Subject/Verb Agreement

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Subject/Verb Agreement

• Bedford Handbook pp. 258-271

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What you already know
How to identify the subject and verb of a
sentence The samples on the tray in the lab
need testing. Singular subjects require singular
verbs That girl loves her macaroni and
cheese. Plural subjects require plural
verb They were just trying to find the right
hotel.
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Compound Subjects Verbs

• Most verbs joined with and are plural.
• The man in the hat and the little girl with him
  are brother and sister.
• Exception Phrases that act as a single unit are
  singular.
• Macaroni and cheese is my favorite dish.
• Subjects joined with eitheror and
  neithernor agree with the subject closer to
  the verb.
• Neither my parents nor my sister remembers when
  my birthday is.

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Indefinite Pronouns

• Most indefinite pronouns are singular.
• Each of the girls is planning to attend the
  event.
• Many a child has lost his gloves in the fluffy,
  white snow.
• Neither of the children thinks highly of the new
  nanny.

another anybody anyone anything each either
everybody everyone everything many a much
neither nobody no one nothing one other
somebody someone something
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Indefinite Pronouns

• Some indefinite pronouns may be plural or
  singular.
• Some of the girls are planning to attend the
  event.
• Some of the advice is good.
• None of the boys think highly of the new nanny.

All Any None Some
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Other notes

• Collective nouns are singular unless used as a
  plural.
• The family is having a picnic on Saturday.
• There is not a subject.
• There is not a cloud in the sky.
• There are going to be many upset musicians.
• Sentences are sometimes inverted in other ways.
• At the back of the room are a small aquarium and
  a terrarium.
• A small aquarium and a terrarium are at the back
  of the room.

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Practice

• Follow the directions and complete exercise 21-2
  1-5 on page 271
• At home practice and review pp.258-270, ex.
  21-1, 21-2 a-e.