AGREEMENT (CHAPTER 8)



AGREEMENT (CHAPTER 8)

Singular and Plural Number

8a (Page 193) When a word refers to one person or thing, it is singular in number.

When a word refers to more than one, it is plural in number.

Subject and Verb Agreement

8b (Page 194) Singular subjects have singular verbs - plural subjects have plural verbs

Singular Verbs Plural Verbs

is are

has have

was were

have s’s don’t have s’s

*In general, nouns ending in “s” are plural, but verbs ending in “s” are singular. So, in general, the subject and verb cannot both have an “s”.

8c (Page 197) The number of the subject is not changed by a phrase following the subject.

*When looking for the subject, get rid of the prepositional phrases.

8d (Page 199) 8e (Page 200)

Singular Pronouns Plural Pronouns

each both

either few

neither many

the ones and the bodys several

8f (Page 202)

Singular/Plural Pronouns

all

any

most

none

some

*These can be singular or plural -- go by the noun in the prepositional phrase.

8g (Page 203) Subjects joined by “and” take a plural verb.

*Exception: A compound subject that refers to a single person or to two or more things considered as a unit (one thing) takes a singular verb. Ex - My guide and companion was Frank.

8h (Page 204) Singular subjects joined by or or nor take a singular verb.

8i (Page 204) When a singular subject and a plural subject are joined by or or nor, the

verb agrees with the closer subject.

*Plural subjects joined by or or nor take a plural verb

8j (Page 205) Collective nouns may be either singular or plural.

*If each part of the collective noun is acting individually, then choose plural

verb. Ex - The family are coming from all over the state.

*If the individual parts of the collective noun are acting as one unit, then choose

a singular verb. Ex - The family plans to attend the party.

8k (Page 206) When the subject follows a verb, as in sentences beginning with “there” and “here,” be careful to anticipate the subject, and make sure that the verb agrees with it.

*Don’t use “here” and “there” as subjects of sentences.

8l (Page 207) Words stating amounts are usually singular.

*Two weeks is a long vacation.

8m (Page 207) The title of a book, organization, or country, even when plural in form,

usually takes a singular verb.

*The Outsiders is a good movie.

8n (Page 208) “Don’t” and “Doesn’t” must agree with their subjects. (do not; does not)

*He does not listen. (He don’t listen is nonstandard.)

Use don’t with these pronouns Use doesn’t with these pronouns

I, you, they, we he, she, it

8o (Page 209) A few nouns, though plural in form, take a singular verb.

*Civics is taught by Mr. Schwab.

Agreement of Pronouns and Antecedents (Pages 212-214)

8p (Page 212) A pronoun agrees with its antecedent in number and gender.

An antecedent is the noun the pronoun replaces.

Each of the girls offered (her/their) opinion. Both pronouns are singular.

*Remember: girls is in the prepositional phrase

The men chose (his/their ) favorite dessert.

*They, them, and their are plural.

Verb Conjugation (Pages 224-225)

Infinitive Present Participle Past Past Participle

Today I ... I am ... (always -ing) Yesterday I... I (has, have, had) ...

or after linking verbs

Troublesome Verbs

Sit (to sit down/to rest) sit sitting sat (have) sat

*Set (to place/to put) set setting set (have) set

Rise (to go up) rise rising rose (have) risen

*Raise (to lift or force up) raise raising raised (have) raised

Lie (to recline) lie lying lay (have) lain

*Lay (to put down or place) lay laying laid (have) laid

Words with an * must have a direct object: You must set, raise, or lay something

Say the verb and ask “what?”

Example: He set the table. Set what? Table

Nominative and Objective Case Pronouns

|Nominative |Objective |

|Singular |Plural |Singular |Plural |

|I |we |me |us |

|you |you |you |you |

|he, she, it |they |him, her, it |them |

10a (Page 242) The subject of a verb is in the nominative case.

*He walked home.

10b (Page 245) A predicate nominative is in the nominative case.

*This is she. (A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun in the predicate part of the sentence that renames the subject. It must follow a linking verb.)

10c (Page 246) The direct and indirect object of a verb are in the objective case.

*Mother called me.

10d (Page 249) The object of a preposition is in the objective case.

*Keep this between you and me.

Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs (Page 258)

Positive Degree - Used when one thing is being described.

Example - The suitcase is heavy.

Comparative Degree - Used when two things are being described.

Use -er or more

Example - Her books are heavier than my books.

Superlative Degree - Used when three or more things are being compared.

Use -est or most

*Never use -er and more together (pick one)

*Never use -est and most together (pick one)

Good vs Well (Pages 260-261)

Positive Comparative Superlative

good better best

well better best

bad worse worst

Use good as an adjective (a good player)

Use well as an adverb (he played well)

Nobody can do anything good!!

Add -ly to adjectives to make them adverbs

He is slow. He ran slowly.

Use adjectives after linking verbs.

He is good. It tastes good.

Negatives

hardly no one nothing not

never none no

Do not use negatives together in a sentence because it changes the intended meaning.

“I don’t have no homework” actually means “I have homework.”

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