Head Start Module 2
Sentences have both a subject and a predicate. The subject of the sentence is who or what the sentence is about. The predicate describes the subject or what the subject is doing.
The subject is a noun or pronoun (and its modifiers, which are words or phrases that modify the meaning of the noun or pronoun) and the predicate has, at its heart, a verb or verbs.
The subject and verb must agree in number (singular or plural) and person (1 st person, 2 nd person, 3 rd person). The most difficult part of subject/verb agreement is agreement in number, so we’ll focus on that here.
The basic rule of thumb is that singular subjects need singular verbs, and plural subjects need plural verbs.
Example: Lane is an excellent drummer.
Lane, the subject of the sentence, is singular, so the verb is must also be singular.
Example: The squirrels are staring at me through the window.
The squirrels are the subject of the sentence. Because the subject is plural, the plural verb are must be used.
1.
Sentences with one or more nouns/pronouns connected with and need a plural verb. This indicates to the reader that both are equally important to the meaning of the sentence.
Example: Dogs and cats are wonderful pets.
2.
Singular nouns/pronouns connected with or take a singular verb.
Example: This dog or this cat is the pet of our choice.
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Head Start Module 2
3.
Two plural subjects joined by or require a plural verb.
Example: Dogs or cats are wonderful pets.
4.
When you find yourself with one singular subject and one plural subject, the subject closest to the verb should agree with it.
Example: The potatoes or the chicken is in the fridge.
5.
Sentence subjects that are indefinite pronouns referring to non specific individuals, like each, anyone, everybody, anything, every, etc., are singular and require singular verbs.
Example: Everyone is going to the club after class.
6.
Some indefinite pronouns, such as few, many, both, others, and several, are treated as plurals, though.
Example: Many students are tired during exam week.
7.
Most collective nouns, such as team, class, jury, group, etc., are considered singular.
Example: The group is prepared for the presentation.
8.
Even if the verb comes before the subject, it must agree.
Example: There are forty-six plates in the basement.
9.
There may be a subject complement in the sentence that throws you off.
Make sure that your verb agrees with the subject, and not the subject complement.
Example: The soup is full of earthy, rustic flavours.
The soup is a singular subject, so it needs a singular verb is. Flavours, which is a plural form, is the subject complement.
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Head Start Module 2
10.
The words that, which and who can be singular or plural, depending on the words (or antecedents) they refer to.
Example: The man who delivers our mail sings quite loudly.
Example: The men who sort our mail sing quite loudly.
11.
Most nouns that end in s are plural; however, some are singular.
Example: The jeans are new.
Example: The news is on at six.
If you’re not sure, check your dictionary.
To hear more about subject/verb agreement, listen to the Grammar Girl podcast here: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/subject-verbagreement.
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Head Start Module 2
Read over the following sentences and select the correct verb form to complete the sentence.
1.
The zombies (is, are) just outside the door.
2.
The news (is, are) covering the zombie rising pretty thoroughly.
3.
The zombie or the werewolves (hunts, hunt) near the old graveyard.
4.
Each of these zombies (moan, moans) loudly.
5.
The zombie army (is, are) travelling down the 401.
6.
The people who lived in those apartments over there (shuffles, shuffle) quietly through the streets at night looking for brains to eat.
7.
Either that man or the zombies will (escape, escapes) the barn.
8.
These jeans (makes, make) me look undead.
9.
There (stands, stand) the most fearsome zombies of all.
10.
That man (call, calls) the zombies the walking dead.
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Head Start Module 2
All sentences consist of several different types of elements: words, phrases, and clauses. We will focus on clauses in this section.
Clauses come in two types: dependent and independent.
Independent clauses can stand on their own as a complete sentence. They each contain a subject/verb pair.
Example: Jon walked to the store. (subject=Jon, verb=walked)
Example: The textbook is on my desk. (subject=textbook, verb=is).
Each of these clauses is complete (they have a subject/verb pair), and can function as sentences on their own.
Dependent clauses have a subject/verb pair, but they cannot stand as a sentence on their own. They need to be hooked onto an independent clause in order to work.
Example: Because Jon walked to the store.
This example still contains a subject/verb pair (Jon/walked). However, the addition of the word because makes the thought incomplete. The reader would be left asking,
“Because what?” This is called a fragment.
There are several words called dependent marker or subordinating words that indicate that a clause is a dependent clause. Here is a list of some common subordinating or dependent marker words:
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Head Start Module 2 after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, in order to, since, that, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, where, whether, while, who, whom, whose, why
If the dependent clause comes first, it is followed by a comma.
Example: Because Jon walked to the store, he ran into his friend Navjeet.
Example: If you would like to go to the movie, please call me back.
If the independent clause comes first, it is not followed by a comma.
Example: Jon ran into his friend Navjeet because he walked to the store.
Example: Please call me back if you would like to go to the movie.
Underline the portion of the sentence that is the independent clause.
1.) After he reached the school, he found out it was a snow day.
2.) I want you to let me know if you want to come with me to the aquarium.
3.) Until it’s time to go, please work on your lab assignment.
4.) Although it is very warm out, you should still bring a sweater.
5.) She dropped the peas all over the floor because she was too distracted by the cat.
6.) He wanted to eat, sleep, and shower.
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7.) Whenever Steve rakes the leaves, Robbie jumps in the pile.
8.) Do you want a piece of the cake that I made today?
9.) Even though it was really cold, he still wanted to go skiing.
10.) He walked around the aquarium after he bought his tickets.
Parallel structure means that words and phrases in a sentence use the same grammatical form. Consider the following example:
I like camping, fishing, and to hike.
The items in this list are not parallel. The first two items in the list end in –ing, but the third (to bike) is in the infinitive form of the verb. To correct the sentence, you must make all the items in the list take the same grammatical form.
I like to camp, to fish, and to hike. or
I like camping, fishing, and hiking.
Phrases also need parallel structure. Consider the following statement:
I told the chef that the soup was too dry, the bread was too crusty, and the steak had too much meat and not enough fat.
These phrases are not parallel, and need to be fixed.
I told the chef that the soup was too dry, the bread was too crusty, and the steak was too meaty.
This table shows some more sentences that lack parallel structure and some ways to fix the sentences.
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Head Start Module 2
Not Parallel Parallel
Sharon is kind, considerate, and likes to help.
Sharon is kind, considerate, and helpful.
Gordon tries to do what is right, different things, and make a profit.
Gordon tries to do what is right, what is different, and what is profitable.
With his sharp mind, by having his boss as his uncle, and few enemies, he’ll go far.
With his sharp mind, the boss as his uncle, and few enemies, he’ll go far.
To hear more about parallelism, listen to the Grammar Girl podcast here: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/how-to-use-parallelconstruction-correctly .
Correct the following sentences to make them parallel.
1.
To succeed in police work, candidates must remain fit physically, mentally alert, and not allow themselves to get emotionally involved in their work.
2.
Travel abroad teaches us to be patient, resourcefulness, and how to be independent.
3.
We bought that property because of its convenient location, low price, and its size was appropriate.
4.
Make sure that the people you hire are intelligent, articulate, and that they will work hard.
5.
My wife told me to stay home and that I should paint the basement.
6.
My medical plan covers eye examinations, and I can get dental treatments, and therapeutic massages.
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7.
I would like you to pick up some milk, some eggs, and also get bread.
8.
Guitar music, rooms that are smoky, and coffee that is black are the three things that Saied looks for in a place to spend an evening.
9.
I am dissatisfied with the quality of your product and the treatment I have received from your staff is unsatisfactory.
10.
Our current member of parliament is arrogant, speaks too loudly all the time, is ignorant and sounds insincere.
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