GRAMMAR!!GRAMMAR!!

Subject Verb AgreementPronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Subject Verb AgreementPronoun-Antecedent Agreement

RulesRules• Singular and Plural Number

– When a word refers to one person of thing, it is singular in number

– When a word refers to more than one, it is plural in number

• eg: One of the players was not wearing his glove. = singular

• eg2: Several of the players were not wearing their gloves. = Plural

• Singular and Plural Number– When a word refers to one person of thing,

it is singular in number– When a word refers to more than one, it is

plural in number

• eg: One of the players was not wearing his glove. = singular

• eg2: Several of the players were not wearing their gloves. = Plural

• Agreement of Subject and Verb– A verb agrees with its subject in number– Singular subjects take singular verbs

• eg: Marcia attends college, but Laura goes to computer school

– Plural subjects take plural verbs

• eg: Marcia and Laura attend college but the other girls do not

– Singular I and you take verbs that do not end in “s”

– “Were” is normally plural except when used with singular you.

• Agreement of Subject and Verb– A verb agrees with its subject in number– Singular subjects take singular verbs

• eg: Marcia attends college, but Laura goes to computer school

– Plural subjects take plural verbs

• eg: Marcia and Laura attend college but the other girls do not

– Singular I and you take verbs that do not end in “s”

– “Were” is normally plural except when used with singular you.

• Selecting verbs that agree with their subjects– The number of subject is not changed by a

phrase following the subject• eg: One of the women is crying• eg2: Both women from the senate were at the

meeting

• with, together with, in addition to, as well as, along with– Prepositional phrases beginning with

expression above do not affect number of verb

• Selecting verbs that agree with their subjects– The number of subject is not changed by a

phrase following the subject• eg: One of the women is crying• eg2: Both women from the senate were at the

meeting

• with, together with, in addition to, as well as, along with– Prepositional phrases beginning with

expression above do not affect number of verb

Singular NounsSingular Nouns

• Each • Nobody• Either • Anyone• Neither • Anybody• One • Someone• Everyone • Somebody• Every body• No one

• Each • Nobody• Either • Anyone• Neither • Anybody• One • Someone• Everyone • Somebody• Every body• No one

Plural nounsPlural nouns

• Several• Both• Few• Many

• Several• Both• Few• Many

• Pronouns below maybe either singular or plural depending on meaning of the sentence

• Pronouns below maybe either singular or plural depending on meaning of the sentence

• Some• All• Any• Most• None

• Some• All• Any• Most• None

• Compound Subject– Most compound subjects joined by and take

a plural verb.– Singular subjects joined by or or nor take

singular verb• eg: Niether~nor = take singular verb• eg2: either~or = take plural verb

• Do not confuse both~and = plural verb.– The word either may be omitted, but the

number of the subject is not change as long as the parts are joined by or

– When singular and a plural subject are joined by or or nor the verb agrees with the nearer subject.

• Compound Subject– Most compound subjects joined by and take

a plural verb.– Singular subjects joined by or or nor take

singular verb• eg: Niether~nor = take singular verb• eg2: either~or = take plural verb

• Do not confuse both~and = plural verb.– The word either may be omitted, but the

number of the subject is not change as long as the parts are joined by or

– When singular and a plural subject are joined by or or nor the verb agrees with the nearer subject.

• Collective nouns– May be either singular or plural– Are nouns that names a group of

person or objects– Verb agrees with its subjects, not with

its predicate nominative (refers to the subject, usually after the verb)

• Collective nouns– May be either singular or plural– Are nouns that names a group of

person or objects– Verb agrees with its subjects, not with

its predicate nominative (refers to the subject, usually after the verb)

• Other problems in agreement– When the subject follows a verb, as In sentences

beginning with there and here, be careful to anticipate the subject, and make sure with that verb agrees with it

– Word stating amount are usually singular– The number of takes a singular verb and a number

of takes a plural verb.– Every or many a before a word or a series of words

is followed by singular verb– The title of a work or art, literature, or music even

when plural in form takes singular verb.– Don’t and doesn’t must agree with their subject– A pronoun agrees with its antecedent in gender

and number

• Other problems in agreement– When the subject follows a verb, as In sentences

beginning with there and here, be careful to anticipate the subject, and make sure with that verb agrees with it

– Word stating amount are usually singular– The number of takes a singular verb and a number

of takes a plural verb.– Every or many a before a word or a series of words

is followed by singular verb– The title of a work or art, literature, or music even

when plural in form takes singular verb.– Don’t and doesn’t must agree with their subject– A pronoun agrees with its antecedent in gender

and number