Subject – verb agreement “Why can’t we all just get along?” - Rodney King. SUBJECTVERB

Subject-verb agreement Subject is the noun – the person, place, or thing performing the verb Verb is the action – it is what the subject is doing. (If the verb is a linking verb, the subject is the person or thing being discussed.) The SUBJECT and VERB must agree in number. Plural SUBJECTS need a PLURAL verb. Singular SUBJECTS need a SINGULAR verb.

Subject-verb agreement SINGULAR verbs end in an “s” SINGULAR verbs end in an “s” Mark walks, Susan drives, John is, Sally does Mark walks, Susan drives, John is, Sally does PLURAL verbs don’t … PLURAL verbs don’t … Mark and Susan walk; John and Sally are Mark and Susan walk; John and Sally are You and I must have PLURAL verbs You and I must have PLURAL verbs You are smart; I am happy; You are smart; I am happy;

Make the necessary corrections. Everyone is taking their entrance examination. Nobody in the group have the answer to question five. Bob and Sue are going to the store. One of the glasses were broken. Each of the animals are in a cage. Neither the boy nor his sister were at home. Everyone are invited to the dance this weekend

SINGULARPLURALPLURAL OR SINGULAR EITHER I MOSTSOME ALL ANY EITHER NEITHER…NOR… FEW SEVERAL NONE NOTHING YOU EVERYBODY SOMEONE

YES (it is correct) !! NO (it is incorrect) !! The crowd of students are loud. The group, in the next room, are also loud. That group is the loudest of all ! The committee meet every Wednesday to discuss important issues. Is everyone happy with their seat? The instructors or Melanie are unhappy with the result. Everyone, except for the instructors, love to work on grammar rules.

Parallel Structure

All related words or phrases within a sentence should be in similar form. When a series of verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs or phrases is joined with a linking word, put all the items in parallel form All related words or phrases within a sentence should be in similar form. When a series of verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs or phrases is joined with a linking word, put all the items in parallel form

Now you can try some! The car is sleek, sturdy, and has a lot of room. The car is sleek, sturdy, and has a lot of room. _______________________________ _______________________________ The Bill of Rights guarantees our freedom of speech, our right to assemble peacefully and we have the right to bear arms. The Bill of Rights guarantees our freedom of speech, our right to assemble peacefully and we have the right to bear arms. ________________________________ ________________________________ Click on the part of the sentence that needs to be changed

Dangling & Misplaced Modifiers Standing nervously on the platform, a barrage of tomatoes suddenly pelted the Chairman.

Dangling Modifiers A modifying phrase just seems to be hanging there; it doesn’t modify any word in the sentence A modifying phrase just seems to be hanging there; it doesn’t modify any word in the sentence Hurrying past the window, nothing could be seen inside. Hurrying past the window, nothing could be seen inside. Who or what was hurrying past the window? No one? Nothing? Who or what was hurrying past the window? No one? Nothing? The introductory phrase “hurrying past the window” doesn’t seem to modify ANYTHING The introductory phrase “hurrying past the window” doesn’t seem to modify ANYTHING You can easily correct a dangling modifier by rewriting the sentence to include a word that can be modified You can easily correct a dangling modifier by rewriting the sentence to include a word that can be modified Rewritten: Hurrying past the window, I could see nothing inside. Rewritten: Hurrying past the window, I could see nothing inside. Try this one: Try this one: Sliding downhill on the toboggan, his wrist was broken. Sliding downhill on the toboggan, his wrist was broken. Click on the modifying PHRASE. Click on the modifying PHRASE. What needs to be changed? See if you are correct. What needs to be changed? See if you are correct. Rewrite this sentence so that it makes sense !! Rewrite this sentence so that it makes sense !!

Misplaced Modifiers Writers will use descriptive words or phrases to help the reader understand an idea or visualize a scene more easily. Writers will use descriptive words or phrases to help the reader understand an idea or visualize a scene more easily. However, if the modifier (the descriptive word) is placed in the wrong section, it can lead to confusion However, if the modifier (the descriptive word) is placed in the wrong section, it can lead to confusion Example: Example: A boy saw a cat riding a blue bicycle. A boy saw a cat riding a blue bicycle. What? Was the cat riding the bicycle?? What? Was the cat riding the bicycle?? You need to put the phrase “riding the bicycle” next to the word it modifies – the boy You need to put the phrase “riding the bicycle” next to the word it modifies – the boy Rewritten: A boy, riding a blue bicycle, saw a cat. Rewritten: A boy, riding a blue bicycle, saw a cat. Avoid confusion by placing the modifier as closely as possible to the word being modified Avoid confusion by placing the modifier as closely as possible to the word being modified

Try these Misplaced Modifiers The children showed off for Grandma jumping on the trampoline. The children showed off for Grandma jumping on the trampoline. Who was jumping on the trampoline? Who was jumping on the trampoline? Which sentence is rewritten correctly? Which sentence is rewritten correctly? childrenGrandma Grandma, jumping on the trampoline, showed off for the children. The children, jumping on the trampoline, showed off for Grandma.

Yes, you’ve got it!!

No, you’ll have to try something else