1. Sentence Fragments, Verb Agreement, and Pronoun Agreement
Chapters 7, 9, 10 & 11

2. Chapter 7 Sentence Fragments
Couple of ways in which a sentence could be a fragment
Could be lacking either a subject or a predicate
It could have a subordinating element and clearly indicates that the thought is incomplete

3. Sentence Fragments – examples
What kind of fragments are these sentences?
A tall, distinguished-looking gentleman standing on the corner in the pouring rain.
Because I had heard all that I wanted to hear and did not intend to be bored any longer
Standing in the pouring rain and shielding himself from the deluge with a large umbrella
Although she had been well recommended by her former employers

4. Permissible Fragments
Some of the acceptable fragments include
The sooner, the better.
Anything by that.
Same as before
Ouch!
Yes.
Tickets, please!
Not so!
No!

5. Chapter 9 – Subject Verb Agreement
The verb in any clause must agree with its subject in person and number
By person, we mean first person (I), second person (you) and third person (s/he).
By number we mean singular (s/he) or plural (they)

6. Chapt 9 Subject Verb Agreement
What is the subject in this sentence?
The evidence that they submitted to the judges was convincing.
the evidence
Watch for intervening expressions, or really anything that modifies the subject.
What is the subject in this sentence? What is the correct verb?
A list of eligible candidates [was/were] posted on the bulletin board.

7. Chapt 9 Subject Verb Agreement
What is the subject in this sentence?
There is in many countries much unrest today.
Unrest
“there,” “where” can not ever be the subject of a sentence
What for the verb preceding the subject. What is the subject in this sentence? What is the correct verb?
Where [are/is] Bob and his friends going?

8. Chapt 9 Subject Verb Agreement – Indefinite Pronouns
The following indefinite pronouns, adjectives are singular
Either
Neither
Each
Every
Everybody
Anybody
Everyone
Anyone
None may be either singular or plural, although plural is more common

9. Chapt 9 Subject Verb Agreement – compound subjects
If a subject is joined by and, it requires a plural verb.
UNLESS the joined subject is actually the same person or thing.
If a subject is joined by or or nor, then the verb agrees in number and person with the nearest one.

10. Chapt 9 Subject Verb Agreement – compound subjects
What is the subject and correct verb in these sentences?
Where [are/is] the bracelets and beads?
Either the coach or the player [was/were] at fault.
My friend and coworker Mr Klausner [plays/play] soccer.
Neither my sisters nor I [am/are] going.
Neither the cat nor the kittens [have/has] been fed.
Neither the kittens nor the cat [have/has] been fed.

11. Chapt 9 Subject Verb Agreement – Nouns plural and singular in meaning
News
Gymnastics
Ethics
Tactics
Economics
Trousers
Physics
Scissors
Mathematics
Athletics
Gallows
Tidings
Mumps, Measles
Acoustics
Shambles
Riches
Whereabouts
Barracks
Plural nouns denoting a mass, a quantity, or a number as a unit (ex. dollars, bushels)
Phrases involving addition, multiplication, subtraction and division

12. Chapt 9 Subject Verb Agreement – Determining Modifiers
All, some, and percentage are determined by the number of the noun in the prepositional phrase
Some of the pie is missing
Some of the pies are missing
Number is determined by its article.
A number of students were at the art exhibit
The number of students was small.

13. Chapt 9 Subject Verb Agreement
To be verbs: The verb agrees with the subject and not the predicate nominative
The only fruit now [is/are] peaches
Peaches [are/is] the only fruit now.

14. Chapt 9 Subject Verb Agreement – Relative Pronouns
If a relative pronoun (who, which or that) is the subject, the verb agrees with the antecedent of the pronoun (the word it refers to).
This is the student who [is/are] to be promoted
These are the students who [are/is] to be promoted.

15. Chapt 9 Subject Verb Agreement
Collective Nouns: these nouns are singular in form but plural in meaning. They include team, class, committee, crowd, and crew.

16. Chapt 9 Subject Verb Agreement
Nouns with foreign plurals: some nouns retain their forms from their languages.
Singular
Plural
Alumnus
Alumni
Medium
Media
Crisis
Crises
Aquarium
Aquariums/Aquaria
Criterion
Criterions/Criteria
Datum
Data
Radius
Radii
Stimulus
Stimuli
Syllabus
Syllabi

17. Chapt 10 Pronoun Antecedent Agreement
Singular in form
Plural in form
Each
Either
Every
Neither
Anyone
Anybody
Everyone
Everybody
Someone
Somebody
No one
Nobody
Collective Nouns singular in meaning
Collective Nouns plural in meaning

18. Chapt 10 Pronoun Antecedent Agreement
Each of the girls has [her/their] own car.
The team has elected Ian as [its/their] captain.
Does everyone have [his/their] ticket?
The team quickly took [their/its] position on the field.
Neither of the boys remembered [his/their] poncho.