More SV Agreement Fun!

The Compound Subject Subjects joined by and take a plural verb. Imagery and metaphor help poets express their feelings.

Singular subjects… Singular subjects joined by or or nor take a singular verb. Neither the teacher nor the principal is happy with the class’s behavior. (That’s just an example, of course!)

How do you choose??? When a singular subject and a plural subject are joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the subject nearer the verb.

How do you choose??? Try to avoid awkward constructions. Reword your sentence if it makes your meaning clear.

Don’t doesn’t help… Don’t and doesn’t must agree with their subjects. With the subjects I and you and with plural subjects, use don’t (do not). If you forget the rule, mentally separate the contraction.

It don’t matter! Yes, it does! Errors in the use of don’t and doesn’t usually occur when don’t is incorrectly used with it, he, or she. Remember to use doesn’t with these singular subjects.

Collectively speaking… Collective nouns are singular in form, but they name a group of persons or things. Examples: class crowd fleet faculty group

Collectively speaking… The class has elected its officers.(Class is thought of as a unit.) The class have completed their projects. (Class is thought of as individuals.) Collective nouns are singular in form, but they name a group of persons or things. Examples:

Collectively speaking… The class has elected its officers.(Class is thought of as a unit.) The class have completed their projects. (Class is thought of as individuals.) Be sure that any pronoun referring to the collective noun has the same number as the noun. Examples:

A verb agrees with its subject… NOT with its predicate nominative.

Preddy who? On page 403, our textbook defines a predicate nominative as a noun or pronoun in the predicate (the part of the sentence that says something about the subject) that explains or identifies the subject of the sentence.

A verb agrees with its subject, not with its predicate nominative. Examples: sv The marching bands are the main attraction. s v The main attraction is the marching band.

Here and There When the subject follows the verb, as in sentences beginning with there and here and in questions, be careful to determine the subject and make sure that the verb agrees with it. Find the subject!

Here and There When the subject follows the verb, as in sentences beginning with there and here and in questions, be careful to determine the subject and make sure that the verb agrees with it. Find the verb!

Here and There When the subject follows the verb, as in sentences beginning with there and here and in questions, be careful to determine the subject and make sure that the verb agrees with it. Avoid AWKWARD puppies! I mean….sentences.

Here and There Example: v s Here are some footprints! Find the subject and the verb and make sure they agree!

Words stating amount are usually singular. However, sometimes the amount is thought of as pieces or parts. In that case, use a plural verb. s v Thirty minutes is not long when you are having fun with grammar! s v Thirty minutes are each like an eternity until I get to my grammar class.

Words stating amount are usually singular. However, sometimes the amount is thought of as pieces or parts. In that case, use a plural verb. s v Thirty slides is too long for one grammar PowerPoint. (Slides refers to one unit or amount. ) s v Thirty slides are too many for one grammar PowerPoint. (Slides refers to individual slides.)

s v Thirty slides is too long for one grammar PowerPoint. (Slides refers to one unit or amount. ) s v Thirty slides are too many for one grammar PowerPoint. (Slides refers to individual slides.) Those are just examples…this PowerPoint could go on forever!!!

Titles of Works The title of a work of art, literature, or music, even when plural in form, takes a singular verb. Great Expectations is one of my favorite novels. (one book…a really good one!)

Every…many a… Every or many a before a subject calls for a singular verb. Examples: Many a student has been stumped by this rule. Every good textbook documents this rule, though.

Tricky S A few nouns, although plural in form, take a singular verb. Words that end in –ics also usually take a single verb. The news of this grammar rule takes students by surprise. Politics is a controversial topic.

Almost there! Pronouns and their antecedents…Aunt who? An antecedent is the word to which a pronoun refers. A pronoun agrees with its antecedent in number and gender. In this sentence, pronoun is the antecedent of its.

Gender He, his, and him are masculine. She, her, and hers are feminine. An antecedent should agree with the noun or pronoun to which it refers.

Gender James makes his debut tomorrow. (James is the antecedent of the pronoun his.) She, her, and hers are feminine. Colette performs her solo today. (Colette is the antecedent of the pronoun her.) An antecedents should agree with the noun or pronoun to which it refers.

Gender An antecedent should agree with the noun or pronoun to which it refers… otherwise…it gets AWKWARD!

Gender In conversation, you may find it more convenient to use a plural personal pronoun when referring to singular antecedents that can be either masculine or feminine.

Gender This form is becoming increasingly popular in writing as well and may someday become acceptable as standard written English.

Gender This form is becoming increasingly popular in writing as well and may someday become acceptable as standard written English.

Gender Of course, by then, the Good Shepherd will have called us all home and we won’t have to worry about such atrocities. For now, be a good writer and REWORD your sentences rather than have your name attached to such a poor practice!

Use Singular Pronouns for… each, either, neither, one, everyone, everybody, no one, nobody, anyone, anybody, someone, or somebody. Example: Someone left his (or his or her) hat on the field.

Two or more… Two or more singular antecedents joined by or or nor should be referred to by a singular pronoun. Neither Chris nor Pat remembered to feed his cat. Either Jordan or Stevie will sing her favorite song.

Two or more… Two or more antecedents joined by and should be referred to by a plural pronoun. The teacher and the class celebrated at the end of their long grammar lesson. Smarties for the smarties.