"The dishes . . . is dirty?" sounds wrong, doesn't it? The subject is plural, but the verb is singular. They don't agree. The correct version is:

　　The dishes in the kitchen are dirty.

　　Once you know how to look for this problem, it shouldn't be too hard to get rid of it when you proofread your paper.

Reversed sentence order

The normal pattern for English sentences is subject-verb. However, there are a few situations where this order is reversed (like this sentence):

● There are snacks on the laundry-room table.

● Where are they?

● On the table are the goodies!

See how the subject comes after the verb in each of these? If you can remember how to locate subjects and verbs, you shouldn't blunder into mistakes when writing reversed-order sentences.

"-body," "-one," and "-thing" words

The correct term for these words is indefinite pronouns, but if you remember them as "-body," "-one," and "-thing" words, you'll probably be able to spot them more easily. You only need to know one thing: if a word has one of these endings (like everybody, everyone, anyone, anything, etc.), it is always singular! You can also include each, either, and neither in this group. Look at the following:

1. Everyone is going on a picnic.

2. Each of the boys is taking his own lunch.

3. If anyone drops something to eat, I'll grab it before he can pick it up.

You shouldn't have problems with these if you simply memorize the endings of words that are always singular.

NOTE: We said that either and neither are always singular; however, if you have two subjects in an either . . . or or neither . . . nor construction, getting the agreement right may give you fits. To get it right, just locate the subject closest to the verb and make the verb agree with it: