BY: Pamala Hall AN: 401878 ; Hall, Pamela, Currant, Gary ... · Looking Glass Library™ is a...

BY: Pamala HallILLUSTRATED BY: Gary Currant

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EBSCO Publishing : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 10/18/2016 8:54 AM via MICHIGAN ELIBRARYAN: 401878 ; Hall, Pamela, Currant, Gary.; Wheel of Subject-verb AgreementAccount: s8410434

By: Pamela HallIllustrated by: Gary Currant

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Published by Magic Wagon, a division of the ABDO Group, 8000 West 78thStreet, Edina, Minnesota 55439. Copyright © 2009 by Abdo Consulting Group,Inc. International copyrights reserved in all countries. All rights reserved. No partof this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from thepublisher.

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Text by Pamela HallIllustrations by Gary CurrantEdited by Stephanie Hedlund and Rochelle BaltzerInterior layout and design by Neil KlinepierCover design by Neil Klinepier

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataHall, Pamela.Wheel of subject-verb agreement / by Pamela Hall ; illustrated by Gary Currant.

p. cm. -- (Grammar's slammin')Includes bibliographical references.ISBN 978-1-60270-619-41. English language--Verb--Juvenile literature. 2. English language--Nounphrase--Juvenile literature. I. Currant, Gary, ill. II. Title.PE1271.H28 2009428.2--dc22

2008036324

“Welcome to The Big Wheel of Grammar!” gameshow host, Matt Payback, began. “Our teams todayare the Upstarts and the Smarts. The Smarts won thetoss, so they choose our grammar category.”

“We’ll take Subject-Verb Agreement,” Sam Smart said.“Great! Before we begin, let me remind you that each

correct answer will give you 100 points,” Matt said. “Now,my lovely assistant, Hannah Blight, will give you a hint forthis category.”

“Wait!” screeched Barb Upstart. “That’s notenough. Please define subject and verb.”

“A subject is the person, the place, or thething that performs the action in a sentence. Itusually comes first. The verb is the action word.It includes the words is, are, was, or were.”Co

“Are we ready now?” asked Matt. “The wheel haslanded on the first puzzle. Think hard, Smarts. Arewe looking for is or are to fill that blank space?”

“The answer is are!” hollered Sam. “She and herdog are at the park!”

“You’re right!” beamed Matt. “The word andcombines the two singular subjects to create a pluralsubject. That plural subject needs a plural verb. Give100 points to the Smarts!”

“Now, here’s one for the Upstarts,” Matt continued.“The missing word is either stink or stinks. Think hard,Upstarts.”

Barb cried, “I’ve got it! The broccoli or the cheesestink in the fridge. Broccoli and cheese are twothings, so it needs a plural verb!”

“I’m sorry, Barb,” moaned Matt. “That is incorrect.When two or more singular items are connected by or,the verb needed is singular, not plural. Singular verbsoften end in s. So, the correct answer is stinks.”

“Moving on,” Matt said. “Smarts, is it hiss or hisses?”Sam beamed then answered, “It’s hiss.”“Absolutely!” cried Matt. “We tried to trick you with

both a singular and a plural subject and or. But youknew that the one closest to the verb wins! The plurallizards is paired with the plural hiss. Another 100 pointsto the Smarts.”

“If you switch it around,” added Sam, “it wouldbe: The lizards or the snake hisses every day.“

“You’re a genius, Sam Smart!” Matt cheered. Barb sighed as Matt opened the note Chuck

Upstart threw at the Smarts.

“We’ve spun again. I’m sorry, Upstarts,you’ve landed on Lose Turn,” sighed Matt.“Smarts, what is a collective noun?”

Sal sang out, “It’s a word that soundsplural but is just one thing. Group, team,

class, and family are collective nouns!”“That’s correct! The Smart group

is in the lead,” announced Matt.

“Okay, Upstarts, complete this sentence using wasor were,” Matt said.

“It would be were, because students is plural,”guessed Barb.

“I’m sorry, Upstarts. I was looking for was,” groanedMatt. “The subject here is teacher. Remember, thesubject and the verb must agree. Don’t be confusedwhen a phrase comes between them.”

“We’re nearly out of time,” Matt announced.“Smarts, it’s your turn. Please look to the lovelyHannah Blight and tell me what those words have incommon.”

“Are they singular and agree with a singularverb?” Sal breathed.

“Yes!” cried Matt. “One example could be: Eachof these apples is crunchy. We are talking aboutmore than one apple, but we’re looking at each onein the group separately. So, a singular verb isneeded. It looks like the Smarts are about to win!”

“Smarts, you have 400 points and the Upstartshave none. Just fill in the last puzzle and the prize isyours!”

“That would be is!” shouted Sam.“Perfect score!” sang Matt. “The word dollars may

sound plural, but it is a single unit that is groupedtogether.”

“Team Smart, you are the winner of The Big Wheelof Grammar!”

“Shouldn’t that be ‘You is the winner’?” asked Barb.“You is an exception, Barb! It is always matched

with a plural verb,” Matt stated.

“How will you spend your winnings, Smarts?” Mattshouted over the excitement.

“We’d like to help everyone learn grammar,” saidSam. “And, we are starting with the Upstarts. Saland I are signing them up for grammar lessons!”

More About Subject-Verb Agreement

In every complete sentence there is a subject and averb. These subjects and verbs need to agree to begrammatically correct. Singular verbs often end in s andare matched with singular subjects.

Sometimes subjects can be tricky! When two singularsubjects are combined by the word and, they create aplural subject. That plural subject needs a plural verb. Butif they are connected by or, they remain singular. The verbmatches the subject closest to it.

Be sure to identify your subject when deciding whichverb to use. Don’t be fooled by phrases between thesubject and the verb. And remember that collective nounslook like a group, but refer to a singular subject!

Web Sites

To learn more about grammar, visit ABDO Group online atwww.abdopublishing.com. Web sites about grammar arefeatured on our Book Links page. These links are routinelymonitored and updated to provide the most currentinformation available.

BY: Pamala Hall AN: 401878 ; Hall, Pamela, Currant, Gary ... · Looking Glass Library™ is a...

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