parts of speech: subject-verb agreement presentation

7/27/2019 Parts of Speech: Subject-Verb Agreement Presentation

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GENERAL RULE:Make Subjects and Verbs

agree with their subjectsin number (singular or plural)

and in person (first, second,

or third).


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1.Make the verb agree with its

subject, not with the word thatcomes between.

The conflict between the opposition andthe government greatly affects the

countrys economy.

The doctor, together with the nurses, isdoing the rounds this afternoon.


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2.Treat most compound subjects

connected by andas plural.* Smoking and drinking are vices that

can eventually lead to sickness and

death.

* The governor and his council

have been arguing since the meetingstarted.


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Exceptions: When the parts of thesubject form a single unit or when theyrefer to the same person or thing, treat the

subject as singular.

* Strawberries and cream was a last-minute addition to the menu.

* Sues friend and adviser wassurprised by her decision.


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3. When a compound subject is

preceded by eachorevery,treat it as singular.

* Each tree, shrub, and vine needsto be sprayed.

* Every car, truck, and van is

required to pass inspection.


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Exceptions:This does not apply when

a compound subject is

followed by each:

A lan and Marc ia each haved ifferent ideas .


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4.With compound subjects

connected by orornor(or by

eitherororneithernor), makethe verb agree with the part of the

subject nearer to the verb.

* A drivers license or a credit card is

required.

* A drivers license or two credit cards

are required.


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5. Treat mos t indef ini te pronouns

as singular.

* Everyone in the team supports

the coach .

any ei ther none

anybody each no oneeveryone neither something


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Exceptions:A few indefinite pronouns (all, any,

some)are singular or plural

depending on the noun or pronoun

they refer to.

* Some of the lemonade has

disappeared.

* Some of the rocks were slippery.


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6. Treat collective nouns as

singular unless the meaning is

clearly plural.

* The scout troop meets in our

basement of Tuesdays.

* The class assembles in the lobby.


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Exceptions: When there is areason to draw attention to the

individual members of the group,

a collective noun may be treated

as plural.

* The class respects the teacher.

* The class are debating among

themselves.


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7. The phrase the number is treated

as singular, a number as plural.

* The number of school-age children is

declining.

* A number of children are attending

the wedding.


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8. When units of measurement are

used collectively, treat them as

singular; when they refer toindividual persons or things, treat

them as plural.

* Three-fourths of the pie has been

eaten.

* One-fourth of the drivers were

drunk.


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9. Make the verb agree with its

subject even when the subject

follows the verb. Subjects

beginning with there isorthere are

(orthere was

orthere were

) areinverted: the subject follows the

verb.

* There are surprisingly few

children in our neighbourhood.


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10. Words such as athlet ics,

econom ics, mathemat ics, physics,stat is t ics , measles, mumps , and

newsare usually singular, despite

their plural form.

* Statistics is among the most

difficult courses in our program.


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parts of speech: subject-verb agreement presentation

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