Pronoun antecedent And Subject verb agreement YOU HAVE TO
AGREE!
Slide 3
A singular subject demands a singular verb; a plural subject
demands a plural verb. That is the simple principle behind
subject-verb agreement. Lets create a sentence using this rose as
the subject. Think of a rose verb and create a sentence. Make the
subject and verb agree. Lets do the same with these subjects.
Slide 4
Lets identify the subjects and verbs in these sentences. The
owl hoots in the dark night. The owls hoot in the dark night (on
Valentines Day.) Would you say, One owl hoot Or One owl hoots? Do
two owls hoot or hoots?
Slide 5
Plural!!! More than one! Nouns such as scissors, tweezers,
trousers, and glasses require plural verbs. (There are two parts to
these things.)
Slide 6
Singular! One! Uno! Collective nouns are words that imply more
than one person but that are considered singular and take a
singular verb, such as: group, team, committee, class, and family.
Nouns such as civics, mathematics, dollars, measles, and news
require singular verbs. Jury and Supreme Court is also singular.
The news is on at six. The jury is out.
Slide 7
Expressions such as with, together with, including, accompanied
by, in addition to, or as well do not change the number of the
subject. If the subject is singular, the verb is too. Austen,
together with three friends, want/wants to go to the party. Austen
is the subject he is single. Austen WANTS to go to the party.
Slide 8
Pronoun and antecedent agreement. A pronoun is a word that
stands in for a noun. The antecedent of a pronoun is the word the
pronoun refers to. Neither one of the players slowed his pace. Just
like subjects and verbs, pronouns and antecedents must agree!
pronoun antecedent
Slide 9
Here is where it gets tricky The words each, each one, either,
neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone, nobody, somebody,
someone, and no one are singular indefinite pronouns and require a
singular verb. THEY ARE ALWAYS SINGLE! (But they are happy that
way.)
Slide 10
Lets try some indefinite pronouns. Each owl hoots in the dark
night. Everybody hoots in the dark night (on Valentines Day.) Each
is always single! Everybody is always single!
Slide 11
Did you get that???? Each each one either neither everyone
everybody anybody anyone nobody somebody someone no one Burn these
words into your brain! Can you believe it? Always single!
Slide 12
Is the subject countable? Some indefinite pronouns such as all,
some are singular or plural depending on what they're referring to.
(Is the thing referred to countable or not?) Be careful choosing a
verb to accompany such pronouns. Its a miracle, exclaimed Ms.
Weber, all of the students handed in their work on time! Some of
the beads are missing. Some of the water is gone.
Slide 13
Which one is closer? When the subject of a sentence is composed
of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by our little
conjunction friend and, use a plural verb. AND joins subjects! She
and her friends are at the fair. When two or more singular nouns or
pronouns are connected by or or nor, use a singular verb. The book
or the pen is in the drawer When parts of a subject are joined by
or or nor, the verb agrees with the nearer part. Neither the
teacher nor the students know the answer. The rabbits or the
woodchucks have eaten my lettuce. Neither the red marble nor the
others are mine.
