RECOGNIZING THE SENTENCE. the person, place, thing, or idea spoken of. tells what the subject is or does. the verb and all words that modify it

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1 Sentence Simple Subject Complete Subject Verb Complete Predicate Run-on Fragment Compound Subject Compound Verb RECOGNIZING THE SENTENCE a group of words with a subject and verb that expresses a complete thought the person, place, thing, or idea spoken of the subject and all words that modify it * when an assignment refers to the subject, it means the simple subject tells what the subject is or does the verb and all words that modify it more than one sentence run together as one incomplete sentence (missing subject, verb, or complete thought) consists of more than one person, place, or thing connected with a conjunction Ex: Two crows and a bluejay are perched on an oak tree consists of more than one verb connected with a conjunction Ex: The ducks arrived in the evening and settled on the marshes * Both sentence parts may be compound Ex: Alice and June washed and dried the dishes Compound Sentence Conjunction two or more sentences connected with conjunction Ex: Alice washed the dishes, but June dried them connecting word the most common ones are and, or, but, nor 1

2 KINDS OF SENTENCES A Declarative SENTENCES makes a statement and ends with a period Ex: The children are playing in the back yard B Imperative makes a command or request and ends with a period or exclamation mark * Its subject is always (you) understood Ex: Put the flowers in the vase C Interrogative asks a question and ends with a question mark Ex: Who will help with the decorations? D Exclamatory shows strong feeling and ends with an exclamation mar * It often begins with a question word but does NOT ask a question Ex: What a wonderful contest! ORDER OF SENTENCES A Natural the subject comes before the verb Ex: The truck raced around the corner B Inverted all or part of the verb comes before the subject Ex: Around the corner raced the truck There are twelve boys in the class Did you go to the game last night? SENTENCE STRUCTURE A Simple has one independent clause B Compound has at least two independent clauses C Complex D Compound-Complex has one independent clause and at least one subordinate (dependent) clause contains at least two independent clauses (compound) and one dependent clause (complex) dep clause indep clause Ex: Because John was innocent, his lawyer insisted on justice, indep clause and the case was resolved 2

3 NOUNS Definition a word used to name a person, place, thing, or idea Concrete noun Abstract noun can be seen or touched a person, place, or thing Ex: mouse, athlete, California, pencil can not actually be seen or touched a idea Ex: courage, joy, fear, beauty, love Common noun names any person, place, thing, or idea (not a specific one) Ex: street, dog, lake Proper noun names a particular person, place, thing, or idea (specific) Ex: Lake Michigan, Fourth Avenue, Bill Gerund a verb form ending in ing used as a noun Ex: Your snoring kept me awake I enjoy hiking in the woods on an autumn day * Remember: ing words need helpers in order to be verbs Ex: Dad is fishing on the lake Someone is really snoring Collective noun Compound noun names a group of persons or things Ex: audience, choir, group, team, class may be singular or plural a singular when the group is used as a whole Ex: The choir is singing the first song b plural when the members are thought of separately Ex: The choir are arranging their music consists of two or more words Ex: football, mother-of-pearl, high school *Remember: proper nouns are often compound Ex: West Fargo Middle School United States of America Sally Jean Peterson 3

4 1 Subject (S) 2 Predicate nominative (PN) USES OF NOUNS names the person, place, thing, or idea spoken of S Ex: The baby sparrow topples from the limb of the tree follows a linking verb and renames the subject LV PN Ex: The highest mountain was the peak in the middle 3 Object of the preposition (OP) completes the prepositional phrase Ex: The entrance(to the cave)was blocked(by a stone) OP OP 4 Direct object (DO) comes after an action verb and receives the action performed by the subject answers the question whom? or what? after the action verb AV DO Ex: Jack hit the ball over the fence AV DO AV DO The girls made fudge and sold it 5 Indirect object (IO) answers the question to whom? or for whom? after the verb receives the direct object * take note of the position of the indirect object in the sentence (S + V + IO + DO) IO DO Ex: Sam sold Ed his bicycle IO IO DO Mother bought Bill and Ted two pairs of shoes 6 Appositive (App) stands next to another noun or pronoun and is the same person or thing App Ex: Mr Sharp, a mechanic, is a very busy man App App Jack, your brother, and Charles, my cousin, won prizes at the science fair App The last item on the list, the tent, goes into the trunk first 7 Direct address (DA) a name used in speaking directly to a person DA Ex: Sara, where are you? 8 Possessive (Poss) shows ownership Ex: Last evening the moon s glare was blinding Last week's vacation was very delightful 9 Subject of verb understood (S-V) used only in a comparison last word in the sentence (last person or thing being compared) S-V Ex: Sam s bike has more gears than Joe s bike (has) 4

5 Definition VERBS A word or a group of words that expresses action or otherwise helps to make a statement KINDS OF VERBS 1 Action verbs PHYSICAL ACTION - jump, shout, search, run MENTAL ACTION - worry, think, believe, imagine 2 Linking verbs Connect (link) the subject with a noun, pronoun, or adjective in the predicate Ex: The sky was clear (PA) George became a lawyer (PN) *Memorize these linking verbs being verbs 5sense words GRASS TB am look grow is smell remain are taste appear was sound stay were feel seem be turn being become been Some verbs can be either action or linking, depending on how they are used in a sentence 3 Being verbs Ex: I tasted the dandelion salad (Action verb) It tasted bitter (Linking verb) Simply show state of being *Memorize the 8 being verbs am was be is were being are been Ex: The boy was here before he left Don has been away this week Mary is on her way The presents are under the tree 4 Auxiliary verbs (helping) verbs MAIN VERB - a one-word verb AUXILIARY VERBS - the other verbs that help the main verb VERB PHRASE - a main verb and one or more auxiliary (helping) verbs - can be two, three, or four words *Memorize the auxiliary verbs be were do shall may am been does should might is has did will being are have can would was had could must 5

6 VERBS (continued) Transitive verbs have voice A Active voice The subject performs the action ( S - Doer ) D R Ex: Kevin read these books R Electric motors run high-speed trains B Passive voice The subject receives the action (S = Receiver ) R D Ex: These books were read by Kevin D High speed trains are run by electric motors Using Active/Passive voice Active voice makes writing stronger and more interesting It emphasizes the action Ex: Alvin took his picture (active) This picture was taken by Alvin (passive) Passive voice is used to emphasize the receiver of an action or to show or suggest the doer of the action is unknown Ex: The files were destroyed by the fire This piano was tuned well 6

7 PREPOSITIONS Definition are used to show the relationship of a noun or pronoun to another word in the sentence are always part of a phrase Prepositional phrase is a group of words beginning with a preposition and completed by a noun or pronoun Object of the preposition (op) is a noun or pronoun that completes the prepositional phrase prep op Ex: The package under the tree is mine prep op The cat with the pink collar is sleeping Common prepositions about beneath from past above beside in since across besides inside through after between into to against beyond like toward along but (except) near under among by of until around concerning off up at down on upon before during out with behind except outside within below for over without Compound prepositions according to aside from as well as because of in addition to in front of instead of on account of on top of out of [ prep ] op Ex: According to the news, there were thirty homes destroyed [ prep ] op She was home on account of the strike 7

8 PREPOSITIONS (continued) Adverb or Preposition? The same word can be either a preposition or adverb A preposition must be followed by an object Ex: The plane circled above (adv) The plane circled (above the field) (prep) Can you come over to my house? (adv) Prepositional Phrases (As modifiers) We saw the eagle fly(over the treetops) (prep) When prepositional phrases modify nouns or pronouns, they are called adjective phrases They answer which? what kind? how many? op Ex: The sound (of the trumpet) filled the hall op op Will you play one (of the songs) (in this book)? When they modify verbs, adjectives, or adverbs, they are called adverb phrases They answer how? when? where? how much? v op Ex: The team ran (around the field) adj op Your are quite skillful (at that game) 8

9 Misplaced prepositional phrases (modifiers) PREPOSITIONS (continued) Place prepositional phrases as close as possible to words they modify A People were talking about dogs in the dining room * Were the dogs or the people in the dining room? Look what happens to the prepositional phrase B People in the dining room were talking about dogs (adj) C In the dining room, people were talking about dogs (adv) D People were talking in the dining room about dogs (adv) SENTENCE COMBINING Combine short, related sentences by inserting adjectives, adverbs, or prepositional phrases Ex: The bird sings in the cage The bird is yellow It sings sweetly The cage is by the window * The yellow bird sings sweetly in its cage by the window Ex: Conservation laws protect wildlife The laws are strong They protect wildlife inside state parks * Strong conservation laws protect wildlife inside state parks 9

10 PREPOSITION USAGE Beside / besides PREPOSITIONS (continued) Beside means next to Ex: John stood beside Tom in the line Besides means also or in addition to Ex: Who besides you will help? Between / among Use between when you are thinking of two things Ex: In English Marc sits between Bob and me Some players practice between innings (Practice occurs between any two of the innings) Next year we will study the War Between the States (Although thirty-five states were involved, the war was between two sides) Use among when you are thinking of three or more Ex: There are disagreements among the players about the coach s decision We saved twenty dollars among the three of us From In / into Of Say different from, NOT different than Ex: Your ideas are different from mine Into means motion from one place to another In means motion within something Ex: My hat fell into the water Don was swimming in the water DO NOT use of as a verb Use have Ex: Sally could have played the piano for the reception Sally could of played the piano for the reception DO NOT use of with prepositions such as inside, off, and outside Ex: He walked off the stage He walked off of the stage She waited outside the school She waited outside of the school What is inside this large box? What is inside of this large box? Avoid unnecessary prepositions such as up, at, to, and of Add these figures Where does he live? Where has he gone? Jump off the wall Add up these figures Where does he live at? Where has he gone to? Jump off of the wall 10

11 Definition Questions ADJECTIVES modify (describe) a noun or pronoun which one? Ex: this town those trees what kind? Ex: expensive shoes mysterious houses how many? Ex: fifteen books some lettuce no reply Proper adjectives formed from proper nouns Ex: Canadian trapper proper nouns used as adjectives Ex: Toronto banker always capitalized Articles the most frequently used adjectives a, an, the sometimes called noun determiners because they determine nouns will soon follow * REMEMBER * The part of speech a word is depends on its use in a sentence Ex: That is fine work (pronoun) That bicycle belongs to James (adjective) The purchase was finally made (noun) Predicate adjective Linking Verbs (MEMORIZE) follows a linking verb modifies the subject may be compound Ex: The Joneses purchased a new car (verb) PA This lesson seems easy to me PA PA The golf course was long and complicated am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been (8) look, sound, smell, taste, feel (5) grow, remain, appear, seem, stay, turn, become (7) ADVERBS 11

12 Definition modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs v adv Ex: The dog barked fiercely adv adj A very tall man walked into the room v adv adv They arrived too soon most often modify verbs modify entire verb if there is a verb phrase v v adv Ex John was running home Questions when? Ex: Jane is now leaving where? Ex: The boys should sit here how? Ex: A couple wildly danced at the prom how much? Ex: Joe was very late Common adverbs Adjective or Adverb? when where how how much yesterday high well really today away skillfully very once backward swiftly quite soon here cautiously rather often there softly too always unusually now never Many adverbs are formed by adding ly to the adjectives adjectives: real sure quick soft solemn adverbs: really surely quickly softly solemnly Some words are used either as an adjective or an adverb adj n Ex: She is a hard worker v adv She works hard Comparisons of modifiers MODIFIERS Degrees of comparison 12

13 1 Positive - no comparison Ex: The box is heavy The boy spoke clearly 2 Comparative - two things compared (use - er or more) Ex: The box was heavier than the sack Hazel spoke more clearly than Alice 3 Superlative - three or more things compared (use - est or most) Ex: The box was the heaviest container Hazel spoke the most clearly of all students in class 4 No comparison - absolutes Ex: fatal, excellent, final, perfect, unique, empty Irregular comparisons *Some adjectives and adverbs don t follow the above rules: positive comparative superlative good better best bad worse worst well better best many more most much more most little less least COMMON ERRORS MODIFIERS (continued) Double comparison Do not use a suffix (er, est) and more/most for the same comparison 13

14 Ex: This is the most heaviest box beautiful My sister is more beautifuller each day Incorrect degree Use comparative (er, more) for 2 Use superlative (est, most) for 3 or more Ex: Of the two boys, John is ( taller, tallest ) (2) Jupiter is the ( larger, largest ) of all the planets (3+) this - that these - those this - that singular kind - sort these - those plural kinds - sorts Ex: ( This, These ) kind of tomatoes tastes really good (That, Those ) kinds of candy are appropriate for Christmas Unnecessary here or there Do not use here or there after this, that, these, or those Ex: ( This, This here ) answer is right Do NOT use them as a modifier Use these or those instead of them Ex: I saw ( them, those ) books on the shelf 14

15 any / any other MODIFIERS (continued) When comparing persons or things in the same group, do not omit the word other Ex: He is brighter than any other boy in class a / an Use a before consonants, an before vowels or vowel sounds Do not use a or an after kind of or sort of Ex: I like that kind of painting for our living room good / well good = adjective well = adjective when relating to health well = adverb Other problem modifiers Adjective bad sure real certain most Adverb badly surely really certainly almost The ly words are usually (not always) adverbs Double negatives Definition- Two negative words to express one negative idea Never use double negatives! Negative words: barely neither nobody hardly never none scarcely no no one nowhere nothing not (n t) Ex: I haven t no money I have no money I haven t any money PRONOUNS 15

16 PRONOUNS Definition word used in place of a noun Antecedent the noun or pronoun a pronoun refers to Personal pronouns refer chiefly to people or persons have person and number First Person Second Person Third Person Singular I, me my, mine, myself you your, yours, yourself he, him, his, himself, she, her, hers, herself it, its, itself Plural we, us, our, ours, ourselves you, your, yours, yourselves they, them, their, theirs, themselves Interrogative pronouns ask questions a who b whom c whose d which e what Demonstrative pronouns point out a this b that c these d those PRONOUNS (continued) Indefinite Pronouns refer to no special person or thing 16

17 Singular requires a singular verb when used as an antecedent, it requires a singular noun or pronoun to refer to it S S Ex Everyone wants his/her own pencil to use words ending in one, thing, or body are singular another everybody nothing anybody everyone one anyone everything other anything much somebody each nobody someone either no one something Plural requires a plural verb both few many others several Singular/Plural can be either singular or plural depending upon use in a sentence Ex: All of my work is finished (singular) All of the people are busy (plural) all most any more much none some Possessive Pronouns show ownership ( possession) Singular Plural First Person my, mine our, ours Second Person your, yours their, theirs Third Person his, her, hers, its their, theirs Relative Pronouns introduce adjective clauses who whom whose which that Ex The runner who finished first is from Chicago 17

18 NOMINATIVE CASE USES OF PRONOUNS 1 st Person I, we 2 nd Person you 3 rd Person he, she, it, they, who 1 Subject (S) names the person, thing, or idea spoken of S Ex: We are busy 2 Predicate nominative (PN) follows a linking verb and renames the subject PN PN Ex: The winners of the game are he and she 3 Subject of the verb (S-V) understood occurs only when making comparisons Ex: Sally is better at spelling than he (is) No one was as happy as we (were) 4 Appositive (App) a pronoun that stands next to another noun or pronoun and means the same person or thing S App App Ex: The winners, he and she, are tall OBJECTIVE CASE 1 st Person me, us 2 nd Person you 3 rd Person him, her, it, them, whom 1 Direct object (DO) follows an action verb and receives the action performed by the subject DO Ex: The postman saw them yesterday while delivering mail 2 Indirect object (IO) receives the direct object * remember sentence pattern S + V + IO + DO IO DO Ex: Dad gave us a ride to school 3 Object of the preposition (OP) follows a preposition OP Ex: Several people talked (to him) after the concert 4 Appositive (App) Appositives are the same case as the nouns or pronouns they stand next to DO App App Ex: The judge announced the winners, her and him POSSESSIVE CASE (See Possessive Pronouns on page 4) 18

19 CONJUNCTIONS Definition Coordinating Conjunction Correlative Conjunction Subordinating Conjunction a word used to join words or groups of words connects words or groups of words used in the same way common coordinating conjunctions for and nor but or yet so pairs of conjunctions that connect words used in the same way common correlative conjunctions both and not only but also either or neither nor whether or a word that shows the relationship between an adverb clause and the word/s that the clause modifies introduces an adverb clause common subordinating conjunctions after since although so that as than as if though as long as unless as soon as until as though when because whenever before where if wherever in order that while INTERJECTIONS Definition a word used to express emotion does not have a grammatical relationship to other words in the sentence common interjections: Oh Wow Well Hurray Yes No 19

20 CLAUSES Definition a group of words that contains a verb and its subject and is used as part of a sentence KINDS OF CLAUSES A Independent clause (main clause) expresses a complete thought and can stand by itself as a sentence *Independent clauses are sentences when they stand alone *They are called independent clauses only when they are part of a sentence Ex: Since it was by mother s birthday, I baked her a cake The place which is far away can be reached by car in a day B Dependent clause (subordinate clause) does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone *It still has a subject and a verb though Ex: Since it was mother s birthday, I baked her a cake 20

21 Adjective Clause Definition KINDS OF DEPENDENT CLAUSES A subordinate clause that modifies a noun or pronoun Relative pronouns introduce adjective clauses Learn them! who whom whose which that *Note: When and where may begin adjective clauses Ex: Tomorrow is the day when we will move This is the place where I live An adjective clause like an adjective prepositional phrase modifies the word directly in front of it Ex: A child whose hair stands on end is frightened You are the one who was elected Remember adjective question: which one, what kind, and how many Adjective clauses sometimes start with a preposition Ex: The girl to whom you spoke is listening well Adverb Clause Definition a subordinate clause that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb subordinate conjunctions introduce adverb clauses Learn them! after because though although before unless as if until as if in order that when as long as since whenever as soon as so that where as though than wherever while Ex: My little brother cries because I do not always take him along a comma is used after an adverb clause that begins a sentence (called an introductory dependent clause) Ex: Whenever I see a skyscraper, I am impressed 21

22 PUNCTUATION COMMA 1 Direct Address speaking to someone and using his/her name use comma/commas to set off the name Ex: Bill, did you go to the store for Mom? Can you tell me, young man, how to get to the airport? Well, Sue, you seem fine today 2 Appositive a noun or pronoun that is next to another noun or pronoun and is the same person(s) or thing(s) use comma(s) to set off appositives not needed Ex: Mr Greene, the assistant principal, sent for you My brother Steve won a scholarship to the college of his choice (no comma because it tells which brother) 3 Interrupter words inserted but not really needed comes in the middle of sentence common interrupters in fact of course for instance however for example by the way in my opinion I think if you ask me I know Ex: Aluminum, however, is an extraordinarily light metal Jim, I think, is the best candidate for the job 4 Introductory word or phrase come at the beginning of sentences words such as yes, no, oh, well beginning prepositional phrase(s) (formal grammar states the prep phrase needs four or more words) beginning participial phrase Ex: Yes, I finished reading the book last week In ancient Egyptian stories, birds are larger than animals Seeing itself in the mirror, the duck seemed bewildered 22

23 PUNCTUATION (continued) 5 Direct Quotation the comma separates exact words of speaker from the rest of the sentence Ex: Mother said, Please do the dishes before you go My way of joking, George Bernard Shaw said, is to tell the truth 6 Address needs at least 2 parts *house number and street address = 1 part (no comma between) Ex: th St E *state and zip code = 1 part (no comma between) Ex: ND if more words (in the sentence) follow an address of at least 2 parts, a comma must follow the last part Ex: Death Valley, California 48321, has an annual rainfall of an inch and a half Ex: Sent my mail to 1450 Worthington Blvd, Gary, Indiana 89506, from now on 7 Date needs at least 2 parts * month and day = 1 part (no comma between) Ex: Jan 2 * month and year = 1 part (no comma between) Ex: January 1999 * if more words (in the sentence) follow a date of at least 2 parts, a comma must follow the last part Ex: Buffalo Bill was born February 1846 in Iowa The pony express was a mail service established on April 3, 1890, in Missouri 8 Items in a series need 3 or more items separated by commas 23

24 put a comma after the last item before the conjunction Ex: Next year you will study French, geography, English, and algebra 9 Adjectives preceding a noun need 2 or more adjectives preceding the noun Ex: The early rancher depended on the small, tough, sure-footed mustang when last adjective is so closely connected to the noun that they seem to form one expression, do not use a comma before it Ex: Training a frisky colt to be a gentle, dependable riding horse takes patience 10 Compound sentences put a comma before the conjunction in a compound sentence Ex: The whistle blew shrilly, and the game began 11 Introductory dependent clause put a comma after a beginning dependent clause in a complex sentence Ex: After the bell rang, the room grew quiet While you were shopping, I baked a cake QUOTATION MARKS around exact words of speaker Ex: My aunt, said Grace, sent me this watch around titles of short stories, articles, songs, poems, themes, and chapter titles * Hint: Things that are short (poems) or part of a whole (magazine article) PUNCTUATION (continued) UNDERLINE (italics on a computer) titles of books, newspapers, movies, plays, works of art, airplanes, trains, and ships 24

25 * Hint: things that are long (movies) or complete (magazines) Ex: The Mayflower arrived on American shores in 1620 (handwritten) The Mayflower arrived on American shores in 1620 (on the computer) SEMICOLON ( ; ) between independent clauses if they are not joined by a conjunction Ex: Mary decided not to go to the game; she stayed home and read COLON ( : ) time in figures Ex: Be there at 8:30 AM please before a list of items, especially after expressions like as follows or the following * Hint: rarely after a verb and never after a preposition Ex: Equipment for camping is as follows: tent, food, clothing, and a flashlight after the salutation of a business letter Ex: Dear Mr Smith: 25

26 PUNCTUATION (continued) APOSTROPHE contractions Ex: don t I ll o clock it s plurals of numbers, signs, and letters Ex: 10 s a s * s + s d s 7 s to show omission of numbers in a date Ex: The flood of 97 was devastating to many people possessives -- show ownership - singular noun always add s Ex: baby s man s - plural noun not ending in s always add s Ex: men s children s - plural noun ending in s add Ex: books shelves QUESTION MARKS/ EXCLAMATION MARKS (with direct quotations) if inside the quotation marks is a question/exclamation, put the question mark/exclamation mark inside the quotation marks Ex: What was the answer to the question? asked Joan The little boy exclaimed, I did it! if the question/exclamation is outside the quotation marks, the question mark/exclamation mark goes outside the quotation marks Ex: Did you answer the question by saying, a noun? Why did you say, Go to the store? I never again want to hear, Mary Had a Little Lamb! HYPHEN ( - ) divide a word at the end of a line (only between syllables) a single letter must not be left at the end of a line numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine and fractions (one-third) join two or more words that function as adjectives Ex: He is a happy-go-lucky person Diagramming 26

27 Subjects and Verbs Simple subject and verb 1 The water in the pond freezes solid in the winter water freezes 2 Have you been studying? you Have been studying Understood subjects 1 Listen carefully to the directions (you) Listen Compound subjects 1 Bob and Jane left for the movie Bob Jane left Compound verbs 1 Bob crumpled the paper and threw it away Bob crumpled threw Compound subjects and verbs 1 The boys and their fathers bought a camper and left for the lake boys fathers bought left DIAGRAMMING (continued) 27

28 Adjectives Single 1 The sleek black cat is howling cat is howling Compound 1 The black and white dog yelped dog yelped and Predicate Adjectives Single predicate adjective 1 My dog was very hungry dog was hungry Compound predicate adjective 1 The ball is red, blue, and yellow red ball is blue yellow Compound verb with predicate adjective after each 1 The cake looks good and seems moist cake looks \ good seems \ moist DIAGRAMMING_ (continued) Adverbs Adverb modifying verb 28

29 1 Yesterday we won easily we won Adverb modifying adjective 1 An extremely hard wind blew wind blew Adverb modifying adverb 1 The eagle flew almost too high eagle flew Prepositional Phrases Adjective phrases 1 Her shoes with the black bows were new shoes were \ new 2 Paintings by famous artists from America were displayed Paintings were displayed DIAGRAMMING (continued) Adverb phrases 1 Jack went to the game with Dave and Ron Jack 29 went

30 Dave 2 On Friday we arrived at school after the first bell Ron we arrived Predicate Nominatives Single predicate nominative PN 1 The author was Jack London author was \ Jack London Compound predicate nominatives PN PN 1 The main characters are Tom and Huck Tom characters are \ Huck Direct objects Single direct object 1 The robins built a nest in our tree robins built nest DIAGRAMMING (continued) Compound direct object DO DO 1 The student council sold candy and pop at the dance student council 30 sold candy pop

31 Indirect object Single indirect object IO 1 The boy sent his mother flowers for her birthday boy sent flowers Compound indirect objects IO IO 1 The teacher gave Mary and Ernie passes to their next class teacher gave passes Mary Ernie Number Agreement: Subject and Verb singular refers to one person, place, or idea plural more than one person, place, thing, or idea Agreement A verb must agree in number with its subject 31

32 - singular subject, takes singular verb - plural subject, takes plural verb Tip: In present tense, the verb with the s is singular Problems in Agreement *Phrase/clauses between subject and verb *Compound subjects -And phrase The baying (of the hounds) was deafening clause The movie director, [who is visiting our community,] is Steven Spielberg Subjects joined by and take a plural verb Jack and Diane always arrive on time OR/NOR *Inverted sentences joining singular subjects use singular verb joining plural subjects use plural verb joining a singular and a plural subject-verb agrees with closer subject find the subject Here is next semester s schedule *Contractions don t and doesn t Collective nouns There are no excuses for careless work Don t (plural-do) Doesn t (singular-does) He doesn t know the difference They don t visit often AGREEMENT:SUBJECT AND VERB (continued) Singular when referring to group as a unit The band was marching in the parade Plural when referring to individual parts or members of group The band were putting away their instruments Expressions of amount 32

33 Singular when the amount is thought of as a unit Plural when the amount is thought of as separate units Ten dollars was my weekly allowance last year Ten dollars with consecutive numbers were lying on the counter *Fractions / Percentages Singular when referring to a singular word Plural when referring to a plural word Two thirds of the student body was present on Friday Thirty percent of the bread is moldy Two thirds of the teachers were also in attendance Thirty percent of the parents are in favor of more school days *Some special nouns Some nouns plural in form take singular verbs mumps mathematics summons measles molasses genetics economics physics civics Some nouns plural in form that name a singular object take a plural verb binoculars scissors Olympics pants *Titles AGREEMENT: SUBJECT AND VERB (continued) Title of creative works (books, songs, movies, etc) take singular verbs Names of a country, city, organization take singular verbs Silver Bells is a popular Christmas song The Netherlands was where Anne Frank lived in hiding *Predicate Nominatives 33

34 A verb agrees with the subject but not necessarily with the predicate nominative The best time for an appointment is late weekday afternoons pn Raisins are his favorite snack pn *Indefinite Pronouns Singular need a singular verb anybody everybody no one anyone everyone nothing anything everything one each neither somebody either nobody someone something Plural need a plural verb both, few, many, several Singular or plural depending on meaning all, any, more, most, none Antecedent Agreement Pronoun / Antecedent Agreement the noun or pronoun to which a pronoun refers A pronoun must agree in number and gender with its antecedent Tom left his homework at home The students were anxious before their test Compound antecedents Singular antecedents joined by or or nor use a singular pronoun 34

35 Neither Sam nor Tom could find his lunch ticket Antecedents joined by and use a plural verb Sam and Tom lost their tickets Other antecedents Refer to rules for subject-verb agreement If a word requires a singular verb, it takes a singular pronoun to refer to it 35