ACADEMIC WRITING I
April 26th 2012
Today
• Subject-verb agreement.
• Practice essay.
Review class
• Monday (April 30th ).
• Time: 4:30 – 5:30
• Place: Rm. 508.
• Please come with any questions you have about the
exam (except, “What are the answers?”).
Subject-verb agreement
• “Do I need an –s at the end of the verb or not?”
Subject-verb agreement
• There is too many pictures on the wall.
• Everybody but Andrew want to go home.
• The monkey like to eat bananas.
The subjects and verbs don’t agree
Subject-verb agreement
• Basic things to remember:
• A plural subject goes with a plural verb.
•
- There are too many pictures on the wall.
A singular subject goes with a singular verb.
•
- Everybody but Andrew wants to go home.
- The monkey likes to eat bananas.
Subject-verb agreement
• All dogs run to their food bowls at dinner time.
• dogs = plural subject
• run = plural verb
• The dog runs toward his food bowl at dinner time.
•
dog = singular subject
• runs = singular verb
Subject-verb agreement
• In the present tense:
• singular verbs add an
verbs do not.
–s suffix to the end of verbs; plural
Subject-verb agreement
•So far, very easy, right?!
Subject-verb agreement
• Two (or more) singular nouns joined by
and
• make a plural subject.
• The dog and the cat look out the window.
Subject-verb agreement
• When each or every precedes two (or more) singular
nouns joined by and, it is a singular subject.
• Every dog and cat looks out the window.
• It does not matter how many singular nouns are joined
with and, the subject is STILL singular:
• Every dog, cat, gorilla, tiger, bear, turtle, and bird looks out
the window.
Subject-verb agreement
• Pronouns like everyone and everybody seem plural, BUT
• they are always singular (and need a singular verb).
• Everyone needs a hug sometimes.
• Everybody who bought a car is happy today.
Subject-verb agreement
• Phrases that come between a subject pronoun and its
verb may contain plural words…this is confusing.
• Each of the basketball players is excited about tonight’s
game.
Subject-verb agreement
• Other interrupting phrases:
• As well as
• Along with
• Together with
including
in addition to
especially
• The mouse, as well as the birds, watch Tony, the scary
tiger. = wrong (even if it looks right)
• The mouse, as well as the birds, watches Tony, the scary
tiger.
Subject-verb agreement
• Hint:
• When checking for agreement, leave out parts you don’t
need (interrupting phrases).
• Everyone in the contest want to win.
•
- Everyone want to win. ?? (should be wants)
• The tigers, especially Tony, wants to eat the deer.
•
- The tigers wants to eat. ?? (should be want)
Subject-verb agreement
• either…or, …
• neither…. nor, ….
•
• not only…but also…
• These phrases will have two subjects, and can be
confusing if one is plural and one is singular.
Subject-verb agreement
• either…or, …
• neither…. nor, ….
• not only…but also…
Example:
Not only the professor but also the students wish the class
would end.
Not only the students, but also the professor wishes the
class would end.
Subject-verb agreement
• either…or, …
• neither…. nor, ….
• not only…but also…
• Whichever subject is closest to the verb will decide the
singular or plural form of the verb.
Subject-verb agreement
• Here and there.
• Here is the onions you need for the soup.
• In the fridge is the peppers you might want to add.
• Problem: Here and there are never the subject.
Subject-verb agreement
• Here and there.
• Here are the onions you need for the soup.
• In the fridge are the peppers you might want to add.
• Problem: Here and there are never the subject.