Appalachian-English speakers and 4 their family communicate in a way that shows just
how influential diversity can be on the language we speak.4.
A) NO CHANGE
B) they’re families communicate
C) their families communicate
D) their family communicatesHere’s How to Crack It
Check the answer choices first. It looks like pretty much everything is changing here: they’re/their,
families/family, and communicate/communicates. Let’s look at the ones we have done already.
We can’t cite a good reason to use an apostrophe, so let’s get rid of (B). Then, the verb changes, so let’s
check the subject. That subject is Appalachian-English speakers and their family/families, which is
plural regardless of the word family or families. Keep the verb consistent with the plural subject and
eliminate (D).
Then, we have to choose between family and families, two nouns. As with verbs, nouns are all about
consistency. When you see nouns changing in the answer choices, make sure they are consistent with the
other nouns in the sentence. In this case, we are talking about Appalachian-English speakers, all of them,
so we must be talking about all of their families as well. Many speakers must mean many families, as (C)
suggests.
Noun consistency can show up in other ways as well. Let’s have a look at question 5.
The language of the West Virginians in Applachia is almost nothing like 5 New Yorkers or
even other West Virginians.5.
A) NO CHANGE
B) the language of New Yorker’s or even other West Virginian’s.
C) that of New Yorkers or even other West Virginians.
D) people from New York or from West Virginia.Here’s How to Crack It
Look at what’s changing in the answer choices. It looks like the main change is between the nouns—New