Download Grammar: English II

GRAMMAR: ENGLISH II
Fall 2013
1) Subject-verb agreement
2) Noun, verb, & prepositional phrase
3) Pronoun-antecedent agreement
Subject-verb agreement
8/20 Grammar #1
*A singular subject takes a singular verb, while
a plural subject takes a plural verb.
Examples
 A bike and a scooter (is, are) my means of getting
around until I get a car.

The principal, along with a bunch of teachers, (is,
are) getting ready for a snow day.
RULES
1. If subjects are joined by and, they are
considered plural.
Ex. The quarterback and the coach are having
a conference.
2. If subjects are joined by or or nor, the verb should
agree with the closer subject
Ex: Either the actors or the director is at fault.
Ex: Either the director or the actors are at fault.
Indefinite pronouns - SINGULAR






Someone
Somebody
Each
Either one
Everyone
Anyone
None?  Singular or Plural?
Apparently, the SAT testing service
considers none as a singular word only.
However, according to Merriam
Webster's Dictionary of English
Usage, "Clearly none has been both
singular and plural since Old English and
still is. The notion that it is singular only is
a myth of unknown origin that appears
to have arisen in the 19th century. If in
context it seems like a singular to you,
use a singular verb; if it seems like a
plural, use a plural verb. Both are
acceptable beyond serious criticism" (p.
664).
None of us ( is / are ) going to see Transformers 3.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Three-quarters of the students (is, are) against the
detention policy.
Either the physicians in this hospital or the chief
administrator (is, are) going to have to make a decision.
Either the chief administrator in this hospital or the
physicians (is, are) going to have to make a decision.
Kara Cannon, together with her teammates, (present,
presents) a formidable opponent on the basketball
court.
Everyone selected to serve on this jury (has, have) to be
willing to give up a lot of time.
1.
Are
2.
Is
3.
Are
4.
Presents
5.
Has
Noun, verb, & prepositional phrases
Grammar #2
What is a noun?
1.
2.
What is a verb?
2.
3.
What is a preposition?
3.
1.
A word which refers to a
thing, person, or idea
word that denotes an
action, occurrence, or state
of existence
words that help describe
something's location or
other information
Preposition examples










about
above
across
after
against
along
among
around
at
before










behind
below
beneath
beside
between
by
down
during
except
for










from

in

in front of 
inside

instead of 
into

like

near

of

off

on
onto
on top of
out of
outside
over
past
since
through
to

toward
under

underneath







until
up
upon
with
within
without
N, V, or P?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Table
In
Around
Swimming
Friendship
Google
Phrase




such as leafy vegetables
in sickness and in health
on one’s personality
for a long time
Phrase –
a group of words that is missing a subject or a verb or
both; always a dependent clause.
Prepositional phrase – consists of a preposition & it’s
object

Can remove Prep phrase, sentence still makes sense
Examples
 At home
 In time for dinner
 About what we need
 Underneath the school
Error?
Where are the Prep Phrases?
7. The book on the bathroom floor is swollen from
shower steam.
8. The sweet potatoes in the vegetable bin are green
with mold.
9. The note from Beverly confessed that she had eaten
the leftover pizza.
Pronoun-antecedent agreement
Pronoun

A substitute for a noun

Examples:
 He
/ She
 It
 Them
 They
Antecedent

The noun that the
pronoun refers to

I like SpongeBob SquarePants; it is a good show.
antecedent

pronoun
Jake naturally attracted all of the ladies; he was
known for making them go crazy.
antecedent
pronoun
antecedent
pronoun
What’s wrong here?

During early rehearsals, an actor may forget their lines.
Pronoun-Antecedent disagreement!



Vicky and Alicia swam ( her / their ) best times on Friday.
Some of the sugar fell out of ( its / their ) bag.
Everyone had (his or her / their ) own Snickers bar.
Pronouns and antecedents must agree in number!
Singular







Each
Either/neit
her
One
No one
Nobody
Nothing
Anyone








Anybody
Anything
Someone
Somebody
Something
Everyone
Everybody
Everything
Plural





Several
Few
Both
Many
Others
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The Washington team was opportunistic; (it, they) took
advantage of every break.
A person needs to see (his or her, their) dentist twice a
year.
The committee members put (its, their) signatures on the
document.
Each of these companies had (its, their) books audited.
If a person wants to succeed in corporate life, (he or she,
you) has/have to know the rules of the game.
ANSWERS
1.
It
2.
His or Her
3.
Their
4.
Its
5.
He or she