.
Per buyers’ request, close of escrow to be December 31, 2009. (Per John and Mary Jones’ request, ….)
1. “Buyers” function as a personal name, so it should be capitalized. Per Buyers’ request, close of escrow to be December 31, 2009.
The Buyers request a December 31, 2009 close of escrow. (The John and Mary Jones – doesn’t make sense.)
1. Nouns proceeded by possessive pronouns, possessive nouns, or articles are written in lowercase:
The buyers request a December 31, 2009 close of escrow.
Commas – When three or more elements are listed in a series, a comma should follow every element except for the final one.
I showed homes in Elk Grove, Citrus Heights and Fair Oaks.
1. A comma should proceed the “and” before Fair Oaks:
I showed homes in Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, and Fair Oaks.
Contractions – The following are often confused:
1. Its – possessive form of the pronoun its
2. It’s – contraction for it is
3. Your – possessive for of the word you
4. You’re – contraction for you are
Spelling – These words are often misspelled:
1. A lot – is often spelled as one word
2. All right – also often spelled as one word
Dangling Modifier- A dangling modifier is a descriptive phrase that is logically incompatible with the noun or pronoun that immediately follows.
Walking in the house, the smell was worse than normal. The participial phrase “Walking into the house” needs to modify a noun designating the person on persons who walked into the house:
Walking into the house, the agent noticed the smell was worse than normal.
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