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Usage. Warriner’s Chapter 5. Number. 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. Singular or plural?. Identify whether each word is singular or plural: Lawyer bag my woman
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Usage Warriner’s Chapter 5
Number • 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.
Singular or plural? • Identify whether each word is singular or plural: • Lawyer bag my woman • Books item ours weeks • Sound those feet mine • Them meter that tooth • Pennies hoof motor bills
Subject-Verb Agreement • In order to speak and write in Standard English you must make verbs agree with their subjects. • *Standard English* is the English generally used in well-edited newspapers, magazines and books, and by well educated people throughout the English speaking community.
*Non-Standard English* is the term used to describe variations in usage that are limited to a particular region, group or situation. • Dialects; colloquialism; slang
Singular subjects take singular verbs: • “My friend likes algebra.” • Plural subjects take plural verbs: • “My friends like algebra.”
Nouns ending in –s=plural • Verbs ending in –s=singular • First person: • I help -We Help • Second Person: • You help -you help • Third Person: • He she or it helps -they help
Practice • Write the verb in parentheses that agrees with the subject (pg 161, EX 2)
S-V Agreement The number of the subject is not changed by a phrase following the subject Ex: The sign near the glass doors explains the exhibit. The paintings of Emilio Sanchez were hanging in the gallery.
S-V Agreement • Compound prepositions such as together with, in addition to, along with following the subject do not affect the number of the subject. • Ex: • Anne, along with her cousins, is backpacking in Nevada this summer.
Practice • Ex. 3 pg, 161; find a partner and work on Ex. 3 together. Read the directions carefully. • Write 5 sentences about what you noticed from the Oral Drill on page 161.
Pronouns • The following pronouns are singular: • Each either neither • One everyone everybody • No one nobody anyone • Anybody someone somebody
Pronouns • The following pronouns are plural: • Few both many • Several
Pronouns • These pronouns may be singular or plural, depending on their reference. • Some all most • Any none Ex: Some of the showis funny. [some referring to singular “show”] Some of the entertainers are funny. [some referring to plural “entertainers]
Practice • All of the cast (look, looks) young. • Most of his routine (sounds, sound) familiar. • Somebody on the bus (was, were) whistling. • Neither of these books (has, have) an index. • Few of these jobs (sounds, sound) challenging. • No one in the office (leaves, leave) early. • Most of those songs (is, are) from the 60’s.
Practice • Some of the news photos of the event are potential prize winners. • Most of us disagree with the final report. • A bowl of ripe plums are on the table. • Some of the hay has already been cut. • Neither of the paintings look finished. • Each of the contestants has a chance at winning.
Compound Subjects • RULE: • Subjects joined by and take a plural verb. • Compound subjects joined by and name more than one person or thing and must take plural verbs. • Leslie Silkoand Mary Evansare poets. • Cleaning and vaccuming help me clear my mind. • Two separate people or things help or are.
Compound Subjects • My pen pal and best friend is my cousin. • Pumpkin seeds and raisins makes a tasty snack. • In the sentences above, the compound subjects are thought of as units (one person, one snack) and are therefore singular.
Compound Subjects • RULE: • Singular subjects joined by or or nor take a singular verb. • Neither the coach nor the principal is happy. • [neither one is happy] • After dinner either Anne or Tony loads the dishwasher. • [Either Anne or Tony, not both]
Compound Subjects • RULE: • When a singular subject and a plural subject are joined by or or nor the verb agrees with the subject nearer the verb. • Neither the winners nor the loser was happy. • Neither the loser nor the winners were happy.
Practice • Flora or Estella have already seen that movie. • My grandparents, as well as my mother, is working on the quilt. • Neither the aides nor the librarian have found the missing card. • One of my classmates take the bus to school. • Neither of the reporters’ questions were answered in detail.
Don’t/Doesn’t • RULE: • Don’t and Doesn’t must agree with their subjects. • They don’t know. • He/she/it=doesn’t