Download Common Assessment #3 Practice

Common Assessment #3
Practice
multiple meanings &
subject/verb agreement
Words with multiple meanings
 Some words have different meanings
depending on how they are used in the
context of a sentence.
i.e. home
 Our neighbors are building an addition to
their home.
 noun – one’s place of residence
 Santa Barbara is home to a beautiful
Spanish mission founded in 1786.
 noun - headquarters
 I have to go home to pick up the letter I
forgot to mail this morning.
 adverb
i.e. home
 Mom works as a loan officer at the home
branch of Midwestern Bank and Trust.
 adjective modifying branch
 As an experienced actress, she feels right
at home on the stage.
 adjective phrase – on familiar ground
 The baby bird will home in on its nest after
its first flight.
 verb – to return to one’s birthplace by using a
landmark
Subject/verb agreement
 A verb must agree in number with its
subject.
 If a subject is singular, its verb must be
singular.
 The dog eats two times a day.
 If a subject is plural, then its verb must be
plural. (Remember- usually no double s)
 The dogs eat two times a day.
Subject/verb agreement
 When finding the subject, ask who or
what is doing something and disregard
any prepositional phrases. Be sure to
watch for subjects that come after the
verb.


The pride of lions (were, was) resting near a
stream.
There (is, are) season tickets still available.
Subject/verb agreement
 What if the subject is compound?

If the subjects are joined by and, choose a
plural verb.
 Poured concrete and steel (is, are) used in the
framework of many modern buildings.

If the subjects are joined by or or nor, then
the verb should agree with the subject
nearer to the verb.
 Neither a tornado nor a hurricane (has, have) hit
this small Texas town.
 Either tokens or passes (is, are) available at
most stations.
Subject/verb agreement
 When indefinite pronouns are used as subjects,
you must determine their number and make
sure the verbs agree



Singular indefinite pronouns – another, anybody,
anyone, anything, each, either, everybody,
everyone, everything, neither, nobody, no one, one
somebody, someone
 Neither of the girls (want, wants) to go first.
Plural indefinite pronouns – both, few, many, several
 Both of the girls (want, wants) to go first.
Singular or plural indefinite pronouns – all, any,
most, none, some
 Most of the judges (appear, appears) extremely relaxed.