Opening

1. Opening • http://goanimate.com/videos/0G0MbvHSW_VA?utm_source=linkshare&uid=0IqwQ-zxJh2A

2. SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT By the end of this lesson, I will be able to: identify four rules that govern subject verb agreement, and construct examples of each .

3. EVERY VERB MUST AGREE WITH ITS SUBJECT Plural Subject Singular Subject Singular Verb Plural Verb

4. The Stupidity of English Grammar • To make a noun plural, we add –s • Singular: girl • Plural: girls • To make a verb plural, we take away the –s. • Singular: he talks • Plural: they talk

5. Singular I walk You walk He/She/It walk s Joe walk s The girl walk s Plural We walk You walk They walk Joe and Maria walk The girls walk Watch the Verb Endings!

6. Tip for Subject/Verb Agreement Generally, if the subject doesn’tend in –S, the verb will. If the subject does end in –S, the verb won’t.

7. No –S on subject -S on verb The girl dances.

8. -S on subject The girls dance. No –S on verb

9. The VERBS

10. Rule #1: 2 or more Subjects = Compound • If there are two or more subjects joined by and,the subject must be plural, so the verb will not get an “s”. Example • Theboy and the girl dance. (= They dance.) No –S on verb

11. Rule #2:Compound subjects joined by “or” If there are two or more subjects joined by or or nor(or by either…or or neither…nor), the verb agrees with the part of the subject closest to it. Examples: • The professor or the students walk the halls. • Neither the students nor the professor walks the halls.

12. Rule #3: Indefinite Pronouns as SubjectsWatch out for these – they can be tricky! Every chicken wing and pork rib sitsuntouched on Ruth’s plate.

13. Rule #4: Intervening Phrases Don’t mistake a word in an intervening phrase for the subject of a sentence. • The simple subject is never in a prepositional phrase or a subordinate clause. • Examples: • The foliage on the trees provides shade. • Paula, along with her friends, goes to the mall.

14. Possible Pitfalls – Subordinate Clauses Sometimes, several words come between the subject and the verb. • The student, though she had lots of problems in other schools, finds/find (?) her new class easy. • The student, though she had lots of problems in other schools, finds her new class easy. • The student finds her new class easy.

15. Let’s look at this sentence…Another Pitfall Example • The class that has the most reading and writing assignments are boring. • What is the subject of the sentence? • It’s about the class. • What is the class doing (or having, or being)? • It [has the most reading and writing assignments] and [is boring]. SO WHAT? Where is the MAIN verb?

16. Remember Sentence Structure • Sentence = Subject + Verb • Remove the first verb (together with everything that is attached to it). • The class (that has the most reading and writing assignments) are boring. • The class are boring. Correct verb form and you get: The class is boring.

17. Remember Sentence Structure • Now, let’s try and remove the second verb • The class that has the most reading and writing assignments (are boring). • The class that has the most reading and writing assignments • Read aloud and you get: SENTENCE FRAGMENT

18. Possible Pitfalls – Prepositional Phrases If a prepositional phrase follows a subject, make the verb agree with the subject, not with the last word in the prepositional phrase. • The ability of the gymnasts is breathtaking. • Several windows in the building were broken.

19. How do I get this right? • First, identify whether or not you have problems with subject/verb agreement. • If you don’t have any problems with this, don’t worry about it! • If you do have problems: • Identify the verb. Ask who or what is doing it. • This will identify the subject. • Say them together and make sure that they match in terms of number.

20. The subject and verb are the skeleton of every sentence. Make sure you fit those two important parts together correctly!