Lesson 2
Problems with
Locating the Subject
Objective:
(What You Will Learn)
•To recognize and
avoid common
agreement problems
in your sentences.
Here’s the Idea:
Some sentences can
be tricky.
Subjects in unusual
order, predicate
nouns, prep phrases.
Subjects in Unusual
Positions
A subject can follow a verb or
part of a verb phrase in a
question, a sentence
beginning with here or there,
or a sentence in which an
adjective, an adverb, or a
phrase is placed first.
Questions
Does the puppy run
down the street?
Begins with a prep
phrase
From years of
study come our
ideas about
children.
Begins with here or
there
Here are some
famous people with
successful careers.
Tips to find the subject
(Is, Are) boys more
rebellious than
girls?
Tips to find the subject
1. Turn the
sentence around,
putting the subject
before the verb.
Tips to find the subject
Boys (is, are) more
rebellious than
girls.
Tips to find the subject
2. Determine
whether the
subject is singular
or plural.
Tips to find the subject
boys
(plural)
Tips to find the subject
3. Make sure the
subject and verb
agree.
Tips to find the subject
Boys are more
rebellious than
girls.
Prepositional Phrases
The subject of a
verb is never
found in a
prepositional
phrase.
Prepositional Phrases
Don’t be fooled by
words that come
between a subject
and a verb.
Prepositional Phrases
Mentally block out
those words.
Then it will be easy to
tell whether the subject
is singular or plural.
Prepositional Phrases
This book by two
doctors describes
health problems.
Prepositional Phrases
Some theories of
personality
development are
complex.
So What?
•Writers often use
prep phrases to
show location
and paint a visual
picture.
So What?
•Make sure the verb
agrees with the
subject of the
sentence, not the
object of the
preposition.
1. Studies of
animal behavior
suggest
differences in
temperament.
1. Correct
2. There is many
cats and dogs
with distinctive
traits.
2. There are many
cats and dogs
with distinctive
traits.
3. Pit bulls for
example is an
aggressive breed
of terrier.
3. Pit bulls for
example are an
aggressive breed
of terrier.
4. A chihuahua on
the other hand is
a very timid dog.
4. Correct
5. There is some
pets with serious
behavioral
problems.
5. There are some
pets with serious
behavioral
problems.
1. Our hike in the mountains (was,
were) fun.
2. The hands on my watch (glow,
glows) in the dark.
3. The peaches from your garden (is,
are) delicious.
4. (Was, were) the players tired?
5. (Has, Have) she opened her
present yet?
6. There (is, are) many plants to see
on our hike.
7. Here (is, are) the jacket that I have
been looking for all day.
8. (Do, Does) your plants grow in
the spring?
9. Before the storm (arrive, arrives),
we (need, needs) to take cover.
10. The beads on my necklace (has,
have) fallen off.
11. The clothes in the store (is, are)
new.
12. Cell phones with a charger (is,
are) more expensive than other
phones.
13. There (is, are) many ways to
recycle paper.
14. (Do, Does) Molly and Jake like to
hang out?
Closure
Today you learned to
recognize and avoid
common agreement
problems in sentences.
Homework
textbook
p. 174 ex.5
and 181 ex.9
Due Tomorrow
Imagine if your mom or
dad became the new
teacher of your class?
Describe what that
would be like. Write at
least a page.