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Grammar Presentation: Subject-Verb Agreement and Misplaced Modifiers

Grammar Presentation: Subject-Verb Agreement and Misplaced Modifiers. GradWRITE! Initiative Writing Support Centre Student Development Services. Subject-Verb Agreement. Verbs must always agree in number with their subjects Usually, this is quite clear Example: This study shows...

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Grammar Presentation: Subject-Verb Agreement and Misplaced Modifiers

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  1. Grammar Presentation:Subject-Verb Agreement and Misplaced Modifiers • GradWRITE! Initiative • Writing Support Centre • Student Development Services

  2. Subject-Verb Agreement • Verbs must always agree in number with their subjects • Usually, this is quite clear • Example: • This study shows... • Subjects can complicate things

  3. Compound Subjects • Singular subjects: • Pluralize the verb • Example: • The first book and the second article show that...

  4. Compound Subjects • Singular subjects connected by ‘or’ and ‘nor’ • Singularize • Example: • Potassium or chlorine speeds up the reaction...

  5. Compound Subjects • Singular and plural nouns with or and nor: • Agree with the closest noun • Example: • Epstein’s many articles or his research program shows... • Epstein’s research program or his many articles show...

  6. Misleading Phrases • Verbs agree with their subject • ‘Along with’, ‘as well as’ and other linking words do not change the subject • Example: • The captain, as well as his officers, was in trouble. • The article that summarizes many studies drags on too long.

  7. Grouping Words • Singularize each, each one, everybody, everyone, anybody, nobody, somebody, someone, either, neither • Example: • Either of the examples exemplifies the point.

  8. Collective Nouns • Collective nouns are usually treated as singular • Example: • The National Academy of Authors comments on the findings...

  9. Misplaced Modifiers • Modifiers (adjectives, adverbs, phrases etc.) give details about other words • Single word modifiers should be placed near the word they modify to ensure correct interpretation • An issue of clarity

  10. Examples • It almost used all of the reactant. • It used almost all of the reactant.

  11. Split Infinitives • Splitting infinitives (e.g. To boldly go...) is considered a grammar error by some • Splitting infinitives with long modifiers is considered an error by all

  12. Examples • The procedure allowed us to, without actually entering the body cavity, explore the adrenal gland. • The procedure allowed us to explore the adrenal gland without actually entering the body cavity.

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