Academic writing i

1. Academic writing i April 26th 2012

2. Today • Subject-verb agreement. • Practice essay.

3. 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?”).

4. Subject-verb agreement • “Do I need an –s at the end of the verb or not?”

5. Subject-verb agreement • There is too many pictures on the wall. • Everybody but Andrew want to go home. • The monkeylike to eat bananas. The subjects and verbs don’t agree

6. 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.

7. Subject-verb agreement • All dogsrun 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

8. Subject-verb agreement • In the present tense: • singular verbs add an –s suffix to the end of verbs; plural verbs do not.

9. Subject-verb agreement • So far, very easy, right?!

10. Subject-verb agreement • Two (or more) singular nouns joined by and • make a plural subject. • The dog and the catlook out the window.

11. Subject-verb agreement • When each or every precedes two (or more) singular nouns joined by and, it is a singular subject. • Everydog and catlooks 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.

12. Subject-verb agreement • Pronouns like everyone and everybody seem plural, BUT • they are always singular (and need a singular verb). • Everyoneneeds a hug sometimes. • Everybody who bought a car is happy today.

13. 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.

14. Subject-verb agreement • Other interrupting phrases: • As well as including • Along with in addition to • Together with especially • The mouse, as well as the birds, watch Tony, the scary tiger. = • The mouse, as well as the birds, watches Tony, the scary tiger. wrong (even if it looks right)

15. 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)

16. 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.

17. Subject-verb agreement • either…or, … • neither…. nor, …. • not only…but also… Example: Not only the professorbut also the studentswish the class would end. Not only the students, but also the professorwishes the class would end.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.