AP Lang Grammar and Conventions Lesson 2: Subject-Verb agreement, Pronoun Reference Source: Advanced Language and Literature, Shea, Golden, Balla 2016

Grammar and Conventions #2: Subject-Verb Agreement – a verb must agree in number with its subject, regardless of whether other words fall between them. Example: The cars – two Fords, a Lincoln, and a Nissan – were for sale in the lot down the street The boys were the first group to finish their assignment. Activity: What should the verb be? (pick one) The group finished ____its/their_____ assignment. Each dog and cat in the shelter __is/are___ well-cared for. Either the dog or the kittens ____is/are____ up for adoption. Neither the kittens nor the dogs ____is/are__ up for adoption. The team wearing red uniforms ____control/controls___ the ball. The group finished its assignment Each dog and cat in the shelter is well-cared for Either the dog or the kittens are well-cared for Neither the kittens nor the dog is well-cared for (verb agrees with what its closest to) The team wearing red uniforms controls the ball

Grammar and Conventions #2: Pronoun Reference – pronouns replace nouns; pronouns must be agree in number and be clear in reference. Pronoun – Antecedent agreement Example: Because Tom wanted to build a time machine, he invested all of his money in it. “he” and “his” replace Tom; “it” replaces time machine (Tom and time machine are antecedents) Activity: What is the problem with the pronoun and its antecedent in these sentences? I wanted to bring a baby deer home, but my dad said they aren’t good domestic pets. A person might want to skip breakfast, but they shouldn’t because it is an important meal. The sentence should read: I wanted to bring a baby deer home, but by dad said it is not a good domestic pet A person might want to skip breakfast, but he/she shouldn’t because it is an important meal. OR People might want to skip breakfast, but they…

Grammar and Conventions #2: Pronoun Reference – pronouns replace nouns; referring to pronouns must be agree in number and be clear in reference. Indirect Pronoun Reference Example: She read a review of the book that confused her. Corrected: She read a review of the book, a work that confused her. What is the thing that confused her? The book or the review?

Grammar and Conventions #2: Putting it all together…. In your journal: Write an analysis paragraph about Hawthorne’s “The Minister’s Black Veil,” examining the symbolic significance of the veil. You must include: A sentence that demonstrates pronoun-antecedent agreement A sentence that demonstrates subject-verb agreement, using neither/nor A sentence that demonstrates a confusing pronoun reference. Then draw a line through it, and write the clarifying, edited sentence next to it. At least TWO vocab words from this week that work in context.